After attending the soiree hosted by Hetlores Floria sat in the carriage passing the capital of Zarafeth where the palace was located and most of the administrative work of the empire took place . Zarafeth had moderate climate except in the winter where the temperature falls to its worst , anyway best for humans as it doesn't last more than two months but then was she human ? No infant none of her family members were humans, her mother who was from the fairy land which only a few know of its existence where humans praise it in their tells . Her mother Alice was a fallen fairy who had lost her powers except for sensing emotions and tapping into someone thoughts which had passed down to her.
Her mother died giving birth to her . Was it because she was more human after being exiled from the land that her body found it hard to hold the child of a meren or was it something else . Whenever Floria tries to talk to her father he would tell her that it was something to do with the violations of the fairyland rules . But it never helped from the curiosity and the need of knowing her mother .
She now had a loving step mother Lily who was a witch ..... A Black witch . People often tell that the black witches are vicious and were good for nothing but there were some exceptions like her mother who had been protecting and loving her like one would for their own . Floria had often been threat for her family where she would turn dark angelic going rampant killing anyone for their sins , her eyes ball would turn all white while losing her senses of who what and where. Her mother Lily then onward had always taken care of keeping her away from any thing that would trigger her dark angelic side . It was only when the merean side of her activated she stopped going rampant. Her mother had initially placed some charm stones on her to keep her away from the eyes of people but now that she had stepped out in the world they avoided charm stones to keep from people suspecting.
Her brother Jace Saipon who was five years younger to her was turned out to be a merman as the black witch traits pairing with the sirnen trait had cancelled leading him to be a merman.
Her father was a meren was ninety seven years old who still appeared to be of forty years old while her mother appeared thirty five. Trailing out of her thoughts broke when she heard coachman knock at the window
"Milady we have reached the Saipon mansion"
Getting down the carriage her feets paddled towards the mansion .
Saipon mansion was not as big as the Dukes or Lords but it was decent one with her father who was a merchant who selled the colth especially the clocks made out of various animal's skin made good some of the money to handle the expenses of keeping servants as well while she runed a library which was what she did for her interest. Initially from what she remembered they lived in the firestark town where the Montanores and they used to be neighbors until they were given the position on the Duke.
Montanores were always the one belonged from the family who had ties with the royal ones . It was told that the Felix Montanores elder brother of Salvia's father Arthur Montanore was a close friend of the former king that he had been offered the position of the Duke. Tragically after few years the King was killed and not long when the Duke followed it was quite suspicious but nothing was found after the investigation . As the Dukes had no child take up the position was then passed down to his brother Arthur Montanore. Then there the Kingdom was passed down to the elder Prince ...
" oh Sweetheart you're here " she saw her mother making her way towards her as the maid removed her overcoat. Her mother hugged her asking
" how did you find the soiree , met someone did we now" her mother Lily gave her an playful smile which only she knew what held underneath was worry. Nevertheless she replied with a slight smile " it was good Mrs. Hetlore asked about you " she told her mother heading toward the tea room.
When they reached the room her mother dismissed the maid waving her hand . She saw blue light cover the room before they dissapeared she heard her mother say
"Tell me you were careful" she smiled at her mother telling "yes mom , I met a few people and none of them suspected me though I met some people " she told while pouring tea in the cups she continued handing her mother cup of tea "I met the left hand of the prince Warnner Davies I found him suspecting me . He gave me something to drink probably to check if I was a witch" she saw her mother looking at her while sipping the tea gracefully moved her hand on her pulse to check if she was alright "I see they must be keeping their ears on due to the recent incident " she had heard about the incident happened at the firestark town " was it the about the attack happened on the king while in firestark " her mother replied moving her head in negative "No apart from the attack happened their was the land seems to forbidden of the magic " frowning she asked "do you mean that one can't use magic there ..So the king was attacked there "
"It is , Flor don't run around you know that right? I'm worried that your father has went there for some work at such place " feeling slightly anxious I asked mom
" where is Jace " Lily sighed at the recklessness of the boy saying "you know how he doesn't listens to anyone , Flor I'm counting on you as Jace isn't mature but you to know whom to be in eye of " said her mother placing her hand on Flor's hand.
