ARIA
Weekends are always a blessing for me because that’s when I can go back home together with Kieran and pretend that my school doesn’t even exist. This is my safe time. This is my calm time. This is when my family and I meet for our cozy dinners together. This is when I can speak to my mum freely and gossip with my aunt Elle. Dad would torture me with training (although after a few sessions with Lex it’s debatable). Uncle Carter would be growling at their twins and uncle Connor may pop by to annoy my father with his sick jokes. This is what keeps me going and this is what I am going to miss the most when I graduate and leave to go to college somewhere else in the human world.
I wake up in my king-size super soft bed and just lie there, relaxing and feeling happy. There is no place like home! And there is no place like my home! Because it’s the Castle! Well, it’s not actually a castle, though. But this is what everyone calls it because my Dad resides here. And he is the Alpha King. He always tells me that it started as uncle Connor’s joke but then it kind of stuck. And now when one of us says that it’s time to get back to the Castle, we all know what he or she means.
But in reality, it’s just a huge and very expensive house. It is located right in the heart of our werewolf pack – the Royal pack. It’s actually our official packhouse, so a few other wolves live here except for my parents and siblings. My dad’s Beta and Gamma – my uncle Carter and his wife Elle together with their children take a whole wing. My aunt Cassidy, the famous artifactor, and her husband Alex, our pack doctor live right next to them. Several loyal warriors, who are not mated yet take several rooms and so do the maids. And there are a few people living underground. Why – I have no idea. Dad said that it’s too early for me and Kieran to know. That’s why we regularly try to find that out! Unsuccessfully.
My stomach growls and I get myself out of bed. I brush my teeth quickly and decide to have breakfast first. I am too hungry to do anything else. I don’t even bother to check how I look, only putting my best golden eye-patches under my puffy eyes, and just slide my feet into my fluffy slippers, going downstairs like a zombie wearing only my pink silk shirt and shorts pyjamas … It’s only family here anyway.
I yawn loudly when I am in the kitchen and move to our huge fridge in search of my favourite yoghurt with granola. But it’s nowhere to be found. I look lower and lower, and lower. My butt is practically in the air.
“Where is this damn yoghurt?” I mumble grumpily when I feel someone stand right behind me and then this person moves much closer, a huge hand appears right next to me, pointing.
“There,” says Lex.
I almost jump at the sound of his voice, hitting my head on one of the shelves and knocking it down with everything that’s on it – luckily nothing breakable there.
I look at him in horror, rubbing my head and realizing that he really shouldn’t be here! Why on Earth is he here?! What is wrong with this world? He can’t be here, he just can’t.
“Wow, Sparkle, you are a disaster,” he smirks and waves his hand – the shelf immediately takes its place in the fridge and so does all the food that was originally on it. He does it so effortlessly that for a second I almost forget that this is absolutely not normal to see him here.
“Wh-what are you doing here?” I gasp finally.
“Fixing your mistakes?” he chuckles, closing the fridge and handing me the yoghurt.
“I mean in my house! What are you doing in your house? I mean in my house! What are you doing in my house?!”
Damn, that sounded stupid. But slowly it sinks to me how I must look now with my PJs, patches, and all… s**t!
But then again, why do I bother how I look in front of him? He said it himself, we have a purely professional relationship. Not that I look professional now…
Oh, well! I have to go with the flow here.
“Your mum invited me to stay with your family,” he says, “I am at school on weekdays and on weekends I am here.”
“I see,” I nod like I care, fixing my posture in front of him, “Well, welcome! We are going to see much more of each other then!”
“That we are,” he smirks looking at me from head to toes, but I take a spoon from the counter and walk to the breakfast table with my head held high. It’s normal. It’s absolutely normal. Everything is fine. Everything is freaking fantastic.
I quickly get a bowl and a box of granola and start mixing it all up, chanting that this is a perfectly healthy situation. My teacher, who is my cousin but not really a cousin, but who is my mentor even though I don’t want it, is also going to live with me in my house and seeing me in PJs and patches and all. Normal! The situation just screams – NORMAL!!!! Right?
