[Chapter 30]

A few weeks or so later…

When Favian departed the forest that day, stating that he would make contact with me when he was free, no one expected him to suddenly appear in my dreams. Like his son, he seemed to have a fascination of taking a walk through my dream, appearing in the form of a gallant prince on a white horse with an easy, lovable smile. I had been kind of confused at that point of time. He was supposed to not be able to read or control my mind anymore.

He explained, after a bout of playful banter that annoyed me, that when I was asleep, my mental barriers would be down, letting him on. That; and the fact that he had a strong spirit link to me. I did not understand the last part; so he revealed to me that the heart-shaped pendant that he slipped on my necklace that day in which he reclaimed his wife’s ring was actually a spiritual device that enabled to find his opportunities to waltz in on my dreams. It freaked me out initially, but at least he assured that he wouldn’t be tapping in on my every dream. Too busy to even be sleeping; he explained to me.

Still, the idea of his stalk into my dreams was to have me pass the message to my Council, that he would be visiting the school a few days later and attend the very first peace-negotiation meeting.

So here I was, standing before the gates of the school, with Leo and Sniper flanking me, waiting for a vampire king to appear before me. The school kept the arrival of him a low profile, trusting –for the first time –that Favian would not do any harm to us or our members.

“How are you doing?” Sniper asked, trying his best to look relaxed when he was actually holding on to his whip, ready to crack it at a certain visiting vampire king.

“Quite well, thank you. I still get tired pretty easily, but I’m mostly fine now.” I smiled back in reply, feeling probably as jittery as Sniper was feeling at the moment. Ever since that horrific incident, I had been suffering from insomnia, or had been waking up screaming from nightmares and such. It had taken a great deal of persuasion for my parents to finally allow me back to school after Grandma Elvie stated that I would definitely be safer in school. Still, it did not help with the nightmares; the sleepless nights.

“You sure you wanna keep standing here? I can help you escort the Vamp King. Just go back and sit with the Council.” Sniper asked.

I turned to give him a look, wondering if his care was really genuine, or if he was trying to play a joke with me.

“You know exactly how much I hate it there, Sniper. Miss Alveron this, Miss Faen’s Child that… Don’t they know my name?” Of course, if there was a ranting partner for me, what was the point of giving up the chance of letting my steam out?

Sniper raised a brow at my rant.

“So being in the Council that everyone longs to belong is a chore to you, Miss Alveron?” Sniper’s voice was the polite inquiry that plainly jumped on my nerves on the Council. During my first meeting, questions so polite had rained on me, when I had clearly seen the desire and impatience for a quick and real answer in their eyes. But no, the Council wanted to take things slow; wanted to keep the meeting in detailed scribing.

“I will tell you very frankly, Sniper, that if anyone wants to take my post on the Council right now, and if that is allowed, I would do it willingly.” I told him seriously, making sure he understood that I meant it.

Sniper faked a surprised look. “Why, Miss Alveron, but you are the Faen’s Child!”

The innocent surprise in his voice was definitely fake, and it reminded me of the many protests that had met me when I tried to get myself out of the Council. Favian, in actual fact, had not anything to worry about the Council not accepting me. I had been accepted without so much a thought after I showed them the extent of my new powers, and when it was explained that Favian intended very much to communicate only through me.

That, and the fact that Favian recognized me as the leader of my kind, had made me the Fourth Council Head; much to the displeasure of Charmaine Davis and her mother.

“If you remind me about my being Faen’s Child one more time, Sniper, I will see to have your head severed right now. You get me? I’m frankly pissed off with everyone staring at me in shock and awe just because I can control people’s minds now.” I growled, and though I didn’t mean my threat, Sniper took it as a cue to stop on the teasing.

“Alright, alright… Jeez, you don’t have to get all threatening to me. You’re still Ashe. That stupid little girl who tried to brush my power off, and ended up blasting me in the face.” Sniper made a face at that, while I laughed at his face.

“I thought we were over that, Darren?” I emphasized his real name, watching his face even sourer. For some odd reason, Sniper didn’t seem to like his real name, and I took to personal enjoyment to torture him between times with that.

“Seeing him, Ashe, I doubt he will ever be over that petty little incident. I’m surprised. I have a convoy to welcome my visit?” The new voice interrupted us, making me jump and for Sniper to rear his whip back in his defensive stance.

