Vale:
I stood there, bewildered as our eyes met. Part of me, a less…conflicted part of me was elated to see him standing there. With my father…his father, and his brother.
Tobias.
I cared about Tobias. Far more than I ever realized. It took him dying and then coming back to see that. But regardless, of how I came to this realization, those feelings were there. And that would never change. I was so glad to seem him alive and relatively well considering the circumstances surrounding…well…us and our current lifestyles.
Despite that less conflicted side of me, there was bigger part of me…a blaringly alarmed and untrusting, and even angry…part of me that could only think about one thing; where was my mother?
The fact that she was nowhere to be found-even now. It didn’t make sense maybe, but…in my potentially irrational mind, I couldn’t think of a reality where Tobias would even be here and mum not.
I just couldn’t shake that feeling….that gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach, as I watched him stand there, visibly glad to be with his family again…that he knew something about why I missing part of mine.
“Mimar,” Ares voice, though naturally deep, and guttural, spoke softly to me. I could hear the concern in his voice. I didn’t even realize that he was standing in front of me until I felt the gentle squeeze of his hand against mine, reminding that he was there.
“Ares.” I breathlessly said his name, ignoring the weariness in his eyes, though it was clear by that look that he had seen something in mine. Something that was worrisome.
“Acalmar.” He cooed.
Ares seemed to realize the extent of my frustrations before I did. I acknowledged him, but my mind was still on finding answers.
“Ares…my mother…” I whispered. “She’s not here.” I could feel the breath leaving my body and the tears flooding my eyes as my fear began to overwhelm me.
“Valene.”
I heard Tobias say my name and immediately I clutched Ares’s arm to calm me. I didn’t know what I was feeling toward Tobias but I did know that my fear was burning like fuel to feed my anger.
My eyes fell on him. Whatever Ares was sensing, either Tobias just completely ignored it or didn’t see it at all.
Vale, don’t-”
Before Ares could caution me not to do anything rash, I walked away from him and stood there, waiting for Tobias to approach.
“Vale, I’m glad that you’re alright.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” I asked. “You know something.”
It wasn’t a question. It was obvious to me that he did.
“Valene, I know that you have a lot of-”
Before he could finish his sentence, I had his arm twisted behind his back and his face slammed against the table.
“Valene!” I heard dad say. I could hear Ares coming for me.
“Where is she, Tobias? Where is my mother?”
“Va-Vale, if you just let me up, I-.”
“I don’t know that I should,” I quipped. “You know something and you are taking your bloody precious time telling me what it is.”
“I…it’s not like that, Vale!” Tobias struggled against my hold on him, but I knew that he wasn’t trying to really get out. I’m sure that he could have if he really wanted to. Tobias was powerful after all.
“Vale, the kid is here for a reason.” Ares touched my shoulder. “Everyone who really matters is here now. You let him up, I’m sure he’ll be willing to talk.” He leaned down, his lips against my ear. “Let him up, amor.”
I could feel my grip loosening as I move to back away from him. Ares is right. Maybe. I should let him up, and I should allow him space to talk-to explain himself.
I had my doubts though.
When I moved a bit slower than anticipated I felt Ares take my hand, and wrap his hand around my waist. He gently pulled me back. Reluctantly, I allowed him to take hold of me and control my movement. I knew that he was looking out for my best interest.
Tobias stood up, looked at Ares nodded. “Thanks, big guy.”
“You should be talking to her, now.”
Tobias sighed and then looked down at me. “I know.”
“What happened to her, Tobi?”
“She’s safe,” he said. I could tell that he was stressed. “The old man would never hurt her. Not if he doesn’t have a replacement.”
“What does that mean?”
He looked at me sheepishly, then began to blush a bit. “What can I say? The man has a type.”
“What the bloody hell is that supposed to mean?” I heard dad growl from across the room.
“Well, you know they were a thing back in the day,” Tobias said. “The guy has a thing for…extremely, and I mean extremely powerful women. There are only two that he knows of in this world.” He looked at me, “Your mom…and you. Mind you, I believe that if he could he would take you both and just…” he grimaced and shivered in repulsion.
“We get it.” Ares spoke with indignation and impatience. I felt his grip around me suddenly tighten.
I glanced at him. Despite the frustration and anxiety, I found amusement in his reaction to Tobias’s remark.
Shaking my head, I returned my attention to Tobi. “What does he want, Tobias? What does he want with her? Why?”
“Well, it’s like I said, Vale, he just wants her and you honestly.” He exhaled, and that’s when he averted his gaze for a second. “But…there is something else…something that…that I’ve heard him talking about. It’s not set in stone-this decision but he is adamant on finding a solution to his problem.”
“What problem? What is it?” Dad cut in impatiently.
“He wants to…” he glanced shamefully at his dad and his brother. “Eradicate every wolf, every vampire, ever…shifter that was created by the moon goddess.” He said. “The only problem is…well, he needs her blood to make this happen. Sure, all of the children of the night are made of her but…”
“They aren’t direct descendants.” I realized what he was trying to say. “Well, that’s impossible to find. There’s no way that he’d find something like that. That would mean that the goddess mother would have walked the earth. That she had actual children with someone. I…that-” I stopped as I looked at Tobias, his expression told of something else that he wasn’t telling. “That’s impossible. Right? That-Tobias, that’s impossible.”
“No, no, Vale. It’s not.” he said. “Something that your mother didn’t tell you, because I don’t even know if she knows but…she is a descendant.”
I couldn’t…I couldn’t register this. This…it was too much. “That…that’s ridiculous. That…doesn’t make any sense. No!”
“Yes…and apparently the relation is…far closer than,” he shrugged. “Than it may seem.”
“So…so, you’re saying…”
“Yes, Valene,” Tobias answered the question that I could just not bring myself to finish. “That you’re a granddaughter of the moon goddess.”