The Crimson Prince： Awakening 22 Chapter 21: Devereux Manor

Will accepted his uncles praise as if he had won the Olympics, but thinking back on what happened to Maya, Will knew his uncle was right. If he were to just leave Bianca behind, the other wraiths would track her down. She had been seen, the only safe place was by Will's side. He couldn't think of an argument to present to keep her in her own life. Will sighed and turned to Bianca.

Will attached the sword back to the chain it belonged, within moments it shrunk back to the size of a pendant, though now he saw a ruby at the top and gold wiring netting down the cross. 'I'll have to ask Michael about that later,' he thought as he put the pendant back around his neck.

"Where we are going is really cramped, so don't worry about packing." he said with a little humor to lift the mood.

"Oh no William, that cottage was only your training spot. We can't bring a lady there." Michael said with a chuckle. "Our next destination is New York City, I have a sizable estate there."

Will stared at his uncle with his mouth agape. "You mean to tell me we've been in a raggedy old shack not because you lived there but because of me?" Will couldn't believe his ears. He could have thought of a thousand different ways Michael could have introduced himself. Maybe over a movie or a game of pool? Maybe he could have gone out for a drink. But instead he brought him to a worn down old shack, beat the c.r.a.p out of him and made him say uncle. Will rolled his eyes. 'at least I don't have to eat biscuits anymore,' he thought to himself, suddenly happy Bianca was around now.

"Of course William, would someone this nicely dressed really live in that worn down hut?" Michael said as he made a point of posing in his suit with a huge grin. Will insanely hated his uncle at this point, all he wanted to do was take his oversized silver sword and ram it somewhere the sun wouldn't s.h.i.+ne.

Will rolled his eyes at his uncle, making Bianca laugh. "At least you can get him to show emotion." she said to Michael with a giggle.

With a shrug, Will slapped Michael's shoulder. "We really should get going."

With a nod, Michael brought his coat above both of the youths, making the three of them disappear. Yet again Will was launched into the darkness, only this time he felt a fragile hand in his own. As they went through the lightless void, he gave Bianca's hand a rea.s.suring squeeze.

Almost as soon as everything went dark, they were brought back into the night near a large estate gate. At the top of the gate was an iron sign with the name 'DEVEREUX MANOR' raised out of it.

Michael went to the gate buzzer while Will checked on Bianca. It was her first transport and he still remembered his. "Feel beamed up there yet Scotty?" he said with a wink. Bianca rolled her eyes.

"So where's the actual house?" Will asked as he looked around the grounds inside the gate. The land was huge, considering even though they were right outside the gate the only thing they saw was a snowy ground and a paved road entering the grounds.

"It's about five miles up the road from here," Michael said as Will whistled inwardly. "My driver will be here within a few minutes, so just be patient."

Will couldn't believe that Michael had this kind of money, though he didn't really know his uncle. He could have multiple estates around the world just like this one just in case of emergency. He had to wonder how much influence Crystallia really had on the world in which he was raised in.

While waiting for the car to arrive, Will decided to check in with Bianca. It couldn't be too easy to accept magic as part of reality within just an hour of knowing. She had seen him use his gift as well as being teleported to New York from Minnesota in a matter of moments. It had taken Will actually experiencing magic for months to truly accept what was real and what was in his head. So many instances in which he had to question his sanity. In a world of technology and the belief in normalcy, it was hard to accept that something out of the norm existed. It could be that people truly believed what they are mentally capable of handling, shutting out all other possibilities.

"How are you doing Bee?" Will said while softly b.u.mping into her. "You've seen multiple things today that anyone else would be questioning, and you've been really quiet. Are you going to be alright?" He asked with a bit of concern in his voice.

Bianca sighed, "There had to be some sort of explanation for you disappearing." She started. "I couldn't accept that you just forgot about us, in some strange way this makes more sense." She said with a half smile.

Will could only stare at her. How could any of this truly make more sense to her than him forgetting about them? She was willing to accept magic in the world before she would ever accept him leaving her. Will had a new found respect and admiration for his girlfriend. She wouldn't believe he'd ever leave her without a reason. That loyalty was more than he could ever find in a lifetime.

While Will and Bianca talked, Michael stayed off to the side, allowing his nephew as much privacy as he could. Though looking at those two, he couldn't help but think of his sister. She had always supported Will's father, backing him on any plan he had. She was his foundation of trust just as much as Bianca was to Will. 'So history repeats itself once more,' he thought with an inner sigh.

