Solasta Academy: All Hallows Eve

Chapter Sixteen

This was the second time that Calia entered Ambrosia in the last twenty-four hours. She was not complaining because it was a beautiful yet modern Kingdom. The people here even accepted her as their own. As did the Kingdom of Faylinn. She watched numerous Vampires wave at her as the car passed, bringing her out of her reverie. Calia immediately waved at her back, even when thinking of the topic and what Charles might say about it.

Arzhel was driving while she sat in the passenger seat of Amias's Mustang. After her call with Sebastian, she went to his office and asked if she could borrow it for the day. It took some convincing because he suspected she was on a mission and wanted to know what was happening, but she told Amias that she would fill him in later when she got back. Her guardian gave her the keys, and she hugged him tightly on the way out. Now, she watched the leaves fall from the trees and onto the ground with the window down. Jade and Elliot were sitting in the backseat while Lottie and Torin were going to use their Vampire speed to enter Ambrosia because there was no room in the car for them. They didn't complain, though Calia thought they would.

After a few minutes, Arzhel drove up the driveway of the palace and she almost gasped at the sight of it. No matter how often she saw the beautiful and ornate building, it still surprised Calia. And the fact that the Breevort family built it themselves after the Great War was enough for her not to touch anything in case she broke something. Arzhel stopped the car before the double doors and pulled the key out of the ignition. He placed his palm on her knee, making her turn to face him. "No matter what he says, we will be beside you."

Calia pulled her lips into a genuine smile. "Thanks."

As she pulled the door open and exited the car, she glanced around as if it was new to her. Most of it still was to her. Seconds later, the double doors opened, and two tall male figures emerged. One of whom she recognized clearly because of his midnight-colored eyes and tanned skin. The other was an older gentleman with similar features, but his dark brown hair was a little gray. Calia wondered how an immortal being like a Vampire could age, but then she remembered that they weren't entirely immortal. They age—but slowly. Just like Fae.

Sebastian and his Father, Charles, held their arms behind their back as they walked toward her and Arzhel. Her friends were standing behind her when she heard Lottie murmur to Jade, saying she thought the old King was hot. Calia fought the smile growing on her face as the two men stopped before her now, and she wondered if she was supposed to bow. No, she was family to them. "It's nice to see you again, Calia," Sebastian smiled genuinely. He looked at her like he did with his daughters. It was a face of pure love for his family.

"Thank you for letting us come under short notice," she replied. "You're probably busy with All Hallows Eve."

"Nonsense," Sebastian shook his head. "You're more important. Now let us go inside or else my wife might kill me for letting you freeze to death." Calia laughed as she followed the current and former King of Ambrosia inside with her friends in tow. Arzhel intertwined his fingers with her own as they went, and it calmed her down a little.

Once she entered the grand palace, her eyes widened at the black marble floors below and the chandelier hanging above her. Calia didn't have much time to ogle at the expensive details because Arzhel was tugging her forward and upstairs, where the family spent most of their time. Sebastian was talking about the many renovations they made over the years, and everything that was his was hers, too. Charles stayed awkwardly quiet but occasionally, he would glance back at her as if he recognized her. Or maybe it was Kaius he recognized. Calia couldn't be sure.

She and her friends entered the living room with comfortable black couches arranged in the middle and plush pillows arranged neatly on either side. A glass table with coasters arranged around each corner stood between the couches, with a flat-screen television on the farthest wall. Calia was so stunned by the normalcy of it all that she didn't see the scarlet-haired Fae walking towards her and placing her arms around her. Queen Elora. "I'm so glad to see you, Calia!" said Elora, who hugged her like her Mom used to.