"His mother killed your father!"

"What did you just say?" I blinked in surprise.

"It's true, my child." She sagged and sat back on the settee where I had been sitting a while ago.

"Why...but..." I remembered Ralph's mother's face from the ring. She had looked at me with pure loathing. Even Ralph had once let out that his mother was difficult. But it still didn't make sense!

"She found out. Sent men in his search, in our search. And they...they found us in the forest of the Viridi, asked the coffeeshop owner, you know, Uncle Barak. Well, he alerted Matt. But it was too late. I ran with you and Amelia, but your father..."

"Stop!" I cut her off with a yell, "You are not making sense."

She let out a huge sigh and composed herself, "Your father and I, we were young and the Conquest had just begun. It just happened. He walked into my High Lady's tent instead of his own - was a bit bad with directions, your father." She allowed herself a small smile and something tugged in my heart, "And we met and we kept stumbling into each other after that. And things...things happened...and when we found that I was pregnant with you... we were scared. I asked help from my High Lady..."

"Una's mother," I mumbled.

"Yes. Well, I did not tell her whose child I carried and she helped me lay low. But... Egan's wife found out. Apparently, your father, wanted to be honest with her. And he... told her right before the Finale of the Conquest. But..."

I looked at the Chief's hesitant face and I was scared to find out the truth.

Not supposed to mean anything!

"...but he did not come. He was never seen after that. The Conquest went on without him and...when you were born, I just...I just knew that you harbored a rare power, which has been never known to the world. Already there was so much angst about people Born of Two Realms and along with that you were the most unique. First of a kind. You bring hellfire out of the ground, my child. And there could be many more things, much powerful otherworldly magic that you might never be able to let out of you."

Tears cascaded down her old-wizened yet beautiful face and I felt my throat choking up.

"I was scared. I knew I couldn't keep you in the Autumn Realm, being in such close proximity with Her Highness. She had her doubt about the father of my child being of another Realm than Autumn, but she helped me nevertheless. We were friends out of the court, you see," the Chief said and I thought of Una.

My mother had not trusted Una's mother just like I hadn't trusted Una with my secrets. History repeated itself!

"But then one night...your father disguised as a servant, came to fetch me - fetch us. How he managed to enter the Autumn Realm is a mystery but he somehow did. For you."

I sobbed now, unleashing everything that I had buried deep. He chose me over Ralph.

"He...got us both out. Egan had fled from his wife's clutches and he..." she broke down wildly, as if she was relieving the memories, "he was all wounded, when he came to us. His wife had him under arrest and well, tortured."

"Why?" I asked through ragged breaths.

"Because that's what she is. That's just how the High Lady of Aries House is. I am telling you, Eleni, that woman..." she sighed, restraining herself, "It's a relief he escaped. But it didn't last for long."

My chest heaved frantically. "She really got father killed?"

"Yes. She was forever on the lookout for us. Ransacked the whole Autumn and Summer Realms and that got us peaceful seven years together in the Spring Realm. Amelia's father, Matt, owed a Debt of Life to Egan and so, he helped us hide in the Spring Realm, in Liberan. You have no idea how much I miss our home in the woods, training you, gardening with you, watching you grow up, listening to all the stories your father told you..."

Through the blur of my tears, I got a glimpse of the woman, glimpse of my mother.

She continued, "And she finally found him, found us. You don't need to know the rest, my sapling, but just remember - Do not mingle with them. Forget that he is your half-brother. Just don't let that relation bother you."

Father was dead - it hit me hard - father was really dead.

It was quiet - too quiet in the small tent, with the occasional sniffles heard from the Chief. Even after hearing her tale, I felt like she was hiding something. Celia was seated in a corner, a fist over her mouth looking deep in thought. I should've let her go and not involve her in my family's saga.

"How's Amelia?"

I licked my chapped lips before subduing, "A brat as always, but she misses you."

"I miss her too."

"Are we going to forever hide it from her, that you aren't her real mother, that her parents died saving my father?" I glared at her.

"It's best she doesn't know. For her own sake." The Chief closed her eyes shut and let the tears flow unabashed.

"And you make the decisions for everyone, right?" I hissed. Something in me, something ugly peeking its way out.

My mother's eyes flew open and she looked at me, her face drenched in guilt.

"You are so grown up, Eleni. I...I wanted to be the one to train you, in your elements and weaponry but..." she wiped her face, pausing to get a breath, "Do you still practice?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Yes."

"I am sorry we weren't there..." She started and got up.

"Stop. Please." I took a step back and my fists clenched. I knew not what I felt in the moment.

