Kristian

I can't feel my legs and the world around me is spinning. Round and round.
Just like Brian took me round and round for five whole frisking years,I make a show of it but twirling my shot glass like a toilet flushes itself.
Slush slush.
Judging by the way the bartender looks at me I just said that out loud. Man,I am drunk. Like drunker than I've ever been. And I'm not supposed to be! All these years allmthis time of building myself to where I am. To have the title of R&D business director,to have money and respect,to wear the cute but minimal clothes I get to wear each day. I didn't do all that just to get dumped and cheated on.
Tears well up in my eyes once again as I tip my glass to my lips and end up spilling bitter alcohol down my neck. I'm a mess right now. I probably look like one too.
"What can I get you,sir?"I hear the bartender ask over the music so loud I feel it in my stomach,stirring all the drinks I've had together. I blink a couple of times to get a clear view of whoever just sat next to me,to differentiate between colourful florescent lights and dull soft parts of skin.
"A gin and tonic- no wait just get a bottle of the strongest whisky you have."
"With a glass or...?"
"No,just like that."he finishes,his voice is silky but rough all at the same time. It has me struggling to have a better look at him and he notices me and I turn away. A little too late. "Everytime I want to crawl into a bottle of alcohol nobody beats me to it. You just did,congrats."he says,sounding like he's already had a something to drink,
I take another toss at my glass and cringe at the burn,"Hmmm.. crawl into a bottle. I'll steal that line from you,"
"I don't necessarily mind."he shurgs his shoulders and I wipe away at my tears to get a better look at him. He comes into focus like water colours bleed into a page,slowly but so strongly,changing everything in its wake.
He's gorgeous. Thick eyebrows over eyes full of humour and darkened with an underlying sadness,making their green seem so much more sullen. I can tell from miles away that it's not his usual gaze. His lips are full and look soft like two pillows full of feather and clouds. His skin smooth,his nose tall and his jaw sharp.
Who could've dared to break his heart?
"That's good,really good."I whisper my lips sucking on the bitter glass. His whisky comes by and instead of pouring it into the glass he just tips it into his mouth and shuts his eyes hard and what I assume is the after burn.
"So? Why are you here?"he says staring off into space,
"Me or you?"
"Eh,truthfully speaking both of us. We'll hear yours I say mine,"
"Oh,I get it! My boyfriend broke up with me because he had eyes for my friend. Now I have no one to talk to."I say a little to cheerfully and he nods like he gets it. I think he does,
"That sucks,I'm sorry about that."he takes another swing at his bottle that's held so firmly by his giant hand that looks like it would be good at embracing and touching,
"Your turn,"I throw at him and he flashes me a cute smile,
"I just realised a huge,huge responsibility. And I don't think I'm ready,"he says shaking his head then he hiccups and laughs. I laugh with him,
"What could it possibly be? King of Kings or something?"I say a laugh bubbling out of me,
"No,it's King of the butterflies."
"Hmm,butterflies are pretty. And your pretty too so I think they'll like you."I reach out and bop his nose,
"Me?"he says,pointing to himself and I nod,
"Yeah,your hair is sooo fluffy too. And your eyes... Dear goddess Lyria,your eyes."he chuckles at this and holds the hand that bopped his nose,his palm alone contains my fingers in their entirety. Surrounding them with warmth and softness I didn't think I'd find hidden in the lines of calluses and scars,
"Thank you,I didn't know I had that effect on bewitching and adorable red heads."
"You like my hair?"I say shifting closer without knowing it,
"Yeah,it's soo fluffy."he mimics the way I was talking,and I grin. He's like... a perfect distraction. I can barely remember why I was upset. "Next question,what's your job?"
"I'm a unicorn horn harvester,"
"Interesting."he says fighting off a laugh,his eyes narrowed at me,"Funny enough,I'm actually jester."
"Jester? And now they want you to be King? Tough stuff."
"Exactly! Finally someone who gets it."A pause as he takes another sip from his bottle,"You know,I really like you,Red."Red. I like that name. It's so much more... rebel and cooler than Kristian.
"I like you too,King of the butterflies."
"It's not my title just yet."
"It will be,very,very soon."I whisper into his ear and he nods slowly like he understands. I lean into his shoulder and he lets me melt into his frame like I was made to be there,
"We should... go somewhere. Just us."his gaze suddenly becomes intense as he looks at me,sparks flying in line like fireworks in a dark night sky. His skin comes in just a little clearer,crimson red neon light spilling over the sight of him.
Music growing slow.
"Where?"
"Anywhere. Wherever the wind takes us."
"Not a wind type of guy."I say gnawing at my empty glass,
"Then let me take you."

