Aurora

Part 1, Chapter 6

Arrabella.nine“I don't want to wear a dress, Arra!” Acira whined and I sighed as she pushed me away for the third time.

“Alright, just put on some shorts and a shirt.” I waved her off before calling to her. “Nice ones!”

“Arra, make sure that you don't take any weapons. We don't need you two to make a bad impression.” Slone gave me a look and I rolled me eyes.

“I don't have a choice in this anyhow.” I snapped before I called Acira to hurry up, as it was time for us to head to the throne room. We were to wait there until our guests arrived.

Acira caught up to me just as I reached the doors into the throne room. I looked down at her wild, untamed hair and sighed, shaking my head, before pushing the doors open. She rushed in ahead of me, bouncing excitedly while I trailed behind, wary about the events that were about to unfold.

“Arra, hurry your ass up, they're arriving!” My mother screamed and I closed the door behind me hurriedly, rushing to stand beside Acira. I pulled her a bit more to the side, out of the way.

I watched with wide eyes as I looked at the bright golden portal open in the middle of the room.

“Arra, it needs a bit of a power boost to reach the other side. Help me out, little bell?” Naomi smiled at me and I smiled softly. I stuck out my hand, willing some of my energy to surface from deep within me. I surged it forward and felt it connect with the portal. I gasped as I felt the portal pull on my energy, sapping me dry. I quickly stopped the flow, exhausted.

“Good?” I panted and Naomi nodded, smiling apologetically.

Soon enough, a woman with a curly blond mohawk stepped through the portal, looking alert and suspicious. Next came a pale, white-haired man with a smaller, pretty looking girl with auburn hair and striking yellow eyes, who most likely a year older than I. Lastly came a tall man and woman, with a blond-haired boy and a brown-haired baby.

They studied us and our surroundings for a few moments before my father stepped forward, greeting the last two adults that came through the portal, identifying them as Gomer and Darmarie, the parents of the prince one of us were going to marry… so that made the baby the prince.

Acira and I weren't close enough to hear what they were saying to each other, but I knew they were speaking. Considering the way Darmarie dripped venom from her demeanour, my father probably just insulted us. Typical.

Growing frustrated, I attempt to use my own powers to heighten my hearing. I… somewhat succeeded.

I tried to hear as best I could but I didn't catch the first of what Gomer said. “… Clarion. He is here to… help, his brother choose the right mate.” He was speaking about the boy that had come through with him. 

Makes sense, I guess. I thought. My father showed an unnerving interest in him and Clarion greeted him politely. Gomer then went on to introduce Sabine, the woman who had first came through, and Dima and Tessa, the pair that had come through second.

My mother, Acira, and I walked forward when my father beckoned us.“This is her majesty the Queen and my wife, Aegirine. These two are my daughters, Arrabella and Aciraprabha.”

“But everyone just calls me Acira.” Acira shot in quickly.

“Acira, hush!” I snapped quietly and she looked up at me with wide eyes, but she obliged all the same. I held my breath as I watched Darmarie laugh before leaning over to Gomer and whispering to him. My heart immediately stopped. No, no, no! They're not supposed to like her!

“Where are the others?” Gomer asked and I breathed a small sigh of relief. The attention has been pulled away from Acira.

“Why does it matter?” My mother brushed off. 

“It’s only appropriate that your whole family be here during this meeting.” I watched as it seemed like his eyes froze her to her spot. Of course, that was untrue.

“The little half-breed bastards aren’t my family. They’re lucky to be alive, much less living in my kingdom. They won’t be attending this meeting.” My mother snapped and I froze. She didn't… 

I smiled softly to myself when I saw Darmarie reach out and grab my mother by the neck. I paid attention to nothing else but my mother and her face that was turning red from lack of oxygen. Darmarie was screaming in her face but all I could hear was the slowing heartbeat of my mother. It would stop momentarily before starting up again. 

