KEEPER OF THE DESERTED ISLAND

THE TRUTH ABOUT YOU

Hector slept throughout the day and finally woke up the morning of the next day feeling fine and healthy thanks to the tonic Aurelia prepared for him when he woke up the last night. Gaia couldn’t go to school that day thanks to the war that happened, everyone was hiding in their house to avoid being taken by force by the enemies.

The report was brought to the palace to the newly crowned king, Avery. He didn’t react much to the news since his own end was successful and the plan to guard the palace paid off

“how bad is the damage that was made by the enemies?” he asked Jerrick who just came back from outside the palace after going to survey all that had happened after the war

“Our people were taken but most of them were able to protect themselves or run away from the attack so its safe to say that the larger percentage of the people are fine. Although they are still skeptical about going about, some are already back to their normal lives so I don’t think we need to worry that much” Jerrick reported

“That’s good, those that were taken are the unfortunate ones, we don’t have anything to offer them, they should bear the consequences of being unfortunate at the enemies’ camp” Avery stated without any remorse

“Bring me the reports from the border too, I need them to explain how they got access to the town. We can’t just raise and feed soldiers who cannot help us out in times of war” he added

“I will bring them to you as soon as possible, My King” Jerrick bowed

“what about you? Hope you are not hurt?” Avery asked raising his eyes up to look at him

“I am fine, there is no need to worry about me” Jerrick replied immediately

“Since the people are now allowed to use their powers, we have no worries because the were wolves wouldn’t dare to attack us again, they only planned their attacks to fit the day when they will catch us unaware but they must have underestimated me, I prepared for them beforehand”  Avery remarked

“nevertheless we still have to be careful and at alert since they can also attack when we least expect” Jerrick advised before excusing himself to take care of other things

He went straight to the embroidery department to ask of Shirley but he was told by the other maids that she didn’t come back from the market since the previous day and they have all gone to search for her but none of the troops found her

“What do you mean she wasn’t found?” he growled at the head maid

“I’m sorry my Lord, she might have escaped from them and hide somewhere since she’s trying to fight for her life. She wouldn’t have been taken by them because she’s not some little kid or some weak woman” the head maid replied smoothly before they were interrupted by one of the maids

“I saw her on the horse with her husband during the chaos, he came for her and took her to the river side, they must have taken a boat and escaped together” the maid informed him and immediately he turned his attention to her

“Are you sure about what you just told me?” he asked the maid who nodded continuously

“I am very sure about it my Lord” she replied and he left the place

“get me a horse” he said to the guard nearby and he was given one with immediate effect

He rode to the river as fast as he could and met the boat men doing their work, he tied the horse afar and moved closer to them to ask some questions

“excuse me, can you tell me the towns these boats are headed?” he asked and the boat man stopped what he was doing to explain the destination of the boats to him

He finished the survey and narrowed their destinations down three towns but he decided to leave for the day and come back another day when he is chanced.

*****

Hector and Gaia began to get closer since he was living with her on the island and she was glad that she now had a partner even though the amount of times they fight was bigger than the times they were friends. Aurelia made sure to keep her eyes on both of them since they were both kids who at the age where they could develop feelings for each other, they would need more monitoring so they wouldn’t make costly mistake.

Every ruckus died down and they started attending school together, unlike Gaia, Hector was a social butterfly who made friends quickly and through that Gaia got more friends for herself. He also continued to guide her about how to sympathize with her and also make friends, she began to change unconsciously and Aurelia began to notice the positive changes but she was still feeling unsettled within because what she saw on the night when his necklace fell from his neck was not that pleasant

They came back from school one afternoon and as soon as they got home, Gaia saw Lady Carolyn talking with Aurelia in front of the house which made her sprint towards them in happiness

“Mother! Mother!! Mother!!!” she called out in happiness as she ran towards her leaving confused Hector behind