__________________

8 months later....

How much protection did I expect two fatally drunk sex crazed people would achieve? I stupidly hoped and skipped the trip to the doctors.
Now I'm pregnant. With twins and I don't even know the father's name. That's dumb. I never thought that I would get into such a mess in the first place.
I'm so used to looking at people who don't know the names of the baby's father's with pity and sympathy and all that and now I'm the pity party. I'm going to be giving birth out of wedlock in a few weeks because of my carelessness.
No use crying about it obviously but I don't even remember what he looks like. All I remember is walking up in an expensive hotel room with a credit card and breakfast neatly placed at my bed side with a note.
"Sorry, I had work to do."is what it read. No shit King of the butterflies. He could've at least left me his number if he knew I could've gotten pregnant. But he didn't.
"Kristian? The boss wants to speak to you."Caroline,the "boss's" secretary says to me,making a judgemental dip at my stomach with conviction. Her red lips curling with momentary disgust before a sarcastic smile.
I try not to let it bother me especially since my stomach looks alot like I'm just bloated so I had no idea until the near end of my second term pregnant. But her little little rude looks and whispered words behind my back are chipping away at my self worth.
Am I lesser than because I just simply don't feel right getting rid of my children?
I'm more than capable of taking care of them. I have everything planned out for when I give birth so why? Why do I feel unsteady?
Because the credit card he left me is all I have?
"Coming."I mutter pushing myself up and suddenly feel a sway in my knees. I take a step foward before breathing get harder and harder,earth shaking. My sight blurs.
My ears begin to ring and I fall to the ground. And notice the trail of blood on my suit pants. I know terribly well where its flowing from.

Kristian

"Their two boys,Mr White. Congratulations."the nurse exclaims holding both of my precious children in each of her arms. Despite the exhaustion making rounds through me I smile and pull myself up,stretching my hands up ready to hold them.

She gently places the two darlings into my arms and I get a first look at them.The harsh light of my hospital room making it very easy to see them,
I wasn't conscious for the birth since it was an emergency C-section due to complications. I just woke up about an hour ago and the doctor says they nearly lost me and the boys. "They seem to be paternal twins. So identical I doubt you'll be able to tell them apart when they grow up."the nurse tells me and I laugh looking at them,

They look nothing like me. Their skin is light brown and their hair is black and curly both their eyes still shut but I doubt that they'll have my brown eye colour.
Each of them have a small flower shaped birth mark on their tiny necks.

Their beautiful.

The sight of them pours joy straight into my heart and soul. These are my baby boys. Instinctively I hold them tighter and smile so widely that my cheeks hurt,
"You must be so happy."the doctor tells me when he walks in,
"Yes,I am."I say,a little winded and breathless,refusing to let go of the sight of my boys,
"You'll have to stay in the hospital a little longer though,Mr White. You became completely devoid of all fluids during surgery and when you bleed out,"he explains taking a look at my chart,
"But are they okay?"I say,referring to the children.
"Yes,surprisingly. They have self healing abilities."he tells me excitedly with a smile,"It's a very rare ability and we believe it saved both you and them in the risk driven operation."
I can't help but frown. No one in the history of the White family of the fire ability has ever been blessed with healing abilities. It must be their fathers bloodline then.
But not every single bloodline has such a power. Most of which that do are of noble origin due to the sheer power of a self healing ability. So difficult to have that only one of the five most influential families in all of Ferrez has the ability.
"They also seem to have strong abilities in the future waiting for them."
"Ah,how many more days exactly?"I say rocking the babies when they start to stir out of slumber and cry,
"Until we can get your vitals up."I'll need toothpastes,towels and so many more things that I can't even begin to think of right now!
"Can.. I go out for a couple of hours?"I ask and they both look at me like I've lost it,"To get the essentials, that's all. I'll leave the boys here in case there is anything wrong with them."
"But,Mr White what if you faint on your way there?"the nurse asks me,sounding worried,
"I promise I won't, people of the fire faction are extremely resistant."I say,struggling to get up.
"Mr White,this is extremely dangerous to even attempt -"
"I need to be able to take care of my children as best I can,and I definitely won't be able to do it if I barely feel human."
"Just send someone in your place."Suggests the nurse,clearly worried about my safety but I thinking I've made my mind up even though I dread leaving my babies alone for even a second.
My mother told me it would be like this as an Omega natured man's first time. Especially being that they were twins. She was right,"I don't have anyone to send. And I'm the only one with the pass code to my apartment."
"Mr White... this is totally against protocol-"
"I'll be back in two hours,I promise you,sir."I ignore the pounding in my head when I stand up,"My clothes,please?"

