Falling For His Charms

CHAPTER 14

So quick thing, pretend that Edaline wasn't sisters with Juline. This way, the story will move along better:)

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As Sophie walked down the dark stairs, she was sure that this was the most vigilant that she had ever been. She heard every creak of the wood she stepped on, the paws of mice running through the walls, every beat of her heartbeat. Seeing the home that she had grown up in like this... It made her uncomfortable.

Sophie walked a bit faster, for two reasons: eager to see her parents, and just wanting to get out of this dark area.

When she reached the bottom of the staircase, she broke into a run. At the end of the hallway, there was a faint light breaking through the darkness. Sophie squinted, her eyes not used to it. And then, she heard voices. She smiled. Almost there, she thought. Almost there. Her boots crunched the ash and dirt covered ground, quite loudly I must add, but Sophie didn't stop. She was going to see her parents!

Sophie burst into the room, her smile slipping off her face when she was what was in front of her.

"Drop your weapons!" Grady screamed, a fierce look on his face as he pointed a frying pan at her.

"D-Dad! It's me!" Sophie said, trying to get her shock under control.

He wavered for a second, but seemed to think that 'who ever ' she was, she was faking. Edaline, on the other hand, came bursting out of one large cupboard, a relieved smile on he face.

"Oh, sweetheart-"

"No! Eda, it's an imposter!" Yelled Grady, fury portrayed on his face.

And that's when it hit Sophie. She had her hood up, and... Holding a sword wasn't the best idea to convince someone that you were innocent. She quickly dropped her sword to the ground, and slowly, she slid of her hood, facing her parents, who both gasped at the sight. Grady's lip trembled, and he dropped the frying pan, running to his daughter as tears streamed down his face. Edaline was not far behind, completely sobbing.

The family of three stood there, in the destroyed kitchen, crying their hearts out, as they squeezed each other's emotions in the tight hug that they were in. None of them wanted to break the hug - they had missed one another too much - but Sophie knew that she needed to get back to the triplets, before they woke up and got worried.

She pulled away, and smiled up at her parents tear-stained faces.

"Oh, kiddo, we thought you were..."

"When you stopped the telepathic conversation so suddenly..."

Sophie smiled again at her parents. "Don't worry, guys, I'm here now. And I have somewhere we can go, until I bring you guys back to the castle."

"The castle?" Asked Edaline. "What castle? You're staying with the king and queen?"

Sophie laughed. "I already told you that!" Her parents smiled at her. "Well, in case you haven't noticed, we've been pretty stressed out lately," Grady said sarcastically. Sophie laughed, feeling all the relief and happiness flooding into her, knowing that the most important people in her life were alright.

She was just about to pull them back up the stairs when she noticed something. "Hey... Where are the animals?"

"We're not really sure, to be honest," Edaline answered. "We think that they escaped during the battle; we were too busy trying to find you to help them. If they did escape however... I'm not sure that we'll ever see them again." Her lip trembled, but the auburn-haired woman refused to let her tears fall once more.

"If they did escape, I hope that they gave those ogres hell," Grady growled, practically fuming. Edaline pulled him into a hug to calm him slightly, but Sophie barely paid attention. All the animals had escaped? She realized that her parents couldn't have done anything, nor could have she, but it broke her heart to think of all the animals she loved... gone.

"Why don't you tell us what happened to you? We've been so worried, we might as well know how safe you were." Edaline said, changing the subject; she could see how much her daughter's face crumbled as they told her what had happened to the animals that Sophie cared for with all her heart.

Pulling herself together, Sophie went on explaining the whole thing as the three of them walked up the stairs, out the door, onto the streets, towards the triplets. Grady and Edaline gasped at the right times (they seemed completely horrified when she told the part about being chased by ogres) and if they weren't walking through the ruins of their town and Sophie walking with her sword out again, she would have thought that they were out for a stroll. It felt good, to be honest.

Sophie, Grady, and Edaline finally reached the little cottage of the triplets. They walked quietly inside, and walked towards where the triplets were supposed to be sleeping; but they weren't there. Sophie started panicking, and began her search of looking everywhere; she would look all over the town if she had to.

"Lex! Rex! Bex!" She yelled, becoming frantic. Where had they gone?!

But when Sophie turned around, all three of them heard a high-pitched 'CHARGE! ' as three kids jumped from behind destroyed couches and broken desks. Sophie and Edaline jumped as Grady screamed at the top of his lungs, but then Sophie laughed both relieved and laughing at her father.

"I was so worried about you guys! " She said as she ran towards them to bear-hug them.

They all stiffened, but relaxed when they recognised her. Two bear hugs in one day, Sophie thought.