I reveled in the joy for a few moments longer before I sighed and focused all of my energy on her to keep her alive. I saw Gomer approach Darmarie and she visibly tensed, before letting her go. My mother fell to the floor and my father went over to help get but she pushed him away. I stopped my energy and I could feel her heart beating erratically.

I'd try to calm her down but I feared that I would activate her abilities. I felt Acira shaking next to me and I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. We both watched the interactions, detached from it all.

My head whipped around when a door to my left opened, seeing Naomi leading my sisters in. My sisters looked at my mother with disinterest while Naomi went to help her up.

My father spoke to Gomer and his gaze fell upon Shaelyn quizzically.

“Shaelyn,” Slone called to him.

“What?” He asked, confused.

“Her name is Shaelyn. I could tell you were wondering why she looked so different. She’s part Faerie, which is why she looks like this.” She explained and he mulled it over.

“Faerie.” He paused. “And you are an angel of death? What is your name?” He asked her and I took a double-take. Angel of Death? What even is that?

I quietly tuned them out, just watching Gomer greet my sisters, before I saw him beckon his mate and children over.

“Daughters of Aramis, this is my mate Darmarie, my son Clarion, and the reason we’re all gathered here right now. My son Ryga.” Darmarie held Ryga up and he giggled a cute, bubbly laugh. He watched us with big, red eyes and I couldn't help but think he was precious.

I watched as Clarion took Ryga from his mother, who asked us to line up. She was quick to dismiss Slone and Shaelyn because of their age. My father was quick to speak up.

“What is this? Why are those two needed?” He asked, pointing at Claire and Chrys.

“I understand your confusion Aramis, but my mother’s visions are not always so clear to us. We have to be sure.” Gomer explained, looking at him.  Visions? Like my ancestor Cosmix, maybe?

“Where is your mother anyway? Surely she can dismiss any misgivings.” My father looked around, as if searching for someone.

“Dead.” Gomer told him and I looked over his shoulder, seeing a translucent face above him. Layla.

We shared a long look before she nodded and disappeared. Blinking, I broke out of my trance and focused on everything around me.

Gomer was glaring at my mother and I was knee-deep in confusion.

Tension was crackling in the air, and I wish that I had paid attention more. Darmarie approached him and spoke. “Gomer my love. She forgets that we don’t need this alliance. If she were Erathiahn I’d say she was Sparveen like me, but she’s not so let’s just write her off as stupid, and get on with the choosing so we can go home.”

I had to bite my lip to hide my smile. I didn't know what sparveen meant, but it still felt good to hear someone brush her off as she does to others.

Gomer held her gaze for moments more before turning away. Darmarie turned to Acira and I, asking is to promise to not turn out like my mother. We both obliged with as much conviction as we could.

When she asked everyone if anyone had anything else to say, and no one spoke up, she gestured to Clarion. “Clarion please proceed.”

He turned our attention to us and stepped up to Claire. So they're eliminating us one by one then.

From where I was standing, I couldn't hear what he said but Clarion’s eyes flashed and he looked away quickly. I saw a faint blush rise onto Claire's cheeks before she snapped at him.

Clarion held Ryga up to Claire and I saw him bare his teeth. I heard a small growl come from him. Claire smiled and growled back, receiving a hair pull in return. She cried out in pain and I laughed softly before putting my hair up. I did not feel like getting my hair pulled today.

They moved onto Chrys and I held my breath as Ryga reached out to touch her. Don't let him touch you! I mentally screamed, standing at the ready, but there wasn't any need. Ryga quickly pulled back and began to cry.

I looked at Chrys sympathetically as I waited for Ryga to calm down before it was my turn.

Once he had calmed, Clarion moved onto me and Ryga tilted his head, beginning to mutter. He spoke as if he was pretty upset and I nodded, understanding how he felt. “It's okay little one.” I smiled softly.

“You understand that?” Clarion asked me, confused.

“I'm just comforting him.” I said absentmindedly.