" Mom I... I met Salvia today at the Hetlores place " Lily looking at her stutter understood what Floria was feeling right now but to the fact that Lily knew if Alice would have been at her place had done the same to protect her child . When Lily had first met Alice she appeared to be more like human only until she felt the heavy wave of the energy in her soul , Lily knew how even the white witches would never spair such worth soul she knew the lady would be hunted to the no ends thus she thought of helping her with the stone to suppress the essence of her soul and shoo her away but the women was aloft persistent to stick around which she got use to of. Floria was like Alice naive and soft hearted who believed some must be good but that she knew how dirty the world was where people would cut one without even considering persons intention just because they find them as threat. And now her both the child were only thing they knew and wanted to protect from any bad. Out of all the good thing was that they appeared normal just as any other family.
Lily was absolutely a black witch but due to some reasons she didn't had the scale appearance as she appeared as any other white witch while she had taken up the dark magic from her father who was a black witcher her mother being a white one which kept her at more safe side . The empirical council allowed the white witches to live but they weren't allowed to make any family if they had any they were check thoroughly and knowing that she can't risk her childrens life who would just become things to trade who will eventually be killed .
"Sweetheart you know that it was all for your good I must not remind you that any living being or the royals don't show mercy to any of our kind . The girl must be good but her family need not be same . I want you to know whom you talk to, people are selfish Flor they won't think twice before using you , are you getting that " tears filled in Floria's eyes making them look darker . " ohh my my come here " her mother said spreading her arms for the little fairy.
Getting out of the tea room moving towards the living room they saw a maid coming towards Lily " Mrs. Saipon the butler said young master has went for some work in the Ironvale heart of the market" she nodded her head turning toward her daughter "sweetie can you please get him from the market" Lily asked her with a tired look . "ofcourse mother I'll be right back with him " she nodded her head looking at her daughter who made her way towards the door .
Lily asked a maid who was cleaning the window "do you know where is Ethan?" The maid replied looking down "Mam the butler has went to the market to fetch some needed groceries" huming at the maid reply the Lily turned around sitting on the sofa taking the book 'embers of the soul' going through the several pages a letter fell on her lap. Taking the letter in her hands which read 'from Alice to dear Lily' she didn't dared to open the letter again after putting spell on it so no one reads the real content in it . She got up from where she was sitting moving towards her room with the book containing letter. Lily was a witch who could tap into people's souls to know how tained they were.
She couldn't risk anyone trying any means on her family thus she always keeps the taps of the people around them. Her husband Oscar and she had got the servants from the slave establishment while not picking anyone from the outer side . Looking at the situation of them being an outcast it was only right to watch their backs .
The people from the the slave establishment were meek who abide with every single thing the master says . The people were treated decently by giving appropriate food as well as shelter under their roof.
Their butler Ethan was a white witcher whom she had saved from getting revealed in the establishment the day they went to get them servants she had never thought of helping any of her kind especially who had lived in the slave establishment. Even if the witcher had been there for few days it was more than enough for a white witch to turn into a black witch but finding his soul untainted she decided to help him which was indeed not a bad decision.
Ethan has been with them for nineteen years he had kept their secret with loyalty all these years . He had been protecting her family , she remembered when Jace was young he often lost control turning into a merman had to use a lots of salt and Ethan had killed a maid who had seen Jace's tale which wasn't a problem until she tried to bring people's attention which was immediately caught by Ethan before things got out of hand. She kept the book in her room and moving looking the room behind her.
On the other hand in the market a fifteen year old tall man with pale skin brown hairs wore ash white shirt with Russet brown trouser and waistcoat over the shirt with grayish silk on the neck which was part covered under the shirt followed by the cuffs and the chain accessories , the young man talked with a women trying to keep up with her pace who wore a slight beige gown which reached till her shin where the rest was covered by the stockings.
