As they went to the now longer head of the table, they found people waiting to pull back their chairs. They took their respective places as in the throne room, stepped in front of their chairs in unison. The people pushed their chairs in simultaneously. They lowered into their chairs together. It was a sight to behold! They moved as one. How connected they must be! People shuddered in fear of the way the attendees were looking at their Royal Family. Thoughts jolted from one mind to the next, “What kind of potential does this Royal Line contain?!” “What if this blows up in all our faces?” “My heart, they’re beautiful!” Raven looked at them all and smiled. She thought of how they resembled her forrest friends and their temperaments. Alexandre looked upon them and stayed perfectly poised. Bradford looked at them and specifically wanted to see the expressions of his old posh acquaintances. And Bastion looked over the room entirely. His wife was the exotic powerful intoxicating woman he

“Thats all we need to cover tonight. We will reconvene when all members are present. Tonight go feed your souls and trouble me no more.” Bastion left and went to find Raven. He went to the ladies apartments to see what the plan was going to be for her lessons. He rapped at the door and gently turned the knob. “Raven?” He saw her sitting by the fire holding a letter down by her side while she gazed into the oblivion. He knew that she discovered her mama’s departure and he felt the pain in her. “This isn’t a long goodbye. We only have weeks to prepare you both and divide and teach is the best plan. I need to teach you how to do your best powerful work with your dark abilities. It’s trickier than you think to do it on demand. You’ve always been a natural. So let’s move from emotional control to intentional control.” Raven cried as she sat there. She recalled the years of fear and loneliness. Her heart ached that she didn’t even get to say goodbye. What if they never see each other ag

Bloodchild returned to his villa enraged. Walking through the threshold he threw his cloak, gloves and cane at the wall. His Butler came quickly retrieving the items. As he shed his layers down to his dress shirt and slacks, the butler ran around grabbing them all and carrying them neatly. “Where is my wife?” The Butler stopped and replied, “She’s in the library still. She’s hardly left it since you went to the Castle. Sir, I can report she has found some encouraging news. Shall I take you to her?” “That would be ideal. I require some libations, Richard. I’ll escort myself to the library actually.” Bloodchild replied. He would actually like to see her working. He loved how the candlelight danced off her beautiful red hair and how intently she read as she traced her finger along the sentences. Using his dark abilities he silently moved into the corner behind a bookshelf sticking out with stacks of books on it. Danessa peering over the words, spoke slightly with her whisper, “An

A month had passed and Bastion and Alexandre had spent every possible moment teaching their respective child the gifts and spells they needed to be as prepared as they could be. The council had convened and required the tests to be administered. “It’s okay, Papa. You taught me so much in such a short time. I love you. Let me go in first. I’m ready.” Bastion nodded to his daughter and looked to his wife. “I believe in her. Besides, we can listen.” She winked at her husband. She missed him. “Princess? Would you like to begin?” The Elder of the committee asked her. “Yes, Elder, I am.” He spoke a spell and the door opened to her. “Only you, Princess. No one can assist you so we must remain out here. Be steadfast and trust in yourself. You’re more than capable.” Raven nodded and lightly bowed to him. She went inside and the door closed behind her. “She’s a very special person for us, Your graces. Thank you for making it so.” He bowed and took his seat on the bench outside the door. “W

Danessa and Lucas sat at the Bloodchild villa and discussed the findings with their supporters. Gathered around the table were noblemen and women, elders who supported the cause and other members of the Holy Clan. Candlelight brought light to their faces as the flames danced on their wicks. The room was tense with civil war talk. “We don’t want to cause any major damage to the realm. We can keep this to a small militia of soldiers that can abduct Raven and keep her hidden until after the eclipse passes,” Mr Banderman spoke. “We will take her by any means necessary and damned be the consequences. This isn’t a time to roll over. We have to take back this realm before someone else decides to make changes none of us will benefit from.” Bloodchild spoke up. His frustration was only increased by hearing Raven and Bradford not only passed the trials but did so flawlessly. “She can’t be the ruler. We won’t recognize her power. We are ruled by the males. Not the females. It is blasphemy t