Wings, Beasts and Claws: Violet Embers

Ch. 6 : Anima Genimae

Getting eight kids and a handful of adults ready before a banquet shouldn’t be so chaotic, but somehow my dear family and friends managed to turn it into a hurricane.

Cal was bored as he got ready and decided to scare the servants during his bath, making them fall in next to him. Teris kept falling asleep as his clothes were pulled on and he ended up slipping and ripping a tear in his pants. Melina was running away from the maids that were trying to put her dress on, complaining that she hated soft girly colors and wanted something darker. And Thea wouldn’t let go of her father so he could get dressed himself, breaking into heart-stopping cries whenever he tried to pass her to Ivy.

When we were finally dressed we met up with my brother and Morina out in the corridor and I couldn’t help but laugh, seeing them mirror how exhausted we felt. We all talked about how difficult the children were as we made our way to the main office, having decided to gather there as family while the guests filtered into the ballroom.

“We shouldn’t wait long to make our appearance.” Arden said, nodding towards our kids who were being calm and quiet… for now. “If we wait too long the children will get too anxious and start acting out again.”

I nodded, watching our kids with him, finally paying attention to their outfits.

Reya was in a soft lavender dress with cream lace accents, her deep black hair was pulled back from her face in smooth pigtails with jeweled bows holding them in place. Pallas wore a soft grey suit with a small matching cape over his left shoulder that looked like his fathers, though Arden’s was a match darker shade of grey. The youngest Delphia, Rhoda, was in a coral colored dress that nearly matched her mothers, and her dark brown hair was held back by a flower headband, keeping it from falling over her face. Then there were the twins who were in matching deep red outfits instead of the softer colored clothes that had been originally picked out. Thea was in a soft pearly grey dress that was close to the same color as my own. And Cal and Dorian wore deep back suits with matching red and black capes over their left shoulders.

“It’s time, Your Majesty.” Ivy came back in and quickly took our now sleeping baby girl from my husband, nodding to the other servants so they would open the doors for us.

It was common for those closest to the Royal family to make their entrance right before the Royals themselves, so Arden and Morina took their places and guided their kids out of the room first. Dorian and I stood close together as we counted in our heads, wanting to give my brother enough time to make it through the ballroom doors before we made our own grand entrance.

Then, after enough time had passed, Dorian raised his hand out to me with a warm smile, silently asking to escort me. I took it and straighten my back before we stepped out of the room with our kids close behind us.

As we wove through the Palace halls we finally caught up to my brother and his family, seeing them in the distance as they paused before the wide open doors to be announced in. They all walked forward and managed to reach their seats at the table closest to ours before we stopped in front of the doors. I could feel the eyes of everyone on me while I stared straight ahead. Could feel their cold calculating gazes that attempted to find some sort of weakness that they could use against me. But I gave them none and simply smiled as our names were called out.

“Announcing, His and Her Majesty, King Evaristus Dorian Morey Fafner, and Queen Amara Dalea Fafner.”

We walked down the path that led straight to our table and nodded to everyone that bowed. The silence didn’t last long as the announcer then began to call out each of our children who had been taught to walk in as he spoke. I grew nervous as I took my seat and watched my kids enter, fearing that they would feel the dark and malicious intentions of the Nobles around them as they entered the room. But my anxieties were calmed as my sweet and brave children waltzed into the room with calm, peaceful smiles and didn’t turn to acknowledge anyone on either side of them, their eyes glued to me and their father as they approached our table.

“Announcing, the first star of the Night, Prince Callistus Drako Morey Fafner.”

Cal held his little head up high and was beaming as he walked in, his eyes bouncing from his Aunt and Uncle to the right of us, his cousins at that same table and then resting on his father and I.

“Second and Third stars, Prince Straton Teris Minta Fafner, and Princess Sotiria Theron Melina Fafner.”

Being twins allowed them to be announced together and they walked in holding hands as they followed their brother who now sat beside his father.

“And fourth star, Princess Latethea Chara Avelia.”

Ivy walked in with her head slightly bowed so the focus would go to our little girl, still sleeping in her arms.

Once our children and Ivy were seated, Dorian stood up and welcomed all guests to our son's birthday celebration. He called out his thanks to the houses of those that had made and delivered things to me in the past weeks in preparation for the banquet, as well as what was going to be served for everyone to eat before taking his seat again.

The celebration went into full swing after that and the hours ticked by quickly.

Many families came up to our table to congratulate our son on his birthday, each tugging along their own young sons, daughters or grandkids to introduce them to the Royal children. A few families even went over to my brother's table to introduce their kids to my nieces and nephew, clearly knowing how close the cousins were. A part of me was sad and bitter that they would try to use their kids for their families benefit. But I also knew and understood that this was how Nobles made connections and grew for the benefit of our Kingdom as a whole, through partnerships, deals and friendships formed from a young age. But even though I knew this, I felt deeply angry that my own kids would be at the center of many different power struggles, unable to enjoy a calm childhood like the one that Arden and I had had.

“The High Priest is here.” Dorian whispered to me as the servants cleared our plates after eating.

I nodded and stood with him, motioning for Cal to follow us as a man in a pure white robe made his way to the center of the room.