I stole a glance at Celia, whose eyes were affixed on her Chief. I knew my mother was fierce, had always been. Tears were not her forte. Seeing her come so undone must be hard to digest.

"Well, I have heard enough and thank you for your hospitality again but I have to go now." I said turning to the opening of the tent.

But right then a man came in followed by Dylan, who gave me a nod and I averted my eyes from him.

I moved aside and they dipped their heads towards their Chief before the man spoke in an urgency. "Chief, we have a problem. There's a bird in our territory."

My face scrunched up at the ambiguity of his serious face and the problem. I watched Celia stifle a chuckle.

"What? The Chief bellowed. "Dylan if this is one of your jokes, I swear..."

"It's a Phoenix." Dylan said promptly and glanced at me, his eyes... mischief-less.

The Chief straightened up suddenly.

"On your guard. Alert everyone." She ordered; her face serious, not looking at me.

The Phoenix only meant one thing and I was suddenly scared of the Eclipses. And also, for the Eclipses.

***

Right when I entered back into the clearing, where the Chief's throne lay, a shadow passed over me in the purple darkness of the soon-to-arrive dawn.

But my eyes fell on the burly man standing right where I had stood a mere hours ago, and had found the Chief to be my long-lost parent. His broad shoulders taut with wariness of his surroundings, forehead furrowed thick and red eyes glowering at the two Eclipses standing beside him.

What was Ralph doing here?

I stole a glance at my mother's face, and saw what I expected. Rage.

"No one has ever entered our territory," Dylan whispered, standing behind I and Celia.

"Neither a Phoenix," Celia murmured besides me.

My eyes darted around the trees for I felt another presence around. Had he not come alone? But I dismissed it as Ralph's voice pierced the silence.

"Eleni," His eyes blazed with a wild mixture of emotions and I took a step towards him. How had he found me?

But a sudden rough hand on my shoulder, forced me to halt and I turned back to look at the Chief's black eyes. "Remember what I told you."

I gulped, as I looked back at Ralph. His mother had killed my father. Our already complicated relationship had entangled to a point of no return.

"Let her go." Ralph snarled and took a step ahead but the two men besides him, crossed their long spears in front of him, enraging him further.

"What is this place? Who are you?" He roared against the restrain and looked at me straight, "Why are you here?"

"They are the Eclipses." I answered him, realizing, I had never lied to him about anything. But maybe that was about to change.

His eyes widened as understanding and the weight of the situation clicked in him. I watched him looking all around himself, at the people of different colored clothes, handy with all sorts of weapons and lastly at the Chief.

A chill went through my spine - he knew not who the Chief really was.

Ralph nodded to himself, and directed his question to me again, "Are you going to live with them?"

"Yes." The Chief answered.

"No." I screamed at the same time and looked at the Chief's determined cold face.

Ralph's eyes flickered from me to her, and I could see thoughts bubbling in his head. In the short time that I knew him, I had come to understand that he was a man who gave a lot of thought to a problem at hand before coming to any conclusion. Unlike me.

He asked in a deep voice staring dead into my eyes, "You do not wish to be with them?" His eyes conveyed what he was saying. I just had to say the word.

"No." I answered.

"She doesn't know what's good for her," The Chief said in a frantic tone.

Ralph straightened up and crossed his arms around his chest in a slow movement. Coldness adorned his already tightened jaw. The guard-like men besides him suddenly seemed uncertain and withdrew their spears just a little. I was correct, being afraid for the Eclipses.

He narrowed his eyes at the Chief, his mouth twisting in a sneer, "And you know what's good for her?"

"She is a danger to herself out there. Even you know that, boy." My mother spoke steadfastly and I could see her clenching her fists. But her eyes suddenly softened.

Ralph looked like father.

My heart clenched for this woman, in the moment, who had lost her lover. Who had lost a family! No, I amended, she had chosen to lose the family.

Her gaze bore into him for a moment too long. But in a heartbeat, the Chief was back. Her jaw tight.

"Eleni said no." Ralph's face was neutral, but his tone was murderous.

"She cannot go out there, she is just a child." My mother replied. Pleaded.

"She..." Ralph uttered slowly, "is the First Daughter of the House of Aries."

I sucked in a huge breath. No. No.

His eyes turned apologetic as his gaze moved to me. Ralph knew I wasn't prepared. Would never be.

"Not even a crown can salvage her situation." My mother reprimanded.

"If Eleni doesn't want to be an Eclipse, then she can have what she is rightfully entitled to by birth. She has a home." He hissed. "And you do know that I have the authority to drag you in a court. But I am willing to let you go."

"I admire your courage, boy, threatening me like that but Eleni is born of Two Realms. Do you think your mother will approve of her and let her in your home?" The Chief took a step ahead, staring daggers at Ralph.

