EVABELLE

"I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that this is Calandra." Aza said.

Lucis slid past Aza and into the entryway. His hands were up in a submissive gesture. "Calandra, please this-"

"Was idiotic." Calandra cut him off. "You are a fool. You brought human beings into my home. I don't know if you knew this, Lucis, but Mages don't associate with humans. Humans always bring trouble. In fact," She tilted her head to the side, her eyes nothing more than black slits. "I believe the last recorded interaction with a human was not that long ago. And once again it was Anahalians that were the perpetrators. Tell me, Lucis, how well did that affair go over?"

Lucis closed his mouth, his blue eyes darkening slightly. It made Evabelle feel strangely nervous.

Del also slipped by Aza into the room. His hands were in his pockets. "If it means anything, I was against bringing the both of them."

Calandra sniffed. "Del may be a lazy brooding pain in my side," Aza didn't even try to stifle her laugh. "But even he knows when not to cross the line."

Del blinked. "I think that was supposed to be a compliment, but once more, Calandra, you have managed to turn it into an insult."

Lucis stepped up to Calandra. "I take full responsibility for the humans."

Just in front of Evabelle, she could see Aza staring at Lucis. There was shock mixed with respect in her friend's gaze. The guy barely knew her, let alone CJ, but he was willing to take anything they did wrong upon himself. That showed trust like none of them had ever seen.

Calandra seemed to be thinking along the same lines. She arched her perfectly shaped eyebrows. "How well do you know these humans?"

Lucis never broke eye contact with the Mage. He said his next words slowly and carefully. "Well enough that they will help us awaken a princess."

For the first time Calandra's eyes flickered from Lucis's face to Evabelle's. Evabelle stiffened. How did she know it was her? The black eyes stared into the brown for several moments. Evabelle was sure she was searching for something. She tried to look brave, the one thing she knew she was not. She did not know what a princess was supposed to look like, regal probably, everything that Evabelle knew she could never be.

Calandra finally looked away and Evabelle took a deep breath. "Fine," the Mage finally stated. "Now you two go and prepare dinner." She gestured to Lucis and Del.

Del groaned. "We just ate,"

"Well that's too bad. I haven't had anything." She gestured with her left hand and strange hiss like sound escaped her lips. Suddenly a door in the direction she had gestured opened. "I would also like to get to know my new guests on my own."

Lucis bowed his head and left the entry. Del rolled his eyes and followed his brother.

Now it was just the three of them standing in the doorway, and Calandra watching them from the middle of the room.

At first there was an awkward silence that was of course broken by Aza. "Right," she clapped her hands together and entered into the Sanctuary. She looked around. "You've got a quality place here."

Evabelle followed her friend a little cautiously. She also began to scan the inward wall of the great establishment. Her eyes progressively widened as her eyes continued to scan the place. "Quality place," didn't cut it.

Just like its owner, everything was made to perfection. The walls held ornate picture frames of stunning paintings, perfectly polished. Behind the glaring Mage a humongous flight of stairs rose up to where the split off in two directions. They looked like steps in a palace, not a house. Evabelle continued to look up at the high ceiling, where an enormous crystal chandelier hung. Even with the large fixture there was enough room for several Anahalians to fly around.

Her eyes finally fell to the floor, which was made from some sort of pearl like mineral. In the center an elaborately black star was painted, spreading throughout the entire entryway. When Evabelle looked closer she could see faint gold writing weaving its way around the star. It was the same swirly writing that had been above the doors outside. It was probably the same language as well considering she didn't recognize any of the words.

Calandra stood at the center of the star, continuing to give them all a cold calculating stare. Finally she spoke. "Don't just stand there like a bunch of dumbfounded fools." She snapped her fingers and made the same hiss sound as she did when she had opened the side door. This time, however, it was the large doors that slammed shut.

CJ, who had only been half-way through the door had to jump in quickly before they split him in half.

"Well, come along then. I'll show you to your rooms." The ruby haired young woman snapped. Then she turned and began up the palace like steps.

