Soul Chains

Chapter 26: Royal Propositions

Aidan leads us to his palace of reds, browns, golds, blacks, and greens, and we find Bridgette waiting for him at the front, golden, elegant, thin-metal gate, having already transported Ravanna and locked her away. Bridgette bows before him and he smiles fondly before Bridgette turns her attention to us.

"I'd like to formally apologize for Ravanna impersonating me," Bridgette apologizes with a sigh, "I don't know all of what she said, but I'm hoping we don't get off on the wrong foot because of it."

"It's fine, don't worry about it," Reine smiles genuinely and Bridgette smiles back.

"So, like," Nathan starts and gains our attention, "are you really four hundred years old?"

"Nathan!" Ayette hisses and kicks him in the shin, "you don't ask something like that!"

"Jeez, sorry," Nathan sighs, rubbing his shin as he grimaces.

"No, it's okay," Bridgette laughs, "I really am, but Iegashyias are immortal, so age doesn't mean much once you're beyond eighteen."

"So, you're like Vampires then? You look young for a long time?" Nathan tilts his head to the side and asks curiously.

"I guess so," Bridgette shrugs.

"Sweet!" Nathan pumps his fist in the air, "I'll be forever twenty-one!"

"If you even make it that far," Bridgette smirks as she turns on her heel and looks at Nathan over her shoulder, "I'd be careful not to provoke me. My arrows trap the souls of those I kill."

With that, Bridgette winks and saunters up the cement pathway to the oak front double-doors of the red and gold castle and Nathan turns a few shades paler than normal.

"Don't worry about her," Aidan sighs, "she just likes having her fun once in a while. She's normally too busy worrying about me and my siblings to even joke around. She's my retainer, so she normally follows after me more, but she looks after all of us and I really respect that about her. She's quite amazing, actually."

"Is she like a grandma to you or something?" Nathan asks.

"No," Aidan laughs, his green eyes crinkling in amusement as he looks at Nathan, "she was my best friend growing up."

"Shit, you're old," Ayette's eyes widen.

"I'm actually only eighteen," Aidan grins, "I just meant once I got older. She's always worked with my family."

"Oh," Ayette smiles awkwardly and rubs the back of her neck.

"Nice going," Dimitri mutters and Ayette shoots him a sharp look.

"Anyway," Aidan smiles, "if you'll follow me into the castle..."

"Of course," Reine smiles back and Aidan leads the way inside, taking us up the pathway Bridgette previously took.

"Wow," Ciana gasps as we walk through the front doors that are framed by two potted ferns, "this place is huge! And beautiful too!"

"Thank you," Aidan smiles genuinely and his eyes spark with pride.

The inside of the castle consists of marble flooring and red walls with golden trim that's carved with multiple runes and designs and there's a giant golden chandelier hanging over the center of the room. The chandelier is made of thin metal strips of gold that have opal crystals hanging off of them and a giant diamond dangling from the center, surrounded by the smaller crystals. Orbs of yellow and white light float around the chandelier and offer light to the room, shining down on the golden staircase further in the center of the room that leads to a balcony and two hallways that get cut off from sight beyond the balcony. A few plants are potted in cream colored holders around the inside of the entrance area, matching the ones outside.