_________________

"All passengers please be seated."the automated voice of the public bus system says as soon as I sit down in the furthest point of the back of the bus. Two large sounds that signify the movement of the bus on the specified 'bus lane'.
That's Ferrez,the land of the five. A capital city,the head quarters of the five most influential and powerful families who protect us from dark creatures from nether realms.
It's the safest and most expensive place to live. And I'm already established enough to live here,privileged enough to plan out a good life from my twins here.
I can't help but smile at the sight of the green plants in city based green houses and sky scrapers,trains that pass by so fast that they look like their flying. My two small blessings come to mind. Their cute tiny faces.
The king of the butterflies might never come back and that's okay. Because I can do this on my own.
I check the time on my wrist watch and curse under my breath thirty minutes already under the hook. Let me just pray I can do this in two hours. Then the bus lights turn red overhead.
And emergency alarm goes off and I can't feel anything else except impact that crunches through the metal wall of the bus with a screech.

Elijah

Seven years later....

"Alright,slumber party's over."I say walking into the bedroom of my boys,one room with two totally different beds on each side both of which are surrounded with extremely different things.
Liam's bed is covered in basketball merch and collected toy cars. A recurring theme of the colour red and yellow.
Oliver's bed is surrounded by all things to do with chess and books he calls "advanced" for his age.
Their polar opposites despite being twins,the only thing that's similar is two small flower shaped birth marks on their necks. It was the first thing that told me they were mine when I was randomly told that two children of seemly noble origin had been abandoned at the hospital with no guardians in sight.
Their birthing parent left saying that they'd be back in two hours. Barely any information left behind except a physical description. Pale skin and red hair.
The unicorn harvester I had meant in a bar eight months before. He got pregnant. And he never called me or tried to for that matter. To make matters worse he kept the pregnancy to term then abandoned the children at a public hospital knowing damn well I'd find them there.
Where he went? I have no idea. I tried really.
To look for him but he seems skilled in disappearance acts. The more I searched for him the more angry I got. Hours turned into days,days into months and months finally into a disappointing year. I decided that my children need all my attention at that point.
I gave up. They don't need a father like him. I'm more than enough for the two of them.
Liam groans and Oliver struggles to stand upright. "They longer you two take to get up,it means the more I think you shouldn't go to the event."
"I'm up,I'm up."Oliver says hurriedly and running to the bathroom. Liam is far more sluggish but responding all the same. They've been wanting to go to this engineering event with me for months now. They hate having to watch me give speeches on a screen while their stuck at the mansion.
As the eldest of all the five oldest of the most influential families,I more often than not do the addressing work. I'm known as being the "older brother" of all the other eldest sons. I have everything perfectly put together aside from my age.
Almost,I think to myself looking at my hyper sons. Almost.