“Don’t run too much, you might end up tripping and that will be bad for you” Lady Carolyn replied with a wide smile as she stood up to receive her with a wide smile

“I have missed you so much, you have no idea how much I have waited for you to come visiting again” she cried into her arms while Lady Carolyn just patted her with a wide smile

“I am sorry I left like that my angel, I have been so busy but it is so satisfying that you grew up well and more beautiful without me, you now even have a friend” Lady Carolyn remarked pointing to Hector who has now walked to meet them at the house

“He is just staying with us temporarily because we helped him out but I can’t deny he has been a good friend” she admitted and Lady Carolyn patted her back with a smile

“You are not leaving today are you?” she asked looking up at her with a pout

“Don’t worry, I am not leaving today so you can be rest assured” Lady Carolyn replied

“You should get us some meat in the bush, we need to prepare something for our visitor” Aurelia said to her and she quickly ran in to change her clothes, took her bow and arrows before marching into the woods with Hector who volunteered to follow her

They left for the bush while the adults talked about many things as they waited for them to come back with whatever game they can catch. The kids went into the bush and caught a rabbit thanks to her excellent archery skills

“You refuse to teach me archery, why is that?” he asked as they marched home

“I refused to teach you because it is hard, I practiced for a whole year before I could master it and that was because of my nature, you know that we are not ordinary humans like you right? I don’t just want you to start what you will not finish” she replied with seriousness

“I know that you are not ordinary humans but I am also a hybrid between a human mom and a wizard dad” he revealed

“Wow! You are a witch hybrid? Then why are you not exhibiting any power like us?” she asked with confusion written in her tone

“I cannot exhibit any power because my father performed a stripping ritual for me when I was young, he said I will be a threat to his older son which is my brother who is a full wizard, he said I was a result of a fling” he explained with hurtful tone and she stopped in anger

“Who the hell is that crazy man that carried out a stripping ritual on a kid? Why is he so wicked and uncultured? Was he trying to kill you? You are not even a full wizard what if you had died? That is so inhumane and heartless” she snapped hard making Hector scared on his own

“It’s okay, I am over it so don’t pop your vein too hard over something so trivial” he said with a smile but she was not ready to drop the issue

“How is that a trivial issue? That is a big crime. I need to know who this your father is, I need to ask him why he did that to my precious friend” she yelled and Hector stopped to look at her

“Did you just call me your precious friend? I am not just a friend but a precious friend?” he asked pointing to himself and she dropped her gaze

“What I am trying to say is… ehmmm.. you are a friend whom I spend time with so you are..”  she stuttered

“Precious right?” he asked with a wide smile

“I have never used the word precious for anyone so just know that I really mean it” she said with a shy expression

“Don’t worry, I will protect you from that evil father, just let me know when you need my help, you know I am very good with the sword and the bows right? I will come right away” she remarked and walked faster to avoid the embarrassment of admitting that he was precious to her only to knock her foot on a stone buried under the sand but Hector was fast enough to hold her, the suddenness of pulling her weight on him was too much for them and they both lost balance

Hector was smart enough to make her land on his chest and she opened her eyes wide in surprise at what just happened

“You, what do you think you are doing?” she yelled at his face flustered at their position

“I am protecting you from falling, I think I will be the one to do the protecting, don’t you think so?” he teased her and she quickly stood up from his chest before running away and he stood up to catch up after her

As they approached the house, he suddenly started talking seriously making the atmosphere tense

“I am someone that cannot do what I want because I belong to my father and that was what I have been hearing as I was growing up so I cannot even tell you how I feel or accept your feelings for me. I already have a fiancée that I was betrothed to when I was small and we are only waiting for the right time. I cannot live here forever so don’t you think its best we don’t start what we cannot finish?” he stated with a serious tone and she could swore it felt as if her heart had been hit with an arrow

She realized that she must have loved him more than she thought because on a norms, those words wouldn’t have any meaning to her

“I guess this is what people call heartache” she remarked as she started to walk away with a heavy heart

