The Princess and the Two Dukes

Energy Draining

  When the sun was up in the sky, Zari bid Demetrio goodbye. But the vampire Duke isn’t ready to let go of her hand yet.

“I wish to stay with you for more hours.”Demetrio said.

“You don’t have the time. You have a flight to catch.”Zari told him.

  When Demetrio playfully pouted, Zari cannot help but chuckle at him childish behaviour. She grabbed into Demetrio’s jacket zipper.

“Your House needed you there, Trey.”She said and then Demetrio huffed.

“They can function without me. They did whenever I visit Casa Trandafirilor.”Demetrio grumbled while looking away.

  And then he looked at Zari.

“But will you be okay on your own? Can you get back to the pack house?”He asked and Zari nodded.

“I have my ways, so just go.” She told him.

  Demetrio groaned and he waved his beloved goodbye and he turned around and walked away. But he hasn’t taken more than five steps when he turned around and jogged back to Zari. And before Zari could react, Demetrio grabbed her face and kissed her. When Demetrio pulled away, he smiled at her and then he jogged away leaving Zari smiling.

  Zari just watch her beloved’s retreating back as she stood on the same spot since the night before. And when Demetrio was no longer within her range of vision, Zari snapped her fingers and a portal appeared behind her that leads to her room in the pack house. She turned around and went inside the portal.

  Zari immediately took a shower and changed her clothes before she went down to join her family for breakfast. But this time her twin uncles and his family are nowhere to be seen, as well and Creon and his family. It was just her family and her grandparents.

“Where are uncle Creon, uncle Lynox and uncle Lykos?”She asked.

“The twins and their family went back to Russia earlier, while Creon and his family are visiting the laboratory in Japan.”Liam answered.

“I didn’t get to say goodbye.”Zari said.

“Same.”Ivan said.

  Camilla took a sip of her coffee, and then she spoke.

“We’ll be going back to Stone Castle before lunch. And since you’ll be using the plane, can you at least help our father open a portal for us.”

  Zander and Zari looked at their grandmother.

“Sure grandma.”They said in unison and the Queen smiled.

“I wish nothing but good luck to your mission.” She said.

“Thanks grandma.”

“If by any chance, you needed help call out to me and I will be there.”Alex told his children.

  Zari looked at her father and smiled.

“Yes daddy.”

“Call me if that creature gives you a hard time. Or when that punk made you cry or even made you think of crying.”Alex added while stabbing the sausage on his plate.

  Zari smiled warmly and nodded.

“Babe, stab the punk not the poor sausage.”Zab said, and then Alex brought the sausage to his mouth and chewed on it.

  Camilla rolled her eyes at her children’s actuation. Then Liam leaned towards his mate’s ear and whispered.

“They will always be kids.”

“Kids that I want to ship to Timbuktu.”Camilla grumbled and Liam chuckled.

  After breakfast, servants started helping the Queen and the other packs their stuff. And when everything is packed, they brought the luggage out of the pack house. Zander and Zari are right by the porch waiting for their family to come out.

“You know we can just open a portal to Croatia. It’ll save us the long flight.” Zander told his sister.

“What’s the farthest distance that you were able to connect with your portal?”Zari asked.

  Zander thought for a second.

“When were in the past, from the lycan village to the castle; vice versa. Why?”

“It’s just a distance that could only take a few minutes if taken by car, Zander. We are talking about a distance that has continents in between. We are not yet used to our ability of opening portals; by doing so with that kind of distance we could either torn in half or end up in the Bermuda Triangle.” Zari told him.

  Zander pursed his lips and furrowed his eyebrows.

“Besides when I open several portals at the same time back in the past, I lost all my energy that I passed out. Who knows what will happen if we push to open a portal with such great distance.” She added.

 “But it would’ve been cool to just pop up there.”Zander whined, and Zari heaved a deep sigh.

“Your sister is right on that Zander.”

  Zander and Zari turned around and they saw their grandmother and their father coming out of the pack house.

“Portal opening is handy especially if travelling is not really your thing. But doing so has its cons too.”Camilla said.

“That’s true. It took me fifty years to master opening the portals and it still drains most of my energy.”Alex told them.