"Mother, stop." I shouted suddenly, something in me going loose at the mention of Ralph's mother. He should not know that. Not now. I said through ragged breathing, "I just want to finish what has been started. It doesn't have to include an army of Lueshas, or a title of the royal. I just need to take care of something and I will..." I spoke fast.

"Mother?"

My eyes snapped to Ralph, and I realized how badly I had blundered.

"Did you just call her...mother?" A deep frown on his forehead and eyes flickering with suspicion, Ralph's lips lay open.

Panic hit me, like never before. What had I done?

I was always hiding something. I always had to lie. Either to protect myself or others. But there was no going back.

"The most wanted person of the Four Realms, is your mother?" Ralph hissed, his face suspicious. Untrusting.

I cowered under the intensity of his gaze.

"This woman..." He trailed off, his eyes flickering with all the emotions he felt and failed to hide.

It was too much. I realized in the moment when his shoulders sagged, that this was harder on him, even more than it was for me. And I knew I had to keep lying to him. He should never find out the truth. Truth about our wretched family. At least not now.

Shirking off my mother's hand from my shoulder, I hurriedly crossed the distance between us. Fixing my glare on both the guards beside him, I jerked my chin at them to leave. And they did. Somehow, I just knew that any of Eclipses member would obey me.

Taking his limp hand in mine, I spoke, "I didn't know until they brought me here." I did not lie to you, Ralph.

I watched Ralph's lips tremble with rage and he roughly pulled his hand out of mine, directing his gaze at the Chief, "Where. Is. My. Father?"

The earth shook beneath me.

My eyes affixed on Ralph's face, I dreaded what was about to come.

And as predicted my mother's cold voice cut like a knife through the wintery air, and a chill ran up my spine -

"Dead."

I watched Ralph's face dying out like a candle on its last inch of wick.

"Ralph, we need to go from here." I spoke hurriedly, not knowing what else to do. Before he asked more questions, before my mother devastated him forever.

His body went stiff and he bent his head down to finally look at me.

"The last time... in the ring... I asked you to let go off me. But you did not. You fought for me, Ralph. Today I am asking you to go with me." I whispered, looking up at his constricted face. A thousand thoughts running in his head, one version of which - vengeful towards me.

"Eleni, I made the Eclipses for you. You cannot leave. Why can't you see that you will only be safe here." My mother's voice reached out to me but it seemed distant. Feeble. Unfamiliar.

It was tempting for a heartbeat. I wanted to sit with my mother and let her brush my hair, let her buy daggers for me, let her put me to sleep. The timing was never right. Never would be.

Father had chosen me over Ralph, but I would choose him over everyone. I had to. Wanted to. Isn't that why my father had told me all those stories about a lost boy, over and over again?

Only I knew the things that the world didn't know. Only I knew the bargain I had struck with Prince Nova.

A life for a life. He was going to kill someone.

My blood to win the Throne. He was going to get everything.

There were a thousand things I had to do. But my mother and her Eclipses would come later. She abandoned me. I would do the same.

"Later." I whispered to Ralph, my eyes filling with tears. I could see how desperate he was to ask all his unanswered questions to my mother. To find out how father died!

The red of his eyes danced, coming to a halt and he let loose a sigh. He closed his eyes for a long excruciating moment and when he opened them, renewed trust shone in them. Trust for me.

And in a heartbeat, I was startled when he jerked his right hand up in the air, and a loud roar was audible from the skies. A soft smile spread on my face, as I felt one with the power that was about to be unleashed. The Phoenix, Ruby, swooped down from the skies, as though waiting for this exact cue. Fire erupted everywhere.

The beastly fire of the darkest shade of red, different from all other fires, formed a shield between Ralph and me, and the whole of the Eclipses. I craned my neck back, to get one last glimpse of the Chief of the Eclipses, of the mother who had abandoned me, of the woman who had built a whole empire ...for me. She looked back at me, her face, defeated and etched with hurt.

She had saved me from the dungeons, her army had. But it wasn't enough of a reason to forgive her. Never would be.

Later.

Chaos erupted behind me, and Ralph took hold of my arm.

And like two lost, wayward kids, we ran.

***

Author's note: This chapter gave me a huge writer's block. The writing is inconsistent and I might not have done justice to the emotions of these characters. But I had to get this out anyhow in order to write the amazing chapters that are about to come (I am so excited for those). Someday later, I might come back and edit these chapters that contains "The Chief" (For the love of the Throne, Eleni's mother gave me a run for my money.)

But with Eleni, the plot twists never end, do they? So stay tuned for the most interesting part of the story, coming right up next! *wink*