| Six |

"There is only one happiness in life, to love and to be loved."

- George Sand

Song : It will rain by Bruno Mars

•••

February 2, 1943

With those words spoken, I would have died. I would die right now. But if I died, I would die a strangely happy child. What is he talking about? I barely even know this man and now he waltzes in here, claiming to be my father. I have no father. Caius, Dominic, and Lucius are not my father, but through my mother they had children. My mother had a rare condition that allowed her to have three mates. I don't believe she would have me with another male. Let alone, she had a fourth mate. I was only my mother's child. Completely and only my mother's. Part of me wanted it to say that way.

How can this be? I didn't think my mom had the energy to have another child with another male. In the immortal world it is possible to have a child all on your own without male interference. It was called divine pregnancy, which was very rare. I convinced myself a long time ago that was my case. Why would she not tell me about my father? She took this to her grave. I have a right to know who my father is. If only my mother was here, she would know what to do.

Why did she even take this to the grave? I wanted to scream at this man. Smack him and scold him for saying such things! He has no right to touch me the way he did! It was quite improper! This man obviously didn't know what etiquette was. He was supposed to introduce himself first! But I couldn't be mad at him. I just couldn't.

I wanted out. I wanted out so bad. I wanted to push this man away, claim he's lunatic, and run home. Then I would turn him over to my family to dispose of him. But I still couldn't. We were connected somehow. Our bond was deep. Even I could see that. The bond was that strong to the point I could not hurt him no matter what. Although, someone could have used magic to change it. But why? Bonds like this were rare anyways. To change a bond to be like this would take insane amounts of energy. Could it be true?

But part of me wanted to believe him. I used to dream about my father. What he would be like? Or if I even had one. I always watched Ryland with Caius sword battling outside. Dominic teaching Archangel some types of tips for battle. And Lucius teaching Orias how to properly use his gifts. I never wanted to admit it, but I was quite jealous. I didn't want to be jealous.

Jealousy is one of the most terrible of emotions that can drive a good person to kill.

That's what my mother always told me. Jealousy, pain, anger, and fear are the most evil of emotions. I always believed it myself. The pain of my mother's death nearly drove Caius to suicide. I remember him scratching his arm, as if he was in pain. Jedidiah became addicted to lupus, the heroin of the immortal world.

I was so lost in thought. I needed to get out of here. To escape this man. An idea popped into my head. I decided to mindlink Ryland.

Ryland.

I called out. I needed Ryland. He might know what was going on. He would help me. He will help me.

Ryland.

"Sir," He turned to me. "What is thy name?"

The man smiled. A beautiful cheerful smile. I couldn't help but smile when he smiled. His smile was contagious. The most beautiful smile I have seen.

"I know thee is not ready to call me 'Father'. My real name is Ezechiele Feodorovna Nikolaevna. But call me by my common name Rell. My name is Rell Koskinen de Schreave, BriarSnow."

When he said my name, I thought I might faint. I loved the way he said my name. Rell Schreave. Rell Koskinen de Schreave. Rell Koskinen. Rell Schreave. Rell. I liked the way his name fell off of my tongue. Rell was a name, in immortal dialect, that meant strength and beauty. It suited him. Maybe this vision from the heavens above was my father.

What if? What if? What if?

What if was the only thing going through my mind. I just couldn't stop asking myself that question. Then a rustling in the bushes was heard and voices were calling out. Then I realized had his last name. BriarSnow Koskinen de Schreave. I always wondered why that was my name. Maybe he is my father.

Rell smiled and then pushed his hands into his hair.

"I was the one who came up with your name, actually. You would have all the strength and resilience of the briars. And all the beautiful, grace, and elegance of the snow."

I smiled. That was the reality of my name. Although sometimes it feels weird to be named after thorns and snow. My family had faith that I would live up to my name, and reason why I was given it.

"I stand correct."

"Snow! Snow! Amour! Where are you?"

"I must leave. I promise I will protect you from the monster within both of us. I promise."

