"This is delicious," I say, stuffing my face with a handful of tea cakes.

"Slow down Love, the food isn't going anywhere," he quips with a gleaming smile.

Perched under the shade of a willow, Ash had set up a large blanket filled with picnic appropriate foods with throws and pillows for comfort.

My cheeks puffed with the amount I had in my mouth, chewing then swallowing it down, I give him a smile. Taking a sip of freshly squeezed juice, I reply, "I know but they taste so good."

After Ash changed into a pair of blue jeans and a white button down, I threw on a matching loose white dress and cute summer hat.

Placing another snack into my mouth, I noticed two figures a distance away by a bush of vibrant flowers.

Sensing my unease, Ash's gaze snaps to me then to where I am looking. Seeing him relax, a portion of the tension dissipates.

Instead of speaking I project, "who are they? Family?"

He nods, "family, the tall one is a Nightshade, my distant cousin Alexander. The smaller one is an Iris from my mother's side, Lillian."

My eyes return to the figures, who were now approaching us, "they are coming this way," my voice rising.

He places a hand on my thigh, "it's ok, I'm here, you're fine."

Both figures bow, then rise when Ash greets them, "Hello Alexander, Lillian. I'm grateful for you both being able to make it, please sit and join us."

Alexander, a tall frame with copper coloured hair and emerald eyes, takes a seat opposite Ash. "Asher, my man, it's been a while. Congratulations on being soon to be king and getting married," Alexander then turns to me, "and it is lovely to make your acquaintance Elouise, you must be one hell of a human to capture this vampire's heart," he jokes. "Gotta say you definitely got lucky with this catch, treat him good for us."

I smile, giving him a short nod, then squeezing Ash's hand, still laid on my thigh. "They think I'm human."

"I guess they assumed, we didn't exactly say what you are just your name and standing." He explains.

Our thoughts broken when Lillian speaks, her voice timid, "Asher," she acknowledges bowing her head, "Elouise, it's nice to meet you, and congratulations to you both," she says gently.

Her lilac dyed hair falling in front of her face as she bowed, her grey eyes meet mine. Giving her a small smile, she returns one back then shies away, avoiding my gaze.

"Please call me Elle, and thank you for coming. I'm happy to meet more of Ash's family," I address.

"Of course Elle, then please call me Alex and I'm sure the little squirt here won't oppose you calling her Lily," Alex speaks.

"That's ok," Lily squeaks.

"It's nice to meet you, Alex and you too Lily."

In response they both nod. Alex and Ash begin to converse, something about business.

Lily picks up a strawberry and takes small bites. "So," I say to her, "you're an Iris, right?" I ask already knowing the answer.

"Yes, I am, Julia is my aunt."

"Oh are you a vampire born?"

Lily thinks for a moment, then says, "Yep, I'm what we call a pure blood, so is Asher and Alex," she smiles.

"Does that mean both your parents also vampires?" I pause, "I'm being rude, sorry for asking so many questions," I apologise.

She lets out a little laugh, "no it's ok, I guess you'd be curious on all this."

"I actually know quite a bit but this part is new, the genetics and family stuff that is," I say honestly. At Thistle we weren't taught more than all vampires are bad, pure bloods are worse and eliminate them.

"Yeah, lately the topic of vampires is pretty popular amongst humans albeit most of it fiction yet scarily almost accurate."

I nod, keeping quiet not revealing the real reason I know but also in interest. She speaks again, "well yes both of my parents are also pure blooded vampires making their offspring, like me, also pure blooded. Pure bloods are usually of a high standing. Nightshade are the highest, Iris are in second, and Ivy in third, everyone else falling below. Most of us have the ability to inject venom, the affects vary with each family." She explains.

I giggle, "what's funny?" She asks.

"You guys are just like snakes, beautiful, venomous and you all hiss," I say making her laughs with me.

"I never thought about it like that," she grins. After calming down, Lily looks at the boys then leans in closer to me, "shall I tell you a secret."

Looking at her, I tilt my head slightly then nod. Whispering she says, "there are more creatures that roam the earth other than vampires and humans."

"What do you mean," I whisper back.

