The Hybrid Princess

~4

Everleigh's POV:

I will be moving the day after tomorrow, most of my things has already been packed like my causal clothing and shoes, I don't think I'll need all those floor length dresses. 

Tonight Jaxon will be taking me to see how the town look at nighttime, Miles and his mother left this morning which was great. Asher hasn't send another letter yet, I decided to reply and send a letter to him this morning,

"Do you know the rules you must follow once you're out there in the real world?" Mom asked, we were sitting in the library, Levi has gone on some business.

"Yes, be mindful of what I am doing once I am in public, don't attend any events that can cause trouble and only my two roommates are to know the keypad password to access for the house,."

"Good, I'll be calling up on you weekly and there are cameras outside the house and also a pool so you don't need to go in public to swim in a pool", she added.

"What about a chef and a maid?"

"Already assigned, they'll be there during the daytime to clean and cook or whatever, but its only you and your roommates at night and no one is to collect take outs besides Jaxon, if you order for delivery, have him collect it at least a block away from the house."

I nodded, we already plan take outs will be on Saturday nights.

"The chef can get the weekends off", I stated,"Saturdays we agree to do take outs and Sunday attempt to make our food."

"Well don't burn down the house, you have a chef for a reason."

"Layla can cook and I want to learn how to cook", I shrugged.

"What's wrong with sticking to making cake and cookies?"

"I want to expand my knowledge."

"Once you don't hurt yourself then go ahead. Also you are to join the royal student body it will be good for your reputation."

I sighed.

*****

"Are you ready?" Jaxon asked me as he entered my room, I was in casual clothing with a jacket on.

"How are we getting out if there is a guard outside my room?" I frowned.

"Already taken care of, we got two hours", he smiled.

"How are we getting out? The front gate is the only way", I frowned.

"I know another way, its a secret path", he smirked.

"Well let's go before someone catches us", I stated.

"It will be a little risky, but we will succeed."

We left my room and walked down the corridor to the staircase, there wasn't any one in sight. He led me to the right side of the palace and outside where the fountain was a little maze garden; I haven't been here in a while. 

"Wher-"

"Shh, we have to be quiet, the gate isn't far but there is always a guard walking around here", Jaxon said.

I nodded and followed his lead, we hid a few times when we saw the guard and got to the gate, Jaxon  unlocked it.

"I can't believe I am doing this", I remarked.

"Better believe it, let's get going."

"We're not walking are we?"

"Yes, we don't want to get spotted by the guards above the front gate", he explained.

We walked through the open gate and he closed back the gate,"lets go", he grinned and held my hand, he led me into the little forest.

"Where are we going?"

"A shortcut", he smiled back at me.

As we walked I heard night animals making noise, scaring me a bit.

"No need to be afraid, I am not leaving you", he  squeezed my hand.

We got to town about 15 minutes later, the streets were quiet and the square was lit up, it had a few people dancing.

"Dancing?"

"Yes", Jaxon nodded, we stayed in the alleyway watching on, I didn't want no one spotting me.

All of a sudden, all the lights were off and people screaming and shouting.

I saw a few people running in our directions,"shoot, get down", Jaxon pushed me into the wall and  shielded me with his body as people ran pass us.

"I am not going to die tonight by the hands of those bloodsuckers", someone declared.

Bloodsuckers?

"Let's get out of here", Jaxon said when everyone ran passed us, he pulled me along with him as we ran thorough the streets we used to get here.

"What is going on? What is a bloodsucker?" I asked as we ran.

"The less you know, the better, it was a bad idea to come out here tonight", he replied.

Suddenly someone jumped in front of us out of nowhere, stopping us in our paths. The guy had bloodshot eyes and fangs in his mouth as he hissed at us.

"What the-"

Jaxon took out his sword,"Eve, run!" He said as he charged to the guy with fangs. 

The guy dodged Jaxon and threw him to his back.

"Jaxon!" I gasped.

The guy's gaze snapped to me and I froze as he held my gaze, he closed his mouth and  just stared at me then he ran off into the dark.

What was that about?

Jaxon got up,"why didn't he attack you?"

"I.. I don't know", I said shakily.

"Let's get you home, the guards will be here soon anyway", he lifted me up since I was still in shock.

"What was that thing?"

"Trust me you don't want to know, I thought those creatures don't exist anymore", he muttered.

When we got to the palace, I went to my room quickly where mom was sitting on my bed,"where were you?" She asked with worry.

"A walk with Jaxon", I answered.

"Thank goodness, I have changed my mind, you're going to the house tomorrow instead, your friend has been informed", she hugged me.

Did she knew what was going om?

"Why tomorrow?"

"It's for the best, go sleep its late", she kissed my forehead and left the room, closing the door behind her.

I went to my drawer and opened it, the pendant that I got from Ariel was glowing a  little, I picked it up and raised it to the light, there was a hint of emerald green and violet in it.

I put it around my neck and the glow died down, I changed into sleeping wear and got under my blanket.