________________

Behave yourselves,and stay close to a responsible adult at all times. Is all I left my boys with when I was called in an hour earlier than I expected.
I mean,obviously I didn't just up and leave them. I called my assistant to babysit them. Even though they hate her,I had no choice. I thought I'd be able to stay by their side until the very last minute. But things changed and we're needed earlier than I thought.
Who knew that authorities would say that there's an expected dark creatures attack at eleven at night today?
I pull my forest green cape right over my shoulders with their golden weights and pull the golden head band- that's supposed to signify the crown of spring. Yes,that's me,King of the butterflies.
More commonly called the Spring Shield. "Wardrobe malfunctions?"I ask my other assistant,David as we walk through the hall leading to the venue. Hotel DeLyris. Named after the great and powerful goddess who gave us all that we have today.
Decorated in cream tiles,gold accents and the luxury aesthetic of an old black and white movie. The ambience is extremely high,like it's cost. We spend way to much tax payer money on this crap as pretty as it is. I might need to speak to the board about it.
"No,sir."he says,breathing a little hard because he can barely keep up with my speed when I walk,"Uh,would you like me to brief you again on your speech or objectives..."
"Thank you,but no. Also calm down,the pressure of reschedule should be nothing to you at this point,okay?"I have been practicing this entire things for months now. It comes like second nature at this point.
"Okay,sir."he says,continuing to sweat. Look who's talking,I've never had my boys out of my sight and away from home this long. They may be young but their wholly capable of pulling crazy tricks on adults. And Natalie will fall for all of it.
I feel like I'm vibrating with worry right now.
"You made it,"Shane says to me as soon as I sit down at his table. He looks bored already,playing with a freaking olive on his plate,"Nice to see the twins didn't keep you long."he drawls out. Shane Lee is the eldest son of the most powerful blood bender family in all of Ferrez,if not the entire world.
And he? He's the strongest and most terrifying of them all,dubbed the "Tyrant". Cold hearted and simply doesn't care about your feelings. I'm glad we're on the same team because I don't know if I'd be able to win in a fight against him. "They still insisted on coming,though."I sigh and Shane makes a sound taking off his pitch black cape lined with a ruby red fabric inside on the table,next to where he placed his crown of crimson jewels. Fitting for the Scarlet crown.
With no one speaking to me I scout out people in attendance. Tech wizards,political figures,members of influential families and just plain old rich people. Nothing new,"If you keep that up,you might hurt your neck,Lewis."Azaar tells me sitting down next to Shane and me.
Azaar,Summer Solstice. Sun of the most well known fire bender family in the whole world. He's sort of the "middle child" of our dysfunctional family of heirs to long kept thrones. Also the sweetest,and most fearful. That's why he's never officially accepted his role and the Solstice empire as a whole. He will some day.
So long as I convince him that the crown is meant for his avatar of the flaming fairy's head. I,after all,am his elder brother. Not by blood but the faith we have in the blessings of Lyria to protect us.
"...And with that the charity auction begins!"the announcer says with a bright smile and the room erupts in applause,excitement ripples in the air. Being honest,the engineer in me is more than happy and proud. Mostly proud.
I get to present my project to the world when it's time for my speech. Make promises that I'll pull through on. It's only a matter of less than an hour now,"The first item is 'the mirage'!"
I clap my hands along with everyone as the present a beautiful emerald jewelled necklace with pearls. The bidding sounds fade into the distance when David taps my shoulder,Natalie in toe fidgeting with her suit and the scarf around her neck.
"What the stars are both of you doing here? Who's looking after my boys?"I whisper,baring my teeth feeling heat rise up into my face at the sense theirs a mistake hidden behind their nervous faces.
"Sir -"David starts,
"Answer me,Natalie."I demand,looking straight at her,and she avoids my gaze. My heart starts to pound as I think of a million possibilities. My sons could be in danger right now,
"They're- they tricked me. And then- then they disappeared."Oh,dear Lyria,give me second blessing,
"They're lost,sir,but we're looking-"
"You're useless. The lot of you,how dare you- "I raise my voice over the noise that I turn a couple of heads,"Split into groups of two,and search the entire hotel. Call all staff and alert the men in charge of surveillance cameras to check all the last hour footage."I walk off from my chair,ignoring the feeling of Shane and Azaar's eyes on me.
I'm too panicked to care about anything except finding my boys. They could be in danger,they could need me. This wouldn't be happening if I had just -
I turn around and say one final thing,"Also call the police. Tell them the heirs to the Spring Throne are missing."then walk away to look for my children.

