RISE

23 - The End

Author's Note:

The final chapter! I can't believe I actually finished a whole story, and published it! Thanks so much to anyone who reads, stars, or comments! I hope you enjoyed!

I put the family tree reference in this chapter, as well, because it briefly mentions some of the family members. Maybe someday I'll learn how to write a book with a lot of characters without getting confused. Until then, hope this helps anyone who wants to check it out!

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The two of them walked arm-in-arm to the room where Aaron's family would come through. This time, instead of sucking them down in a bright flash, the King and Queen created a sort of doorway for the family to walk through. They all waited anxiously on the other side, dressed in their formal wear, and stepped through cautiously.

Aaron beamed proudly at them and welcomed them, coming to embrace Lydia and Meredith, who led the group. Everyone was shocked by El's appearance, having only seen him in the human disguise he'd been wearing when they went to Earth, but they leaned away fearfully when Aaron introduced them to El's parents. The King and Queen stood tall and looked down their noses at the humans, beautiful and intimidating, but Aaron didn't mind. He knew the pair commanded respect, but they were kind-hearted and loving.

Aaron shook his head in amazement seeing the vibrant auras of his family. He hadn't paid much attention when he'd seen his cousins arrive in the carriage after the battle. They were faint, then, a result of his exhaustion, but now he could see them clearly. He was starting to get a good grasp on what the different colors meant, and most of his family was fitting - a fiery red for the headstrong Natalie, a playful yellow for his Aunt Trixie, a regal mauve for Amelia's mother, Christine - but some of them were more surprising. He'd never really struggled telling the twins Hayden and Tyler apart, but he'd always considered them very similar. He could see now that Hayden had a pale purple aura while Tyler's was bright pink, though they both shared an identical hue of turquoise that their sister Sascha also shared. Aaron was a little overwhelmed by the complicated color arrangements, but he was sure he would become accustomed to it all soon enough.

Two demon servants opened a double-door entrance to a grand ballroom, three times the size of the ballroom at the Knight's manor, which was already filled with mingling demonic guests. Aaron hurried inside ahead of his family, hoping to encourage them, and greeted the friends who had helped them battle Gourmal.

The ballroom was decorated in purple and silver, and a live band played music from a mixture of modern and ancient instruments. It was a beautiful tune, and several of the demons were waltzing together. Aaron's cousins that had been to Hell before were quick to join the party, approaching the demons they recognized. The rest of Aaron's cousins, aunts, and uncles, kept to close groups, but tried to disperse and interact politely with the other guests. The King and Queen took the attention of Aaron's parents and grandparents.

"What a charming young man you have raised," The Queen complimented them in her usual lilting voice. "My husband and I couldn't be happier with the match."

"Indeed, he will make a fine King," the King commended, "and he's already proven a loyal and loving partner for our son."

"Thank you . . . your majesties," Aaron's mother answered uncertainly, following them to a raised platform where a semicircular table sat with chairs around it so that they could talk. Aaron started to follow after them, worried about the first meeting of his parents and his in-laws, but also wanting to be there for the rest of the family.

None of the youngest generation of Knights were present, nor were Irene's children, but to Aaron's dismay, Irene and her husband Jeff were both in attendance. The youngest of his family there was thirteen-year-old William, the younger brother of Sascha, Hayden, and Tyler. Their sister Vivian was also there, fifteen, and the demons around them were unusually enthralled by the young teens. This concerned Aaron for a moment before El explained that there were no children in Hell, and really the only child any of them had ever seen in person had been himself. Vivian and Will were not at all bothered by the attention. They seemed eager to be a part of the experience, and beamed up at the taller demons, answering their questions and asking their own. Aaron smiled proudly at them.