***

I woke up the next day and turned to my side, I looked at the pendant it was crystal clear now and not glowing. That was strange. I got up and placed it in one of my shoe boxes to carry with me to my new home.

"Rise and sun my best fri-", Jaxon stopped when he saw I was up,"great you're up, your mother wants to have breakfast with you, we leave after lunch", he informed me.

"Any information about last night?"

"Leave it alone Eve, you're not even suppose to kno-", he stopped.

"Know what?"

"Never mind."

"I want to know what is going on", O demanded.

"It's safer if you don't know anything, now breakfast in thirty minutes", he left.

I scoffed, if he didn't want to tell me, I'll find out myself and I knew exactly where to look.

"Good morning mother, Levi", I said when I entered the dining room, grandma had already left before I got up.

"Thank you for coming Eve, I know today will be busy for you", mom retorted.

"I don't get why I have to go today, I thought it was tomorrow."

"Things has changed and don't you want to go a day earlier to get to explore the campus more thoroughly?"

She did had a point there.

"Yes", I nodded.

"Good, you can do so tomorrow and have more time to prepare for class."

"Plus the guy from the ball will also be attending that university so you get to make new friends", Levi added.

"Oh yes Asher, I heard he sent you flowers yesterday", mom smirked.

"He was just being nice, don't get any ideas", I turned down whatever she was thinking one time.

"I didn't say anything", she giggled.

I rolled my eyes, I sworn she acted like a teenager sometimes,

"Well I'll like to have my breakfast, I have things to do", I stated, like go to the library for example.

"Of course."

I entered the library after breakfast, I went to the B letter section to look for a book on bloodsuckers. I found nothing, it had not a single book on bloodsuckers.

What was another name for bloodsuckers? I remembered my teacher mention it in class when I was 12.

Something with V- then it clicked, vampires.

I went to the V letter sections, the selves didn't have any books on vampires, none.

"That's odd, why would they have werewolves but not vampire?" I asked myself.

I walked to the back of the library, there was a gate door that was lock with a padlock, it had scrolls and books on the shelves behind the locked gate. The only persons I knew who kept the keys of our most valuable treasures and scroll was our blacksmith who lived way down under the palace.

He was a hard person to convince to hand over the keys, he answer directly to my mother only, not Levi only the queen. I couldn't wait until I am queen to get the keys, that was years away and I need answered now. I guessed I got no chance but to go see the blacksmith myself and ask for the keys because I couldn't get in easily without the keys, the gate was made with specific key holes.

I left the library, got a lantern and went on the third floor of the palace along the corridor where it had portraits of my family that went back generations. There was  a secret passage way to get under the palace without being detected, problem was I don't know which portrait was the secret passage.

I watched each portraits carefully looking for anything out of place.

"Eve, are you up here?" Someone called, fiddlesticks.

I needed to find this passage way quick or else game move, I moved quickly to a portrait of my grandfather and pushed the wall, it moved. No way.....

I slipped it quickly and the door closed back on its own silently.

"Eve?" I can hear Jaxon on the other side of the wall,"I thought I saw her came up here?" 

I turned on the lantern and turned toward the stairs that was leading downward. As I walked I had to keep my squeals in because there were cobwebs with spiders on it and crawling insects on the wall. It was a  good thing the blacksmith doesn't use this way to deliver swords and weapons, he has a back door just near the stables that can only be open from the inside.

When I reached solid ground I let out a relief breath, the pathway was lit with torches on other sides of the wall; I knew I was going the right way.

I walked for a few minutes and can hear pounding of steel just up ahead. I left my latern just before the entrance and walked into the blacksmith work area that was fill of  the scent of steel and smoke. I saw the blacksmith at work pounding off something hard off a sword he was making to make it straight.

"Excuse me", I called and he stopped midway, staring at me.

"Princess? What are you doing down here? How did you find the secret passage?" He put down his hammer, wiping his hands.

"Um.. I need something", I stated.

"Your sword hasn't been made yet."

Sword, what sword?

"And  you don't know what I am talking about?" He sighed,"what do you want?"

"I need the keys, I need to get something from inside the locked gate in the library", I answered.

"I'm sorry but you wasted your time, I can't give you that, it was entrusted to me for a reason", he shook his head.

"As future queen I am demanding you give it to me", I demanded.

He sighed,"why do you want it so badly?"

"Personal reason."

"You're looking for something, aren't you? Always curious just like your mother", he chuckled,"I can't give you the keys, but I can share some information depending on what it is you're looking for."

"I want to know more about vampires", I stated and he froze.

"How do you know about them?" He watched me.

"So they are real?"

"Vampires are myths, they haven't been seen in centuries, run along you got somewhere to be", he led me to a door and opened it, I looked out and he pushed me out, locking the door immediately.

I sighed.

I was quite on the other side of the palace next to the second stable where the guards' horses stayed. I walked to west wing entrance and entered then went up the stairs and walked down the long corridor towards the east wing.

I will get my answers soon enough, they can't keep me in the dark anymore.

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