“Really?”Zander asked his father.

  Alex frowned at his son.

“Do you think my energy is limitless? I am not plugged to an energy socket. Why do you think I sleep and eat a lot whenever I travel using portals? Your energy fuels the portals, and the longer the distance the more energy you needed.”Alex paused and stuffed his hands inside his pockets.

“The sixteen hour distance is already too much for me, that’s why I’ll be needing your help.”He added.

  Zander let out a sigh of defeat, while Zari run her fingers through her hair before stuffing her hands inside her pockets like her father.

  Then Zab, Ivan and Liam came out of the pack house.

“Are you ready? I have a meeting this afternoon and I cannot miss that.”Zab said, and Camilla rolled her eyes.

“You and your meetings.”She grumbled.

“I need to keep our businesses afloat mother.”Zab told her mother.

“It will float even without the captain.”Camilla said, and the Liam went to stand beside his mate.

“We should go so Ivan, Zari and Zander will have time to get ready for their mission.”Liam said, and then Camilla looked at Ivan.

“Call your mother and tell her what you’re up to. Do not upset her.”Camilla told her youngest grandson.

“Yes, I will grandma.” Ivan said, and Camilla nodded and patted his arm.

“I’ll open the portal now.”Alex paused and then he looked at his children.

“Backed me up.”He said and both Zander and Zari nodded.

  Then Alex took a few steps forward and then he raised his arm up, and then Zari and Zander stood behind their father and placed their hands on his back. The air shifted and a small hole appeared right in front of Alex’s hand; and that hole swirled and gradually become bigger.

   When they clearly see the castle grounds, the Queen signalled the servants to get in the portal and take the luggages. The servants did what they were told, while Ivan, Zari and Zander bid their family goodbye.

  After everyone went through the portal, Alex was the only one left behind. Before stepping into the portal, he turned towards his children and nephew.

“The three of you, please take care of yourselves. Don’t let anything get to you while doing this mission; especially your personal feelings.”Alex told them.

“Yes dad.” Zander and Zari answered in unison, while Ivan just nodded.

  Alex stared at his children and it looked like he has something in his mind. And that didn’t go unnoticed to Zari.

“What’s wrong dad?”She asked.

“I felt different in your mission. There is something in that creature that didn’t sit well with me. I feel like it didn’t come from this plane but beneath us.”Alex told them.

“What do you mean by that?”Zander asked.

“I still don’t know. Azula just told me it’s not from here, so I want you to be careful. Do not make a move without telling anyone. You three have to rely on each other, because you can only trust family.”Alex told them, and Zari frowned.

“You’re talking cryptically dad, and it’s like you’re telling us not to trust people there.”Zari said.

“There’s no harm in being careful.”Alex paused and let out a frustrated sigh.

“Call me or your mother if anything happen. Remember everything I am telling you now; only rely on each other.”

  They looked at Alex and nodded.

“Very well. I’ll be going now.”Alex said and then he went inside the portal.

  And once he’s completely in the other side, the portal closes. And once it was entirely gone, Zander’s knees gave out while Zari felt dizzy and Ivan held unto her.

“What the hell?”Zander blurted.

“I told you, opening a portal with such distance takes so much energy.”Zari grumbled.

“But looking at Uncle Alex, it’s like a piece of cake.”Ivan said.

  Zander groaned and completely sat on the grassy ground.

“Oh my god, I feel so tired.”Zander whined.

“Quit whining.”Zari hissed and the she pulled away from Ivan and went inside the pack house.

  Ivan huffed as he watches his cousin’s retreating back. Then he looked down at the very tired Zander; then he helped him get up.

“You rest inside.”Ivan said and then he draped Zander’s arm around his shoulders and then he helped him get inside the pack house.

  After lunch, Zari was looking at the pack members training when Zander and Ivan came to her.

“We’re going to check the city.”Zander said.

“So?”Zari asked.

“So, do you want to come?”Ivan asked her.

“You go ahead.”She said, still watching the wolves train.

  Zander shrugged and they were about to leave when Zari stopped them.

“Where can I get my hair cut?” She asked.