"Lilli.....Lillian " Jace called out the young women following her with her handkerchief which she left at stall. Jace has known Lillian since a few years she was the daughter of the Mrs. Cameal who used to trade horses but unfortunately one day when the women went out for the business she never came back . It didn't took a long fo Jace to know that the young women was a witch ...a beautiful witch only that he didn't knew if she was a black or a white one. They have known about the different creatures living on this land and how to deal with them by his mother and father. Jace and Floria both were well educated childrens home tutored by a governess where Floria runned a library and Jace learning about their business .Being an merman Jace had enough powers to protect himself as well as his family. He and his sister were trained not just to use the powers but also physically if only needed .
Lillian turned towards Jace her olive green eyes drank his appearance pale skin sharp jaw his slight pink lips which were curved into smile...he was handsome to have any women head over heels. She blinked her eyes at the handkerchief in his hands
"Thank you Mr. Saipon " she thanked him taking the handkerchief. Lillian who wanted to live like any other women , to build a family with the man she love. Lillian met Jace a few years ago , they were of seven . He used to come with his father for the trade of the horses . Lillian was her mother's only child who had never seen her father they had their stable where they raised the horses to sell or lend them and cattle to sell out the milk , when Lillian was little her mother used to tell that her father had passed away due to illness but never in her dreams she would have thought that her father was burned down , only after few years when her powers couldn't be kept away her mother told her being a white witch. Even though Mr and Mrs. Saipon were good people no one would accept her because of what she was. Everything was messed, she didn't knew what to do anymore she had lost her mother her everything. She didn't know whom to trust anymore. It had been a week her mother hasn't returned Mr. Saipon said they would try to find her.
"Lillian how long have we known each other you can quite calling me formally. Only Jace would do" Jace a bit irritated by the sudden shift of titles . He can understand the turmoil she felt now where she had no mother father or anyone to trust , she must be scared of not knowing who would show up to shout and burn her alive. Witches and mermaids were identified by their feets which were uneven unlike the human or the vampires. Looking at her he saw the nose and cheeks which were red with the rim of her eye was red . His heart ached seeing her like this , he couldn't bear her see cry , he couldn't she was the women he loved it was only few years did he realize his feelings which took smooth turn from friendship to something he wanted to hold forever. He thought of giving her some time but only to know his the little squirrel had been running around but was the last thread of his patience knowing of given anymore space she would run away from him which he didn't wanted. They had known each other for enough long to know what she felt about him and now he couldn't stop himself from engulfing her in his embrace tightly.
Lillian was sad, confused , hurt she wanted to keep Jace away with the fear that he would come to hate her one day like any other person holding flambeau in their hands. But the sudden hug startled her "Don't run from me Lillian, don't " she felt her throat at his words which she tries to gulp down but the tears involuntarily welled in her eyes unable to keep herself together anymore she broke. "I..I tried to find her Jace....I miss her..I miss her" she said between her cries.
"Shuu" she felt him smoothen her back.
While Jace was comforting Lillian, Floria on the other side reached outer side of the market of Ironvale getting down the carriage Floria said to the coachman "stay here I'll be right back"
"Yes Lady "he said nodded his head
Lillian was about to make her way towards the heart of the market but passing some stalls she found their butler "lady Floria did you needed something, you should have told me instead of coming here" she said shaking her head "I have came here for Jace , he still isn't home mom was worried " the butler said "the young master said that he would be visiting Miss Cameal after the check of the shops do you want me fetch master lady?" "No I'll do that myself you go home I'll be back with Jace " the butler abided asking her to be careful
'Children indeed grow fast right sir's' the butler heard maid say to which nodded his head looking at the women who had grown into a fine lady over years now . Ethan had been working for the Saipons since he had known the witch saved him he had sworn that he would protect the family. He trusted that the lady would be alright as she had been out since a long now. "Move those bags into the carriage we are done with the groceries " he ordered taking the bag of salt with him.
Moving to the other side of the market when she was about to walk away she saw Jace with an stern expression on his face holding Lillian in his arms with a bandage on her foot. She wondered if the little witch aging went for searching for her mother , she had once caught her asking some villagers only to pull her from there telling her that everything would be alright as asking villagers to let them know she knew a witch would be dangerous for her .
