Worlds Collide: Chapter 28 Family

Juan and I are still asleep when the knock at the door wakes us. I jump up and out of bed quickly, shaking Juan awake to make him change into a woman again.
“Sorry, I don’t usually sleep. That was probably the best sleep I have had in months.” He says transforming as we both rush around to straighten the room and get dressed. Once things look more presentable, I open the door to find another woman where I expected the high priestess to be.
“I was asked to deliver these to you. If the sizes are not suitable, I can find something else.” The woman offers and hands me a pile of clothes.
“Oh, thank you, I’m sure they will do.” I say and she walks away.
I sort through the clothing and pick out the best 2 outfits for us. Both are mainly black. I give Juan the black corset with a steampunk style clasp and silver chin decoration paired with tight black leather trousers. I wear a body con dress made almost entirely out of black lace, but with black fabric strips providing some modesty. Once we are redressed Juan and I look at each other hungrily in the mirror and I realise that I maybe should have sacrificed my sense of style for the sake of our concentration today. I notice the look in his eye as he moves towards me and I quickly dodge him, grabbing my dress and leaving the room. Juan follows looking frustrated, something which I’m sure I will enjoy later.
We are led to a room with a small breakfast buffet and the high priestess sitting waiting for us.
“Please help yourselves to anything, I have already eaten.” She instructs.
“Thank you… Em what should I call you now? Your highness? Esme? Grandma?” I ask.
“Well if you were still a child, would would have called me yiayia, but given that we have missed out on that, I suggest you stick to Esme or grandmother.” She says.
“I don’t know Yiayia sounds very cute, I could probably use that at least sometimes” I say.
She smiles “Whatever you wish Rain, you are family so you don’t need to worry about the formalities. Now we have much to discuss. Perhaps it is best if I tell you what I know while you eat and then you can continue.”
“Yes please continue, there is a lot to cover.” I say picking up some bread and jam to start eating.
“Around 50 years ago, my daughter Ruby was tasked with keeping an eye on the outside world. She was one of our less powerful witches, but one of the smartest, so she was sent as a spy. She integrated into both human and dragon societies and fed us back the information. That is why we have some of the technology here that Loria and Vladra lack. She was very good at her job, navigating complex political situations without detection. For a time things were settled, for a while. She even told me that she had found her mate and had a baby girl. Then I received a message that a dragon traitor was stirring up trouble with some hunters. The last message I received from her, she told me she was coming home, that she wasn’t safe from Ryder. When she never arrived, I went in to find her, but I knew in my heart it was too late. I found her body in that vile place and a lot of blood, too much blood for a child to have survived. I’m so sorry that I didn’t look for you, I didn’t dare to hope that you had survived.” She explains sadly.
“Its ok, we can’t change what happened and some good things did come out of Mr Elm finding me, like meeting my best friend Lily.” I say trying to reassure her.
“Can you tell me what happened that day? How my Ruby died?” She asks.
I explain how we were taken, how they murdered her in front of me and then tortured me to get to my father and then I ended up in the orphanage with Lily. It is a story I have told enough times to be used to it, but telling her and seeing her reaction brings a new wave of emotion.
“I always hated that Ruby mated to a dragon, but I’m so glad that his blood gave you the strength to heal and be here today to join our family.” Esme says warmly.
“Are there more of you?” I ask.
“I have another daughter, your aunt Zia and she has 2 children. Zia was training to take over my position so she is very busy. I’m sure they would love to meet you, but I didn’t want to overwhelm you straight away.” She explains.
“She was training? What happened?” I ask.
“Well your return puts you next in line to inherit the position dear” She says like its obvious.
“Oh no, I couldn’t, I’m not even a proper witch and I clearly suck at leading a country otherwise I would be in the water kingdom right now filing paperwork.” I say shaking my head.
“You can be trained, it is a great honour it take the position.” She says making it clear that I shouldn’t argue.
