🪻《A Revelation》🪻

Claude enveloped his arms tightly around Clodette, he was determined to protect her from any impending danger and his priority right now was know more about himself, his kind, the Nephilim.

And, the darkness within him. His mind was like a broken glass, his memories were like little fragments that needed to be mended however, he didn't know where to begin.

"If the moon-eyed had come back to their origins that means I can still find them!" Claude hummed, "In the Straits of Gibraltar."

"It was an Island lying west of the Straits of Gibraltar but—"

"But?" Claude inquired, urging Clodette to continue.

"I heard it disappeared, Marcus has sent many vampires to find them but to no avail. They said that Island doesn't exist, maybe Claudius told me incorrectly."

Claude sat up and Clodette turned to him; "But, you said the first time you discovered their village it was surrounded by a thick fog, created purely by magic! It might be the same with this Island"

"Believe me Claude, even humans explored the depths of the sea looking for this Island!"

"No, I can't give up now!" Claude shifted his body and sat quietly for a moment. Clodette embraced him from behind.

"Marvius must know something" Claude spoke. "I need to visit him."

"I will send him a telegram right away to inform him of your visit" Clodette swiftly walked toward the table and immediately wrote a letter. Claude came closer to Clodette and kissed the top of her head. "Thank you."

That evening, Claude didn't waste time to visit Marvius, he rode his horse to Marvius Woods as Clodette stared at his retreating back. Clodette thought it would be wise to let him speak with Marvius alone, Claude might be puzzled as she was and she wanted to grant Claude a moment to reflect as well. She wasn't the only one who missed Evangeline, Evangeline was like a mother to Claude, she could only imagine what he felt right now.

Clodette strode toward the garden and sat on the divan, staring absentmindedly on the yellow roses. Judith came with a tray of evening tea, she set the tea cup on the table with shaky hands.

"Are you okay Judith?" Clodette asked her as she picked up the teacup.

Judith wrapped her arms around her shoulders. "Isn't it too cold today, My lady?"

Cold? A cold wind blew and Judith trembled from the cold, at the same time Clodette's skin felt ice-cold. It was a preculiar weather, definitely not of nature! Clodette thought. As surely as she predicted it wasn't from nature but of magic.

"Tell everyone to bolt the doors tonight."

"Pardon, my lady?" Judith voice shook because of the cold.

"We have visitors!" Clodette nodded at Judith, urging her to go. Judith gave a small curtsy and sped up inside the mansion.

Two identical red-haired maidens stood in front of her, their emerald eyes showed no hostility. They were pale but enchanting, their eyes shone despite the black circles underneath it. They wore their hair long without any ornaments. The older one was named Roxane, she was wearing a crimson dress with a V-shaped black bodice that had intricate patterns of doves, emphasizing her waistline. Rosanna, the younger one wore her emerald dress with full skirts and sleeves that were tight at the top, but wider from the elbow to the wrist. Clodette stared at their melancholy eyes;

Those eyes, Evangeline's eyes.

"Why did you come here, Roxane and Rosanna?" Clodette acknowledge their presences.

The older one with a curly hair, Roxane spoke; "We have come to warn you."

"Warn me?" Clodette slowly stood up.

"Yes!" a high pitched voice spoke, Rosanna walked closer. "That man is not what you think he is."

Man? Are they talking about Claude? Clodette spoke inwardly. "What do you mean?"

Roxane stepped forward. "He has Claudius' insignia, he is the one in the prophecy!"

"You know this, but you ignored it. Our mother also knew of it," Rosanna spoke.

"He will end your life!" Roxane urged. "You have to run away from him!"

"Our mother's last dying wish was to protect you and as her daughters we will uphold to that wish!" Rosanna informed Clodette of Evangeline's wish.

"Evangeline? Tell me what do you know?"

Before the twins could utter another word a thick fog enveloped the whole garden. Clodette ran quickly in front of the twins, alarmed!

"Who is there? Show yourself!" Clodette exclaimed.

"If I do, you will be afraid child" An eerie voice came out from the darkness.

"I am not afraid!" Clodette said, defiantly!

