Chapter 350 - Family Issues and Secrets

"So Wilma was the Queen when Malgino came here?" Chris said sitting on a chair in the middle of the room.

"Malgino came here in the pretense of learning more about Vampires. He said he wad researching on all the kinds apart from wizards." Rosaline crossed her arms in front of her glaring at nothing in particular. "And he was a student of Godric Gryffindor, so of course our kind and Wilma believed him. His intentions were not known at that time, even Gryffindor didn't know what he was up to. Malgino was charismatic and had a strange power to convince people in his favor. Most importantly, he was cunning like a sly fox. He knew how to operate, how to make people comfortable with him, how to make it seem like they are trusting him on their own."

"I have first-hand experience with that," Chris said bitterly thinking about the night of Dumbledore's death.

"Then it's good. You should always know your enemy."

"Unless you underestimate them?" Chris jokingly muttered under her breath but Rosaline heard her.

"In that case, it doesn't end well, does it? We have proof to that now," Rosaline smirked back at Chris.

They shared a smile and Rosaline went back to the story.

"So as you can understand, to manipulate the vampires and to seem harmless Malgino first targeted the citizens. Even after Wilma offered him a place in the palace, he decided to stay in the colony with the commoners," Rosaline said. "He looked every each of a loyal good modest and charismatic wizard you can think of. Then after learning our secrets, he stole It and left."

Chris stared at Rosaline, waiting for her to say more but when she didn't,

"He stole what? What secret?"

"Well . . . I am not supposed to tell you about this. It is the Queen's authority to share this type of secret information about us," Rosaline looked conflicted then she shrugged. "But, you know what? I always found this silly, because the truth is, nobody really knows what he has stolen exactly. No one saw him stealing. But everyone knows, because after he left the vampires faced a huge problem and he became significantly powerful."

"What problem?" Chris couldn't help but ask.

"Our suddenly decreasing lifespan."

⁂

Rosaline didn't talk after that and Chris found the information too shocking to ask any more questions. So both of them maintenance silence as they left the old portrait room and walked back. While walking back Chris realized Rosaline was not leading her back to her room but towards the garden.

"Do you have anything to show me in the garden?" Chris asked.

"No," Rosaline then raised her eyebrows at Chris. "Seems like you know the hallways too well."

"Er . . . just photographic memory," Chris lied looking away, and to her surprised Rosaline chuckled hearing her.

"Sure."

As soon as they stepped out on the garden Chris spotted a familiar figure waiting.

"Oziyat? How long are you waiting here? Why are you waiting here?"

"Remember, I said before the dinner that we need talk?" Oziyat spoke in a low voice.

"Yeah, but . . ."

"This is what he asked me to do after dinner, I don't know why though," Rosaline looked at Oziyat and became pensive. "I hope you know what are you doing."

To this Oziyat just shrugged and Rosaline sighed.

"Ok, I trust you." Rosaline smiled a little bit before backing away and leaving the garden.

"So . . . ?" Chris looked at Oziyat expectantly.

"This is not the place to talk, follow me." Oziyat offered his hand to Chris and for a moment Chris hesitated so he added, "It's for your safety. You are wearing a dress and the path gets really slippery after midnight."

Chris checked her watch and indeed it was half-past one. With a sigh, she took Oziyat's hand and he smiled. Holding Chris's hand tightly Oziyat led her towards the fountain and because of his serious and alert posture, Chris didn't talk and looked alert as well. Chris thought they were going to stop at the fountain but Oziyat crossed the fountain and turned sharply to the left.

"This is my secret spot. Prepared to be amazed." Oziyat looked back at Chris and gave a boyish smile before pushing a curtain of green vines from an archway half-hidden with vines and tree branches, revealing a spiral staircase leading up somewhere.

Chris raised an eyebrow at Oziyat but before she could say anything Oziyat pulled her with him and started climbing the stairs. Chris stumbled after him, and after struggling with her skirt and keeping up with Oziyat's speed for a while, they finally emerged on a stone balcony.

