My Brother’s Mate
Chapter 65

Emily's POV

"The crystal can conduct the fire. If used correctly, it will use their own fire against them." Milton says boredly.

"We have to get these crystals." I say.

"That would be wise if you're planning on fighting a dragon." A voice comes from the shadows making me jump. I turn around to see a middle aged man with very pale skin. He is dressed in a tuxedo, which seems odd for such a dreary place. "But it's more than just the Grulers that guard them." The man is making intense eye contact with me.

"Fredrick." Cyran says. Fredrick glances at Cyran then back to me.

"What..what else is there?" I ask.

"If you truly saw the crater, then you saw the real danger." Fredrick leans forward with his words, like it's a secret. I think back to my dream. What else was there? Think.

"I don't remember seeing anything other than the crystals, the creature, and the fog. The fog?"

"Yes, yes. So you are an oracle. Very powerful. Very powerful indeed." He says with excitement.

"The fog is no ordinary fog. How do you think those beasts came to be?"

"Are you saying the fog changed them? Then what were they before?" I ask.

"No one knows. It has been a very long time." He says. There was something very odd about Fredrick, but I couldn't quite put my finger on what exactly it was. It could just be because he was a very old vampire. "Where is the crater?" I ask.

"Oh it's further north. Above where the frost line is." He says.

"Milton, show her a map." Milton lazily looks through some papers on the table and pulls out a very old piece of parchment. It has yellowed with age and the writing has faded. But he points on it.

"This is where we are." Cyran, Marcus, and I lean in to see.

"This is where you will want to go." Milton says.

"If we bring back the crystals can you form them into weapons." Milton and Fredrick look at each other. Like communication is passing between them. Do vampires have a way to communicate with each other, I wouldn't be surprised, all the others have a way to do that.

"Yes we can. Bring us a good amount, and we can fashion them into something you can use." Milton says.

"That's a few days journey." Cyran says.

"I don't mean to rush you, but the sun has come up, and it is bedtime for me." Mia says.

"She's right. We will discuss this with your mom and Liam, and we will come up with a plan." Cyran says. I nod in agreement.

"Thank you Milton and Fredrick for all your help." I say. Milton goes back to his writing, not saying a thing. Fredrick just stares at me as we leave the room. As we walk back up the stairs, Marcus leans over to me.

"Well they were the creepiest people I've ever seen." He blurts out. I hold back my laughter. Marci continues, "and the way that Fredrick guy stared at you? It's like he was staring into your soul."

"They can't help it. Be nice." I say nudging Marcus playfully. "And anyway, I'm surprised you even noticed, when your eyes were on Mia the whole time." I tease.

"Is that jealously I detect?" Marcus asks.

"Ha! Yeah. Right. Any one in the room could see that you couldn't take your eyes off of her."

Marcus just rolls his eyes. We make our way back to the main floor.

"Goodnight everyone." Mia says before she heads upstairs to her room.

"I'm going to go check on Liam to see if he is awake." I say.

"No need." I hear Liam's voice from the sitting room. We all walk in and replace Liam and my mother waiting for us.

"Where has everyone been?" My mom asks. I walk over to Liam and give him a hug. I breathe in his scent and close my eyes. He wraps his arms around me and kisses the top of my head. I feel like I have been awake for so long, but it's still morning. "We went down to see the elder vampires to ask them about dragons." Cyran explains.

"But let's discuss this more over breakfast." Samson says. After talking with the elders, it makes me appreciate Samson.

"You ok?" Liam looks down at me.

"Yeah, I just didn't sleep very well."

"Where did you get the clothes?" He asks.

"I came down early and met some of the vampires that live here. One of them named Mia gave me this." I take Liam's hand and we walk to the dining room. The dining room is just as gorgeous as the rest of the house. There are portraits hanging on every wall, and a long dining table. Three crystal chandeliers hang above the table.

"Is there anything normal looking in this house or is it all going to be this fancy?" Liam says laughingly.

"I have a feeling, you're out of luck on that one..." I say to him taking in the grandeur of the chandeliers.

We all take a seat at one end of the table. There were pastries and baked goods. A spread of fruits, cheeses, meats across the table. Everything looks so delicious. I sit next to Liam and Cyran continues to tell everyone what we just learned.

"There is something, a crystal, that we can use against the dragons as some kind of weapon." Cyran explains.

"Where is this crystal?" My mom asks.

"It's north of here." I say.

"We just need to figure out who's going to go get them." Cyran says.

"It should be more than one person, we don't know how heavy they are." Marcus says.

"I would like to go. Seeing how I know where they are and I basically have a spare life." I say. I notice a few looks, but I keep eating.

"Well if she's going, then so am I." Liam says.

"Fine I'll come too. No need to twist my arm." Marcus says.

"I don't believe anyone asked you to join." Liam says.

"Well unless you think you can claw your way through magical fog, that could potentially turn you into a lizard dog monster then I would take me up on my offer." Marcus says. I place my hand on Liam's leg and smile at him. "We could use the help." I say in mind link to Liam. I give Marcus a glare, he just smiles innocently and goes back to eating.

"Samson, I would like you to go with them." Cyran says. Samson just nods in agreement.

"When are you guys planning on doing this?" My mom asks.

"We should leave tonight." Samson says.

"I agree. The sooner the better."

"Then we will need to prepare you for the journey." Cyran says.

"We'll pack some supplies for you after breakfast." He adds.

"It will be a light load, we don't have much of anything." Marcus says.

"We'll replace you guys some clothes, herbs, and toiletries for you And anything else you'll need for the trip." Cyran says.

"Herbs? For what? Like for when we cook?" Liam asks.

"Grulers are fierce creatures. The herbs will be medicinal." Samson says stoically.

"What can the rest of us do while we wait for them to come back?" My mom asks.

"You can learn magic." I say. She lights up. It's like a light bulb went off in my mom's head.

"Magic. I can learn magic. But how? Where do I start?"

"I have some books you can read over in the library." Cyran says.

My mom lights up as she continues to eat her breakfast.

We finish so after and Cyran takes the guys somewhere to get some clothes. I go with my mom to the library to look for the magic books.

"Honey, are you sure you want to go? You could stay here and help me with my magic." She says.

I know she's worried about me, and about what I said.

"I'm going to go. I will have Liam with me, he won't let anything happen. And besides, even if I do die, I will come back." I say as I scan one wall of books. It's a huge library, this will take some time.

"Emily." My mom places her hand on my shoulder and turns me to face her.

"I don't want you to be so cavalier about your life. Even if you will come back. It will still be a painful and probably quite traumatic experience." My mom says.

"Mom, I'm not looking to die. I'm just not afraid of it anymore. It is unfortunately apart of my fate, I can't hide from it anymore."

My mom sighs.

"I'm worried about you honey." She says.

"I know you are mom. And I'm sorry about how I've been so casual about it lately. Seeing Hiroen and Marigold die right in front of me. It, affected me. Im still not sure if I'm fully over it yet. I just wish I could've done more for them.." I look up at my mom, she has tears in her eyes.

"You shouldn't blame yourself. Just know that I am here for you if you ever want to talk. And I love you dear. I love you very very much."

"I love you too mom. and don't worry about me. Seriously. We NEED these crystals if we want to stand a chance against the dragons." I say. She nods her head in agreement. I give her a heartfelt hug. Then I go back to scanning the bookshelves. "Ah hah!" I say as I replace a book on magic. "Well here's one on spell casting.. hmm but I'm not sure what power you'll favor.. You know what? We should get Marcus to help us with your test."