“Yiayia, I am honoured, but I can’t accept. I have to go home” I plead with her to understand that this is not what I want, especially if it annoys family I haven’t even met yet.
“Shadow your aunt for the day and then let me know your decision. I will arrange for her to collect you from here.” She leaves swiftly, not allowing any room for arguments.
I slump my head on the desk.
“Rain think about this. If you accept and stay here then we can be together.” Juan says, lifting my chin to make me look into his pleading eyes.
“I…I never thought about that” I say realising that the thought of leaving him makes me feel physically sick. “It’s just that I have a life back home that I can’t just abandon.” I explain, conflicted further by the rejected look on his face.
Before we can discuss further a woman bursts through the door. “Which one of you is Rain?” She asks with authority.
“That’s me” I say raising my hand like I’m back in primary school.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Zia. Mother has instructed me to allow you to shadow me, so come along now so that I’m not delayed further” She instructs and Juan and I stand to follow her.
“Your friend will have to stay here.” She says.
I shrug apologetically at Juan and when she turns her back I wink at him and mime for him to follow.
I follow Zia to an office cluttered with scrolls and papers. Zia sits down at her desk and starts writing something. I look around, but there is no other seat, so I sit on the floor.
“Em Zia, did the high priestess explain who I am?” I ask politely.
“No, and I don’t have time for questions, you can observe, but do not interrupt.” She says sternly.
I do as instructed, looking around the office for anything interesting and finding nothing. Most of there papers are in the language I couldn’t understand in the library which only further solidifies my lack of interest in this job. An almost constant stream of knocks interrupt Zia’s work with requests or more work to add to her pile and I have to hand it to her, what she lacks in warmth she makes up for in efficiency. After what feels like an eternity, she gets up and motions for me to follow. I follow her to what looks like an arena where young children are practising something. She smiles as a young boy steps forward, probably the first smile I have seen from her so I can only assume that this is her son. She doesn’t get to stop long before a queue of people form in front of her. Zia sits on what looks like a throne and gestures for the first person to approach her. The woman asks for her arthritis to be healed and Zia mumbles something before the woman walks away happily. Each interaction is the same, a citizen asking for some aid or remedy and Zia mumbling something. In no time the queue has cleared and Zia returns to her office.
Thankfully I’m saved from watching her work further by the high priestess arriving at Zia’s office.
“Rain, I need to examine that dress with you now, I hope you enjoyed watching your aunt work.” Esme says and I watch the woman that has been working non-stop all day freeze and drop her pen. I can’t tell if its just shock or something else that she is trying to hide behind a fake smile because Esme guides me away quickly.
“Now let me see that dress” Esme extends her hand to take it once we are back in her office and I hand it over so that she can examine it with her tools.
“There is no way I can do that job Esme. Firstly, I can’t even read the language, secondly I can’t preform any of the spells she did for the people and thirdly I would die of boredom.” I protest.
“I’m not so sure of that” She says holding a magnifying glass over the dress.
“Ok, so I wouldn’t die of boredom, but I wouldn’t enjoy it.” I rephrase.
“No, what I mean is that you have enchanted this dress with protection spells. See these patterns, they are not patterns but runes. You have clustered them together well to create the pattern and disguise them, but they are there. Which means that you can understand the language and you can harness magic.” She says.
“Thats not possible, I just create outfits to be stylish, it must just be a coincidence.” I say.
“I very much doubt that. The odds of creating this at random are very slim. However, we can test it. You will make another dress and we can test it on your friend since we know she is not immune to our spells.” Esme says.
“Fine, but you have to remember you promised not to hurt either of us.” I warn.
She agrees and gives me space to work on a dress. I planned to just make a simple dress to be done with the task, but once the fabric arrives, I can’t help but create, using the small amount of non-black fabric to decorate a black ballgown dress. When I’m finished, the combination of black, deep purple and gemstones makes it look like the night sky. I warn Juan aloud incase he is a fly on the wall to return to our room before announcing to Esme that the dress is finished.
