Page 144 of The Firebrand
Braelyn reached over the chair to soothe a hand on his arm, resting it there.
“Wait, son. Let me go through this step-by-step. Somehow Silas hacked medical records where he found Earthers with DNA markers identifying them as mage descendants. Then he kidnapped these humans to bring them to our realm.”
“Why would he want to sell only offspring of witches and warlocks?” Elisabeta set her glass of Scotch on the side table, interest sparkling in her eyes.
“Our question as well,” said Alarik. “Once Silas brought the captives here, he retested them. But this time, he looked for very specific mage ancestry.”
Alarik paused. Braelyn thought he was setting up a dramatic moment. Truth be told, she wanted a little less drama. To take the edge off, she sampled her drink. Instead of relief, not liking the taste, she wrinkled her nose.
“He was hoping to find Blood Coven offspring. The sex slave operation was a lucrative side business. We believe he sold only the humans not descended from the original coven who created the three realms.”
Rein cocked his head. “Why?”
Alarik glanced at George. “Cerberus.” A hush fell over the room. Rein, Braelyn, Castia, and Elisabeta shrugged.
“Who the fuck is Cerberus?” Rein shifted to his other foot, his arms falling to the side, his eyes widening. “You can’t mean him.”
“I do,” replied his father.
“The Cerberus of prophecy?” Rein’s lips twisted into a disbelieving sneer.
“What prophecy?” asked Braelyn.
“Fifteen hundred years ago, the Blood Coven separated Earth into three realms to prevent the destruction of humankind as predicted in the Prophecy of Karma. But the scroll also presaged later events.” Alarik rose from the sofa, moving toward his library, where he traced fingers over the spines of books. He snagged a volume, pulling it from the shelf. “Here. Let me read.” Alarik thumbed through the tome in his hands until he stopped on a page.
“Out of Hades stirs the hound,
His thirsty army steadfast bound.
With the hidden Coven now exposed,
He opens portals which were closed.”
The pulse in Rein’s neck twitched. “And Cerberus is this underworld dog in some lame prophecy. Who the fuck believes in prophecies anyway?”
“Wait a minute,” blurted Braelyn. Before she popped up, hands on hips, she took a big swig of Scotch, a little liquid courage despite the bitter flavor. “Did I pass or fail the test?”
“What do you mean?” Rein gripped the back of Braelyn’s vacated chair, his forehead puckered with confusion.
Braelyn tapped her foot. “Am I a descendant of the Blood Coven, thishidden coven, now exposed,or am I just some random witch with wonky powers?”
George nodded. “You are, as am I.”
“Great!” She plopped into her chair, her arms crossed over her chest. “Any goblins, pedophiles, or boogeymen hiding in the family tree? And why not tell me all this before? What’s up with the hush-hush?”
Alarik answered. “The Cambion feared the coven or their descendants could affect the three realms, could destroy what they had created. That’s why he ordered them and their offspring to remain on Earth after the Schism. He hoped they would get lost over the years. They did. Until now. With Silas’s revelation of the nameCerberus, I believe someone wants to use descendants of the Blood Coven to open the portals, destroying the separation between the realms.”
Rein paced the room, silent for some time. “You’re sure of your ancestry, George?”
“Yes, my family has passed our tree from generation to generation.”
Rein pinned his gaze on each person. “Nobody but us will know Brae’s heritage. It’s our secret. Agreed?”
“I agree,” said Alarik. “I have already destroyed all samples taken by my office along with any associated records. Aisen and Silas ruined all other specimens and files.”
George cleared his throat. “I arranged for all traces of your labs or reports on Earth to be obliterated. Nothing exists. It’s as if you never visited a doctor or hospital. No links tie you to the coven, sweetheart. Nor do any point to me.”
“Were any of the other captives descendants?” Rein rested a hand on Braelyn’s shoulder.
