~ The Allerton Manor, Lyon ~

A beautiful woman in her late threats, lounged on the sofa, cradling the baby in her arms. Her son, paced in front of her. He was only 16 years of age and already had dark circles under his eyes, marking his handsome face. He had his father's sharp features and his strange red hair. Her eyes, the color of the sky. He was her darling son, and she knew she was his mother, the moment, Grell had claimed it so. But, she didn't understand why her husband had insisted that her darling Adriane, work beside him.

¨ I just don't understand, how something like this could have happened.¨ He said.

¨ Don't be so worried, it isn't so rare for a stray monster to wander out of its den and target a small village. ¨

She said as the baby reached and hugged one of her fingers with its tiny hands. Adriane stopped and turned to her.

¨ But a Drakel! They are known for being seclusive and territorial, as long as you don't disturb its habitat It won't attack. It just doesn't make any sense for one to attack a village, that is a hundred miles away from its den. ¨

Adriane waved around his hands, to emphasize his point. ¨ 50 casualties, 30 injured and 20 dead. And the rest are left with little but the clothes on their back, and those pesky old geezers keep pestering use to give them a new land. ¨ he said as he flopped down on the couch next to her.

Her daughter cooed in her arms and she smiled as she handed Baby lily over to her big brother.

¨ Don't worry about such things, my son. You are the heir to the Allerton house and I'm sure, things will work themselves out.¨

Adriane nodded at her words, yawning she stood and with a quick farewell, left the room, to retire. Tracking through the long corridor, she heard muffled whispers. Curious, she followed the sounds to an isolated room. Three men spoke, in hushed voices. She leaned against the wall and listened.

¨ Everything is going according to plan. Why should we change it now? ¨ One of the men asked.

¨ Because there's always the possibility that Lady Allerton will find out the truth.¨ Another man answered.

¨ Buh, that bitch cant see past her over the powdered nose. She's was duped 16 years ago. She won't find out.¨ The gruff man replied. The lady in question was dying to know what the men were talking about.

¨ But, if she finds out, there's no telling what she'll do, best to kill her and release the truth. Instead of blackmailing the Lord we can ruin him in one go.¨ The second voice answered, obviously they'd had this conversation before.

A third voice entered the conversation and said, ¨ Marry the lady was probably the smartest thing that fool ever did. ¨

Lady Allerton prickled as the first man snorted in amusement. The third voice came again disapproving.

¨ She's smarter than you think Raglan. They would have been good together. But, then Grell, cheated and slept with that foolhardy maid and got her pregnant. Once the child was born, that crowd brought the child to the Lady and told her he was hers.¨

The man named Raglan answered, ¨ If shes so smart then how did she overlook, the moths of pregnancy she would have gone through and the pain of giving birth to such a child?¨

A snort from the second man, as he then said, ¨ He told her that she had been taking a potion, to stop the pain and that the potion, had caused her to forget the entire thing. That mixed in with an actual potion in her soup, to make her memories foggy was enough to convince her.¨

Lady Allerton knees become weak and she silently sunk to the ground. She had never considered, that her husband had lied to her.

He's not yours.

It echoed inside her head. Had he known, what other things were the two keeping from her. How dare they, trick her and deceive her Both of them were to blame. She rushed out of the corridor unwilling to hear any more. The mother in her spoke to her. She remembered, Adrian, growing up. No matter who had given birth to him. It didn't matter. He was her son. They would run away together far away. She found the living room and was about to enter when she saw her son had reached out with one hand toward the burning hearth. The flames reacted and they sprang from the fire, dancing around Adrinanes fingertips. Lily clamped as the fire leaped from finger to finger.

Lady Allerton's breath caught. Fire magic was not uncommon. However, the magic was often very hard to control and occasionally an untrained user would be burned alive. And besides fire magic was used for big explosions, she had never seen a fire that was so controlled. He had lied to her, kept his ability from her. With that realization, her heart broke and her memories of her son were washed away by a black sea of anger.

And he had her daughter.

Panicked she rushed back in and grabbed Lily from Adriane. The fires flew back to the hearth and Lily began to cry. Her daughters tear mixing with her own. Adriane turned toward her, shocked he opened his mouth but his words were cut out by her voice.

¨ GET OUT! LEAVE I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN!¨

Adriane shook his head and stood trying to console her.

¨mother...¨ he pleaded.

¨ I AM NOT YOUR MOTHER! ¨ she screeched holding Lily to her chest.

¨ Your father lied, your true mother was a dense whore and you are not my son!!!

¨What?" he asked confused. His mother fell to the ground and wept. He knelt beside her and took her by the hand. She pulled away and refused to look him in the eye.

¨please...I..ccant be around you, right now......please just go...leave this place.¨ He shook his head again and asked, ¨ Why?¨

Lady Allerton considered the question. Her anger had died. But she looked at the boy who she had raised as her own son, the boy she loved. But, he was so innocent. If he stayed she was afraid that he would become like his father. She didn't want that for her son. And she didn't think that she could be around him. She needed time as a woman and as a mother. She needed to know that he was safe and away from here. She turned and clutched at his arm.

¨ Go, go to the academy and learn to use your power. I will make the arrangements. You'll start when the new term comes. You should have enough to last the two months until then. Go, and don't return until you are certain that you are ready.¨

A torrent of emotions crossed her son's face. But seeing the determined set in his mother eyes, he nodded. Adrianne kissed his mother and sister on the cheek, hoping to convince his love for them. Then nodded to them and hurriedly left the room.