Kristian

So this is Hotel DeLyris? Pretty fancy if I'm being honest. A fitting reintroduction to the city if I've ever seen one.
About seven years ago,I got into a bus accident and suffered trauma to my head among other injuries. I was transferred to a hospital miles away from where I lived to complete a complex brain surgery successfully. I went into a medically induced coma to keep me safe.
It took months to get better. But when I woke up,I remembered nothing. Everything from the past couple months and random splatters across my memories were erased. Not even the accident I remember.
Along with crippling medical debt and a sabotaging mental state I moved back into my mother's home,in the countryside. An extremely rural place where basically no one can find you. She was all I had to care for me and love me.
My time became fully and entirely consumed by spending time with her. Especially when I was like a coconut and couldn't remember a thing.
I spent that time relearning things about my life,passions and building upon the things I hadn't forgot. After all this time,the nagging feeling that I had forgotten something I truly loved and cared about in the concrete jungle named Ferrez gained an upper hand.
I began planning my return to the city,in an attempt to rebuild what I lost in that car crash. The doctors who treat my case of memory lose say its best to remind myself of the past through items,landmarks and people from the past.
I lived in the city for years,so if I want to find my memories,this is the best place to look.
Looking up at the golden doors of DeLyris,I feel a sense of purpose flood the space around me. One day I won't feel like I've left anything behind,I say to myself walking in and placing both my hands at the reception desk excitedly,
"Hi,I'm Kristian White. I booked a room for a week under my name,can I get a key card for it,please?"I say to the attendant,dressed in classy hotel uniform that makes her look extremely pretty.
"Wait just a moment ,sir."she then checks on the computer,clicking away at buttons when a tiny red light flashes on the side of the hotel phone. She places it to her ear and her calm face instantly panics. After a minute or two she hangs up,"I'm so sorry,sir,we're experiencing some difficulties. It may take some time to-"
"That's okay. I'll just-"I start backing away when she calls me back,
"No need! There's actually an auction event happening now,a fundraising for families effected by rifts and the creatures who come from them. I'm sure you can entertain yourself with that."she helplessly tries before she gets another call and picks up,something about missing heirs and danger?
Ignoring the strange feeling swelling in my chest and leave. Pulling my trench coat over myself,I placing my hands in my pockets and walk off into the hotel. Its okay,she'll handle that business I come back after an hour or two and I get a key card. Its simple,and besides! I think the whole auction thing is a good cause too,a little waiting can't hurt.
After long,unending halls that twist and turn,I finally come to accept the fact that I'm lost. All the treading back and forth makes my feet ache. It has been an hour though. Now I just need to hope that I don't starve to death or get eaten by a dark bat.
There are no dark bats here right? I try to shake off the feeling that I might get jumped and keep walking... I think I went through this exact door just a minute ago,
I spin the knob and walk right in like I'm being chased. And it's dark,as in pitch black in the room. And it is definitely not a hallway because I can feel the walls caving in on me,the undeniable presence of clutter and junk rattling silently. Or maybe its a rat.
Or a dark creature.
Panic fills up my lungs as I try to open the door behind me to jump out but nothing happens. It's locked. I keep trying while my palms slam against both nearest walls searching desperately for a light switch.
There it is. I flip it and stare at the larger than normal storage closet. Brooms,buckets,tools and junk I don't understand. All thrown in with space for walking in the middle,it's around the size of a small apartment's living area. I breath upon seeing that there nothing around-
A rattle behind the brooms startles me. Another one.
And another finally accompanied with muffled voices. My heart starts to thump as I back further into the door. I keep struggling hopelessly with the door knob,a scream bubbling in my throat. It sounds like a growl. Like it could kill me.
