The Chimera (Legends of the Dark Creatures Book 2)
Chapter Three: We Don't Choose Our Family

In all his fifty thousand years, Richard had never been interrogated by humans; at least he never let them. He was in Samantha’s room, seated on a small comfortable couch next to the study table while Samantha, Ashley, and Sara--who had just arrived some minutes ago--sat on the bed. Their piercing eyes were full of questions.

“So where do I begin?” Richard asked, turning his gaze towards Ashley.

“How ’bout you start with the truth?” Ashley said. She was trying her best to hide her anger but Richard didn’t even need to sense her aura in order for him to sense it.

“Ashley... Guys, everything I have been telling you has been the truth,” Richard said.

“But it hasn’t been the whole truth,” Samantha stated. “You didn’t tell us that Ethan was your brother.”

“Half brother,” Richard snapped. “That monster has never once been and never will be my brother. We don’t choose our family. Ethan and I only share the same father, nothing more.”

Realizing how much he had raised his voice, Richard said, “I am sorry. Look, even I didn’t know Ethan and I were related until that day; when Ethan took away everything from me. The day Ethan fed me his blood and killed me, I woke up on the shores of an island. There Ethan had left me a vial with human blood and a note telling me the choices I had to make... and at the end of that letter he wrote ‘I will always be here, little brother.’ and believe me, he didn’t mean those words in a ‘brotherly’ context.”

“So you’ve never really believed him?” Ashley asked.

“Anyone who could have confirmed whether or not Ethan is my half-brother is dead,” Richard answered.

He saw Sara making some signs with her hands. She was asking him how he was sure Ethan was his half-brother.

“Well, Ethan has never been one to lie," Richard chuckled. "You know it’s funny... You could say that without Ethan, I would have never existed. It was a famous story in my kingdom. My father and mother couldn’t conceive a child. It is said that my father even sought many witches and sorcerers but none of them could figure out why he could not have a child. One day, Ethan was brought before my father, and with his magic, Ethan broke a curse that was once placed on my father... No one in the kingdom knew who put that curse on him. After the curse was removed, I was born and the rest of my story you all know...”

“Not all of it,” Ashley said, standing up.

“Ashley, I think Richard is telling the truth,” Samantha intervened.

Suddenly, Ashley smiled at Richard and said, “No I meant, Richard has lived for over fifty thousand years... Imagine the many stories he is yet to tell us.”

Richard felt his heart hit his chest hard. Was it just him? When Ashley said the word ‘us’ was it just him who felt like she meant to say ‘me’?

He shook his head and smiled privately.

“In any case”

Richard smiled when Ashley went into something he was now calling ‘leader mode’. She took charge of the meeting and everyone, including Richard, was kin to listen to what she had to say.

“Ethan is back,” she said. “And honestly, even I don’t know what this means for everyone. Richard, when Ethan came by my house...”

“Wait, he what?!” Samantha shouted.

“Sam! Is everything all right in there? You don’t want to wake up your little brother do you?” Samantha’s mother called out from downstairs.

“Sorry Mom,” Samantha replied.

“Ethan came to your house and you didn’t think you should have mentioned that first. You never tell me about the guys that come into your life... Just like Richard here,” Samantha whispered to Ashley.

“Well, um...”

Ashley quickly turned to Richard. Still embarrassed, she said, “Richard, Ethan said that I would be of great use to him someday... Do you have any idea what he planning?”

Richard stood up and held his chin thoughtfully.

“You are the first half-breed to ever exist, Ashley,” Richard said. “Not only is your magical signature unique but you might have other special powers that only someone like Ethan might replace useful. As to what Ethan’s plan might be... knowing that it isn’t something good is enough for me to want to stop him.”

“But can we?” Samantha asked. “That dagger was supposed to have kept him in an eternal sleep right? Can you make another one?”

“Not without sacrificing lives,” Richard answered. “Besides, Ethan probably has the dagger now and the Ethren stone embued in it.”

“So, there is nothing we can do?” Ashley said.

“I’ll replace a way,” Richard replied, holding her hand.