"Jace what happened?" She said looking at Lillian who looked slight embarrassed with a little blush on her cheeks. " Lillian hurtled herself, she was bleeding " she looked at Lillian whose eyes went slightly wide to the fact that they now knew about her , breathing heavily she said "Jace I can...." to which Jace sternly said "quiet Lillian we are not doing this , not now " looking at the cloth trunks black on her foot Floria said "let me get a pair of shoe" to which Jace nodded. Getting a pair of shoes for Lillian they went towards her carriage as Jace hadn't bought one . Once sitting in the carriage she heard Jace attack the young witch with his words
"How can you be so reckless Lillian, even after know how dangerous it was . If people would have seen this they would have ...."
She saw Jace didn't complete the sentence as if he wouldn't even want it to happen in imagination. Floria could sense the hurt, fear and anger rushing with lots of concern which was probably from Jace. " burned me alive...do you hate me Jace that you know you know what I'm " she heard Lillian say with tears split from her eyes.
"Never you idiot I would never hate you no matter what how could I hate my squirrel hun" said Jace pulling Lillian into embrace where she cried till she slept. "Let's keep her with us Flor" he said to his sister who was looking out of the window now looking at him "Its not up to me to decide but if you are willing to keep her and love her the same you do now . Lillian lost her mother I have seen her since she was small she is an good women I would not want you to hurt her in future when the choice is given to you to let goo now" he heard her sister say clenching his jaw he replied.
"I will not back off not now but never I have loved Lillian since I started knowing things . It hurts when she cries " he knew that he loved the women in his arms since he had seen her cry and avoid him it hurtled and angered him to no ends that he wanted to cage her , lock her up.
Floria looked at her younger brother who was looking at the young witch she had asked the question only to look if she sensed any uncertainty and if her brother knew what he was doing, that what he was saying weren't mere words but a commitment till death until she noticed a golden pearl near the seats which discreetly she took. He doesn't have to use any words as the pearl spoke everything. A mermaids or merman shed golden pearl only when scared for losing their loved ones which for some reason she couldn't do so. She already knew that it would be hard to convince her parents as it was always her father who had a final say out of all of the yes and no but looking at her brother it didn't seemed much hard .
Reaching the mansion Floria and Jace who was holding Lillian who was sound asleep in his arms they moved towards the entrance greeted by the maids who looked at the women in their young masters arms . Jace had been naughty not telling where he went which he would often be found at Mrs. Cameal's place but had never bought any women home. Mrs.Saipon who at her daughter then at her soon holding Lillian daughter of Mrs. Cameal who was a white witch , lost her husband to the hands of the humans. Even though the empirical council would not hurt them but send them to the witch kingdom where they would be treated as hostages and would eventually be killed either ways they were meant to die but then due to the fear not living the life to the fullest would be a folly something Alice had taught her. Lily understood the situation, her blue eyes looking into her son's . She broke the eye contact saying "Ethan prepare a room and set the dinner table "
The butler who was ordering a maid hurried towards them "yes Mrs. Saipon" the butler went to manage things while Jace went upstairs with Lillian in his arms .
Floria who handed her overcoat to the maid moved with Lily toward the kitchen . The maids moved out as it was know that some of the days the mother and daughter loved to cooked for themselves. Floria handed the golden pearl to her mother whose lips were set ina thin line . She this would happen someday the way her son and the young witch had been together since they were little. Lillian being a witch wasn't the problem but to consider that the white witches often lost their sane and turn into a something very worst than of a black witch after losing loved ones. "Did you tap into her senses and thought " asked Lily to her daughter to which she replied
"I did and found nothing more that sadness and fear . I think a bit of love and assurance would keep her from falling into darkness" she saw her mother stop who was netting dow to say "we can't say anything unit its completely assured that she is sane to take things in the good side" said her mother with an straight face " what would we do if that doesn't work ?" She unconsciously stopped breathing having slight indicating of what would happen if things don't fall into place "we kill her ,If that happens. Dear family is first thing to be concerned about if she slips into darkness you will find the worst of the worst " her face contorted hearing her mother's words know that neither her father's words would be different with that they continue cooking.