My breath starts to come in short as I turn ready to bang on the door and scream,when the rattling grows and finally something stumbles out of the brooms and yelps... like a child.
A small boy. "Seriously,Oliver!"I instantly turn around and face one of them laid on the floor from a fall,he whines from pain and keeps flat. The other comes to his aid immediately with a frown on his face,
"You're the one who pushed me!"The fallen boy says,Oliver,I think.
"Maybe if you weren't kicking me,Oliver."
"You're the worst,Liam."he says,begrudgingly. I can't help but marvel at the two young boys in full suits,who look exactly like each other. Twins. Liam and Oliver.
After the other helps his wounded brother to his feet. They both look at me after that,their green eyes bubbling with suspicion as they ask in perfect unison,"Who are you?"
This strangely feels like an interview. Like something depends on my answer,"I'm Kristian,Kristian White... I booked- Okay,this is my hotel for the moment."
"So our dad didn't send you to look for us?"Oliver,asks me with a raised brow,
"No,no he didn't. Why would he?"they exchange guilty glances before settling on the floor,I join them and cross my feet getting comfortable. The undeniable mood of the room is silly.
"We... okay,we ran away."Oliver tells me,
"Natalie wouldn't let us go to the bathroom or even eat."Liam says angrily. Slowly,the identical twins start to distinguish themselves with their inner differences. Oliver with a much quieter aura and Liam with a louder air to him. Easily,I begin to tell them apart,
"Natalie?"
"Our father's other assistant,because he's you know."
"He's what?"
"You know who our father is,right?"Oliver asks me and I stare at them. I think I'm supposed to know who their dad is but I have no clue,"You don't? Wait,where are you from?"
"... the city?"
"Which city doesn't know who the king of spring is?"Liam presses,
"So you two are royalty? Sorry I've never spoken to heirs before."
"And we've never spoken to a weirdo before,so it's even."Liam grunts,seeming bored.
"Liam! Forgive my brother,Mr White,he gets crabby when he's hungry."Oliver explains apologetically and I smile while looking through my bag and pulling out two granola bars,
"Tadaa!"I say handing them to Oliver. I don't think I'll ever see a pair of seven year olds eat that quickly ever again,
"Why did you say tadaa?"Liam says his mouth still half full of crunchy chocolate covered substance,
"Because I'm a magician."I say to them both of them,Oliver is immediately interested and Liam is far from it,
"Show us one of your tricks,please?"Oliver asks sitting closer to me,I grin and extend my hand silently turning it over a few times to show that it's empty. Then I pull a silver coin from behind his ear. He claps and Liam frowns,
"Where did you get that?"
"Can't tell or else it'll ruin the magic."a make a show out of jazz hands,
"One more,Mr White,one more trick?"
"Okay... how about this?"I pick up the coin and place it inside my fist and put both of my hands behind my back and mix them up,"What hand is it in?"I present them both to the pair and they exchange glances before choosing the same exact one,
I open my palm to show that there's nothing inside it. Liam quickly opens my other hand and finds nothing. He holds a gasp and jumps to his feet and checks behind me,
"Mr White,where did the coin go?"Oliver asks me and I turn to Liam,
"Check inside your shoe."I tell him and he removes his sneakers and a coin promptly falls out,
"How- "he says frantically checking the interior of his shoe and even pulling his socks off,
"I told you already,I'm a magician."
"Mr White,you're seventy two different kinds of amazing!"Oliver praises me and looks fully star struck. I guess they can't see behind my tricks. Let's keep it that way.
"Well,let's find the way out of here so we can find more food."I say clapping my hands together and getting up and heading to the door. A passcode lock.
"We already tried guessing a couple of times. If you try too many times it shuts off for two hours,"I press on to it the mini screen attached to the door knob and find a timer going off. One hour and fifteen minutes left.
With a groan I press a couple of features randomly and the knob twists and opens. Okay,maybe I didn't figure it out but someone found us. That's good. Right?

