Kael Cor: A Vampire's Awakening Chapter 321 Journey Xiv : Welcome Home

It was just another normal day in Ethernalia Leonis, the sun was s.h.i.+nning, well not exactly as there was an artificial magical s.h.i.+eld that negated the effects of the world sun on vampires. Of course millions of years of fear and abstinence from the danger of the sun would not vanish overnight, so most vampires were indoors, asleep or doing one thing or the other. But the other races that were residents of Ethernalia Leonis were out and about, the city itself was full of so much vibrancy seeing as it was filled to the brim with visitors of every kind.

And it was to this somewhat peaceful city that a huge shadow covered, blanketing more than half of it with an ominous aura of impending destruction and agony. Fingers pointed to the sky as terror laden voices called out in alarm, they were terrified, but the shadow did not seem to interested in them, the common citizens were safe, though they didn't know that. That shadow was me.

If I was in my normal frame of mind, I'm pretty sure I would have yelled out something like "I have returned!" but I'm barely keeping it together as it is. With every flap of my wings that brought me closer to the palace, the more the hollow feeling in my heart and chest grew. And she could feel it, they both could. I felt like an idiot because I was already worrying the women I loved with a dilemma I'm supposed to face alone, after all this choice was up to me.

While everyone within the city itself was scared s.h.i.+rtless by the appearance of a dragon, especially since I was more than twice the size of Asare and Kuyait combined when they transform into their own dragon forms. I landed right in front of the palace, and almost immediately I was surrounded by hundreds of vampires, Nagas, Nephilims, gnomes, and even elves. All of them had their weapons pointed at me with extreme prejudice.

Gus and Teluna walked forward, a little taller than when I last saw them, and also stronger to. Teluna cracked his neck from side to side giving out a threatening and cold aura as he spoke to me.

"Okay listen to me you fat lizard, I don't care how big you are or how powerful, but you're in my house now, and you can't just drop in unannounced. So tell me your b.l.o.o.d.y name, what the f.u.c.k do you want and then surrender, or you can surrender first, I don't care which sequence it follows."

I couldn't help the smile that came over my face, of course in my dragon form that was probably a grin that would give everyone here enough nightmares to last a lifetime. I brought my wings closer to my body as my sister Rhea showed up beside Teluna and Gus, her bodyguards in tow along with her crazy box of weapons. She folded her hands and raised an eyebrow before adding to what Teluna said.

"You better do as he says, or better yet don't. I've not fought a dragon before, I would like to see if you're as ferocious as the story says. Plus you might not know it yet, but I am your queen. So hands up in the air the wings too."

What the h.e.l.l was wrong with these kids, Gus might not be saying anything being the brooder that he was, but I'm sure he has every intention to be as overbearing as Teluna and Rhea. Who the f.u.c.k have they been hanging out with, am I sure I'm in the right place.

"Are you going to say something or not, or are you dumb or something?" Teluna asked me with impatience.

"You know I've killed people for less, so you guys should really watch you tone with me. Show me some respect!" if they were going to be like that, then I'll play their game, plus it helps gets my mind of a lot of things.

"Please Respect is earned lizard, you're the one who just barged into our city without any care about the alarms you might set off, I wonder how you convinced the world tree to let you through? Did you sneak in, though I don't see how that's possible given how fat you look." Rhea said to me, much to the exasperation of her bodyguards as they tried and failed to get her to be more diplomatic seeing as she was standing in front of a dragon hundreds of meter long and tall.

"Please tell us what your business is in Ethernalia Leonis, we should avoid any sort of misunderstanding." Gus said to me as he gave a simple bow.

"I'm not saying anything until you king comes out an apologize for the slight to my personage, you all have 10 minutes or I shall raze this city to the ground, leaving nothing but ash and death for you all!" I said with a roar.

"Now that's just not possible great dragon, our king won't be able to apologize to you for anything at all." Her voice called out, leaving me weak in the knees, as Asha walked out of the place with Xaseah in tow. Ca.s.siel and Michael were held in both their hands.

"And why is that? Is your king also looking down on me! How dare he!" I think maybe I'm going a little too far with this, but anything to prolong having to tall about Dracula and the secret that's practically burning a hole through my dimensional pocket.

"Looking down on you? Well if that's the case then it's all your fault isn't it. I mean come on, is that the best you can do. I could smell and feel you the moment you entered the city, so please Kael stop with the charade before I have you chained up like a common animal, King or not, you know you have to answer to me." Asha said to me as she came down the steps into the palace's grand hall.

"Oh!" I dumbly replied with surprised look on my face.

"Yes, oh!" Xaseah repeated after me with a teasing smile on her face. Obviously they already saw through my excellent disguise, or maybe my acting just wasn't perfect enough, I did come off as a little extravagant and it came out quite forced. I need acting lessons.

I let go of the bond between Emrys and me, canceling the transformation as my body began to shrink and every draconic part of me went back in to wherever it stays before I call it out. Rhea and Teluna had shocked looks on their faces, Gus was much too cool to show that he was also caught of guard, maybe he wasn't, who knew what went on in that Kid's head.

"YOUR MAJESTY!!"

*BANG!!!*

I almost squealed like a girl at the sudden and synchronized yell of every soldier around me, regardless of their race. It wasn't like this before I left, but it seems the month I spent away was spent shaping the soldiers into a mote cohesive unit, plus looks like my image as a king was more cemented. Even Teluna and Rhea where bowing.

The soldiers were giving the traditional Cor family salute, a clenched fist over their beating heart. It was an inspiring sight, and it got my blood pumping. The city was brighter, livelier, there were actual s.h.i.+ps flying in the sky, the floating islands were still undergoing construction but it looked enough like the haven it once was. Tue burden in my heart did not let me see what I was supposed to, to see the good we've accomplished.

And it wasn't something that came easy to any one of us, we've had to fight and claw our way through numerous adversities just to get here, and without a doubt this was not the end. There's bound to be more s.h.i.+t for us to deal with in the future, just like the choice I have to make, but I think I realize the secret of my success so far.

It's not because I was extremely lucky or that Earth had favored me because I'm the Soul King. No! It was because I was never alone, every trial I've had to face, I've had someone right beside me, helping and supporting me. So these choice that has me so shaken should not have that much power over me, not after everything I've been through and learnt over my two years as a vampire. I turned and faced the soldiers.

"At ease brother and sisters, I've returned. And though I might have to leave you all again in the future, this time, for now anyway I'm here with all of you, with my family. So everyone take a day off, in fact I decree that this day, whatever the b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l it's date is, will be the beginning of a week long festival carnival. And it would be called the festival of unity, a place to showcase our differences, and how it makes us stronger. Where we celebrate our brother and sisterhood. Our family, so gather everyone citizen in the city and let's have a big cookout right here in the palace. WHO'S WITH ME!"

*ROOAAAAARRRRRR*

What I've learnt and have come to appreciate is one simple yet important fact. I was never alone, Asha and Xaseah have always been with me. So this decision, we would make it together, after all that's what marriage is all about. You trust the people you love to carry you when you can't move, and you make the hard choices together, that's what it means to be a family.