Chapter 35 The Truth

• Lucy’s POV
• Aunt Maggie sat down on a couch and beckoned me to come sit next to her. She sighed again and asked, “what do you want to know?” “Everything!” I exclaimed. “This is the hardest thing I never thought I ever had to do. I never thought this day would come.” She said with slumping shoulders. “Please promise me that this will stay between us princess!” she begged taking my hand into hers, her eyes trained on me pleadingly. I nodded, wishing that she would speak up already. “We are originally from the Northern Kingdom, we are not from the South.” She started. My eyes widened. “What?” I shouted unexpectedly. I never thought I would hear that I’m from the same place as that obnoxious Patricia. Why did we move here then and is Patricia’s family our rulers? Does that mean we are the same kind? My heart began to pound in my chest. I did not like the sound of this truth. I can’t imagine myself being under Patricia’s command. I closed my eyes and willed myself to calm down and faced my Aunt. I nodded for her to continue. “This is the most difficult part for me Lucy. If I cry while telling you this, please understand.” She paused to source out my reaction. I took her hand in mine to assure her. “My parents were the rulers of the Northern Kingdom. We are werelions. We both are.” I already expected to hear something like that. I shuddered at the thought that the healer’s words were true. “My father was a King, my mother a queen. Strange things started happening and I was sent off to the south for my own safety. I had to stay with a human family friend. Dad had asked her to take me to a witch, to make my lioness Clara, dormant for a while and mask my aura and scent but I paid the witch to make it permanent.” She continued and I couldn’t help it but wonder what else more that I’m still going to hear of. “I have lived in the South for twenty-five years. I lived alone and had to adjust to the new life as a human. I never got to see my parents, or attend my brother’s (your father) mating ceremony or attend your brother’s or yours’ baby shower or birthday celebration. I was very lonely.” She continued. I wondered why she never got married. “Then the worst nightmare of my life happened years after my father King Lemot Foster the 12th, handed over to my brother, your father and King Lemot Foster the thirteenth. The current king staged a challenge for the kingship. He fought against my brother and defeated him. Then he cruelly massacred everyone. My parents, my brother, your mom, your brother were annihilated...” she sobbed uncontrollably. “You survived because your mommy gave you to a maid with a letter addressed to me. She brought you to me when you were only a year old.” Wow! Indeed this was destiny! Rage filled me up. Did I just hear her say my family was annihilated by the current king and Patricia’s father? So her family was responsible for my family’s demise? And now she is claiming my boyfriend also? “How long is her family going to keep taking away what is mine? So her father is the reason I’m parentless?” I roared, a lot of anger bubbling down from my belly going up. I turned red with anger. I grabbed a cushion and squished it under my hands, imagining it to be Patricia. “Calm down Lulu! Wait a minute, who are you talking about and what about them?” Aunt asked wiping off her tears. “Patricia Bratton, daughter of the king of the Northern prides. She is the one who just made me lose my boyfriend Ken. Apparently she is betrothed to her through some treaty agreement.” I explained to her. “What?” Aunt jumped up from the couch, so pale. “ Did you just say betrothed through some treaty?” I nodded. “Yes, that’s what the king said while announcing the betrothal at Ken’s birthday and coronation ceremony. Did you know about it?” I said fists balled up. I wished I could strike Patricia and finish her off. “OMG! That treaty wasn’t for them. It was signed by my father, it was for the next generations of the Fosters. It was never meant for any other kings and their lineage.” Aunt reiterated. ‘How messed up is this whole thing?’ I mused inside. “So, Auntie, does this mean I’m the one…?” she nodded. I’m the rightful princess. Patricia’s family robbed me of my family and my rightful place. No wonder Ken and I fell in love at first sight. We were meant to be. OMG! Destiny! At this stage, everything began to make sense. Goddess Selene said I wasn’t who I was meant to be and that I had to find myself. She mentioned me being great! Was this reality? ‘But then why did that prophet say my parents still live if they were massacred?’ I wondered while standing still like a clay statue, tears dropping from my eyes. This whole thing opened up a gaping wound in my heart. I had refused to accept my parent’s death though I have no memory of them. To think that they didn’t die from an accident but that they were murdered in cold blood made bile boil up from the bottom of my belly and spread across my chest. I felt like vomiting. I was going to be sick so I rushed to the bathroom holding my chest! I emptied the contents of my stomach on the sink. When I saw the greenish stuff, it made my stomach turn again and I puked even the more until I couldn’t anymore. I felt so disgusted at ever even looking at Patricia as a friend. Such a vile family doesn’t deserve to live. I wished I could be as powerful as the lion I saw back in the Western kingdom. I could tear down Patricia and her family. ‘Wait a minute! Aunt mentioned that I was also werelion! Does that mean I can… OH my word! Do I have a lion inside me too?’ fear engulfed me and I stormed back to the living room. I met my Aunt standing outside the bathroom and my eyes reddened. I needed more answers. “Are you okay baby? You are not pregnant are you?” she asked a question I never expected. “What? Gosh, Nooo! What do you take me for? A loose girl?” I bellowed not believing her insinuation. “If you are not, then the.. vomit?” I rolled my eyes looking to the opposite side so she couldn’t see me. “Goodness Aunt, I was disgusted that’s all!” I retorted. She sighed and asked if I was okay once again. I looked her straight in the eye. “Do I have a lion inside me too and if so where is he?” I asked. Aunt’s face paled out!