Will looked down the road through the gate and saw a limo driving down the road to the gate. As it parked near the entrance, the gate automatically opened. "I do appreciate your patience," Michael said with a smile. "As you are probably aware, I usually don't need a car." he said with a wink.

As the three climbed in the limo, the gate shut and the driver took off to the mansion. "Would either of you like refreshments?" Michael asked as he opened the mini fridge next to his seat. Will picked out a mountain dew while Bianca only took a water. She could think what wanted, but he hadn't had any soft drinks or fatty foods in six months, it was time he indulged himself.

Driving down the narrow road, Will looked out the window. No matter how hard he stared, he couldn't see the end of the grounds on either side of the car. 'How much land could he have?' he thought to himself.

"There's around sixty acc.u.mulative acres on the grounds." Michael said as if reading his nephews mind. "Your cardio is going to get interesting from here on out William." he said with a wink.

Will groaned inwardly. 'The cost of upgrading.' He thought as he sipped his mountain dew. He could only imagine the weight training that he would have to do while running the border of the five mile fence line.

After what seemed like fifteen minutes, the mansion came into view. The closer they got, the wider Will's eyes became. "Did you get a good deal off of Xavier then?" He asked somewhat sarcastically.

The mansion was a four story castle large enough to fit at least three generations of family within. A nice patch of trees were off to the side of it, and a water fountain surrounded by burning bushes in which had all but lost their leaves in front of the manor. The road looped around the fountain like someone would see at an expensive motel used for b.a.l.l.s.

Taking the loop around the fountain, the driver parked next to the large double door entrance to the mansion. Opening the door, he waved the three out of the vehicle, bowed to Michael and drove the vehicle back down the road again.

Looking at the double doored entrance, something looked familiar. Will's eyes widened yet again when it hit him. They were onyx black, the same color as the one in Colorado that he entered Crystallia through!

"Did you put that door in our house?" Will asked Michael.

"Not just that house, but every house you've lived in had that gateway." his uncle responded pridefully. "I made sure I put a gateway in every house before you moved in." Will's jaw dropped.

"Judging by your expression I'd have to guess you still haven't figured out how Jonathan had enough money to move you around." Michael said with a chuckle. "He was using your trust fund set up by myself, the only stipulation was that I put up a gateway in each of the houses, but enough of that, let's head in." he waved the two of them through the now open doors.

Now through the entrance Will noticed two female servants holding the door open. One was old enough to be his mother, while the other looked just a few years older than him. Both wearing solid black expensive looking dresses.

Looking around, Will saw there was a double staircase leading up each floor, a chandelier in the middle. The carpet was a solid orange with gold lining at the edges. There were two hallways leading on either side of each set of stairs.

"Helga would you be so kind as to show Ms. Jean around?" Michael asked the elder of the two servants. "And after that, call a car to bring her shopping for clothes, she came a little light." Michael said while turning to give Will a little wink. The servant bowed and turned to bianca, waving her to follow.

Will watched as Bianca disappeared down one of the hallways. "Not to worry William, as long as she is here she'll be treated like the queen she might become one day."

Will sighed at his uncle's attempt at humor. "So what are we about to do?" he asked skeptically. "I don't suppose you keep my weights in your pockets"

"Why William I am offended." Michael said sarcastically, his hand going to his heart as he took a step back. "I just want to introduce you to a new friend." He said with an innocent smile.

Will knew better than to trust the man with a day of relaxation. With a sigh, he followed his uncle down the opposite hall from the one Bianca departed through. No matter what Michael said, Will prepared himself for even more intensive training as they went deeper into the mansion.

Coming to a stop, Will found himself stopped by yet another black onyx door. 'Is this my new training room?' he thought as Michael went to open the door. Was it a torture room? Maybe a weight room in which he had to master before leaving? Or was there an opponent in the other side of the door?

Will prepared himself mentally for what he would find. Surely Michael hadn't forgotten about his training just because he was home.

Opening the door, Will held a look of astonishment when he saw what was inside.

In the room was an exact replica of what his room looked like in Colorado! "I had everything from Jonathan's s.h.i.+pped over here the moment you left." Michael explained, seeing the look on his nephew's face.

"We will have a late brunch tomorrow seeing as though it's five in the morning. It will be self serve so whenever you wake up, make your way to the dining room on the second floor." Michael said as he turned back to the door. "Welcome home William."