“You are not too happy about it,” he states, not asks, piercing me with his green eyes. He is wearing a simple loose black t-shirt and jeans today and looks nothing like he does in school. Even his hair is messy today, when in school it’s always sleek and perfect.
“Not really,” I force a smile, “It’s just unexpected.”
“Yes, I can see that you did not expect to see anyone,” he chuckles.
“Beauty requires sacrifices,” I say nonchalantly.
“Nice slippers,” he adds calmly and I can’t help but turn red. Don’t judge a girl’s slippers! We walk in heels so often that we deserve a little comfort.
“I’ll buy you a pair for Christmas!” I sneer at him, “Do you prefer blue or green?”
“I prefer black or grey,” he grins, “But don’t bother. I wouldn’t be here in Christmas.”
Hmm, somehow I don’t like hearing that. I wonder why considering I can’t stand the guy.
For the rest of my breakfast, he just stays there, joking and doing his favourite sarcastic remarks. And I chew with superspeed, wishing for all this to simply be over as soon as possible.
As soon as I am done in the kitchen, I run to my parents’ room. Walking in, I see that mum is alone and reading in her favourite chair. Dad has probably left already on pack business.
“Oh, honey,” mum smiles, fixing the glasses on her nose and pushing back her gorgeous chocolate hair, “You are up late today. And what’s up with all that?”
“Nothing!” I almost growl, plumping into the opposite chair, “Why did you invite Lex to live with us, Mum?”
“Because he didn’t want to stay with your uncle Connor, sweetie,” she replies blankly, “You know that he resents his father. And I didn’t want him to stay alone at the Springwood Academy, considering he has family here.”
“You are lying and I smell it,” I say looking straight into her eyes and after a few seconds I give up.
“Aria, you are too clever for your own good!” she smiles, “Although what I said is true. It’s just that it’s not the main reason. Lex has something to do and it’s very important…”
“Are you speaking about of him fixing me?” I sigh, “Mum, I thought we were done with that!”
“And we are,” she nods, “I had to call and ask him to come here, saying that it’s for you. But in reality this is all for him.”
“Elaborate, please!”
“Well, it’s easy really,” she shrugs her shoulders and closes her book, while I get my feet into the chair as well, getting comfortable, “Uncle Connor needs an heir. But as you know he is not married. He… made quite a few kids back in the day… All are witches and warlocks. But only one of them has enough power to lead the Coven. When Lex was born, your uncle Connor felt it. It was like the balance of power was changed. Back then he knew at once that only Lex would be able to succeed him. The trouble is, you Connor ruins everything! And he ruined every single relationship that he had in his life. Including the one with Lex’s mum. Hence now Lex doesn’t want anything to do with his father. And we need to fix that.”
“We?” I snort, “Tell me you just mispronounced the correct word right now. What do I have to do with all that drama?”
“You love uncle Connor the most,” mum states, “Maybe one day Lex would be able to see him through your eyes too. And then their relationship could be fixed… ”
“Do you have any idea what he makes me do there?” I roll my eyes, “Mum, he is a monster!”
“Sorry, honey,” she bites her lip, “I am afraid without you my plan wouldn’t work… A little patience, please. Lex only agreed to come here because of you. He is keen on interesting cases and he is interested in yours. Just hold on a bit more. Hopefully, everything will be resolved fast. And also…”
She stops talking, carefully choosing her words. I know that it’s because she doesn’t want to hurt me.
“What if he can find what the problem is and fix it?” she says and quickly adds, “I am sorry, honey. I know you don’t like all this. But what if? He is one of the greatest specialists in the world. What if he notices something we all missed?”
“I doubt it!” I mutter.
“Honey, uncle Connor needs this,” she takes my hand into hers, “And Lex needs it too. Can you just help us and do this the last time?”
“Ok,” I agree and roll my eyes, “But you and Connor owe me one!”
“Deal!” Mum chuckles and I leave to my room.
Before I went away, she informed me that tonight we will have a small family dinner and meet my birthday at midnight together.
My 18th birthday… It’s finally here!
Aksara