CAIA

I follow behind Elianna as we approach a grand; white country house. Its exterior truly beautiful. A wide, wooden porch wraps around the entire house with white deck chairs and a swing seat to match. Pink and purple vines warp their way up the sides of the home, some even wrapping itself around the wooden railings of the porch. If I hadn't known who lived here already I would have just assumed it were nothing more than a mere family home, but nothing is ever that simple.

I walk behind the others as we enter the house, Nova leading us up toward a room in the back of the house that looks out through large glass windows to the sun slowly setting on the stormy and miserable day.

"Take a seat," Nova says, and the eight of us sit down around the huge glass table placed in the centre of the room. "There were supposed to be ten of you, how have we lost two?"

"Actually, we're lost four," I say and Nova looks at me, her sky blue eyes widened.

"Four? I don't understand," she says and I purse my lips.

"The landing was pretty rough," I say and she bows her head. Everyone else in the room sits in silence. Each one looking as exhausted as the next. Our clothes soaked and muddy from the storm.

"I understand."

"I'm not exactly sure what happened, but when I awoke Arctus has been severely injured. There was no possible way he could have survived his wounds, and in her grief Luna lost control of her emotions and attacked us."

"Oh, and then she disappeared into the woods with her brother and sister," Mikael says piping up. The gash on his forehead is black with dried blood, I'm surprised he isn't suffering from concussion.

"So who are the two we have gained?" Nova asks and Caius walks into the room, the floorboards creaking as he moves.

"My nephews. Kaleb and Kane," Caius says, and both me and my brothers turn to look at him. 

"Mara, Caia, and Elianna. Second floor, the room on your left. There is a wardrobe with temporary clothes. Take something and then pick a room on that floor, you'll stay there for tonight," Caius says and I narrow my eyes.

"For tonight?" Mara says, and I wonder what he too, meant by that.

"Sawyer, Maxx, Mikeal, Kane and Kaleb. You'll be on the first floor, again, the room on your left has a wardrobe with temporary clothing. Now all of you go upstairs and clean yourselves up, you'll be called down shortly for dinner," he says and we all rise from our seats. 

"Oh and girls, one more thing ... Mundane clothing, it's different to what you're use to, don't worry, eventually you can go and buy your own choice, I just know by now you're probably use to leather trousers, armour and capes, so it'll be a shock," Nova says referring to our Regnium clothing and with that we leave the room.

++++

ELIANNA

I head up the first lot of stairs, as the boys turn in the opposite direction to get changed. As I begin to ascend the second lot of stairs Mara takes a stumble, her head hitting the back of my knee causing me to fall forward and knock into Caia, causing a loud thud as we all tumble on top of each other on the wooden stairs.

"Shit," I yelp, thankful for Caia; breaking my fall.

"What's going on?" Sawyer asks, running into the hall; shirtless.

"Ella-Mara's ability to put one foot in front of the other is something that isn't going on, that's for sure," Caia mumbles as I lift my weight off of her and she lets out a groan from beneath me.

"It was an accident," Mara snaps, standing up and I follow suit.

"And I never said otherwise, all I'm saying is your inability to walk has earned me a gash on my cheek, so thank you," Caia says, the sarcasm ringing in her voice, as she picks herself up from the ground for at least the fourth time today.

"You're welcome," Mara says, and Caia's eyes widen.

"Okay, so let's get one thing abundantly clear. You don't like me, whatever, I literally don't care. But don't think for one minute that I'm going to be standing about, taking your crap. Once I've finished speaking that's it, whatever you've got against me no longer matters. We don't have to be best friends and braid each other's hair, but we're going to be civil. Get it?" Caia snaps.

"Got it," Mara says and I take a step back as Caia storms past.

"And why are you shirtless?" she says stopping in her tracks and I can't help but let out a small laugh.

"I was about to jump in the shower when I heard all the commotion out here, so I came out to make sure everything was okay," Sawyer says, defending himself, and I can't help but notice the way Caia looks at him.

"In which case lets just be thankful it was your shirt and not your pants," she says with a grimace and heads up the next flight of stairs.

"I'm so proud of her, I didn't know she had that kind of temper hidden beneath that princess exterior," I say and Sawyer laughs as he continues walking down the hallway and back into his bedroom.

++++

Caia

I storm into the bedroom to be greeted by a four poster bed. The white drapes hang from the shabby chic frame of the bed, each drape tied back by a pale blue bow. I turn to see a matching dresser and wardrobe. Fairy lights hang from the ceiling and I could I only imagine what it would be like in here during the evening.

"So this must have been the old ladies room," Eli says and I can't help but laugh.

"I thought it was cute," I say and she sighs.

"You would, it's all floral, elegant and pure," she says and I roll my eyes at her perception of the room.

"Oo, something black," Elianna says, already rummaging through the wardrobe as Mara enters the room. We both make eye contact for a mere instant before quickly looking away. I walk towards the wardrobe grabbing the first thing my eyes land.

"So how long have you had the hots for Sawyer?" Elianna asks and Ella-Mara looks at her wide-eyed.

"Who? Me?" I ask and she laughs with a nod.

"Yes, you. I see the way you checked him out," she says and I roll my eyes.

"That's barbaric, you're talking nonsense-"

"You know it's true," she says interrupting me.

"This conversation is over," I say before leaving the room, searching for the bathroom.

****

I roam the hallway of the second floor in search for a bathroom to be greeted by Sawyer ascending the stairs.

"Caius said to bring these up to you," he says, folded towels in hand.

"Thank you." I take the towels from his hand and he just stares at me for a moment.

"Could I?" he asks, pointing towards the gash below my eye and I nod. He now stands so close the smell of fresh cotton fills my nose. I never realised just how tall he was until he tilt my head back slightly as he looks down at my face, examining the cut. He's rather good looking with his forest green eyes, and blonde undercut hairstyle now swept across his face due to the rain.

"Its quite deep."

"I'll be fine," I say, as he places his hand on my cheek, causing me to quickly snap out of my trance like state. His thumb gently traces over the gash on my face and I wince slightly, taking in a breath.

"Good as new," he says and I touch my face, running my fingertips along where the gash once was.

"You're a healer."

"Don't analyse me Caia," he says with a smirk and my mouth falls slack.

"I'm not-" I begin but my voice trail's off when I notice the stern look he's giving me and I let out a small laugh.

"Okay," I say and he smiles before making his way back down the stairs. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."