“See girl with red hair? For you.” Ryga asked me and I looked up at Tessa, the only “girl” with red hair that I saw in the room, other than Claire.

“Her?” I asked Ryga and he nodded.

“What did he say?” Dima asked me and I shrunk under the attention that was put onto me. 

“Er, um, I don’t know. Something about ‘for me’.” I felt my heartbeat start to quicken. What does that mean?

I don't know!

“Are you sure that's what he said?” Darmarie asked me, walking closer.

“I think so. I don’t know. What does it mean?” I asked, my voice betraying how I actually felt on the inside. Darmarie got down on her knees to whisper in my ear. I immediately blushed.

Formee is a love word?

“Don’t worry about it. It was probably nothing.” She told me with a comforting smile and I smiled back.

I watched as Clarion moved onto Acira and I held my breath. Before Clarion even had the chance to hold Ryga out, he jumped out of his arms and into Acira’s. He looked into her eyes and giggled. I saw her smile back and my heart both warmed and froze.

His gaze locked onto her lips and I watched as he leaned forward and bit her bottom lip. I jumped when she screamed. Whether it was from pain or surprise, I don’t know, but I quickly moved forward as I saw her suck in a lot of breath. I moved her head to the side and moved out of the way as she blew a large gale of wind from her mouth, knocking things over in the process.

“Impressive.” I heard Gomer say. “He’s picked himself a powerful future mate.”

Acira pouted, replying angrily before Gomer and Darmarie burst out laughing. I stood there confused, completely out of it.

I failed I failed I failed. I chanted in my head, becoming completely oblivious to my surroundings. I never wanted her to carry this burden, but now I’ve let it fall upon her. I watched on with dull eyes as everyone celebrated. I celebrated with them, with heavy limbs and a heavy heart. I watched as Gomer and Darmarie went over to speak with my mother and father. Discussing the good news, no less.

I turned my attention to Acira, who was joyfully giggling along with everyone else, and I couldn’t help but smile at it.

So many things happened, and don't remember a single thing.

I’m not sure how much time passed by, though it was nighttime now, but I snapped back to reality when Naomi put a gentle hand on my shoulder.

“The portal won’t start up, I need your help again.” She smiled softly and I nodded.

I walked over to the device, giving it a once over. I tried to hide my blush when I felt everyone's gaze on me. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, feeling the reservoir of power deep with me. Knowing how much I had to use, I turned the lock and let it all out at once.

I opened my eyes, wincing, as the pressure I was giving off was crushing me slightly. I felt my hair lift into the air and the stone underneath me turn green with lush plant-life. My arms heavy, I slowly reached forward and grabbed the large device with my hands. My magic immediately stopped flowing outwards, and starting flowing into the device. I nearly fell forward with the unnatural pull I felt deep within me. My breathing became hard and labored as it continued to extract the magic from me.

The portal continued to stay closed. 

Grimacing, I pushed more out and I felt the air shake around me. With a grand shove, the portal buzzed to life.

I quickly cut off my magic flow and it immediately felt like I was floating. The pressure was gone and I felt… odd.

A sudden surge of vertigo caused me to tilt sideways.

“Arra!” I heard Acira exclaim before I saw her lift herself off of the ground. She swooped to my side quickly and caught me. I let out a soft oof as I felt her small arms tighten around me. 

“Are you okay Bells?” Naomi asked me, rushing over. I blinked at her softly, frowning. I slowly looked at Acira, realizing that she was holding me up. Pushing away from her, I fell to the ground, rolling to cushion my fall.

“Yeah I’m okay.” I nodded at her. Everyone was silently staring at me and I smiled sheepishly.

Once the attention was diverted from me, the Erathiahns left, the portal closing behind them.

I sighed, glad they were gone. All the tension in the room was starting to suffocate me. I watched as my parents left the room in a hurry, off to do who-knows-what.

I turned, about to leave, before I immediately stopped in my tracks.

The red-headed girl named Tessa was standing before me.

“Um, hi?” She looked at me sheepishly.