“You guys are here. Welcome to the School of the Knights of Cynus, in short, the School of Cynus! I’m sorry, but we have no convoy. Just us three.” I explained, putting on a cheerful front as I turned to the Vampire Royals.

It kind of surprised me when I saw Kenton and Treyon trailing close behind their parents, followed by Alaric and a woman beside her.

“I thought to bring the boys here to apologize formally to you, your Guardians and your Council. You know Alaric, and the woman beside him is his wife, my wife’s mother, my mother-cum-sister-in-law, Laura Johnson.” Favian introduced, and the woman in question gave a friendly wave and smile.

Since Favian was up to introductions, I guessed it didn’t hurt to introduce him to his welcoming party.

“This guy beside me is Darren Lionel, but we call him Sniper. The other guy is Leo, Head of Security.” I made my quick introduction, hearing Leo grunt his greeting grumpily. Favian merely smiled at the hostility shown to him.

“We should go. Best not to delay your Council. We will talk along the way.” Favian ushered, and I nodded, glad to be moving the attention away from a grumpy Leo, just in case he created some sort of spark that would ignite a fight.

We began to make it to the school building, but the vampires were taking their paces slowly, providing time for leisure conversation, so I followed suit.

“Dear, are you alright? I heard about your nightmares and insomnia. I’m so sorry about it. I really hope you get better. Tell you what, darling. If you have any more nightmares about that week, just call me at this number. I’ll keep some time for you.” Zephyra came to my side, slipping a card in my hand. Turning it over, I saw a number written clearly on it.

“Thanks.” I slipped the card in my pocket, glad that I had someone to talk about it. I hadn’t told anyone about the nightmares, save my friends and my Guardians, but had bade them never to tell the Council, or my parents, or Grandma Elvie. It was enough that the incident had taken a toll on them, I didn’t want them to fret about my insomnia. Still, talking to my friends about it had no point, for they didn’t know how to help. Yet, now Zephyra was extending a helping hand.

“You can trust us, baby girl. You don’t know it, but we really care a lot about you. Of course, you were the victim of the stupid mistake my nephews made, but we care for you like you are one of our own. We just want what is best for you. So if you have any problems at all, Ashe, don’t hesitate to call Zeph or me. Of course, you can talk to the guys, but if you want to avoid nonsensical conversations, don’t approach Alaric. Also, keep in mind that that son-in-law of mine talks mostly in politics, so you’re going to have a hard time conveying your problems. We girls are always better at counseling each other.” Laura sneaked up to my other side, stage-whispering.

There was an undignified ‘Hey!’ from Alaric, while Favian merely chuckled. I wasn’t sure if the chuckle from the Vampire king meant that he agreed with whatever his mother-in-law was badmouthing about him, or that he thought she was just trying to be funny.

“Um… okay, Laura. I’ll keep that in mind.” I answered unsurely.

“So… how’s Zane?”Zephyra asked casually.

“He is doing quite well, thank you for your concern. Since that day, he has been working on his element much more than before, and he has been doing his best to improve physically too. He shares good rapport with Noel now.”

“Are there any…… anomalies around him? He, after all, has been reanimated by your blood and spirit magick.” Favian asked interestedly, while I heard Alaric cluck his tongue, as if he wasn’t even slightly intrigued.

“Nothing that I know of.”

“How about you, darling? Are you doing well? How are you faring as a Council Head?” Zephyra asked, pushing her husband to the side, nudging as if trying to remind him not to be so fascinated by Zane’s reanimation by me. Zane, Noel and I had been trying our best to ignore that topic, but it was always there.

“I’m trying to do my best there. Juggling Council activities and schoolwork is not very easy. But I have improved my elements by leaps and bounds.” I admitted, watching Zephyra nod like a satisfied mother.

“It’s going to get easier over time, dear.” She advised, as we turned into the building.

Alaric whistled at the interior design of the building.

“Hey, Fav, you should really take a page out of their book. The kingdom should look like this, not like the dump we have back home.”Alaric whispered loudly, earning glares from his brother and wife.