"You should be!" As the voice spoke the fog scattered and dispersed, leaving a tall black clothed woman in front of them.

The woman was wearing a black veiled cloth, her youth long forgotten, she wore her silver hair long just above her waist, her white chiton hung loosely on her scrawny body. A silver sash wrapped tightly around her thin waist and a black himation fastened neatly by a crystal pin. A zirconia pin.

She slowly lifted her gaze at them but her eyes were hollow, big saucers that looked like two black holes! She raised her hand up and on her palm sat a big bloodied eyeball!

Clodette stepped backward as the twins grasped!

"Moirai!" Rosanna and Roxane exclaimed in unison while Clodette scanned the whole garden to see if there were other beings with them.

"I came alone!" The Moirai raised her hand and the eye ball was frantically rolling its eyes then it stopped at Clodette! Even though the Moirai spoke, her lips didn't move, Clodette stood her ground and replied;

"Why have you come?"

"To deliver a message." The Moirai tilted her head as if saying the obvious.

"What is it?" Clodette glared at her.

"Thy shalt be reunited once more but separated by revenge. Thy shalt take my hand and the truth will reveal itself"

Clodette couldn't understand what the Moirai meant.

Reunited but separated by revenge?

why do they kept on speaking in riddles!?

Clodette hurriedly approached the Moirai to ask more questions when the ground began to vibrate like an earthquake which made Clodette stopped her tracks to steady herself! Suddenly, the ground broke into several pieces and created an earthen wall between Clodette and the moirai!

Clodette turned to the twins, who casted the enchantment.

"Wait! Wait!"

"No, Clodette! We have to run!" Roxane spoke, hastily.

The moirai stepped forth and placed her scaly in hand on the earthen wall. The wall began to crumble into dust, she quickly darted toward Clodette but Rosanna casted a barrier spell, slowly the moirai's movements!

"Child, you are far too young to face me! KNEEL!" The moirai's eerie voice brought Rosanna to her knees. It felt like gravity shifted and landed on Rosanna!

The moirias had the ability to command anyone with just their voices, however Rosanna fought the enchantment with her will! The harder she fought, the stronger the enchantment grew, she coughed up a mouthful of blood!

"Rosanna!" Roxane exclaimed, concerned about her sister.

Clodette hurriedly lunged toward the enemy! The moirai waved her hand and a golden tie appeared and chained Clodette's body! She fell down on the ground, trying to free herself from the chains but the chains were laced with enchantment!

"Arghhh!" Clodette screamed as the chained tightened!

Roxane muttered her incantation, her arms full of rune tattoos gleamed, she quickly knotted a spell! The golden threads moved rapidly as she quickly formed a golden spear! She darted toward the moirai, who held her hand up at the same time muttered her own incantation, a big black scythe appeared! She quickly blocked Roxane's attack. She immediately stepped back as Roxane helped Rosanna to her feet, The twins swiftly muttered an incantation in unison!

The fourth knot of spells.

A golden blinding light came, encircling the moirai! As the twins finished the enchantment, golden flames immediately rose from underneath the moirai and burned her!

The moirai stood unaffected by the flames, the twins widened their eyes in disbelief!

"I told you, you are far too young!" The moirai revealed her gleaming rune tattoos, the symbols were different from the current rune symbols the witches' used. It was more ancient and more powerful.

The moirai weaved her spells in silence and formed a barrier spell, it protected her whole body from the golden flames and with the wave of her hand the golden flames ceased.

She then weaved another symbol, it was unfamiliar!The twins immediately muttered their incantation to counter the attack! The moirai weaved an ancient symbol, the azure light traced the star symbol and blue flames immediately scattered and encircled the twins! Before it could devour the women, a golden light flashed and made a barrier around them.

"Who?" The moirai spoke, unfazed.

He held his cane up and thrust it firmly on the ground, His long auburn cloak brushed the dust as he walked.

"Marvius!" The twins exclaimed.

Marvius immediately spoke "disperge" and the blue
flames scattered and dispersed! The twins looked relieved that Marvius had come!