"Demons, werewolves, werefoxes, fae, merfolk, they all exist too."

I have to admit I was a bit taken back, demons I knew about obviously but the others a slight shock. Curious on her knowledge I ask, "demons? What like the devil."

"No silly not like the devil. Most creatures look human it's so we blend in, demons are no exception but they say that most demons can be identified by their dark features like their hair or eye colour, they also harness magic. Like all creatures demons have 'families' too."

"What do you mean?"

"Ok so you know I just told you about the different families of vampires, like the Nightshades and Irises. Well other species have families too, I think the werewolves have one which is called the Wolfsbane Pack and the werefoxes have the Foxglove Pack. I'm not very well educated on their affairs as the two packs are located in Asia. Demons on the other hand, I know more on since two families have feuded for centuries around Europe but mostly the UK. The Thistle and Thorne families."

At the mention of Thistle my curiosity grows, "what happened to them?"

"A century ago it was bad, but it's been worse. You see demons specialise in different types of curse magic, the darkest of black magic. The Thorne family famous for diseases, The Black Death, Spanish Flu, AIDS, all them. The Thistles they were situated more around fighting. The Battle of Hastings and ones before, The Civil War, and even the two world wars, all the doing of the Thistle family, no one knows exactly who or why the feud started, all we know is there was tension between both families. Anyway around two decades back it all stopped. The Thorne family disappeared, the last of their line were Deacon and Jennifer Thorne, after the death of their father they seemed to have just vanished. The Thistle family, Conner and James Thistle. They went quiet for a short while too, after Conner Thistle and his wife died, the remaining one, James-" Lily stopped.

Noticing the tears falling from my eyes, Lily is taken back. Then, seeing me cry, Ash begins to attack her.

"What did you do!" He growls at Lily, his eyes glowing violet, fangs extending, "what did you do!" He screams again.

"I didn't do anything," she panics rising from the blanket. Alex on his feet too, ready to protect Lillian.

Blinking back tears, I had to stop Ash from going any further. "They didn't die, they were killed, they were all killed," I say quietly, the tears gone, "please sit back down," they all reluctantly sit.

I take Ash's hand, siphoning magic, "calm down," I speak, my hand glowing over his. Alex and Lily sit quietly watching me, their expressions washing over with shock.

Hearing my words, the spell takes over, slowly Ash's appearance returns to neutral, his eyes back to their deep brown. "I'm calm," he says placing his head on my shoulder.

"Elle I didn't know, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry for we did to them," Lily apologises profusely avoiding my gaze, wringing her hands.

"It's not your fault, the actions of one can't be held over a whole group of others, I'm also sorry for not telling you that I'm a demon, the last of the Thistle family, that's me."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything," Lily says, fiddling with her dress.

"No, no, don't say that, thank you for telling me more about my family and yours, I really appreciate, I hope we can still be friends," I say a little quieter then I would have liked.

"Of course we can, I need a friend that isn't some pure blooded bitch," she blurts.

I laugh, "I'd love to be that friend."

She laughs too, "then you are." After the laughter goes quiet we all sit in silence, then Alex nudges Lily, "we need to go."

Lily stares at him then at me, her grey eyes surrounded by a purple hue, "uh, I need to eat. Sorry, again. Please excuse us," she says bowing her head then standing, along with Alex.

Me and Ash rise to our feet as well, "I'll see you around," I say before they leave.

Lily smiles, "Yeah, see you around." They walk back towards the castle.

"I didn't know my family caused such destruction and feuded with another," I speak, sitting back down, biting into an apple.

"Well you did say you are a force to be reckoned with, it runs in the family," he says light heartedly.

While chewing, I smile. "I wonder what happened to the Thornes? Deacon and Jennifer," I say testing the names, "why do they sound familiar," I mumble.

——————————————————

Updates are probably gonna be hella slow again since I'm preparing to go back to school then obviously going to school, so I will be busy.

On the bright side I plan on there being like maybe 8 chapter till I finish this story, then I'll try editing it so it makes more sense and is more fluid lol. Or maybe I'll start a new one who knows.

Anyways hope everyone had a good summer and all x

Enami out ;-)