I glanced at her and held her hand, sending a telepathic message, "Don't you worry, I've got it."
'I know you do, but are you ready?'
"You tell me the difference between who I was before and now?" I responded calmly, not sounding like I used to. I know I'm different now, shifted into something built to fight. But since my wife is worried, I asked her, "Who am I to you, Mirxalyn?"
I could feel Mirxalyn's tension beside me. I could even tell she was doing her signature look, fighting herself whether to let me face it all or stop me. I closed my eyes, squeezing her hand on my shoulder, grounding her. She sighed heavily afterwards.
'Then you have to be prepared. The Knightrose crypt wasn't just any crypt. I've been there before, as a chosen one. And I've seen worse—the ugly truth of my family line.'
I wanted to say something, to reassure her, but I can't form any words. I'm curious what lies there. I could feel my pulse rising, not with fear, but with excitement. My curiosity kicked in, and whenever it does, nothing matters.
Then, my wife's father, Michael, his cold voice rang in my ear, saying, "Long before the Knightrose family became one of the strongest vampire families in our history." He caught my attention with his scrutinizing eyes, fixated on me. They were either worried or giving me a warning about learning their family truth, and then he continued, "Now that you hear how dark it is, are you still going to do what my father asked you?"
I calmed my excitement and looked at them. They all had mixed emotions: wondering if I would ever take it and worrying if something bad happened to me. I sighed, but I'm determined. "I do. If I'm the wife of the Knightrose family head, then it's my right to know the family roots, am I right?"
They looked at each other, worried, but understood where I was coming from. They all sighed in surrender, but Alysia was laughing. "You're definitely waking up to the person they tried to suppress." Amused, she clapped her hands before reminding, "You're a gamma now. You can do more than what they call the weakest omega. Don't forget that when you entered the crypt."
"Yes, Mama." With a smile, I assured her.
"Go ahead and prepare for your first trial." Michael dismissed me, smiling with hope, and I respectfully bowed to them and left. But on my way up the stairs, I heard him again: "Mirxalyn, protect your wife; you know how dangerous it is down there."
I didn't listen any further because I knew my wife would always be shadowing me, even though I didn't tell her. As soon as I entered our room, I dropped my things on the desk and went to the wardrobe to pack the necessary stuff I would need for tomorrow's travel. I was packing, thinking, and walking around the bedroom when my wife's presence appeared by the bed.
It was not surprising, but I jolted. She stared as if she was taking my clothes off. I glared, warning her. "Don't eye-rape me."
Mirxalyn was surprised and amused and started grinning. "You're my wife; I'm allowed."
I rolled my eyes and ignored her teasing. Instead, I changed the topic, asking, "Are they enough? I mean, did I miss something for tomorrow's travel?"
"Actually," she started, checking my things before removing a few, and then said, "You only have lights, food, water, and a few clothes. Also, a rope and a knife. These are for survival and defense since the rest will be improvised." Her voice was steady and serious, but there was care in it. Then she put her hands over my shoulders, staring at my eyes before giving me a piece of advice: "In there, you need to be careful, creative, and alert. The things you're going to face there are malicious and dangerous. They feed not only on fear but also on blood."
I frowned when she mentioned blood. Then I asked, "I thought they were incinerated, so why do they need blood?"
"To possess anyone who entered there. They feed from inside until they fully take over the body," she answered as she helped me pack my things into the camping bag.
"Did they possess you?" I asked as I watched her pack.
She paused and zipped my bag before answering, "They did, but it only lasted for a day. Mom said that they realized that I'm like them and stopped bugging me." She turned to me, serious. There was worry and warning in her eyes, but her words were different. She said, "They might have stopped, but it doesn't mean they haven't left something in me."
"Your beastly side?" I guessed carefully.
She nodded, sighing before adding, "That's why they were worried for you."
"I understand, but Hon, can I tell you something? Promise me not to tell anyone," I asked, a little nervous, but despite the hesitation and wonder, my wife nodded. I took a deep breath before telling her what I had been sensing. "I felt it. The entire Knightrose manor's perimeter is spreading peculiar moisture on the ground. And with each step I made, there was thickness in the air coming from the family mausoleum." My voice was a little shaky but serious. Then I admitted, "At first, I ignored it, but it got heavier until I used my malice. Somehow, it calmed."
Mirxalyn was quiet for a moment. She was digesting the information I shared with her before she took my hand and kissed our wedding ring. The ring glowed, and I frowned in wonder. But my wife smiled at me before explaining what it meant. "I activated the protection. It will notify me if you're in danger, and it will be your guiding light when you can't find one."
"Thank you, hon." I smiled.
"Also, that crypt had a different timeline." She gave me another piece of information about their family crypt. I listened attentively, and then she continued. They were either bringing you back to the past, showing you their bloody life, or letting you take a peek at a subjective future to get into your body." Her voice was cold and steady. It grounded my heart and my mind before she said, "Meaning the time there is unpredictable but limitless, so be careful."
