[ZEPH'S POV]

“Rarus Sanguine. That’s the name. That's what we call your kind.” Master Alaric said. “Otherwise known as a Rare.”

As Master Alaric began, I sat down, my mind and my gaze at full attention as I waited for him to further elaborate.

“Rare,” I whispered. I tried to absorb the term as I waited for him to further elaborate. “I don’t understand. What-what is a…a Rare?”

Master Alaric shrugged. “To be honest, Zeph, the explanation is not simple because no one really knows where a Rare comes from. There’s been speculation that Rares are humans who somehow are descended from the Moon mother herself. But one can’t know for sure.”

“I still don’t understand how you would even know that? I didn’t. There was never any absolute proof of it and now all of a sudden there is.”

“Zeph,” he said on approach. As he did, he held the necklace that I’d worn faithfully into his hand. “Do you remember when I gave you this?” he asked me.

“Of course,” I said. “Five years ago-my sixteen birthday,” I smiled at the memory.

Humans didn’t get grandiose birthdays in my world. If you were a good human, pet, vassal, etc, you’d get a free day-if you were important enough for your birthday to be remembered.

Because Lyra was sensitive about my relationship with the family, we’d decided a long time ago that it would be best not to keep muddying the waters with my birthday.

So, one evening, right before midnight, Master Alaric showed up in my little dorm room with my favorite cake, a candle, and a small jewelry box.

“Jelly cake, and this beautiful necklace. Yeah,” I chuckled. But when I saw the smile become smaller, so did mine. “Why?”

“Zeph, there…” he sighed. “This isn’t just a necklace.”

I looked down at the small diamond cut, snowflake pendant on my necklace. “What do you mean?” I asked, a dry, concerned chuckle escaping my lips.

“It’s been enchanted.”

“What?”

“Yes, Zeph, enchanted.”

I was speechless. What was there to say? I could only stand there and wait for him to elaborate.

“Your blood, Zeph-it is…dangerous.”

“What do you mean?” I found myself examining my hands, my arms-as if I could actually see the blood flowing through my veins. “Dangerous?” I said breathless. “I-what does that mean-what-”

“It means that…your blood is potent.”

“Potent?” Well that wasn’t too bad, was it? “How could that be dangerous-”

“Zeph, your blood is known as a rare delicacy in our world. It’s even been rumored for benefits well beyond that.”

“So,” I fiddled with the necklace. “This is keeping me from…what?”

“You know that we can smell blood-smell it without it being drawn. It's more faint of course, but it still can be sensed nonetheless.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“But your blood…” he shook his head, a look of concern on his face. “Rares have been known to drive inhumans to insanity.”

“But have I’ve never seen-”

“No you haven’t Zeph, because we always shielded you from it. Lyra nearly killed you once.”

“What?”

“Yes,” Master Alaric replied. “Do you really think we would have separated you so early from Lyra, otherwise? Or even at all?”

“Yes, I do,” I countered without hesitation. “Because at the end of the day I am a human, and it isn’t proper for humans to live so comfortably with their superiors. It would cause too many problems. That was what you told me.”

He sighed, his eyes falling to the floor. “That is-in part…the truth, but it wasn’t the most important truth.”

This was too much. It was just too much to wrap my head around. “I can’t believe this-I…this-none of this makes any sense.”

“I know. I know it’s a lot to absorb but-”

“Show me,” I said without hesitation.

Master Alaric was clearly surprised by my request. He immediately shook his head, bewildered.

“Please! I need to see.”

“Zphreyah, no.” he took steps away from me. “I-do you realize how dangerous this is? You-your blood, I’ve not even ... .I can’t imagine how potent your blood is by now.”

“I need to know,” I said, unmoving on the decision. “I need. To know, Master Alaric. Please. Show me-at least a glimpse of what you’re talking about.”

He sighed. He knew that I wasn’t budging on this, but I could understand his reservations.

“This isn’t safe, Zeph-it’s not.” He shifted his back towards me and began pacing the floor. And then he exhaled, and looked at me. “I’ll have to take you out of the town. Away from as many inhumans as possible.”