The music stopped and the dozens of side conversations quieted as we reached the man who held a thick and gold covered book in his arms. Everyone had no doubt been anticipating the results of this moment and the weight of all of their eyes felt heavy on my body. On instinct, I wanted to shield my son from the burdensome weight, but he was the main focus of the Royal Bloodline Ritual itself, leaving me feeling awful and guilty.

“Prince Callistus Drako Morey Fafner,” The High Priest started, opening the book as Dorian and I took a step back. “On this day, the day of your birth, you have come forth and called upon our loving All Mother, requesting to see into your Inner Light so that all who stand before you may catch a glimpse of your second form.” Two other Priests appeared behind the man as he spoke, one holding a gold bowl with crushed herbs in it, and the other holding a vial of clear blue liquid and a ceremonial dagger studded with jewels. “With the All Mother Goddess’ Blessing, I join these Sacred herbs and the clear, sky Blessed waters of the mountain springs to assist you.” The vial was popped open and the almost glowing water was poured into the bowl by the two Priests, the bowl being held in between our son and the High Priest. “I now ask for a piece of yourself, so that we may see the light and shape of your other self.”

Cal raised his right hand as we had told him and presented it to the Priest holding the dagger. I could see him trembling slightly as the man pressed the tip of the blade against my son's palm and quickly swiped it, cutting him and making him flinch. Dorian held my hands as I fought the urge to rush to my son whose eyes were fighting tears as his little hand was taken and turned over so the blood trickled into the bowl.

The Priests then began to chant in a different language as Cal continued to hold his little hand over the bowl, looking a little upset and nervous. Not a second later, a pure white glow started to climb out of the bowl, making contact with our son's hand. It instantly changed colors as the light wrapped around him, becoming a deep and brilliant purple color that soon surrounded his body. His eyes were glowing softly too and the tears were no longer present, shock and surprise the only thing visible in his wide gaze. Murmurs erupted as the light around Cal grew even more, pooling over his head and swirling around as it started to take shape. And the hushed voices of everyone present grew louder when the clear shape of a dragon in mid-flight could be seen materializing from the deep violet light.

But the sudden gasp and exclamation coming from behind us quickly drew everyone's attention, and my eyes grew ever wider at what I saw.

My niece Reya was surrounded by the same deep amethyst light as Cal, her eyes glowing just like his and a pooling of that same shine gathered over her head. A raven could clearly be seen above her and the Priests quickly motioned for her to come closer to us, seeming to realize something that everyone else was unaware of. She hesitated, looking unsure at the crowd around her, but my brother took her hand and helped calm her, walking her up to us while Morina stayed back with their other kids. The Priest closest to them once they came close enough told her to take Cal's free hand and she did, no longer looking as nervous as she had been a second ago.

As soon as their little hands joined together, the dragon and raven flared out and became engulfed in flickering purple flames, their wings moving as though they were flying together and soaring in the sky even though they weren’t moving from above their heads.

“It is an Honor and great privilege to announce the very first Anima Geminae pairing within the Black Dragon bloodline.”

Gasps and hurried whispers could be heard all around us as the High Priests' words echoed in the room. Arden and I locked eyes and Dorian held my hands tighter as we realized the reason why Reya had been born with her Inner Light showing her animal form like our kids. Why she and Cal had been inseparable since they first started to move on their own.

Anima Genimae, or Twin Soul was something that very rarely occurred to any Shifter, and was only ever seen among Knights. It meant that two people, no matter if they were related by blood or not, had a different Soul-Animal or came from different social backgrounds, were linked together through their Inner Light. Their very Souls were tied to each other and allowed them to feed off of each other's strengths. It made Knights with this unique bond an unstoppable force against anyone that opposed them. And any relationships, skills, and bonds that would form as they grew closer would become as strong as the forces of nature themselves.

Everything was shared between the two linked Souls.

Pain, happiness, anger, strength, and even their level of intelligence would be affected by each other. There were pairs that had been able to speak to each other telepathically without needing to be in the same room or physically touching. Some had even been able to take away the pain of a serious wound that their partner had, allowing them to stay calm enough to receive treatment and survive. And every major event in their life had to be shared so that their bond as Soul Twins stayed strong.

Graduating from school, birthdays, engagement and wedding ceremonies all had to be done together to keep such a special Bond from growing weak or risking it to break. And now that Cal and Reya were confirmed as Soul Twins, they would need to stay together as they grew up… and would undoubtedly make Reya a target to those wanting to hurt the Royal family and Cal once he becomes the Crown Prince.

“This is the biggest blessing the All Mother could have given us.” Dorian said proudly, smiling at Reya and Cal who were beaming as the light began to fade. “No Royal from any Kingdom had received such a unique gift from our Sacred Goddess.” He raised a glass of wine that a servant brought over, smiling at the people around us. “To the grand future of my son and precious niece!”

Everyone raised their glasses and cheered, calling out their congratulations as the music resumed and the Priests bowed and left.

Cal and Reya were giggling to themselves and rushed over to Morina and the rest of our kids, excited to talk about what it felt like to be engulfed in that light. But as Arden, Dorian and I joined them, I couldn’t help but notice the hidden look of worry and fear that my dear brother was trying to mask. And I reached out to him and tried to ease his doubts, earning a weak smile before his eyes focused on his smiling little girl.