She looked at him the same way she did last night.

“I know you will, Richard,” Ashley replied.

The was a brief silence until Samantha said, “Um... Are we missing something here?”

A knock came from the door and Luke and Claire came in.

Richard let go of Ashley and stood near the window.

“Why does everyone look so serious?” Luke said.

Ashley was about to speak when Samantha held her by her shoulder and said, “I take this one, Ashley. You guys might want to sit down.”

∞∞∞

“So mean we failed... even after everything, we failed?” said Claire, her eyes becoming as red as her hair.

Samantha had explained everything that had happened to them; at least all that she knew and understood.

“How is this possible?” Luke said. He walked to Richard.

“I may not have been there but didn’t you guys defeat Sebastian?” Luke continued.

“We did,” Ashley replied. “We all thought it was over. We even made sure Prometheus’ Orb was as far from the Earth realm as...”

Ashley paused and Richard saw realization dawn on her face. He truly wondered why it took her this long.

“Richard... It can’t be, right?” Ashley asked.

Richard just nodded his head.

“What can’t be?” Luke asked.

“S-Shira... She was the last person to have the Orb. She said that she would take it to one of the hidden realms and let it stay there until the solstice in Arzyria was over.”

“So your alien friend was the one who betrayed us,” commented Samantha.

“No, something must have happened to her... she couldn’t have...”

“But she did, Ashley,” Richard interjected. “I was just in Arzyria. I only stayed there for a short time but I learned that she was banished from her kingdom and I wasn’t able to replace her. From what her husband told me, it turns out that Sebastian had poisoned her child and the only cure was Ethan’s blood.”

“So she had no choice?” said Ashley.

“She did have a choice,” Richard said. “And I may not like it but she made the right one.”

Richard looked out the window. All this while he had been projecting a small burst of power, trying to detect if Ethan was anywhere near the house. Ethan had come to Ashley first. At first, Richard thought it was because of her connection with him but if that was the case, Ethan would have killed her just out of spite for Richard. No... Ethan needed her for something. But what?

“You okay Richard?” Ashley asked, walking towards Richard.

“I know I should say I am fine but... when I fought a year ago Ethan something was off,” Richard said.

“How so?”

Richard remembered that battle clearly. Ethan wasn’t himself that day. For one thing, he wasn’t even fighting at full strength. Fighting Sebastian had caused Richard to even invoke his Kadan form; a form he only used when he fought Ethan over a year ago.

“You know what, a lot has happened... Maybe it’s just getting to me,” Richard said.

Everyone else was locked in conversation. Richard and Ashley joined them.

“Oh right,” Ashley exclaimed, gripping Luke’s hand. “How’s Adrian? I heard you and Robert went to see him yesterday.”

“We tried,” Luke said. “But when we arrived at his house, a bunch of men and women in black suits wouldn’t even let us get past the gate. I am sure they were Hunters but other than that, I haven’t heard from Adrian. He isn’t even picking up my calls.”

“I see,” Ashley said. “What about you Sara? You are a Hunter can’t you replace out if...”

Ashley stopped when Sara smiled at her.

“Right,” Ashley said.

Sara was a mystery to Richard. She was a Blood Seeker. Within that small body lay magic whose sole purpose was the destruction of supernatural creatures. Richard didn’t remember much of what happened when he went his Fire Demon form last night but apparently, Sara had activated her blood seeker and helped Ashley.

Sara was working as a Hunter under the name Spencer. She also never told them about the Blood Seeker mark she carried on the back of her neck. They found out last night and were probably trying to decide what to do with her.

“Richard”

Once again, Ashley was using a tone that grabbed everyone’s attention.

“What, if I may ask, were you and Ethan doing in Ravenhill a year ago?”

“I wasn’t here at first,” Richard said. “I simply got word that Ethan was. So I came here.”

“And Ethan? Do you know what he was doing here?”

“Ethan has been wandering the earth and the realms for as long as I can remember,” Richard replied. "It's impossible to tell what that monster is ever up to at any given time."