They immediately ran toward Clodette and uttered "dimittis" the golden chained then disintegrated into dust. Marvius eyed the moirai cautiously, she was a powerful being, a deity. One should be careful in meeting such a being, if one do encounter them then he might be already on his way to tartarus, the deepest of hell!

"Oh great one! Why have you come?" Marvius spoke respectfully.

The moirai opened her hollowed mouth but her lips didn't move just an eerie voice came out! "That lamia —give her to me."

"I am afraid I can't do that, great one!" Marvius retorted.

"Then we have nothing to talk about!"

The moirai raised her scaly arms and her rune tattoos gleamed brightly, like blue stars in the sky. The tattoos immediately flew in the air and encircled her, she then began to weave her spell!

Marvius immediately took out his rune crystal and quickly wrote an ancient symbol on his skin, the crystal burned the upper layer of his skin, revealing a red blister and blood oozed but no matter the pain, Marvius endured it. When he finished, the symbol scalded and turned black, it gleamed bright and flew in the air as he weaved his spells.

The moirai created a flower like symbol with an eight-pointed star inside it, an octagram. The blue light immediately traced the symbol when the moirai stretched her arms it multiplied into three symbols in front of her and several knives appeared from inside it, ready to strike!

With one word "ignis" the blue gleaming knives shot rapidly toward Marvius! He immediately raised his hands in-front of him and thrust them forward, creating a magic barrier, a golden shield! The twins wasted no time to aid Marvius, they quickly weaved their spells as they uttered their incantation!

"With the knot of five, my will shall drive!" The rune tattoos swiftly flew in the air and created an overhand knot, a symbol for her magical bow! The knot gleamed brightly and formed a bow, Roxane lifted her arms as though holding a bow and released a thunder-like arrow toward the moirai! The moirai waved her hand and weaved another spell, this time she knotted the golden threads to a pentagram with ancient symbols appeared in all sides of the star! It devoured the thunder-like arrow and rebound a powerful blue light aiming for them!

Marvius then muttered his incantation as he weaved a crossed star symbol, it released a glass like barrier, but the moirai's blue light was too strong for them. Marvius stood his ground and forcefully thrust his hands forward, trying to block the attack! Roxane fired another arrow which struck the moirai's right hand!

"Got you!" Marvius yelled in excitement, the moirai glared at him as he shrunk back and muttered under his breathe "Oh great one!"

Rosanna and Roxane fired an arrow simultaneously as the moirai avoided the impact, Marvius held out his hand and knotted the sixth knot of spells.

"By the knot of six, the spell I fix!" A silver light shot through the heavens and struck the moirai! She screamed in agony, the moirai was afraid of the heavenly light and Marvius knew it!

Before the moirai's body incinerated, a slithering hand soon grasped her around the waist, pulling her to safety! The man waved his hands and a huge decagram appeared, he didn't even needed to weave a knot to create the symbol! The ten pointed star was gravitating above them as it consumed the heavenly light! A small flickering light danced beneath the sudden shift and a tink of metal silence, the figure suddenly came to view as his identity came to Clodette's gaze.

Marvius and the twins stood awestruck! Clodette's eyes widened as she came to recognize the man, his black hair shone under the moonlight.

Clodette's mouth opened slightly. Her whirlwind emotions seemed to push into her throat, her heartbeats accelerate while her hands clamp with nails digging into her palms and with a trembling voice, and a hint of hesitation she managed to squeeze his name through her lips, "Claude" her whispered voice seemed to travel into the wind and the man slowly turned to face her.

"You finally appeared and showed your true colors!" Marvius matter-of-fact tone shuddered Clodette as if he knew all along. Claude remained silent, his azure eyes fixated at Clodette.

The moirai bowed low "My liege!" she slowly moved closer to Claude in submission. Clodette watched the subtle wave of Claude's hand and the moirai's torn limbs were restored!

"Are you done pretending now?" Marvius spoke hashly. Claude smirked and tilted his head, ignoring Marvius and continued to stare at Clodette.