"I will." I nodded as I watched her get up, grabbing the letter that I hadn't read yet.
"Read it. Change. We'll have dinner in thirty," she said, kissing my forehead before she left me in our bedroom.
I didn't read the letter. Instead, I went to the bathroom to change and freshen up. I soaked myself in the warm tub when the golden light appeared. It was floating around me as if it were as excited as I was. I giggled slightly, letting myself be engulfed by the warmth and sandalwood scent. It helped my tense body relax and my racing mind rest.
In a few minutes, I got up from the tub, muttering, "I'd better take my blades with me." By the time I was drying myself in front of the mirror, I found myself amazed by my gamma tattoos. "They were exactly what Lady Lunaria described." I absentmindedly traced them, recalling that my old wounds, which were once visible, were now all covered apart from my abdomen, where they had no choice but to remove my dead child in a C-section. Then I touched it gently, muttering softly, "I'm glad it remains as a reminder of the love I lost."
Then a pair of familiar protective arms secured my waist, and a soft kiss was tenderly pressed on my bare shoulder before whispering, "And the same kind of love leads you back to me."
"You're not mad about what I have given to someone else?" I asked, crying more.
"I'll be lying if I said I don't, but I can't change the past or the reason you had back then." Mirxalyn held me tighter as she answered, confessing her true feelings about it. Then she added, "But, Bernila, my love, you're here now, with me, and I'm not letting your past or anyone be the reason for our fall." Her voice was filled with sincerity and conviction. I leaned on her, crying more, and then she reminded me, "We choose to stay, didn't we? We choose each other, right?"
I pulled away from her hold, turned, and hugged her. I didn't care if I was nude, because all I needed was her. "Thank God, you're here. You'd found me, and you stayed loving me."
"Same here." Mirxalyn kissed my lips before reminding me about clothes and dinner. "Go, put on some clothes; dinner is ready. I'll wait for you there."
I nodded, and when she was gone, I leaned my head on the mirror, hand on my chest, and my lips were smiling in gratefulness. Then I whispered a prayer. "Thank you for letting me reunite and feel this love with her. Thank you."
***
The dinner was filled with laughter and teasing, but more importantly, a reminder to be cautious around the crypt. They joked about what they would do in case I got possessed or how they would lock me away from the others. I felt the warmth with them, and I couldn't help but look lovingly at my wife, mouthing my thanks to her.
But when we all retreated to our usual night routine, I went to the bedroom, grabbed my packed bag, the clothes I chose to wear tomorrow, and the letter before I went to my sanctuary.
"Hon, I won't be sleeping in our room tonight. I'll be at my sanctuary. I had to prepare something," I telepathed as I walked out of the manor, heading to my area.
'I see. Don't forget to sleep, because you might not be able to do that when you enter the crypt.'
"Noted. Good night," I responded as I entered my sanctuary, dropping my things on the couch before I went to my crafting area. I pulled out something that I had been hiding from everyone: cut fabrics and grated gemstones that I asked about once before with the smiths. Then I smirked, mumbling, "Let's finish what I've started."
Being in my zone, I sew the fabric with a special thread that I had kept for this moment. The thread was a thin, spider-like thread, but I made it hard like nylon by soaking it with grated minerals I bought from the smiths. With every stitch at each joined fabric, I spread the magical grated gemstones, making the connection much more secure than ordinary clothes. I was enjoying my craft when Reaper showed up, tapping my wall clock.
"Shit. It's late," I exclaimed, sighing before petting Reaper, and said, "Mirxa will lecture me about this." But being me, I didn't stop. I took a few minutes to take a break, reading books about the Knightrose's old history before working again. "Let's add one last touch."
In the same way I infused the magical smithing stones on my swords, I did the same procedure on the sewn fabric. But the only difference was the alchemy symbols and runes I drew on the A3-sized paper, where I laid the coat neatly folded, surrounded by grated gemstones representing all elements.
"By the ancient powers, strong and bright,
I invoke the power of a protective knight.
Shield by night, guard by light
Keep me safe from blinding threats.
Blessed with earth and fire, wind and sea,
No harm shall reach me.
I stand guard, day and night.
And so it's done."
When I recited my chant, the grated gemstones sparked according to the elements they represent: earth, fire, water, air, and blood. The last added element was the golden light, the spirit of my unborn child. It infused into the coat, which began to engrave protective symbols before fading as if it were still typical. When the blinding light stopped, I coughed from the smoke it released. I checked the coat and tested it, which I came to love because it was neither too thick nor too thin, but it was comfy enough to wear even in the sun. I know it because of the magical attributes I added to it.
"Hm, I've created another piece," I said proudly. Pleased with my craft, I prepared it along with my clothes for tomorrow. Then I started yawning, and Reaper helped me fix the couch into a comfy and portable bed. Feeling drained, I fell on the bed, mumbling, "Good night, Reaper. Wake me tomorrow morning at ten."