8 | COVENS AND CASTLES
As anticipated, the trip to Colton is long and uneventful. Save for the usual aching and inner pull from being so far from Kiwina. Mikyle doesn’t speak much and leaves the radio on so the silence isn’t so awkward. After the Blooming we really haven’t discussed much of ‘the future’, and I really don’t know what to tell him since I really don’t have a solid plan. I just hum along to the eighties and nineties remixes that come on, recognizing most of them and actually feeling a little calm. Or maybe that’s just the runner in me?
It feels like every time I leave Kiwina, I’m running away from some problem. Funny, out of all that’s changed, my fight and flight response is pretty much the same. I make a mental note of trying to work on that as the car finally comes to a stop.
Mikyle shuts off the car, leaving the driver’s side silently. I unbuckle my seatbelt and stretch once I’m out of the car - almost immediately freezing as I catch sight of the building we parked in front of. My mouth falls open, eyes going wide as I look up. And up. And *up*.
“You know, when you said *palace*…” I tell Mikyle quietly, but I know he hears me. My lungs can’t seem to do their job, leaving me sucking in too-shallow, too-rapid breaths.
“Yeah, I meant *palace*.” Mikyle chuckles, suddenly at my side with my duffle. He loops his arm through mine and pulls me towards the large building. I try not to faint as I crane my neck, watching as the looming stone structure towers overhead as we near the castle. And when I say *castle* I mean *castle*. Like an honest to God medieval, eleventh century castle made of differing shades of tan, white, and gentle earth toned stones. It’s incredible and awe-inspiring.
Just like the Coven in Kiwina, the front double doors are shimmering with energy, and slowly part with the assistance of two vampires. The gate keepers are dressed in identical blue garb, all different shades of blue from baby blue to royal blue, their thick robes look as ancient as the palace. Clean and not ripped, but something out of…well, a fairytale. The two are both men, identical-looking men with wide, pale blue eyes, and rust-brown hair tied in a loose ponytail. When they see us, they drop to the ground the way Tobias, the male gate keeper from Hales Coven, did when he first met me.
“Lord Mikyle,” The twins speak in unison, bass and tenor voices harmonizing. “Lady Scarlett,” They seem to pivot on the ground and dip their heads towards me next. “Welcome, our most esteemed-”
“Easy, guys.” Mikyle interrupts them, speaking a little too quickly. “Why don’t we move this along?” They spring to their feet as though jumping from a ledge, moving so quickly their forms are a blur.
“Of course, Lord-” The two begin, but are cut off by Mikyle.
“Just Mikyle, guys. How many times do I have to tell you?” Mikyle reprimands impatiently and I can’t help but glance between Mikyle and the gate keepers. They addressed me as ‘Lady’, which I know from experience comes with the territory of being daughter to an ex-*Rege* - Hale. But Mikyle? I thought he was just an advisor or Hale’s lieutenant. I don’t say anything in front of the gate keepers, deciding to ask Mikyle about it later. So I won’t seem as out-of-the-loop as I really am.
“This way, if you please,” The two speak in unison again, gesturing into the hall beyond the doorway. Mikyle lets out a sigh, but pulls me forward, out of the afternoon sun and into the cool and almost crisp air inside the palace.
“Good afternoon, Lord Mikyle and Lady Scarlett,” A woman comes bustling into the room, dressed in an assortment of black leather with dark green accents. Tiny silvery implements pinned to various parts of the skin-tight ensemble. Her midnight hair is braided tight to her skull in an intricate pattern and pinned securely in place, silvery threads giving away her age despite her face being wrinkle free. She looks at us with sage-green eyes and all the cool calculation of someone who knows they can beat your ass in a fight without breaking a sweat.
“Lizeth, I didn’t know you were still kick’n!” Mikyle leaves my side to run up to the woman, the two bumping their forearms together in some weird handshake.
“Mikyle, I thought Hale would have killed you by now.” Lizeth replies in a cool mono-tone, but Mikyle just grins at her.
“Not yet. Anyway, this is his kid, Scarlett.” Mikyle pulls me close and loops his arm through mine again.
“Yes, we have been expecting her.” Lizeth tilts her head as she looks me over, her lips pursing the only sign of emotion. “I thought she would have been taller.” She finally remarks. Mikyle bursts out laughing as I fight the urge to snap at the woman.
“That’s what I thought, too!” Mikyle high-fives Lizeth, grinning his maniacal grin. My lips twitch, a growl humming through my chest and vibrating up my throat with my annoyance.
“Does she bite, too?” Lizeth tilts her head as she examines me, her eyes widening with something like amazement.
“Mhm, and she’s not a half-bad fighter.” Mikyle stage-whispers to the woman - though the two know full-well I can hear every syllable.
“*Thanks*, Mikyle.” I grit out sourly, glaring at my ex-shadow. I’d like to say some choice words to him, but not in present company.
“Oh, does she also have a temper?” Lizeth drops a little of her stoic tone, leaning a little closer to press her cheek against Mikyle’s - the two watching me almost expectantly.
“Just like Hale’s used to be.” Mikyle nods. I blink in surprise at this new information. Hale’s the most *Zen* person I’ve ever met. “And she’s got his iris-spark.”
“Intriguing… Unfortunately, that will have to wait.” Lizeth sighs, extracting herself from Mikyle’s side and returning to her cold demeanor. “The Royal Court has been assembled and will see you two now.” Her mono-tone takes on an airy quality, drawing goosebumps to the surface of my skin.
“So, a couple quick things, princess,” Mikyle mutters to me as Lizeth leads us from the main hall and down a narrow corridor off to the right. Gentle sunlight filters into the stained-glass windows, their color rippled through the long hall in gentle and swirling colors that pain the tan walls. “First, don’t let them get to you. Some in the Court’re not as nice as the Mina and William, so try not to loose your shit.” I shoot him an annoyed glare that makes him pat my arm. “Yeah, don’t do that. It might be seen as a declaration of war.” We turn down the corridor sharply and go through another opened archway and into a lobby-like room that’s got a domed ceiling. “And don’t make any promises to anyone except for Mina. If anyone aside from her and William ask you anything, look to Mina before answering.”
“Why?” I ask, my curiosity getting the better of me. Mikyle and I stop in front of another set of shimmering double doors.
“Mina only tells the Court what she thinks they need to know.” Mikyle shrugs, looking at me with a meaningful stare. “There are some things they *don’t* need to know.” At his ominous words, the doors before us begin to swing open.
“Announcing Lord Mikyle and Lady Scarlett,” Lizeth’s voice - still wispy and soft - carries through the open door a moment before she steps through. I take a steadying breath and tilt my chin up as Mikyle and I move to follow her into the American vampire Court.