“Fine,” I said, walking towards the door. “Let’s go.”

I was so adamant on finding answers, I didn’t consider how casual or out-of-order I may have seemed in walking ahead of him. When I swung the front door open, I was reminded of it when Lyra appeared on the doorstep.

“Whoa-what the-Zeph?” she stared incredulously at me. “What do you think you’re doing?”

She looked past me and at Master Alaric, who was standing a foot or so behind me.

“Daddy?” she said. “What’s going on here?” she looked around, her eyes shifting with paranoia. “What is this?”

“We have to go somewhere.” I said.

“Excuse me? When did you become the authority on where you go-”

“Lyra!” Master Alaric interrupted, standing between the both of us. “Now is not the time.” He then turned to me. “If you want the proof…” he paused, still reluctant to adhere to my request. “Let’s go.”

He walked out of the house and I followed. “Whoa, wait! Wait! I’m coming!”

“No! Lyra,” Master Alaric stopped her cold. “It’s not safe.”

“What?” she looked incredulously at me and then back at him. “Not safe? But you’re taking her?” she scoffed and pushed past us. “Screw this! I’m going. I’ll be in the car.”

Master Alaric and I exchanged looks. He was worried. “Zeph,” he sighed. “She shouldn’t be there.”

“She’s family,” I shrugged. “She deserves to be.”

“She will attack,”

“And I will handle her,” I reassured. “You’ve taught me well.”

That didn’t quell his worry though. “It might not be that simple, Zeph.”

The way that he was talking about this made me even more curious as to what this Rarus gene was. What it did to inhumans. And how much danger, he assumed I was truly in.

“Well, I guess we’re just going to have to figure it out together.”

“Let’s go.”

I said what I meant. I didn’t care about the risks at this point. Master Alaric, I noticed, was still staring with worry and apprehension. I’d never seen him so bothered as in this moment.

Whatever he was afraid of only intrigued me more. As Lyra, Master Alaric and I got into the car, I watched an almost childish curiosity as the truck passed the well-known sign of Emberwood. The streetlight eventually blurred into the distance as we left the town in its rear.

The silence in the truck would have been tension-filled and deafening had I not so many things already swimming through my mind. The day had just been far too eventful for me to have room for anything else.

I did notice that Lyra seemed to have an attitude with not only me, but Master Alaric as well.

I loved Lyra. Cared for her as a little sister when the moment was deemed appropriate for me to think of her that way. But even I noticed that she was never fond of the idea of me garnering too much attention from Master Alaric or anyone else for that matter.

It took over an hour for us to get to a dirt road, leading up the side of the Blue Ridge Mountain. It wasn’t too far off of Emberwood.

The All-Wheel-Drive pushed up the dirt road and towards a narrow dirt road sequestered between the forest’s trees.

When we finally came to a stop, Lyra spoke. “What are we doing all the way out here?” she whispered. “What is this place?”

It was a good question. Sure, I was well aware that we were near the Blue Ridge, but I didn’t know the exacts of our location. Clearly, this place was no mystery to Master Alaric, however.

The trees were like a wall, blocking out the distant light of the closest town miles behind.

The air almost seemed colder, and the shadows deeper. Maybe it was because of the reason that we were here. Nevertheless, it was as if I’d stepped into another world entirely.

When it was clear that the truck wasn’t going to move further, I opened the door and got out, heading deeper within the trees until I approached a forest. There was a large flat, yet verdant, clearing ahead, surrounded by even more trees.

It wasn’t until I heard Master Alaric’s voice ring out from behind. “Lyra, stay back.”

I turned around to see Lyra taking a step towards me. When Master Alaric called her, she paused. “What? Why?” she hissed, her mouth curving into scowl when she glanced my way.

“Just do as I ask, Lyra!” He said, his tone now rough with a barely-concealed impatience.

Master Alaric always made it a point to not raise his voice to Lyra. Especially since her mother passed. This was the second time tonight.

It was odd and I knew that if Lyra hadn’t been on the defensive, she would’ve taken notice too.