"Wow." Chris's eyes widened as she took in the view. Moon light filled the balcony casting a luminous glow over the beautiful flower-plants on the balcony and a sparkling waterfall was visible in the distance from the castle. "I didn't even know there was a waterfall here."

"Well, you didn't see much apart from the castle," Oziyat said.

"True," Chris smiled. "But it's beautiful."

"I know."

Oziyat smiled back and for a minute he and Chris stood there silently gazing at the waterfall.

After some time, Chris took a deep breath smelling the soft scents of different flowers, and only then she remembered she and Oziyat were still holding hands. Chris instantly tugged her hand back and Oziyat let go of her hand, and without looking back at her, he walked to the edge of the balcony. Chris stepped beside him and rested her hands on the railing. She wanted to ask Oziyat about the things she learned from Rosaline. Though Rosaline said the chance was low of someone else knowing as much as her and the Queen, Chris didn't want to risk it, after all, her time at Hogwarts had taught her that many times people who weren't supposed to know about something, know the most. But as Chris opened her mouth to raise the question she noticed Oziyat's face looked nervous and troubled.

"So what is it you wanted to talk about?" She asked instead.

"Well, I . . ." Oziyat trailed off then sighed and tried to start again. "Christina, can you promise the things I am going to say to you now, will remain between us?"

". . . Okay." Chris nodded.

"I trust you but if you broke your promise I will know," Oziyat said seriously.

Chris nodded firmly.

"Okay, so, do you remember the first time we were in the garden and a guard was following us?"

"Yeah, the one hiding behind a tree, right?"

"Yes," Oziyat grumbled. "He wasn't any normal guard. In fact, he was not guarding me at all that day. He was spying on us. . . specifically on me."

Chris was not very surprised because that day she did felt that Oziyat's behavior was odd.

"He was my brother Volker's spy," Oziyat whispered.

Now that was surprising.

"Your own brother is spying on you? Why?" Chris asked incredulously.

"Yes, he is for a while now," Oziyat replied grimacing.

"Why?" Chris repeated.

"For the throne," Oziyat looked in the distance. "After my mother, he wants to take the throne and I am the only one in his way. If he can convince our mother that I will not fit to rule then the throne is his."

"Why are you the only one?" Chris uttered quietly. "What about others?"

"Mother wants someone from her own bloodline to descend the throne. Which means, me, Volker, and sister Rosaline."

"And the others are . . .?"

"My father, King Felix's children with other people, and Prince Kale is my mother's child with her lover after my father's death," Oziyat explained his complicated family history coolly. "Kale never wanted to take the responsibility of the throne, so he was out of the question but for a while, everyone thought Rosaline is going to be Queen after mother."

"And?" Chris asked as Oziyat's pause stretched.

"After an unfortunate incident, Rosaline decided to step down from the Crown Princess title. So now it's just Volker and me. Since then Volker is trying to plot against me . . . and after you came, he targeted you to prove himself to mother. But his plan backfired and you turned out to be the real chosen one," Oziyat looked back at Chris, meeting her eyes with full seriousness. "But Christina, now I am worried. Volker was never rational. Now that he thinks he has almost lost, he might try to do something risky and dangerous. To me or you."

"I can take care of myself, Oziyat," a small smile crept on Chris's face hearing Oziyat's concerned voice. Then she also turned serious. "But it's more dangerous for you if someone in your family tries to harm you."

"Don't worry, I have learned to live with that," Oziyat gave a ghost of a smile. He paused for a moment before speaking. "Well, there is another reason I told you this, Christina."

"I guessed that much."

"Yeah . . . I know I just told you that you might be in danger because of my brother but I need your help."

"I am in danger before I came here. Just tell me what you want, then I will decide I will do it or not."

_____________ _____________

To be continued. . .