The Caravan of Hope

Chapter 21: Dance

Say, read the part about the costumes, and then tell me which of the following two you want me to draw and put up: Alex's or Daiko's. Thank you!

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They arrived at a black castle that Alex led them to.

"Are you sure this outfit is all right, Alex?" Daiko kept tugging on her mask.

Alex looked at her and blushed again. She was wearing a black cat outfit with an additional cat mask.

He smiled. "Yes, it is."

She smiled and clapped her hands. "Thanks Alex! Your outfit looks nice too!"

He was wearing a highway man costume with a green mask that covered the right half of his face. He had finally put his hair back.

He bowed. "Thank you, my lady. My guns go with it nicely." He patted his belt.

Bella smiled. It's so sweet. Daiko is wearing Alex's favorite color, black, and he's wearing her favorite, green.  "Okay, you two, let's go."

Bella was wearing a pirate girl outfit, and she was linked arms with Jarred, who as ironically wearing a knight costume, complete with the helmet.

"I'll take Mary in!" George was wearing a red, fire like costume.

"No, I'll do it!" Hearthfell was wearing a light blue costume.

"Err... Why don't you both do it?" Mary sighed. She was wearing an outfit that made her look like a princess.

The two men latched unto one of Mary's arms and growled at each other.

Alex locked an arm with Daikoand knocked on the door, which opened at his touch.

Inside the castle was an elegant party, with dazzling lights and many people dancing. Catching unto the mood, Jarred took Bella's hand and started to dance.

"Ooo, food!" George ran off to the food table, taking Mary and Hearthfell with him.

Alex was cautious about the place, but gee decided that if anyone was going to kill him, they would've done it as he walked in the place, and certainly not with know-it-all Daiko around. He might as well as do what he has always wanted to do.

He bowed and extended his hand palm up to Daiko. "May I have this dance, my fair damsel?"

It took all of Daiko's willpower to not kill or hurt him too hard as she hugged him and said "Yes!", for she was very excited that Alex had asked her too something romantic. As he led her to the dance floor, she was fantasizing and trying not to drool.

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"I'm going to dance with her!"

"No way! You stole her away from me just because you're dating her! I will dance with her!"

Mary was stuck between the men as they fought over her. They're basically like little kids sometimes, she thought.

She tried backing up, but she bumped into a couple that was slow dancing. "I'm sorry," she said to them, but then she looked up into their faces and screamed.

George and Hearthfell only then snapped and looked at the couple, freezing.

The man looked exactly like George, and the woman looked exactly like Mary. But strangely, they didn't even blink when Mary hit them.

Scared, they went over to Bella and Jarred, and Daiko and Alex somehow danced over to them. They told their story, but right after, they heard a loud voice say "Greetings all who have come!"

The group looked to the middle of the room, and all of them gasped except Alex and Daiko.

The man who said it looked exactly like Alex, except he was showing both eyes, showed some signs of age, and had a more calm aura.

"Uncle Xan." Alex tried his best to control his anger by biting his tongue.

The man bowed. "Thank you for coming. My name is Xanolemnad, and Zaecondis and I are your hosts. Now the person you've all been waiting for: Zaecondis himself!"

He pointed to a man in a wheelchair, who laid limp with his eyes closed.

Alex growled and whispered, "What is he trying to do?"

Xanolemnad continued. "He died for years ago, but not totally. You see, he can come back to life after he dies every four years."

The Caravan, except for Daiko, gasped.

Xanolemnad pulled out a watch. "And that time will be in three, two, one, now."

Right after, the man got out of his wheelchair.

"Great, Zaecondis is back," Daiko mumbled.

"Xan!" Zaecondis smiled and gave Xanolemnad a big hug.

He hugged him back and gave a small smile. "It's nice to see you again, brother Zae."

"Is it my imagination, or I am seeing three Alex's." Jarred had noticed that Zaecondis looked like Xanolemnad and Alex.

Zaecondis saw the group. They froze as he walked up to...Alex.

"Did you really think you could escape me, Alexander?" He smiled even wider.

Alex sighed. "Of course not, Father."

-----------author-----

Dun, dun, DUN!

Yep, Zaecondis is Alex's daddy! You might've figured out that they were related in chapter 10. It started during the Daiko and Zaecondis conversation with " the unruly black hair that she'd loved." Alex had unruly black hair, and Daiko loves him. If they have the same hair type and color, that means that they're related in my book.

Anyway, don't forget to vote, comment, or recommend this book!