“There must have been a reason,” said Ashley, making a very thoughtful face. “Ethan knew you had the dagger, he knew you were coming but he didn’t try to leave. Why?”

“Maybe he underestimated Richard,” Claire said.

“Maybe or maybe he wanted something... something in this town...”

“We can speculate all we want but I know it will all be in vain,” Richard said. “Ashley?”

Ashley wasn’t even listening to him in fact, she was so lost in thought that she wasn’t even paying attention to anyone. Ashley had the mind of a strategist and looking at her now reminded Richard of how Ethan would always be before going into a battle.

“It isn’t raw power that wins the battle, Richard.” Ethan would say. ”Knowing your enemy, getting inside their minds, predicting their moves... that’s how I have always won my battles.”

“We need to get to know him,” Richard finally said.

Everyone, including Ashley, turned to him.

“What do you mean?” Ashley said.

“For fifty thousand years, I have hunted Ethan,” Richard said. “But never have I learned anything personal about him. I know he commands the power of ten supernatural beings, I know the weaknesses of each creature that defines him but I don’t know his weaknesses. I don’t how old he is, what his goal is, how many allies he has, how much power he possesses, what his limits are...”

“Richard’s right,” Ashley said.

“A lamentable fate befalls all who venture into battle without knowing their enemy. But even more tragic is the fate that awaits those who seek to fight an enemy who fully understands them,” Samantha suddenly said.

“Wow there Sage Sam,” Luke blurted out. “What’s with all the ominous words?”

“Just something I might have come across online,” Samantha replied. “Listen we have to be careful not to let Ethan know what hit him. Richard, Ethan taught you everything you know which means that he is able to predict your moves.”

“So what do you suggest--” Richard said.

Richard suddenly sensed a strange, yet familiar, presence outside the house. Ashley must have also sensed it because she followed Richard just after he dashed out of the window.

The two of them stood on the road.

“Show yourself, Talya,” Richard commanded, breathing becoming rapid.

“My, my, you haven’t changed my love.”

A thick dark fog gathered in front of Richard and materialized into Talya.

Richard’s eyes widened when he felt it. What was this feeling? It was coming from Talya and it was... no... could it be?

“While your plan to replace out more about the Chimera is all well and good, I might have a much more permanent solution to your problem,” Talya said.

Her deadly brown eyes turned towards Ashley.

Richard raised his left hand and placed it in front of Ashley, sending a clear message.

“Don’t worry love, I am not going to hurt your little half-breed friend,” Talya said.

“You said something about a more permanent solution,” Ashley said in a low voice. Clearly, she could feel the menacing aura emanating from Talya.

“Don’t worry, child,” Talya said. ”He will come to you.”

“Who will?” Ashley asked.

Talya looked first at Richard. She didn’t say anything and eventually, she waved her hand and disappeared into thin air.

The rest of Ashley’s friends came running out of the house.

“Guys, what happened?” Claire asked. “You two just whooshed out without warning.”

Richard and Ashley simply stared at each other.

"‘My love’ huh?” Ashley stated, looking at Richard with her hand crossed.

Luke’s jaw fell. He obviously misinterpreted what Ashley had said.

“I can explain that too,” Richard replied.

Ashley sighed and said, “So who is this person who is coming?”

“I don’t know,” Richard replied. “But, I do know that apart from Marina Thalassa, Talya is the only other Sea-Witch ever to be hailed as extremely powerful. Her magical abilities might even exceed Ethan’s. If she says she has a solution then she does. Whoever this ′he’ is... He will come.”

“Besides, you felt it, didn’t you? It’s been quite some time since she used her magic so Talya probably still can’t control her aura very well.”

“Yes, I did, Richard. I felt it,” Ashley replied.

“Okay time out guys!” Samantha shouted, her cheeks almost becoming red. “First, who is Talya? Why is Ashley calling you ‘her love’? What is it that you both ‘felt’? And what in the world is this solution to our problem?”

“Didn’t you hear what Richard said?” Ashley replied with a smile. ”He will come to us.”

***

And with that... the plot thickens.