Aza and Evabelle glanced at one another, and then ran to catch up to her. Evabelle could sense CJ just behind them as the climbed the stairs. They turned to go up the left staircase, trying to keep up with their leader. Calandra moved swiftly, her robe flaring out behind her, making it look as though she was floating up the stairs rather than climbing.

They finally reached a floor, where Evabelle took the chance to catch her breath. There were a lot of stairs to say the least.

"She says she wants to get to know her new guests, yet she hasn't said a word." Aza said leaning against the wall. "Doesn't getting to know someone require some sort of communication?"

CJ shrugged, taking a deep breath. "All she seems to be communicating to me is that she wants to get up here as fast as possible." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Are we going to have to climb these steps every time we go to our rooms?"

"I'd say we'll get a good work out without any special training." Aza muttered.

Calandra continued on. Just up ahead, Evabelle watched her turn a corner, around a wall that jutted out. Evabelle and her friends jogged to catch up. Turning the corner, they stopped abruptly, causing Evabelle to nearly run into Aza. CJ, on the other hand, wasn't quite as lucky. He tumbled into Evabelle, that would have had her on the floor, but Aza managed to turn in time to clumsily catch her friend. CJ didn't have anyone to catch him, so ended sprawled on the floor.

Calandra was watching them with the same expression she had had downstairs, her eyebrows arched in a most severe look of annoyance.

CJ scurried to his feet, while Evabelle and Aza straightened up.

"These are the rooms." Calandra gestured behind her where a long hallway stretched on. Doors lined the right side, while the other had a line of arched windows. Evabelle could see the tints in the glass and could just imagine when it was day and sun shone through them. Calandra continued. "There are rules here. These doors, once assigned, will only allow that particular sex to enter. A boy may not enter into a girl's room and vice-versa. There are exceptions for myself, my father and those I trust. I am not a fool like Lucis, so I have not a speck of trust for any of you." Her eyes lingered on Aza and CJ.

Aza raised an eyebrow. "Is there anyone that you trust?"

Calandra ignored the question. "There are very few guests staying here currently, but there are a few so come with me." They continued down the hall way a little bit, past room numbers one, two, three, and four. They stopped at number five. Calandra turned and tossed something at CJ. He fumbled with the object for a moment then stared at it.

It was a small silver key. He looked up blankly at Calandra.
"Put it in the door." She said.

CJ looked at the key again and then up at the door. He stepped up to it and slid the little piece metal into the key hole. Once the key entered the slot, it vanished and CJ cried out and jerked away from the door, clutching his hand that had held the key.

He glared up at Calandra. "What was that?" He shouted.

"CJ, what happened?" Evabelle asked.

"The thing electrocuted me!" CJ cried.

Calandra watched him calmly. "Shocked you." She corrected. "The room now knows who it belongs to."

CJ looked down at his hand as though he expected to see some sort of burn, but there was none.

"Make yourself at home." Calandra said. Then she tossed two identical keys to Evabelle and Aza. "Rooms six and seven are yours." Then she turned and began to head back toward the stairs. "Now if you will excuse me. I have no idea if those Guardians can actually cook."

The three of them watched her leave. Once she was gone they all looked at each other. "This is actually pretty cool if you think about it." Aza said, twirling the key in her fingers. "Our own protected bedrooms."

"Hmm," Evabelle murmured. She looked at her key then up at door number six. She was curious what was inside of these rooms. Anxiously, she slid her key into the slot. Once more the key vanished, and then Evabelle felt a jolt shoot through her hand. At least she was expecting it. She didn't quite jump as bad as CJ. She waited a moment before placing her hand on the silver knob; there was no aftershock, so she turned it.

The room was fit for a princess, though Evabelle still couldn't wrap her head around the idea. There was a large four poster bed with a mauve comforter and cream curtains that circled it. There was a dark wooden dresser and nightstand on either side of the bed. Evabelle stepped into the room and saw a closet that was amazingly small compared to everything else. She also found a door leading to a small bathroom. She continued walking around the room, when she noticed the one thing that could not be. She walked over to another pair of cream curtains and pulled them back, revealing another arched window.

