Blair: The Same Daughter

Blair:

The Same Daughter

April Klasen

Independently Published

2016

Copyright © 2016 by April Klasen

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

First Printing: 2016

ISBN 978-0-9944659-3-1

April Klasen

www.aprilklasenauthor.com

aprilklasenauthor@hotmail.com

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April 

April Klasen is an independently published author, a blogger, and an expert on finding new hiding places to read uninterrupted. For more stories visit www.aprilklasenauthor.com

Also by April Klasen

Blair: Salem’s Daughter

Blair: The Sleeping Daughter

The Annual

Beta

Pure PopAsia

Summertime Madness

Acknowledgements

Thank you Nanowrimo.

Thank you Brothers Grimm.

Thank you Bek.

Thank you editor B.

Thank you Mum and Dad.

Thank you Readers.

Before

Once upon a time Blair Fitzpatrick came home after eight years and forgot about Alizaria. She no longer had magic.

The police were confused and interrogated her. She had no memory.

The doctors were amazed and did test after test. She had not aged.

Mr and Mrs Fitzpatrick were ecstatic their little girl was home and bought a new house in town. She lived with her family, finished her HSC and they were happy.

But Blair found herself constantly drawn ‘home’ and to the man who had found her. Little by little, Blair and Dathan fell in love.

Again.

"Salem’s Daughter,

spirit of Alizaria and blood of another land,

a daughter of two worlds:

She will be loved by an heir.

She will sleep till Alizaria needs her.

She will bring fire and flood.

She will be the greatest queen for a thousand years.

She will be alone."

Chapter One: The Same

Blair woke suddenly to the crack of thunder. She shivered as the fan blew cool air over her sweaty skin. The heat was broken. Rain shattered itself onto the tin roof, its echoes drowning out all other sound inside the house.

A shaft of bright white light illuminated the bedroom for a second before it returned to the black. Then came another crack of thunder. It’s close, Blair mumbled to herself.

She laid on her back staring at the ceiling, more like darkness, above. Her mind was blank.

Rolling her head to the side she checked the time on the clock. Its glowing red numbers said one thirty-six. She groaned. I haven’t been asleep for a full hour yet. She felt exhausted but she just couldn’t settle in for the night.

Blair sat up in the bed, the sheet pooling in her lap. She wore an old singlet and a pair of blue cotton boxers, anything that wouldn’t feel like she was being smothered to death in cloth. Dathan was sleeping next to her.

How can you do that? Sleep through anything? She asked Dathan.

His face was peaceful, unaware of her words. Mouth slightly open, he snored a little. Thankfully the rain blocked out the sounds. Many nights she had to go sleep in the spare room on her own just to get any shut-eye.

He never seemed to be bothered by the fact it had become a problem in the last three months. They would have good intentions and go to bed together but then after an hour of staring at the ceiling and becoming more and more annoyed with the drone-and-honk she would finally make her way out.

As she stared at the man her hand went straight to her belly.

The foetus inside there was being a pain in the neck again. I want something... salty. Chips, yes I want chips.

Crawling out of bed, Blair didn’t need to use the bedside lamp to guide her; she knew the way across the floor to the door. Understood she had to shuffle across so she didn’t end up kicking her toe into the foot of the bed.

Once on the other side of the door, she turned on the hall lights and made her way down to the kitchen.

On autopilot Blair reached into the pantry and retrieved the salty chips. She sat at the table and began shoving handful after handful into her mouth, licking the salt from the tips of her fingers as she did. The doctor had told her she would crave things that her body felt it had not sufficient amounts of.

The storm was easing up, the rain no longer sounded like it was trying to force its way into the house. It pattered.

The silence irritated Blair. She fidgeted, shifting in her seat. Why am I so restless?

Occasionally, while Dathan slept she would go out into the back garden and walk around the perimeter. Sometimes she would walk up and down the steep driveway just to make herself exhausted before collapsing into sleep.

I was never this much of a pain in the neck when I was a kid... you better not be planning on taking after me, little one, she whispered to her belly.

It also terrified her. This baby tied Blair and Dathan to each other permanently. She would never be able to leave him now. Which should’ve brought a smile to her lips.

I’m going to be a mum. I’m not sure if I really want to be one, or if I would be any good at it. How do you know if it’s the right time to start a family? She placed her hands on either side of her belly. It was slightly bigger and would be massive by the end of things. I thought a happy child could only be conceived in perfect trust and love...and Dathan is hiding something. Actually it feels like he’s hiding a lot of different things from me.

The chip packet was empty, it shifted in the slight breeze.

Blair frowned. No fan was on inside the kitchen nor was there a window open anywhere. She turned round in the seat to look over at the back door.

Why is that open? I could’ve sworn I locked it before going to bed. Her heart skipped a beat. How long has it been open? Must be baby brain, swallowing the sudden fear she stood and moved to the ajar door. We’re too far out of the way for an axe-murderer. That was what her dad always said. She believed that.

With a hand resting on the door handle she stood there enjoying the breeze that blew in, the slight moisture in the air kissing her cheeks and eyelids. She sighed. It was too nice not to go out onto the veranda at least.

Making sure the door wouldn’t lock her out if it swung shut, she moved out onto the squeaky floor boards. The rain had been vicious, shooting further into the veranda than expected. The cool damp boards felt amazing under her feet.

Outside it smelt clean and fresh. She wanted to lay out on the grass and roll in it.

Blair blinked as she realised she was walking out into the light rain now, her toes touching the grass. What am I doing? I can’t risk catching a cold.

