Chapter Seven

Elia

Being benched is annoying. Infuriating. Annoyingly infuriating. Every time that I try to help or walk or even stand up, one of the others is there forcing me back down with a look that says: stay still or I will tie you up. And I love them for it. Determined to actually do something, I decided to gather up all of the children. The number of children that were locked up because of Cain makes me sick. The small faces in front of me are nothing but sweet and innocent, yet Cain decided that the blood in their veins made them monsters and locked them up anyway. I’ve been telling them stories and trying to get them to play together. As it turns out, the kids are more afraid of each other than I had expected. Of course, they were taught that they were to fear each other, as has been the truth for as long as I can remember. But not anymore. That is the point of us. The Kings and Queens of the Supernatural. Under our rule, all six species will live alongside each other, united. And that goes for the kids as well.

“Ok, listen up little ones!” I call to them, their eyes turning to mine immediately. I giggle at their eager eyes. “We are going to buddy up. Ok? Let me see.” I count heads quietly. Five werewolves, three kitsunes, two vampires, two witches, two phoenixes, and two sirens. “Great! You guys are even! I want you to pick a random buddy, the only rule: You have to be of different species.” Some of the kids groan while others roll their eyes. I narrow my eyes at them. “You have ten seconds to buddy up or I will make you float.” Pink magic swirls around my finger as I point to each of them in turn. My threat doesn’t have the desired effect. Instead, they laugh and shout: “Me first! Me first!”. “Correction. I will make you float upside down until your face goes red!” At that, they hurry up and find a partner.

“Now what, Your Majesty?” A little witch with vibrant purple eyes and dark hair says from where she stands next to Wilder’s youngest brother, Kato. I smile. The older supernaturals told their kids to refer to us with proper titles since we saved them, but it still feels surreal.

“Now, you talk to each other. By the end of the day, I want you to know everything there is to know about your buddy. Now go play!” They take off a lot more excited than I had expected.

“I see that everything is going well with the little ones.” A husky voice says from behind me before strong arms wrap around my waist. I let out a content sigh and relax against the hard chest behind me.

“It is. They were afraid in the beginning but that is only because that’s what they are supposed to be.” I say, watching as all of the kids are playing together. “Once they overcome their fear of each other, they will get along great.” Wilder drops his chin to my head and rests it there as he regards the kids with me.

“This is the new world. All of our species, working together.” A dreamy note enters his voice. I smile. Movement catches my eye to the right side of the field and I turn out of Wilder’s arms in less than a second before summoning my magic to my hands, preparing to fight the approaching people. A familiar tune is whistled and relief floods through me, making my magic fade. It’s Roan and the vampires. They race towards us, their previously white skin now a somewhat healthy grey. But they aren’t carrying anything. Wilder takes my hand and we walk to meet them, the rest of the group surrounding us.

“Roan?” Aiden calls out. Roan turns his red eyes to him. “Where are the supplies?”

“We went hunting and found the perfect place.” He says and gestures to the forest behind him. “There is a hidden grove with a river to supply running water. It is only accessible from one direction so it would be easy to defend.”

“Where?” I ask, apparently cutting Aiden off as he starts speaking when I do. I look at him apologetically and he just smiles while shaking his head. Roan smirks and nods his head backward.

“Follow me.” He says and turns back towards the forest, head held high. Meera snickers and skips over to him and takes his hand. The few sirens around us quickly follow her, scooping up the two siren kids. The vampires follow after them. Aiden whistles and the rest of the supernaturals turn to us.

“Come on, we are going to the forest.” He says before turning after Roan and Meera, Akira on his arm.

“There seems to be a pattern.” I say gently teasing Wilder. His brothers pop up next to him and he ruffles Jae’s hair.

“It seems so. Watch and learn boys.” He says before making a huge bowing dramatically and holding out his hand for me. “May I escort you to our palace in the forest, my Queen?” I burst out laughing. It turns out that laughing while trying to curtsy is a terrible recipe for your balance. I wobble into a weird curtsy.

“Why, of course, my King.” I place my hand in his and he kisses it sweetly before drawing up to his full height and leading the way into the forest. As I regard the flock of supernatural beings heading towards the forest, surprise hits me. I thought that the kids would have immediately gone back to their own species, but they stayed mixed. I smile as a feeling of joy fills me. Wilder was right. This is the new world. This is the world that we will rule. One where every species of supernatural is welcome. One where our young can grow up without the fear of any hunters coming for them. A bitter thought enters my head. I will personally make sure that Cain never hurts another supernatural ever again.