Evabelle scrunched her eyes. But this couldn't be. There had been two sides of the staircase leading two different ways in the Sanctuary. The hallway had all the windows lined up. Surely this room was not that deep that it reached the other side.

"Nice."

Evabelle turned.

Aza had entered the room and was surveying it with a look of appreciation. "They really know how to treat their guests. Of course Miss Calandra's social skills could use a little tuning."

"Wow," CJ breathed as he stepped through the doorway, well at least as he tried to. He bounced backwards, stumbling away from the opening. He put his hand to his forehead. "Ow!" He exclaimed. "There's like a brick wall there!"

Aza laughed. "Did you forget what Miss Prissy just said?" She grinned and walked over to the doorway. "No boys allowed."

CJ grunted, rubbing his forehead where a red mark was forming. "Well that's frustrating."

Aza chuckled. "Alright, I think I'll go check out my room now." Aza then left Evabelle's room to go check out room number seven.

CJ decided he would go see his room too and left as well.

Once her friends had gone, Evabelle went over to the bed and pulled back the covers and sat down on the mattress. There she pulled off her shoes letting her feet breathe. Personally Evabelle hated shoes, so she took great pleasure in stretching out her toes. Last night she had slept in her shoes, but now she felt free as she laid them out over the soft bed. She leaned herself back onto the pillows, closed her eyes, and felt herself sinking into the bed's fluffy comfort.

It was the most amazing bed that Evabelle had ever had the privilege to lay upon, but everything here was too amazing. Evabelle had just begun to drift, when the smallest of sounds met her ears. She opened her eyes. There was shadow in the room. The door was still open and the light from the hallway spilled through. But along with that light a shadowed form marked itself on the floor.

Evabelle slowly turned her head, her heart rate already ascending. There, standing in the door frame was a child who had her small hand on the door. She ran her fingers along the wood a blank expression on her small face.

The tiny girl wore nothing, but a simple white dress that complimented her peach skin. The child had long sunshine hair that curled gently around her slightly pointed ears and continued down her back in a long complicated braid. A pretty girl, yes, but what made Evabelle's heart jump into her throat, was the little girl's eyes. They were a lovely green-blue, but there was a strange film that covered them like a spider-web.

The child stared straight into the room with that vacant expression on her face. Evabelle moved slightly, rustling the sheets on the bed, causing the girl to turn her head. Evabelle froze, her heart thudding like a jack-hammer, staring directly into those glassy orbs.

What happened next for some reason did not reassure Evabelle. The girl's face split into a smile and a child's soft giggle escaped her lips. Then she turned and zipped away down the hall.

Evabelle stared for a moment, and then rolled off the bed and onto the floor. She rushed to the door and looked out into the hall, searching for the little girl, but there was no one in the hall.

A door snapped shut, causing Evabelle to jump.

"Easy Bellz," Said a familiar voice. "It's just me." Aza came over to her. "Hey, are you alright?" She asked, waving her hand in front of Evabelle's face.

Evabelle blinked. She looked once more in the direction the child had run. "Do you think there are ghosts here?" She asked slowly.

"You saw a ghost?" CJ had just come out of his room. He was staring nervously at Evabelle.

Evabelle thought of the girls pointed ears. "Well, probably not. I'm not quite sure what I saw."

"Obviously it was one of her other guests." Aza looked down the hallway to where the numbers began. "Besides us and the angels, there should be two other guests. I wonder what they could be."

"They're obviously not going to be human." CJ murmured.

"No duh," Aza replied. "Hmm," She twirled her little side braid, in thought, the silver charm jingling under her touch. "Do you guys want to go check it out?"

"What?" Evabelle squeaked.

And CJ exclaimed. "Are you crazy?"

Aza sighed. "I forgot who I was talking to. Well," she straightened. "We might be able to see them at dinner." Then she began running down the hall toward the stairs. "Come on, guys!" She called over her shoulder.

Evabelle and CJ glanced at each other. CJ gave her a half smile and shrugged, finally turning away to follow after Aza. Evabelle spared a look around the hall way once more. There was no child. She sighed and jogged to catch up to CJ and Aza.