"Are you mad at me? please don't be mad but it is something I am sure of that I can never end up with you and I don't want someone as loving as you to end up heartbroken becasue of a whimp like me who can't eevn stand up to his own dad and take his stand" he said to her as he runs to follow her but she didn't say anything and just walked away in silence

They got home and Aurelia prepared the meal for them while she went to catch up with her mom, and that helped her forget that she was turned down by Hector few minutes ago. They finished dinner and they went to continue their talk before her mother turned things serious

“I have something important to tell you and I want you to be extremely matured about it, you shouldn’t get angry over it because it was no one’s fault” Lady Carolyn started

“What are you about to say that you are so serious?” she asked adjusting her seat

“I have been your mother for the past sixteen years but I want to reveal to you that I am not your biological mother” Lady Carolyn said and she went silent for a bit not knowing what to say

“How can you c***k such an expensive joke? You have been the only mother I know for years so why are you suddenly telling me that you are not my biological mother? If you are not my mother then who is my mother and who is my father? You clearly told me that my father died before I was given birth to so why are you saying something different now?” she almost yelled as she tried her best not to raise her voice at her

“Will you please calm down and let me explain? I need to tell you this sooner or later so that’s why I am summing up the courage to tell you now before it is too late” Lady Carolyn remarked and held her hand before continuing her revelation

“You were born into this world by the princess of this nation, Princess Shirley and from a father who came from the werewolves pack, he was a slave that was on a run when he was found by your mother in his half human and half wolf nature. She must have been fascinated with what she saw when she helped her treat his wound and fell for him, she took him to the palace to take care of him and one thing led to the other, she became pregnant with you and the queen was the first to discover. She was examined and she went to her parents herself to announce the result and also the father but both of them disagreed with her keeping the baby. They suggested she abort it so she will be able to marry the prime minister’s son, Lord Jerrick who they grew up together but she blatantly refused.

She left the palace that night with annoyance abandoning her title while we followed and started living with her husband who is your father in the deep mountains with her web spell covering us but the prime minister somehow found out when you were around eight months because she was weak due to her still nursing you and the shield around the house went weak that it was penetrable. He suddenly attacked us on their wedding day and ended up capturing them while she made sure I ran away with you and the other maid, Debra who although is nowhere to be found now. I brought you to our former town and raised you as my daughter but when you started exhibiting some strong behaviors of power as you were growing up, I had to go inform the king who told me to bring you to the deserted island where you will be trained and here you are” She narrated while Gaia listened with rapt attention and by now her eyes were laced with tears

“This my mom you are talking about, where is she? Is she still alive? What of my dad? Is he dead too?” Gaia asked trying to control her tears

“Your mom was sold to the werewolves alongside her husband and worked there as a slave for years but she was also brought back when the prime minister now turned king to serve as a maid at the palace where she had lived as a princess all her life, she recently got out thanks to the recent war and she is now staying at my place. She has been crying about seeing you all these while, she is so impatient about seeing you but I told her that you need to be informed before you are allowed to meet each other” She replied pulling Gaia who was now crying to herself to console her

“Do not be mad at her, she is a true mother who had sacrificed all she has to protect you, I am sure you will feel her sincerity when you finally see her, prepare your heart to meet her and be very warm to mend her broke heart” she said patting her back slowly

Lady Carolyn promised to bring her and her father along when she’s coming back to the island in few days’ time while also trying her best to console her as she cried her heart out, that was the first time she would cry that bitterly and the bell that was hanged at the waist of Aurelia’s garment shook tremendously

“The lock has been broken, she has successfully unlocked all her emotional locks. we just have to wait for the universe to start their own role now and it will be so bloody but I know she is smart enough to overpower every obstacle that might be on her way” Aurelia uttered as she watched from afar before disappearing into the house to have some sleep since it was late at night before lady Carolyn and Gaia also came in to join her.