Clementine Book 2

Book 2: The Heartless Queen

CLEMENTINE

It is a sunny day here in Lyon, the third largest city in France. Five years ago, I had planned to settle in Russia. That was my plan when I found a baby girl at the side of the road and took her with me. I wanted to be as far away as possible. Helia, my phoenix, was still hurting after our mate rejected us when he found out that I am also part witch.

But my plans changed when I passed by France. It is a beautiful place. I had heard a lot about this place, but I had never seen it with my own eyes. We, the supernatural beings, do not engage with humans. We never go to their land, and when they come to ours, they immediately die.

I wouldn’t lie… I was scared when I left Big-Bear-Lake. It was a huge forest, filled with cities within. It was as if the humans could not see the place. I reckon that witches had performed a spell to hide it from the world, but I still couldn’t understand how only so few humans like hunters could get in.

I heard a lot about Paris… “The City of Love.” Love my ass.

That’s why I did not settle there and chose Lyon instead.

I walk around my tiny two-bedroom apartment. The living room is small compared to the other houses I have stayed in in my past life. The space was adorned in whites and grays. Gray couches, white walls, glass table, gray and white rug. A beautiful, yet tiny, silver chandelier hung from the ceiling. At the corner was a wooden table, and a bird cage sat on the top.

I walk her way and look her in the eyes. “Good morning.” I open the door for her to get out and fly around the house. I never cage her unless she was a bad girl. Yesterday, she left the apartment without telling me and left me worried all night.

“Don’t be dramatic,” Helia mutters.

“You do know that you cannot fly outside with your full size where anyone could see you!”

“That’s why I didn’t fly with my full size, Clem.”

“Fine. But please, tell me next time.”

Well, this bird is Helia. One of the perks of having the ability to do magic is creating different and new spells. I did not know that I could do that, but Helia helped in some way. She wanted to be out of my body so she could fly. I could have flown if I didn't have a daughter. I could neither leave her alone in the apartment nor take her with me.

So, I created a spell… one that could take Helia out of my body, but that doesn’t mean that she is still not inside of me. Our souls are combined.

It was a very hard spell to perform, especially when you have a baby daughter who cries every second. It hurt, I admit, but it was worth it. I would do anything for Helia.

“Maman! Mom!” my sweet daughter, Bella calls. When I found her five years earlier, she was wrapped in a blanket with the initials ~A.A~. I could not know her last name, but I could easily name her any name that starts with the letter ~A~. I decided on Arabella. I call her Bella, though.

“Oui? Yes?” I called back, as I walked to her room.

“Puis-je porter une robe aujourd’hui? Can I wear a dress today?” she asks.

“English, Bella.” I roll my eyes. She is friends with all the neighbors in this building and no one speaks English, so she picked the French language immediately. I, on the other hand…struggled a bit, but eventually mastered the language.

“Je…want to wear robe today.” She cringes at what she said.

“Yes, you can.” I smile.

“Merci! Thank you!”

I shake my head. She is such a rebel.

I walk out of her room with a smile on my face and go back to the living room. I pay no attention to the figure sitting on one of my couches as I make my way to my open kitchen.

“You could have knocked,” I say, preparing breakfast for Bella.

“You know I don’t like to knock,” Malcolm replies. He is a wizard from Big Bear Lake. He helped me discover my phoenix powers and guided me. “You know, it is sad that such a majestic bird is flying around the living room with this size, instead of outside.”

Helia squeaks, probably agreeing with Malcolm.

“We cannot afford anyone seeing us,” I reply as I put the scrambled eggs on the plate.

“You could always come back home,” he says in a low voice.

“And do what?” I ask, walking to the living room.

“Live the life that you deserve,” he replies.

“It would have been easier if I did not have a daughter.”

“But she is not your daughter.”

“She is!” I hiss.

“Fine…calm down.” He puts both of his hands up, as if defending himself from me.

Before I could say anything, Bella came out. She looks at Malcolm and smiles. She slowly walks his way and gives him a hug. It is a weird scene since she had never seen him before. I always meet Malcolm when Bella is playing with the neighbors or when she is sleeping.

“I have seen you before,” she says, making my and Malcolm’s brows lift up.

“Where?” I ask.

“In my dreams,” she replies and my jaw clenches. I look at Malcolm only to see him lowering his head.

Did he fucking think that I wouldn’t know? Or that she wouldn’t remember?

“I can explain…,” he slowly says.

“Bella, your breakfast is ready, honey. Go grab the plate and eat in your room this time,” I softly say with a smile.

She nods and leaves.

“What the fuck?!” I take him by the collar. “You entered her dreams?” My eyes are now red, surrounded by flames. I might not have Helia's body within me, but her strength and powers are still with me.

“Clementine! Calm down. I only entered her body to make sure you're safe,” he chokes out.

“Why wouldn't I be safe? I cannot even die,” I say in confusion, untightening my hands from his collar.

“I know what she is.”

“So?” I ask.

“You know?”

“Yes, I do.”

“How?” he asks.

“I am her mother, of course, I would know.” I furrow my brow.

“Did she…,” he starts, but I stop him.

“Of course not!” I hiss. “She hasn't killed anyone…yet.”

“Are you going to let her?” he asks.

“Yes, eventually. But she is still young, Malcolm. The most important thing is that she knows what she is.”

“That's good.” He nods. He stands up and continues, “Anyways, I must leave. Home awaits.”

“Goodbye and thank you for coming and don’t you dare enter her dreams again.”

“For sure.” With that, he disappears.

* * *

I am getting ready to sleep when suddenly, I hear a sound. I stand frozen to my spot. That sound is my old phone. No one has called this phone in years. I stored it in one of my drawers in my dresser.

I slowly walk toward my dresser and pull the drawer open. I immediately look at the screen to see who it is.

I quickly pick it up and press the Answer button.

“Father?”