It was only the five of them, seated at a long black table. There were no supernatural guests that Evabelle had yet to already have met. Calandra sat at the head while the others were placed in the surrounding seats. Evabelle found herself seated across from Del. She kept her head down, staring at her soup and bread.

There was very little conversation. Everyone sipped their soup politely. The tension in the room was suffocating.

Evabelle spared a glance at Aza, who sat beside her. Strangely Evabelle's friend wasn't eating. Aza was watching the Mage. She seemed to be contemplating what she was going to say. That was strange; Aza never thought before she spoke.

In the end it wasn't Aza who started conversation. It was Lucis. "So, remind me Calandra, when will your father be back?"

Calandra lowered her glass. She took her napkin and dabbed at the corners of her mouth. "The Council has had to deal with some very important matters. My father did not give a specific date on which he would return."

Lucis inclined his head.

Evabelle watched Calandra as discretely as possible. She didn't want to catch those cold dark eyes. Calandra appeared older than her and the Anahalians. If Evabelle had to guess, she would suppose that Calandra was in her early twenties. They had mentioned her father before, but it wasn't quite like Calandra lived under her father, like many people tended to live in their parents basement even up into their thirties. It seemed to be more of a mutual relationship, they were equals.

There was a question buzzing in Evabelle's brain. Well, if she were honest, there were about a million questions. She swallowed. She didn't like the look of those cold eyes, but she had to ask. "So, what does Nulli Domini, Mihi Soli Pareo, mean?"

Calandra's eyes instantly fixed on her and Evabelle tensed. "I saw it above your door, and I was just wondering." Evabelle had to force herself not to look away.

"It is the motto of the mage. It lays above all entrances to all Sanctuaries. It means No Gods, No Masters." Calandra did not elaborate on the subject for just then she stiffened, her spoon clanged as she dropped it into her soup. Her eyes dilated. Everyone turned their attention to her. Evabelle watched the Mage's black eyes. They flickered and danced like flames swaying on candle wicks. Evabelle wasn't the only one to notice.

"Whoa," Aza finally spoke. "Neat eye trick."

"Hold on," Lucis put a hand up. "Someone's at the bridge. She's communicating with them."

Calandra sat there for several moments. No one looked away from her, waiting with bated breath. Then with no warning she shot out of her seat, knocking it to the floor. Her eyes were no longer dancing, but they were narrowed in the same expression she had when Evabelle had first seen her.

"You two," Calandra thrust her hand at Lucis and Del. "Come with me." With that she strode toward the doors.

Lucis and Del rose, sparing a quick glance at one another. Then they followed her to the door. Calandra stopped with her hand on the knob. She whirled back to the table.

Aza was part way out of her seat.

"You three, stay here." Calandra glared at Aza, who thumped back into her chair, a look of clear annoyance on her face.

Once the three had left, Aza jumped up. "Come on let's go see who's here!"

"Are you crazy?" CJ interrupted.

Evabelle jumped. She had nearly forgotten that CJ was there. He had risen to his feet as well and was staring at Aza. "Now look who's forgotten what Miss Prissy just said." He said.

Aza was grinning. "I haven't forgotten anything. I never do as I'm told."

"Aza," Evabelle got up too. "Aza, I don't think we should be trying to get on Calandra's bad side."

"Don't worry; I don't plan on getting caught." Aza responded.

CJ shook his head. "Of course that's not part of your plan, but who's to say..."

"Come on, guys, don't you want to see what's out there. Now that we're in, we should embrace the new and bizarre." Aza pleaded. "Aren't you guys the least bit curious? There could be elves, or trolls, or who knows what's out there."

CJ folded his arms, but Evabelle bit her lip. "Well," she said slowly.

"Great!" Aza exclaimed and snatched Evabelle's arm, dragging her to the door.

~(A/N: Hey! Sorry for the cut off ending again. It's hard not making these updates too long, so I had to stop somewhere. Anyway thanks for reading guys! Please let me know what you think by commenting and voting if you enjoyed it!! Let me know what you think of Calandra so far! Thank you dearies!!!)~