First Meetings
Meeting someone who looks so much like your lost loved one is not a blessing but also a curse.
-Arabella
Despite my late night, I wake up early. I'm nervous about today and I’m starving. After my shower, I put on my favorite pair of jeans and a dressy shirt. I'm not sure what meeting dress codes are, but this will have to do.
Heading to the kitchen and making breakfast is next on my agenda. I'm not a great cook like Merrie-Beth is, but my omelets are always on point. Beautiful mountains surround Luxington Valley, so sitting on the terrace while stuffing my face sounds like a perfect idea, and a big cheesy smile is in order because this view is flawless.Magnificent pine trees line the palace and go as far as the eye can see. I've never seen anything as beautiful as this place. My eyes look over in the direction of Lake Luminous. Has Eleanor told anyone about my arrival? Considering most of her people don't care for Landers, I'd imagine she hasn't.
My next thoughts are of both Ethan and Sebastian. They are so different in not only looks but in stature. Ethan is morestrength, while Sebastian has more lean hard muscle. Both are hot as hell, and I’m attracted to both equally, well, almost equally. The tingle returns to the apex of my thighs when I think about Sebastian’s assault on my neck. He’s an explosion of fire, while my desire for Ethan is more of a slow-burn type of flame.
Sebastian’s words about not trusting Ethan slaps me like a dick to the face. I’ll keep my eyes and ears open, but is Sebastian even trustworthy? Or could he be warning me away from Ethan for some other reason? Palace and politics go hand in hand. Everyone has an agenda. What’s his?
Darker thoughts send a cold shiver down my spine. Those men are going to come for me again. Am I prepared? Maybe I can ask my cousins from the Pyralis if they'll help train me. Eleanor thinks they will win their tournament, and she says they are the fiercest fighters of this century. I could use a little bit of that, a whole lot of that actually.
My uncle opens the French doors behind me. "Arabella, it's almost time for us to meet with the King, but we need to have a little chat first.”
I finish eating and clean up. “Is everything alright, Uncle Josiah?"
"Yes, but you need to be made aware of who will be at this meeting today." He mumbles as he helps himself to some orange juice.
"Great way to keep it vague, man." I laugh nervously.
To my surprise, he laughs. "I'm sorry, sweetie. As you know, it's just been a rough twenty-four hours. I may have aged fifty years.”He motions for me to sit at the table, and I comply. My mind races. It’s been less than seven hours since I last saw him. What else could have happened in such a short time? Is thisabout my would-be captors? I patiently wait for him to grab a breakfast pastry and more orange juice.
Finally, he comes and sits in front of me and starts babbling. "Arabella, as you’ve come to guess, your mother and Aunt Georgia have a brother. He’s king of the Pyralis and a great man. I'm sorry we kept him from you, but none of us had a choice. We had to disappear, and while he knew about your whereabouts, you were left in the dark.”
“Because I would have sought him out?” I guess aloud.
“Yes.” He answers truthfully.
"Uncle Jo, Eleanor told me all about that last night. I understand because that’s exactly what would have happened. You guys had to keep me safe. What we didn’t talk about is you and Dad. You've always changed the subject when I brought up your family. Do you have any close living relatives?"
He sighs. "Your uncle Radix will be at the meeting today, Ella, and he is staying here until after the Trial. He wants to be the one who will personally escort you to the Pyralis capital, Dragoncrest City. He wants to ensure you are taken care of. We know you’ll be safe with him."
Butterflies infiltrate my belly as nervousness moves in. He still isn’t answering my question. I lift one eyebrow at Uncle Jo. “And, as always, you have evaded my question. What about your family? Or I should say OUR family."
He looks at his half-eaten pastry. "Our family is a different matter entirely, but I’m sure you’ll meet them soon enough. Until then, I won’t answer any questions about them.”
I take deep, even breaths. He’s stubborn as a damn mule. Doesn't it matter to him that I want to know about them? They are my family, too. He doesn’t care. His mind is made up, andonce that happens, it can’t be undone. What he doesn’t know is that I have other people to talk to now, and there are various ways of finding out information.
I look around the kitchen. "Where's Aunt Georgia?"
"We have been given orders to lead a search team for the monsters that tried to kidnap you. Georgia is assembling our team now. She will be leaving tonight, and I will accompany her as soon as this Trial ends. We may be unable to stop the impending war, Ella, but we can make it hard for them to assemble their armies." He shakes his head but doesn't say anything else.
This new bit of information feels like a punch to my gut. I don't want to be alone in this new, strange land. They can’t leave me. I’m not ready. "Can't I go with you, Uncle Jo?”
He sighs deeply, and by the look of sadness that crosses his face, the answer is no. "My sweet Ella, I'm sorry, but no. We’re on two different paths now that lead toward the same common goal. We’ll fight for you, with you, and if need be, we’ll die for you. This sucks, but don't be discouraged. We will never truly be separated because our love will always lead us back to one another. We are family."
I wipe the few tears that have escaped down my face. "When will I see you again?"
He shakes his head. "Only God knows, little one, but I believe it will be soon. You’ll be in good hands. I've already spoken to your two cousins, and they have agreed to pick your training up where we left off."
Feeling the need to try and lighten the mood, I grin. “I thought about asking them to help me train. Eleanor said they are the fiercest fighters of this century. I can't wait to see if they really will enter the arena riding on lions during the Fire Trials.”
My uncle laughs. "Rub it in, Ella. Try to video some of the tournament or something! That's hardcore! I'm brave enough to admit that I'm not man enough for that."?
We both laugh and then I look at the clock. "It's almost time." I somberly say.?
