CHAPTER 3

"Cora? Princess, Wake up" I heard dad saying softly while shaking my arm. I hummed and stretched while yawning, I then opened my eyes to see dad smiling down at me which I involuntarily returned.

"Get up now, you have a lot to catch up on" he said , I nodded and got up. We got down and as soon as we did, the warm sunshine enveloped me as if welcoming me.

"Welcome to your homeland , Cora" he said

"My?" I asked as I looked at him, he nodded and said

"Yours"

I shrugged in response as we walked towards the car, we sat in and dad drove us to a house which was settled in the middle of the forest.

"Why are we in the middle of the forest?" I asked

"For security purposes" he said as he got down and I followed the suit. The house was beautiful, more beautiful than the one back in LA.

He opened the door for me and we walked in,

"Woooowwww" I said as I looked at the architecture which was sort of historic yet modern.

"You like it?"

"Definitely" I said

There were a few antiques here and there,

"You guys finally arrived" Avery appeared from a room. I squealed as I ran towards her and hugged her, she hugged me back.

"I'm so sorry A, I'm guilty for whatever I did back there " I said as I broke the hug and gave my best puppy dog eyes. She sighed and nodded,

"How can I be angry on such a sweet creature?" She asked, I giggled and kissed on her cheek. Avery was beautifully brown, she was taller than me and had curly black hair till her shoulders, she was lean yet the strongest girl I've ever came across.

"Now Cora, you must be tired and hungry,

freshen up, I'll prepare lunch for us" dad said

"We'll have lunch together?!" I asked excitedly as I jumped a little.

They chuckled

"Yes princess" dad said

I was extremely happy because it's not everyday for me to have lunch with my dad! Avery showed me my room which was on the first floor, I smiled at her and walked in. I closed the door behind me and took in my new and beautiful bedroom. I sighed in content and walked into the bathroom, after taking bath I wore midnight skinnies, white oversized jumper with a long tank. I kept my long hair which were curly at the ends open as I walked down. Dad was setting food on the table ,I looked around

"Where's Avery, dad?" I asked as I made my way towards the table, mouthwatering aroma welcomed me and as if on cue my stomach grumbled. Dad smiled and said

"Let's have lunch first"

"Yup" I said as I sat beside him.

"Avery wanted to visit her family" he said as he served me food.

"This is Avery's homeland too?"

"Yes"

"Oh!"

We had food in silence, when dad took my and his empty plate to the sink, I asked

"So....what did you wanted to say?"

I heard him sighing as he dried the plates with a cloth and kept them back in the cupboard. He sat beside me and said

"There are a few things which are hard to believe"

I frowned and asked

"About mom?"

He shook his head and said

"About us, me, your mom, Avery...and most specifically you"

My eyebrows shot up

"Me? I'm pretty much sure that I know everything about myself"

"You know the least about yourself"

I folded my hands above my chest and rested my back on the chair as I said

"Oh yeah? Then enlighten me"

Dad licked his lips and said

"I'll tell you..but You'll have to believe me"

I gave him a single nod, I trust him and believe him...I wonder what he wants to say.

"There are human beings, right? And animals...there are many beings which are still unknown to the mankind. Which should remain unknown to humans...You remember you watched a Vampire movie last year with me?"

"Uh..yeah, it was twilight" I said remembering the day but still confused to what he's trying to say.

"Yeah..So what I'm saying is..that...Vampires do exist..So do werewolves, witches,hybrids, magicians....I clearly don't need to explain what are they as you already know...what you don't know is that those beings are ruled by Black souls and white souls"

"I'm sorry..what?"

"I mean that the black souls and white souls are too dangerous and competitive to determine who actually rules all the supernatural creatures--"

"Hold on a sec" I said as I stood up, he looked at me expectantly

"So you're saying me that..all those fictious characters are real?! And that they are ruled by some souls?!" I was more than confused at the moment.

"Yes..and I am a black soul"

"Hahahaha!" I started laughing, I mean this has to be a joke right? Those creatures aren't real! And what souls is he talking about?!

"I know it's hard to believe, Cora, but it's true. I am a black soul and your mum was a white soul"

I stopped laughing because I know that dad wouldn't ever joke about mum. I looked at him totally confused, my brain refused to take in the information.

"So..So you rule those creatures?" I asked

"No..I'm an ordinary black soul. Look, I'll explain it to you, there is a kingdom of black souls which is ruled by the king, king is the most powerful than any other black soul, he has some different and unique powers which no one holds. An ordinary black soul has ordinary powers,but if you're selected for a certain place in the palace then you're allotted a few new powers. Like, Avery is an ordinary black soul so she has ordinary powers, but I am the commander, as in, the one who leads the army, so I was given a few powers by the king"

I gulped,trying to take in the information.

"And white souls?" I asked

"The same goes with them..I dont really know much about them"

"But mom was a white soul..right?"

"Yes, she was, black souls and white souls are born enemies, we were taught to kill each other even before we knew how to walk"

"Then...what am I? How come you and mom had me?"

"Both of the homelands are built in such a away that only black souls can enter our homeland and only white souls can enter their homeland. Since you were allowed here, you're a black soul"

I blinked my eyes,

"And because we were born enemies by the nature, your mom and I went against the laws of nature, due to which she was burnt into ashes by the nature as soon as you were out of her womb" Dad said , his voice cracking at the end as tears pooled in his eyes.

He gave me a painful smile and said

"And you know the worst part? I wasn't even allowed to see her ashes as I couldn't enter the white souls' homeland, your mom's family refused to accept you and my family refused you too...but I just couldn't bring myself to abandon you, because you are the proof of mine and Pearl's love"

Tears pooled in my eyes as my throat tightened, a sad smile spread on my lips

"P-pearl? Was that mom's name?" I asked

He nodded and said

"Pearl...the most beautiful I've ever seen"

A lone tear rolled down his cheek which he quickly wiped, I couldn't help but smile sadly.