The World I Knew Isn't The Same Anymore

Chapter 22 When the Time Comes

Alyvia Lightwood is nothing short of utterly beautiful. Izabel and her share the same striking dark sky colored eyes and porcelain skin the color of glowing snow. The red color in their cheeks and bridge of their noses makes them look flushed and full of life. Her cheek and jaw bones are so sharp seemingly like they can cut paper. Their build is incredibly ethereal, lengthy limbs and toned muscles, but not big enough to look like they actually workout. And their hair is the color of the night sky, so dark one can get blinded in it.

Bree, Izabel, Lacey and Jane stand before the older Lightwood who's smiling just like her daughter welcoming them into a big SUV. Alyvia has already met the other two girls and embraces them in a warm hug before helping them pack their suit cases into the trunk.

"You must be Bree," Alyvia's voice is low and smooth like honey. Quite the opposite of her daughters who always seems to be preppy, loud and enthusiastic.

Bree feels like a deer in headlights with her gaze staring down at her. She doesn't have the same ethereal look as Alyvia and feels so basic in comparison to her. "Yeah, it's nice to meet you miss Lightwood," and then grows a smile on her lips and stretches out her hand in a desperate plunge for approval.

Alyvia nearly shoos her hand away and quickly embraces her in a hug as well, quickly diminishing all the doubts she originally had. "That's so formal, just call me Aly or Alyvia."

Bree giggles a bit, "Aly and Izzy. I like it."

"She copied me. She never went by a nickname until I started too when I was about 7," Izabel sneaks up behind them before grabbing Bree's arm to lead her into the van.

The other two girls are already sitting comfortably touching up their lipgloss. Alyvia makes her way into the passenger seat and then the random driver begins to take them down the road leading them out of the academy.

Bree realizes it's the same road that Arthur took them down on when going to the Royal Castle. In a couple of minutes the buildings of Shoreline begin to fade in the distance until they drive on a singular golden cobble road with trees and plants on either side of them. When the sky seems to stretch out forever a shimmering translucent portal appears. Angelic bells and a swooshing feeling takes Bree's body captive for the two seconds they're in the portal. Then the portal spits them out on the other side of the same road she's been on before. It leads up to the Royal Castle and she remembers the stands and small shops on the side. There's more people out today and as the SUV keeps going down there's even more shops and people surrounding the small capital.

In about 20 minutes the people of the capital and shops disperse and they head down the one road to the castle. It's just as enormous and extravagant as she remembered. Clear waters still surround the perimeter as a moat and the car stops before reaching the bridge to enter. There's knights dressed in metal on either side before letting down the draw bridge for the girls to walk on. The castle stands at least 100 feet tall with pointed triangular roofs and millions of windows looking out. The air smells like fresh rain and flowers and you can hear soft melodies of nearby conversations.

The girls walk into the entrance of the castle and it opens up to the main room. It's still golden, shimmering and warm just like last time. In front of the dial stands two thrones, one for the king and one for the queen. They call this the main living room, it's a wide open space filled with minimal decorations. There's stone statues outlining the walls and a couple extravagant paintings that Bree can't even make sense of what they are. For the most part the place seems empty besides a couple lingering workers or tourists of Valencia who have also decided to enjoy the spa weekend.

"So what exactly is this for?" Jane breaks the silence as she questions aloud. She doesn't seem to be looking around much and Bree assumes she's been here more than just once.