I carry it to the room where Juan is waiting. He puts it on quickly.
“It is beautiful, you really are a talented designer.” He compliments me.
“She is more than just a designer. I can’t make you sleep. Rain you are indeed a witch” Esme states proudly.
“I don’t know what I’m doing though, it’s not like I can control the magic like I do with water.” I say.
“Show me what you do with water” She instructs and I oblige her by bringing forth the water from the tap, moving it around the room and back to the sink.
“Did you not have to train to do that?” She asks
“Not really, it mostly came naturally to me, more so than my friends anyway.” I explain.
“I suspect that is because of the witch powers you possess. Our magic controls people not elements. Our spells take training to learn and some can only be cast by the strongest witches. You will get there if you try.” She encourages.
“What do you mean it works on people, how do the barriers work then?” I ask confused
“The barriers are not a physical force, more like a mental one. Most witchcraft focuses on the body, curing ailments, enhancing physique, increasing stamina etc, but things like protection spells such as the one on that dress work by both cushioning the physical body of the wearer and inhibiting the attack of the attacker. The barrier means that people can’t see past it and it forces them to move their body away from it without them realising” Esme explains. “Were you wearing one of your dresses when you passed through the barrier? It might explain how you entered” She asks.
“No, just New look’s finest, I didn’t alter them at all.” I say.
“Hmm, then the exemption that I granted your mother must have passed on to you, but only partially as you have some of your father in you too.” She muses
“So I can go home?” I ask hopefully, catching Juan’s smile falter.
“I will have to do more research. I can arrange a tutor for you in the meantime so that you can try to harness your powers. I’m sorry but I can’t permit your friend to learn our secrets, however perhaps he would like to train in our gym while you are busy.” Esme offers.
“Wait, you know?!” I ask looking between her and Juan.
“I’m a witch, I see with more than eyes. Normally men are not permitted in the palace, but as we have already made an exception for the refugees, I don’t see the harm in him staying. As long as he behaves” She says casting a withering glare at Juan before leaving.
Juan approaches me, carefully removing the dress and changing to his normal self . “How exactly do you think she defines behave?” he asks seductively, his hands trailing over my body as he lifts me up bridal style to carry me to the bed.
“I think it’s best not to ask for clarification” I say just before he drops me down and straddles me.
“Why don’t you take her up on her offer to stay? You would make a good leader and it would mean that we could spend more time together, there is something about you that makes me entirely satisfied yet insatiable, always wanting more.” He whispers in my ear.
I kiss him in response, then I kiss him again and again, showing my own hunger for him in a way that words can’t explain. Then I sigh and pull away “Its not that I don’t want to stay, but I have people who care about me who will be worried if I don’t return, I’d never hurt them like that.” I explain.
“Have you already found love there?” He asks unable to look at my eyes.
“I believe I have found my soulmate, she got me through the darkest days and knows me better than I know myself. Unfortunately the love we have was never romantic so she is on her honeymoon with the love of her life right now” I answer watching Juan’s expression change from defeated to hopeful as I speak.
“Would she not want you to be happy?” He asks.
“She would, but she deserves to know that I am and I need to tell her what I found on crossbreeds” I explain.
“I understand, but that does not mean that I will stop trying to convince you to stay. It may be selfish, but I don’t want to lose you. And I’m not above being selfish or playing dirty to get what I want.” He whispers in my ear sending a tingling shiver through me.
“What kind of dirty game do you have in mind?” I ask arching my body up to press against him.
“I’m going to acquire some supplies from the kitchen, then I will make you deliciously dirty, so much so that I will have to clean you very thoroughly with my tongue.” He says licking his lips and stirring a pleasant ticklish feeling in my body.
A knock at the door makes us jump apart. “I think you might have to hold that thought. I will certainly hold it it mind through whatever lessons I am about to endure.” I grumble disappointed to have been interrupted.