Her hands came back to cradle her belly. No matter what she felt about the prospect of becoming a parent at such a young age Blair didn’t want to jeopardise the health of her unborn.

She retreated back up to the veranda and then into the house, after taking one last gulp of lovely fresh air. She closed the door and locked it. It clicked into place with a decisive clunk.

Now what am I going to do? She didn’t feel like she could go back to the bed and lay there for hours waiting for sleep. I guess I’ll just make a cup of tea and maybe sit out on the veranda for a little while. I might go stir crazy if I have to stay inside for much longer.

The kettle boiled and she prepared a cup. She stood patiently, tapping her fingers against the counter. With the tea made and milk put away, Blair turned to go outside, mug in hand.

She froze.

Someone sat at the head of the kitchen table.

Her heart went off at double time, ramming itself back and forth against her ribs. She shook, tea slipping free of the cup. What do I do? He’s so close, anything I do he can get at me in seconds. Dathan, oh god, how can you still be sleeping? I need you!

Hello Blair. How have you been?

She barely registered that this stranger knew her name, focussing on dropping the cup and reaching for the sword at her hip.

Where’s my sword? She thought in a panic.

She blinked. Sword? Since when did she ever think she carried a sword on her hip?

Well my dear girl, let me tell you how I’ve been these last few years. I’ve been going out and collecting all kinds of special magical abilities, growing stronger each time. The strange man smiled.

Blair was panicking now. So why the hell didn’t she start running? Race for the phone? Scream out for Dathan? Why wasn’t she doing anything except reaching for a sword that was never there to begin with? How stupid was she?

Swallowing what little saliva was left in her mouth she found a voice. I don’t know who you are or why you’re here but if you just stand up and walk out of that door right now, I won’t call the police. We can forget about all of this. Even as she spoke the words she knew they were lies. She would be calling the cops on this maniac. For all she knew he was an escapee from an insane asylum.

The man frowned. What are you talking about? His tone had deepened.

She was shuffling along the counter heading closer to the hallway. She had to be smart, get to the end of the hall and lock the door after her. Then she would wake Dathan. Yes, that’s good.

Look, you have the wrong house.

He shook his head. Blair, stop pretending to be innocent. What’s wrong with you?

How do you know my name?! the words burst out in a panicked scream. Who the hell are you?

The man carefully assessed her. Ha, he laughed humourlessly. That’s rich coming from the prince and that vampyre. That they should use such basic magic on you of all people. Ha.

What? Okay, crazy person is inside the house. I really need to get away from him. Right now.

Boiled magic. A simple trick that’s all. His eyes slid down to the abandoned mug on the floor. Tea, I bet that’s what it was... yes, I agree too.

Certifiably insane. Blair moved the last few steps so the table was between them and the hallway right behind her. I don’t care who the fuck you think you are, be it Jesus or Elvis, I want you out of my house right this fucking instant! Take your crazy shit elsewhere!

The man sighed. We’ve been through this already. My name is Roy-Samuel Salem.

Salem? Are you somehow related to my mum? He did look vaguely familiar. She shook her head. That doesn’t give you the right to break into my house and scare the shit out of me. Now get out!

Yes, we are related. More so than you would like to believe, his eyes shifted in colour again and grew a little glassy. You are after all, Salem’s Daughter. The chair scrapped over the floor as he stood and shoved it back.

Her hands rose up, palm facing outwards. Don’t you dare come any closer. I’m not alone in this house, my boyfriend is sleeping at the end of this hall. If I scream he’ll come running.

Then why haven’t you screamed already? His head tilted to the side.

Blair’s mouth moved but no sound came out. Why hadn’t she screamed out for help yet? Why was she still standing in the kitchen talking to this crazy guy instead of making her escape down the hall already?

What happened to her initial fear?

It was shock when she saw someone sitting at the table. But it seemed so natural to see him there, like de ja vu. Maybe its curiosity... or I really just need the adrenaline hit.

Why are you here?

Oh, his eyes grew round in surprise. I suppose it is very rude of me to arrive so late at night. But I needed to speak to you right away, without delay and without interruption. His knowing smile made her stomach tighten in fear.

I already told you my boyfriend...

Can sleep through anything. I remember Dathan and his inability to be woken for anything in the middle of the night.

She gasped. Have you been watching us? How the hell do you know his name?

Because I am Roy. He and I, like you and I, have history. Only ours goes back further because we are blood related and we were both the same sort of witch, before Lucy that is. Little bitch she is.

Lucy... that’s a name I’ve put aside... Blair muttered the words under her breath. It was on her list of girls names.

Roy looked at her sharply. Put aside? Just how happily ever after have you been living?

Blair returned the sharp look with a glare. That is none of your damn business.

How old are you?

She blinked. That was quick jump in conversation. Twenty-two.

Five years... strange how the times are the same.

The same as what?

This was a basic rule, time moves differently over there to here, sometimes faster other times slower but never the same. So why is it the same?

Tick tock... crazy much. Blair stepped to the left and yanked open the cupboard below the bench. Bringing the frypan out she raised it in front of her body, both hands gripping its handle tight. It started to slip a little, she readjusted her grip. Damn sweaty palms. I’ve had enough of this. I have repeatedly asked you to get out of my house, I have even offered to ignore the fact you’ve broken in. Now you have just pissed me off. Either get out or I will use self-defence.

Straightening his shoulder Roy looked at her calmly. Blair Fitzpatrick! Alizaria needs you. You need to come back home with me and complete the prophecy. If not, then this world will be next when Alizaria is gone.