| Nine |

"I say I am stronger than fear."

- Malala Yousafazi

Song : Bring Me To Life by Evanescence

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February 4, 1943

The next morning was terrible. That was a putting it lightly. A pure understatement. What happened, came so fast and unexpected, it threw everyone off. Just like a storm. A disgusting storm. All I knew is that I owe Steele, Malcom, and Jedidiah new shirts. What happened today made my situation worse. I woke up with a strange burning in my throat. It was painful and it throbbed. Like fire and ice mixed into one.

It was as if my body was trying to tell me something. Like it needed something. I just couldn't put my finger on it. Then my head started spinning and my chest, throbbing. What's wrong with me? Then I went to washing bowl to rinse my face, then I smelled something. Something terrible. So disgusting, it was as if my nose would just wither after smelling that scent. I realized it was coming from the lemon tea that I left on my night stand that I always drink before I go to sleep.

I always loved the smell of lemon tea. Why did it smell terrible now? I decided to ignore this so I headed downstairs and then another disgusting scent filled my nose. I ignored it again and went to medicine cabinet to get some honey. Honey always helped with my throat. But the honey smelled horrible, like a dead goat. I decided to throw the honey out. It must be spoiled. I calmly strolled downstairs only for more terrible scents to fill my nose.

"Ryland-"

"Yes, Snow?"

"Shouldn't thou know if food is spoiled? For everything smells direful." Ryland looked confused.

"Most of this is fresh, ma soeur. It smells quite fine to me, Snow."

Now I was quite confused. How could it smell good to him? Was there something wrong with him? When was the last time my brother went to see the healers?

"Anyway, Snow, Lovecraft is making thee's favorite, two over easy eggs with mushrooms and spinach."

Lovecraft waved as he prepared the food. He flipped the eggs careful and whistled a tune, cheerfully.

But the food smelled absolutely horrifying. "Lovecraft."

"Yes, Snow."

"Do you know you are using spoiled eggs and produce. I can smell the horrifying stench from here, even without thy immortal sense of smell."

Lovecraft raised an eyebrow and gave me a puzzled look. "What art thou blabbering about? I got this from the market yesterday! I swear to the gods!"

Fresh? How peculiar? I didn't understand. Something was completely wrong. My sense of smell has just changed terribly and quite dramatically, I must say. I just couldn't put my finger on it. I must see the healers about this predicament.

"Here's your food, amour."

Lovecraft dropped the plate on my table. My brothers grabbed their share and sat next to me. Draven sat in the chair closest to me. Then an almost inhumane growl erupted from Ryland. He was about to get up and from what I can see, teach Draven a lesson.

Sister, I'm sorry. Draven's voice rang through my head.

It's okay.

Draven leaned over and gave my a warm embrace. Draven has finally accepted me. I smiled bright. I was to happy to remember the disgusting scent emitted from the food. I took one bite of breakfast and the next thing I knew, my mouth was burning from the most horrifying taste of all times. I scrunched up my face in disgust and the next thing I did was I threw up all over Steele, who was on my left. Steele looked up in shock, along with everyone else. He stared over at me in shock and flicked his arms. He winced and then used his element of water to cleanse himself.

"Good morning to you as well, sister." Steele said groggily.

"Amour, you okay?" Malcom leaned over the table.

"I'm fine, I just-" I couldn't finish because when I got up, I vomited all over Malcom.

I looked at him with apologetic eyes. "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me."

Malcom smiled slightly, still disgusted by the vomit smell. He leaned over to get a clean napkin, resulting in some dripping vomit to get onto Foxclove's plate.

"Oi, brother. Mal!" Fox frowned and pushed his plate away, upset. Mushrooms were his favorite as well.

"My apologies, Fox."

"I'm sorry Malcom." I told him.

"No worries, sister darling."

I went and then got some water. The water smelled like urine, but I didn't care. A little water will probably soothe my stomach. As soon as I drank it, I threw up again on the closest person to me. Jedidiah.

"I'm so sorry." I immediately went to get some napkins to help wipe him down.

"Is thou feeling alright?" He asked me.

"I'm sure I'm fine-" I couldn't speak because the horrible smells caused me to vomit all over the floor, making me trip and hit my head against the wall. Everyone crowded around me as if I was a sick dog.

"My goodness! Brothers, I'm fine. I guess I'm just a little bit under the weather."

Then Ryland spoke up. "She's needs to eat. Lovecraft, try and see if she can eat anything. Archangel, go find our fathers!"

For the next two hours, Lovecraft tried to find something for me to eat without throwing it up. The waste bin and I became well acquainted very fast. I couldn't leave without the waste bin for every time I was fed something, I would spit it out. I couldn't eat anything. My body just didn't like the taste no longer. It all tasted like trash. Then at last, Caius came up with an idea.

"Sons, get her some prey. Get her a deer, or something."

I didn't understand at first but when Orias came back, I began to see what they were trying to do.

"See if she can feed off of the deer."

I inhaled deeply. The scent emitted from the deer was more full and tempting than ever. I only ever found the scent of blood attractive sometimes. I was never fond of hunting, but much to my surprise I pounced on the deer and sucked on it's blood like no tomorrow. I moaned at the taste. Blood has never tasted this good before. It was my new sunnyside up eggs and mushrooms. I sucked the deer dry.

"She can drink blood." Lucius said.

"We should take her to the healers. They probably will know what's going on."

•

My brothers took me to see the best healer in the kingdom, Rebekah Asters.

The waiting room was quite quiet and I was scared. What if I had a tumor or something serious? What if I'm going to die! What if?

I sense thee is uneasy. I looked over to see Ryland smiling at me.

I am indeed. Ryland took my hands in his and caressed them.

Don't be.

Rebekah was quite a pretty girl. Red hair, brown eyes and a cheery personality. I was quite surprised she was unmated. As soon as I stepped into the office, Rebekah placed her hand onto my temple, trying to sense anything. She scrunched up her forehead so she could concentrate. Then Rebekah gasped and pulled away from me, stepping back.

"Goodness. Goodness, me. How could this be?"

Something must have been wrong because Rebekah check me over again.

She then said the words I never thought I would here

"Your majesties, I never thought I would say this. The tests have shown positive."

I sat at the edge of the seat, nervous about my condition.

"Were you aware of the princess being a Nyx?"

I fainted.

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