Chapter IV

Adrian had come back this morning, telling us all of his findings in his travels while Isaac recounted the story of the Shifter.

"So are you sure that it was a Shifter", Adrian asked for the fifth time, I rolled my eyes, "Yes, were positive, one minute we were chasing after an Immortal, the next we were watching as it flew away", Adrian and Isaac shared a tense glance, "You think...", Adrian cut him off quickly, "I doubt it but we will have to keep our guards up until were positive".

I looked at the two confused, I was completely unsure of what they were saying, "Somebody want to fill me in on the conversation", the two stared at me, almost like they had forgotten I was there, Adrian responded softly, "The less you know the better, at least for now Alex", his voice was kind but I heard some anger in it, a warning to not push it, but I ignored it, "This is not fair, someone tell me what's happening", Isaacs sharp voice cut through the air like a knife, "Alex, for once in your life just don't pry", I stood frozen in place, Isaac had never once spoken to me like that, the harshness in his voice shocked me.

Isaac sighed softly, "Listen Alex I'm sorry, but this isn't something you need to know", he rubbed my arm, soothingly.

I nodded, dropping the issue this was one argument I knew I wasn't going to win, it was two against one in a household of three, I wondered if my mum was here who's side she would be on, mine or Isaac and Adrian's.

Adrian continued to talk about his travels, stating that the conversation was truly over. Adrian told us about the group of Creators he had met. According to Adrian the group worked security with the Royals, protecting them against any threats, that was the thing about Creators, they could be anything from trained fighters to, like Adrian, someone who traveled and gathered research. Creators were diverse.

Leo, the groups leader, had told Adrian that the threats on the Royals were getting stronger and larger everyday. Many of the smaller parts of the families fleeing, already most of the Paxton's were already gone only their leader Luca and his wife Evelyn remaining, the only group of family that every member remained was the Treadway's, their family the smallest out of them all, the members being just Chance, their representative and his family members.

They were doubling the guards daily, many of Leo's group getting their first time out in the field.

I had read many books about the Royals but most were just documents, I had never heard anything first hand from someone that had worked with them which is why it shocked me to hear that there was a danger, everybody respected the Royals, nobody dared attack them but apparently the system had changed, the Royals were crumbling, it was the Nicu situation all over again but this time no one was sure who was in the right, that is out of all the people that even knew it was going on.

Adrian finally finished his story, for once Adrian had told us all of the details not sparing any of it, unfortunately it didn't answer any of the questions it just made more.

Isaac and Adrian had went off to practise Isaac's abilities but I suspected that it may have been just an excuse to talk about what they hadn't told me earlier, I was still annoyed that they were keeping something from me, especially after what I had just learned about Adrian, but on the positive side it had given me a chance to go further in my research about the two strangers and their daughter that Adrian had talked to.

Looking through the books in my fathers library was a great way to pass the time quickly but after an hour of searching through all of my fathers books and journal but I had not yet came any closer, I looked all through his books and when turning up nothing I went to the next closest source his journals, I knew it was a invasion of privacy but after all the secrets that were going on lately I found myself not caring, I hated that it affected me like this but after all the secrecy I just needed to know something, but it seemed like my desperation was worth no reward, nothing showed up suspicious in his writings it was like the vision wasn't even real, that in my delusion I had dreamed it all, I was starting to believe this theory more and more.

A set of new books stared now in my view, after Adrian had finished his talk about the Royals it had gotten me curious, which was how I had found myself staring at the pictures and documents of the Pretrach's, Treadway's, Bloodworth's and Paxton's, the four royal families.

Flipping through the pages of the many different books, some with new paper and some with old yellow that looked like at any minute it could tear apart, I skimmed the pages looking for something of interest, some stuck out more then others, but one stayed burned into my eyes.

In one of the newer books there staring straight in my eyes were the photos of the two strangers and child in the vision. Felix, Rose and Isabelle Pretrach, died 1997 December 18th, they were Royals. It was always a possibility that Adrian had met and worked with Royals in his travels but I always thought it would have been before Isaac and I were born or after we were old enough to look after ourselves but according to the date of their deaths I would have only been at the age of 1 and Isaac at 3. They were once the rulers of their family but they wee only leaders for two years before the died and their cousin Justin was voted in.

Isaac and Adrian's voices entered my ears, quickly I put the book back in its place but not before tearing out the pages that contained the information about the Pretrach's and stuffing them into my jackets pocket, I pulled out a book about Ancient Rome, one that I had started reading a couple of weeks ago, just as Adrian entered the room.

He looked shocked for a second, before regaining his composure and walking over next to me, I smiled up at him, "How did Isaac's training go?", I asked, Adrian gave me a confused stare, confirming my theory of what they were really doing, but recognition hit him, "Yeah, he's going well, soon he should be able to control water completely", I nodded absentmindedly.

"Listen Alex, about what we were talking about earlier it's not that we don't want you to tell you it's just that right now the less you know the safer you are, I'd do anything to protect you, and so would your brother, were just trying to help you", I looked up at his face, it looked pained making me feel guilty for searching around his office.

I stood up hugging him, "I know, Dad", it was the first time in months that I called him Dad but right now it felt right, I let go of him, walking past him up the stairs to my room to catch up on the sleep I had missed out on yesterday.