“The kingdom, in case you have not realized, belongs to you. My home belongs elsewhere. I may be using your kingdom as the Council Headquarters, but you are the one in control of the kingdom there.” Favian reminded his brother in a sigh that probably meant that Alaric had been reminded the same things many times over.

“Whatever, bro.”

Small conversation continued as we walked through the school to the Hall, where the Council Meeting was to be held. Halfway through the walk, the bells rang, announcing the change of classes. Students began milling the corridor, but practically everyone stopped in their steps to stare at my convoy and the visitors of the school.

Chatter broke out instantaneously.

“Hey, aren’t those people vampires?”

“Who are they?”

“How are they here? Why is Ashe with them? Does she have a death wish or something?”

“Don’t you know? Ashe had a brush with them during the term breaks! She talked to the King and Queen of the Vampires!”

“Hey, I recognize one of them! Remember that night of the black out before the term break? That guy walking behind them was the vampire on the roof! He was the one trying to take Ashe and Zane away!”

Favian stopped at the last gush, turning straight to face the student who had said it. It turned out to be a second-year student I vaguely recognized talking to Noel once.

“Kenton, come here.” The coldness in his tone breezed through the entire chatter that filled the corners of the corridor, hushing everyone up in fear and awe. Kenton, in turn, shuffled quickly to his father’s side.

“Apologize. You have made trouble here. State your folly, and promise me and Ashe solemnly that you will never do the same thing ever again.” Favian commanded of his son, and Kenton did not hesitate.

Bowing perfectly in ninety degrees towards me, I found myself staring down at a humble Kenton, who kept his eyes solely on the floor, at my feet.

“I am sincerely very sorry for all that I have done here to you and your Guardians. On the night of the black out, I am sincerely regretful for my neglected thoughts. Please, forgive me for all that I have done.” He spoke humbly, in a tone I never knew I would ever hear from him or his brother.

By natural rights, I should never forgive them. I should never forgive Kenton for terrorizing me. I should never forgive Treyon for making life hell for me. They caused me so much pain, so much fear. They caused me pain before anything I knew; they caused me to lose the old me.

But they gave me something else too. They helped me wake the different side of me. They helped me cherish everything I had around me. They found the Faen’s Child within me, and helped me awaken it.

“I forgive you, Kenton. It’s alright.” I smiled in spite of myself, and even though he had caused me fear and pain, even though he had threatened me and almost killed me, I hugged him.

“Aww… you wanna change your love interest partner, just tell me. I’ll set you up with either of my nephews anytime! Kenton and Treyon both need a life!” Alaric cut in, pulling us apart and setting me walking again.

“Alaric!” Zephyra exclaimed at his sudden movement, but Alaric kept me walking on quickly.

“We’re already late, Zeph. You’re going to have a hard time convincing them that you’re committed to seeking peace if you can’t even be on time. Punctuality is going to strike extremely hard on Rax, Fav, so if you want things to go smoothly, I would suggest less talk and more walk.” Alaric spoke, beckoning my two bodyguards to come along quickly, in which both Leo and Sniper did without hesitation, knowing full well what Mr. Rax was like.

We reached the doors to the Hall in record time, where Alaric allowed me to stop to catch my breath. The vampires didn’t look the slightest bit winded, though Favian seemed a little irritated that his brother hadn’t told him about being directly on time.

“Ready?” Zephyra asked, looking around at her family, then at me.

Nods came around, and we opened the doors.

The people at their seats rose respectfully, but my attention drew immediately at the empty chair on the dais, just beside Grandma Elvie’s. Beside Favian’s designated chair.

“Sit, sit. I will not have you Faens standing in respect to me. For your Council Head, you will stand, but not for us. We vampires are here to talk, not to be shown respect for.” Favian took charge quickly, eyes sweeping around.

“As a visitor, we show respect, Favian Darkness. You are on time.” Mr. Rax replied, nodding and gesturing for everyone else to take their seats.

We took our respective seats, and I took mine beside Grandma Elvie’s.

Favian gave me a look that questioned if I was ready to start the meeting.

It was then that I realized exactly what I was part of now. I was no longer just a no one.

Favian looked on me like I was the true leader of the Faens. Grandma Elvie looked on me with the same light in her eyes too.

I took in a deep breath and stood up.

A leader; I would be.

I was the Faen’s Child after all.