In one of the guest rooms stood the butler and the young son of Saipon's while Lillian was lying on the bed . Jace questioned the butler knowing very well that he was a white witch. "Is she a white or a black witch?" The butler looked at the boy who had concerned look on his face though if the black or white mattered to the boy as the young witch was kind but he replied anyways "she is a white witch" the butler saw the boy knew of white which having higher chances of slipping he heard him ask "how wost is it" the butler placed his hand on the witches palm "Strange...the witch has sixty percent chance to be saved if tried "
Jace's eyes lightened hearing this "what would have to be done to stop the darkening" Jace was willing to try even if it was single percent he can't lose his Lillian. "Would have to perform some rituals to pull her corruption out" without waiting he made his way towards kitchen to see his father who was back , he could sence that he was hurt . Jace being a merman could sence and heal the injuries, manipulate water as well as other creatures except for the witches and fairy as he couldn't manipulate his sister.
Their father Oscar Saipon a tall , pale skinned with broad shoulders taunted muscles, brow hair and his deep hazel grey eyes shinning like a stone deep in the ocean. A gentleman who demanded strict discipline especially when it was about his children . Oscar was a jolly man until Alice left him leaving Floria behind her he had sworn to protect her with every fiber in him. He was an old meren who had been living on the land of the walking creatures to know how shady world here is , people who did anything for their selfish greed. He trained his children physically to fight as any other human while also how and when to use their power with his wife Lily to teach what to reveal and how much .
Jace made his way towards the dinner table taking his place beside his father greeting him with a bow "father " to which he replied with a hum "Did you check the shops and the documentation that were told" his father had been teaching about their business and how to make up their place in any deal "yes dad but the shop in the east of the Ironvale, it seems to have something with its documents. Even though they were there but it didn't appear right about why would the count in the register here and the one given by Sullivan differ" a proud yet subtle smile appeared on Oscars face to the thought that his son found something that took him month where he had only handed some minimal check work of the shops "Right he had been stealing the product while they were shifted to the shops . Seems it's been long since we practiced.... both of you met me after dinner"
Floria and Jace , Lily as well got the practice thing meant which she didn't heeded knowing it was all for their best....it meant that they will have to save their neck theirselves as the man mentioned was an vampire. They were going to have wounds today . It has been going on since she had crossed her 15 that her father is teaching her to fight the witches and vampire using physical as well as magical powers it was only few years until her brother joined her. They saw their father signal the butler were he ordered the servants to move to the underground quarters.
"The council has been applying new rule about the witches and other outcasts would be allowed to live with the registration " to which her mother asked "does that really work " Oscar replied shaking his head "even though the council has been trying their are people who are killing them in the name of the accidents ...we aren't going to breath single words about anything got that . The council people might come to check within these few weeks I want everyone to be cautious . There isn't much of the danger as they won't force you or make you eat anything , we have been working trade with the king and he seems to know about the outcast within the royals but still we will have to be careful " they all nodded their heads eating quietly until Jace spoke .
"Dad...can we let Lillian stay with us , she has no one to rely on" Oscar looked at his son then at his daughter "please " then moved his head towards his wife who nodded explained "the girl seems to be safe as her soul is in good condition than I thought . We can let her stay" taking a pause finishing the food on the plate he got up from his seat wiping his hands with cloth given by butler he said to which everyone had been holding their breath "she can stay with us" as he said his daughter hugged him saying " thank you, thank you Dad" his lips curved into smile before saying "letting her day doesn't mean to let down the guard " leaving the rest to his wife knowing she would handle it. "Yes dad" Oscar patting his son's back as if silently praising for bravely standing for his love but didn't said a word. He left to his room saying "in the basement within fifteen minutes".
With that everyone made their way to their rooms except for the Jace who went where Lillian rested to see her still sleeping. He moved out kissing her forehead making his way toward his room to freshen up for the practice in the basement.