Clodette's whole body trembled as her mind was in disarray, she stepped forward just as her heart skipped a beat. Cloddette slowly shook her head, denying the truth in front of her, It's not Claude, not Claude, right?

"Clodette, come here." Claude finally spoke as he raised his hand, enticing her to come.

A soft scuffling of her shoes against the concrete, the heat within her burning with questions.

"Claude, what's happening—?" Clodette's small voice was covered with anxiety. The man she loved was in front of her but something was different!

"She will not!" Marvius spoke, breaking Clodette's trail of thoughts.

"What is going on?" Clodette spoke. "Claude, what is happening?"

"That man is not Claude!" Roxane exclaimed. "He was pretending all along to gain your trust!" Her high-pitched voice halted Clodette's strides, her worried eyes bouncing on Claude's expressionless face.

Claude remained silent as his eyes fixated on her still intent on calling her to him. Placing herself between them, Roxane hoped Clodette would realize it as well!

"What—" Clodette grasped, she turned to Claude. Her eyes pleading him to tell her that everything was a lie. "It's not true, right?"

"I am afraid it is." Claude dead face finally changed tone, a smirk confirming everyone's worry but a heavy punch on Clodette's stomach. Her hands began to slowly drift down and she remained unmoving. Claude's mesmerizing smile fades as a setting sun when he noticed the Clodette would likely to stay put.

Clodette wanted him to deny but all hope ceased when Marvius decided he had enough! The very base her world came toppling down, cold truth reverberating through her and jolted enough sense into her lost mind.

"You are here for revenge! Aren't you—Claudius!" Marvius spat out angrily!

Claudius? Who? Claude is Claudius? Clodette's mind was in a tangled mess. She couldn't register what was happening but all she knew was the man in front of them was revealed to be Claudius!

But how could it be? "I killed him—" Clodette suddenly lowered her eyes and shook her head violently, wrapping her arms around herself.

Her inner self turmoiled with disbelief and confusion as she questioned herself if the slain man was indeed Claudius. Suddenly, a light chuckle gathered them all as eyes darted toward Claude. He found it amusing as each of them standing on the edge.

"That is true, you killed Claudius." Claude reverted his attention to Marvius. "You are right about my revenge! but there's one thing you're wrong about"

"and what is that?!" Marvius exclaimed.

"Claudius is dead" Claude turned to Clodette. "His soul cannot reincarnate because he used black magic"

Claude waved his hands before them, his fingers danced a few inches to each side and a building thick fog succumb his whole being as such he spoke meticulously, his laughter still haunts them all.

The fog began to dissipate, the fog slowly faded revealing his feet, wearing a golden bracelet in either side of his ankles. And slowly revealing his whole figure! He's taller with broad shoulders, his loosely braided long black hair rested on his right shoulder. He wore a long golden and viridescent satin chemise with sleeves and a draped azure cloak, that was embroidered with precious gemstones. His features were more pronounced, he had a narrower and an angular well-defined jawline, his eyes were of golden hues that scrutinized them with animosity and on his right ear dangling, a single silver alexandrite earring.

He was mesmerizing.

Marvius stood unmoving as the revelation began to unfold. Roxane had her hands clasped on her mouth, preventing herself to make a sound and Rosanna looked at him wide-eyed.

Clodette couldn't believe who she was seeing, her eyes welled up with hot tears, her tears dropped one by one as the man spoke with his mellifluous voice.

"I told you before no matter how many lifetimes passed, two intertwined souls will find each other."

Everyone went silent like the dead of night, in a shaking, broken whisper only but a name escaped Clodette's lips.

"Amadeus!"

🪻《Author's Note 》🪻

The villain of story finally revealed himself. I want to apologize those who liked Claude /Amadeus for turning him into the villain. 🙏🏻

He does have a great excuse of being one. So please stay tuned for the next chapter of Claude's back story!

🪸 A/N: I will use "Amadeus" for Claude from this point on.

🍂| Questions of the day:

Will Clodette still accept Claude now that she learned he was using her for revenge?
Is he the one who would kill Clodette as stated in the prophecy? 

What are your thoughts? Please comment below and don't forget to vote!

Love, Julia 🥀