Rell caressed my back and pulled me close to him. Monster? He held me as if he was afraid I would let go. Murmuring sweet words to me and saying something in Greek I didn't hear. Then he gave me a lingering kiss on the cheek and faded into mist.

"I shall see you again."

He paused and waved at me, giving me a sweet smile, showing off his perfect teeth.

"Bianca."

Bianca? That was a Italian name that meant white. No one has ever called me Bianca, before. Why now? Bianca. Bianca. Bianca. I liked it.

I touched my cheek and then in a flash, he was gone. What just happened? Who was this man? What did he mean by 'transformation'? How did he know my mother? Then a sharp pain filled my body. In shock and pain and slid down to the floor on my knees.

"Wait! I have questions!"

I needed answers. Hopefully my family will know, what's going on. This man just came in, barging into my life, calling himself "my father". I never had a real father. The kingdom's healers said that Dominic, Caius, and Lucius, were not my fathers, which confused them. At first, according to Ryland, Caius accused mother of adultery. However Thackery, using his gift, confirmed that mother didn't cheat. So then, the family was humble about this. Mother died when I was young, I barely remember her by now.

My brothers came, interrupting my thoughts. "Sister, we were looking for you!" Ryland was shaking me so hard and holding me so close.

Thackery came running up to me screaming "What happened! I was watching you with the visions, and then all of a sudden they all disappear! What happened!"

"I-I-I-"

I was speechless. Thackery couldn't see me anymore? Whenever I went somewhere my brother, Thackery, would use his gift of astral subjective precognition to watch over me, and making sure I was okay. I was surprised to find out that all of sudden it disappeared. There would be only two reasons why that would happen. Either Thackery was sick, or I was with an immortal with a shield. Shields were a type of gift that could either be physical or mental. Physical shields deflect blasts, weapons, and people. Mental shields can protect oneself and others from mental attacks and powers.

There was only one conclusion, Rell had a very powerful mental shield. Thackery's gift was very strong so he could break through most shields, so Rell had to be strong in order to break through his shield so easily. He didn't even look like he was in pain. There was something strange about him. He looked and sounded so familiar, like I knew him from somewhere. He seemed so powerful, his eyes were so strange. Grey to purple, purple to grey. When they turned purple, it was like he was fighting something. Or someone. How peculiar.

"Sister, were you with anyone with a shield? Because it would take one heck of a shield to block out Thackery." Nicolo was speaking to me. Nicolo had both a physical and mental shield, as well, his was very strong.

"I was with..." I started.

"Who were you with, Snow." Caius looked at me with anticipation.

Then I saw Ryland focus on me, as if he was trying to read my thoughts so he could see the memory. I waited for him to enter my mind. He was then shaking, trying to reach me.

"Sister what have thee done! I can't read you!" Ryland was struggling to see my thoughts, but the more he tried, the more he failed.

"Rell. Rell Schreave. That was his name. He came to me." I smiled at the memory of beautiful man embracing me.

Then Lucius snapped. He looked at Caius and Dominic. They gasped staring at me as if I grew an extra head. Lucius began to look at me with more worry.

"Who did you say you were with?"

"Rell Schreave?" I told them that as if it was a question.

Orias then used his gift of omniscience, the ability to have excessive knowledge, to see him. He showed it to Lucius.

"No, it can't be." He was trembling now, at the thought. Lucius was now looking as if he was going to scream. His eyes than turned into a deep red, his hands turning into fists as he gripped his arm so hard.

Caius put a hand on his shoulder. "It will be fine, Lucius."

Then Caius turned to me "You can never set foot out of the palace, again! Not until it is safe." My brother then began to walk away with Caius, Dominic, and Lucius following them.

I was angry now! How dare they say I can't go anywhere anymore! I was so angry my eyes turned amber gold, like they do when my magic begins to lose control. Fire shot out of my hands and I used it to grab Caius.

"Why!"

Caius sighed. "Rell Schreave is an tyrannical madman, if he's out there, gods help us all!"

"What?"

How dare they say that about him! Everything about Rell did not scream evil or madman! He was so nice and gentle with me. He called me sweet names, and he hugged and kissed me. This cannot be true.

-