Elijah

I've been running through the hotel for almost an hour opening almost each door and calling out for Liam and Oliver. I ready to pull my hair out,rip a couple of teeth off my jaw,because someone is to blame for this.
Then I open one fateful storage room with muttered voices from the inside. And the first thing I see is a head of wildly red hair and wide brown eyes full of so much life that they can count as orange.
I hate red hair to death and revival. I hate it at gun point. I hate it now that it's in front of me,looking breathlessly and questioningly,searching my features. "Who are you?"
"Good to see suspicion runs in the family,Kristian,with a K,sir."I peak behind him and find my two boys staring at me from the floor. Air fills my lungs for the first time in an hour. Their safe. Thank Lyria. But it doesn't quite appease me,
"Where have you two been?"I press and they exchange worried glances,"I just asked a question,I expect an answer."I raise my voice by an octave and they immediately get up,I'm ready to start start my lecture about safety but the red head holds my chest pulling me back,
"Their just kids,sir. No need to yell."Great,he has an attitude and a nosy personality.
"Their my kids,and you are in no place to tell me how to parent them,Kristian with a K."I say with just the same amount of energy he has to me. I hope with all my heart that he'll step out of my way,
"Yeah you're absolutely right,sir with an s that stands for I suck."he quips and I open my mouth to retaliate when he places his finger on my lips,"Wanna know why you suck? You left your kids with an under qualified assistant and she starved and abused them until they had no choice but to run away. Kids don't hide from things that are perfectly harmless,sir."She what?
"First of all,Kris,I can call you that right? Forget it,I don't care about your opinion. It was an emergency,I would never leave them with her otherwise and they know it. Enough with the assumptions,please."I say letting go of the door knob to point in his face and he jumps over me to try and stop it,
"No,no,no- Ugh! Great,look what you did. Here I thought,you,forget it- "he says after literally pouncing on me to hold a door knob making sweet coffee and what autumn smells like to me steal into my nose so harshly I cough it out.
"I don't see what the problem is- "I lay my hand on it and turn it over but it doesn't open. Oh. Well,crap. It only opens from the outside. "Why didn't you just say that?"
"Oh yeah sure,like anyone could talk over your yelling."he says backing into a wall with his arms crossed and frowning. Making me feel strangely embarrassed. I made a mistake,sure,and it just makes me angrier,
"How- Who even are you,exactly?"I grumble getting more and more frustrated by the minute,
"A magician."my boys answer at the same time and a sharp laugh bursts from my throat. Unbelievable,
"A magician,"I repeat chuckling even though I'm no where near happy,
"Yeah,what about it?"he shakes his shoulders around like he's proud of it,and I grin a little then he stares at me. No,ogles at me then I watch him brush it off with my own eyes.
"Okay,Kristian,the magician,why didn't you call the authorities when you and my children got stuck inside here?"He opens his mouth but I place my finger on his freakishly soft lips,"What were you even doing in here? Trying to convince the rats your the next big thing?"I tease and he slaps my hand away,
"First of all I found the boys here and my phone is dead."
"Good point."I say letting him go with his smug look of small victory that strangely makes me ignite with anger. I feel like we've started this unspoken war with each other and now someone has to die to fix it. Fix this rivalry we started. "Well,mine isn't so..."I call David and he picks up on the first ring,
"Hello,sir,no progress yet but we're covering good ground,authorities have-"
"Forget it,Dave. I found them,but I'm now stuck in a storage room with no way out."
"Ah- we'll we're on our way. But it might take a while-"
"David,you've practically used up all your whiles for today."
"But sir,there's more than sixty seven storage rooms in the whole of hotel DeLyris-"
"What's sixty seven rooms compared to the love of your job,Dave? Start with the west wing."I hang up after that and Kristian gives me a look,
"I don't know why I'm surprised you also treat your employees like trash."
"Not that I care about what you think of me but I'm having a less than good day."I smile tightly and walk away from him to get on eyes level with my children. I silently brush each of them on the head and check them for bruises on their hands and faces before I hug them,"Never do that again."I whisper,and Oliver pulls away to say,
"Sorry,dad."Liam follows with,
"It's all Natalie's fault."
"I know,buddy. She's fired after this,I promise that I'm never going to let this happen again. But next time,when something happens what should you be doing?"
"Calling dad?"they say in unison,
"Of course,because I care about you two more than anything."they jump in to hug me again and I catch the magician staring with tears in his eyes that he swipes away at. He seems less  dramatically emotional and more sorrowful. Like he misses something. "Uhh,now. Let's figure out how to get out of here."I head to the door and Kristian says simply,
"We tried,it's a passcode entry and once you try enough times it- ."
"It jams and starts a two hour timer and alerts the front desk. I know,I designed it."he makes a face at me,"What? Not all of us can be magicians and talk to rats all day."
"Guess you're right,mister. So,can you figure it out or what?"
"I'm going to have to go with what because I didn't design the lock alone,it was a team effort and my effort was only for the beginning stages. I have no idea of anything after that."I say getting down and tapping what I'm familiar with on the mini screen. Forty five minutes left on the timer. And if we wait there's no guarantee that I'll be able to correctly guess the code.
I take two steps back. Bring my hands up and shut my eyes,I let my powers fill the air in front of me,let them come in contact with the lock and go from there. When I'm done I open my eyes to the sound of a sizzle and smoke.
The door knob is... well burnt. "Great,now we can't pick it because you broke it. Good job."
"First of all considering the technology it's not picking but hacking. Second,you have a bad habit of judging too early."The sign of spring imprints on the door and lime green light floods the space around its frame before leaves and flowers start to rapidly grow into the wood consuming it.
With a raise of my hand I pull the plants back from where they came and they leave a weak door with a huge hole in it. Perfectly,passable. "Good job to me,indeed."
"You're too full of yourself."he says going to pick up his bag and collect his things,including a funny looking silver coin,"I'll be gone then,sir."he glares at me,adding a condescending tone to the way he addresses me,sparks of annoyance in his fiery gaze. The colour stirs something in me.
And I hate it.
I groan in response as I watch him turn to my children,"Liam,Oliver. Bye,it was very nice of you two to have me,"he says with a sickeningly sweet smile and a high voice like they don't know he's faking it. I just know they hate him-
"Bye,Mr White! It was our pleasure."Oliver says and I internally scream my lungs out. It's okay,Liam isn't easily swayed by big smiles and friendly words,
"If its okay,show us some more magic tricks some day?"This is the work of the dark Lord,he's scheming against the avatars and using this annoying red head as a medium.
"Of course,boys. Although your father is insufferable and head strong,remember to listen to him... he loves you."he pats each of them on the head and glares at me as he walks towards me,reintroducing the scent of autumn. "Fire Natalie,keep David."
"Let the goddess Lyria damn me if I ever listen to you."I say under my breath,and he smiles tightly,
"Too bad that you'll be struck my lightning because its a great decision."He's right. But I'm not telling him that. He's ego is big enough.
"Bye,Mr White."Oliver whispers in vain sensing my aversion to the magician guy,whatever his name is. He smiles as I help my sons walk out. Then he's gone. I'll never see him ever again and same to him.
For some reason my heart does a stiff twist. Like when a dark creature is about to cause destruction.
It doesn't mean anything. It can't. It shouldn't.
Just as the dull colour of a faded nineties band shirt and his silhouette disappears from my sight David comes running over to me. "Sir! We found you- and the boys!"
"I did most of the work so pray to God that my bad mood goes away soon."I groan dusting myself off and letting him replace my cape on my shoulders and my crown over my head. "How late am I?"I know for sure I was supposed to give the speech hours ago.
All this planning. All of it going up in my face because someone couldn't do their job right.
"Around ten minutes. They kept your space so if we-"
"Go with the boys and place them infront of me in the crowd,David. If you lose them again,I swear to the cloud realm that your job won't be the only thing you lose."I give him a sharp look for good measure then I go as quickly as I can without running.
There's a certain level of status,that once reached its a bit crazy to full on run. Maybe jog but not run.
I get to the venue again and try not to look flustered or shaken as a million eyes are on me. Wondering where the hell I've been and all that. I jump more that two steps at a time to get to the stage and I give the host a small smile of appreciation,"Thank Lyria your here."she says,I don't miss the small twinkle of awe in her eyes as she stares up and me,
A common blood. Someone without powers or abilities. Their normally our biggest supporters.
"Thank you for giving me time."I reply as I take the microphone from her hands and walk into where she was standing. Soaking in the pressure,being proud of knowing what to say and how to act to such a point that I could go off script and no one would notice.
This is what I do. What I live for. Without anything else I start my speech and nail it. Like always.