*POV* Kalea Rosell
"I am f- fine." I pulled away, Lula limped over to us. "Crap, these guys are strong. Heal me fast!" A stepped forward to meet her and grabbed gently at her bloody arm.
The gaping wound sealed together in seconds, I didn't heal often and my breath came fast like I had just been running.
"Thanks!" We both turned as the last cloaked person fell to the ground, then disappeared into dust.
Lula grabbed me and pulled me behind her as she confronted the two. "Who are you!? And who were they!?" The older one stepped forward.
"I am Stefon, and this is Samuel. We mean you no harm we were just-." He stopped as someone ran past us and flung herself into his arm.
Lula lit her hand and I gasped at the sight of my mother. She was sobbing, Stefon shifted slightly until she repeated his name over and over.
"What's going on?" I asked Lula with a worried feeling in my stomach. But I couldn't look away as Stefon took my mother's face in his hands and touched their foreheads together.
"I think that's your father." Lula whispered, her eyes landed on the boy beside him and with a quick step she was in front of him. Her fire was still bright in her hand.
Their names matched, I realized with a feeling of overwhelming joy. But the joy faded as Lula punched Samuel square in the face.
He faulted cursing. "What was that for!?" Then she was hugging him. Kylo approached and came to a stop beside me.
"I have no clue what's going on, but I should probably get going." I couldn't help but laugh and smile.
"Yeah." he turned and walked away. A moment later mother was reaching for me and pulling me over to her. "I would like you to meet our daughter, Kalea."
I looked him over in the light of Lula's fire, he did the same. Then he was hugging me like I could disappear at any moment, I felt tears coming to my eyes.
30 minutes later mother pulled us all into our sweet, her attitude had changed to that of an over excited teen girl.
"I will send a message to Coral in the morning, you can't imagine how happy this will make her!" Mother announced before she dragged my father into her room and shut the door.
I took a seat not wanting to imagine what was happening in there and watched Samuel and Lula. They stood in front of the door a couple feet apart glaring at one another.
"So you don't remember me?" Samuel shrugged. "You say we are twins, but you also just punch the shit out of me!" Lula looked unapologetic.
"I did, what are you going to do about it?" They continued their glares. I shook my head with a smile, and leaned back on the couch, life just got a whole lot more interesting.
I awoke to the sound Lula calling my name, I rolled out of bed and blinked at her. "What is happening?" Lula grabbed my arm. "You won't believe this!" She looked way too happy.
"Bartholomew was just found this morning, he is dead." She looked like she was trying not to laugh. "Oh that's awful! How did that happen?" Lula sobered at my words.
"He was found in the bushes beside where we fought those guys last night, from what they told me he got knocked onto a sharp branch and bled to death."
I stared at her, it hadn't crossed my mind after realizing who Samuel and Stefon were that there had been someone else who had come by.
"But why are you so happy? This isn't good news." Lula frowned. "I know, it's not that I am happy he died. It's because now I don't have to marry him." She chuckled. "I should probably rethink my morals."
She looked sheepish. I nodded. "Yeah you probably should, is mother up yet?" She nodded, heading for the door. "Come on, breakfast is already here!"
I dressed quickly and left my room, I spotted Stefon standing by the window. I took that minute while his back was turned to study him in the light.
His hair was graying, but his shoulders were straight and his body showed all the signs of good health. I took a step forward and shut the door behind me, he turned suddenly and I squeaked.
"S- s- sorry." I stuttered as he pinned me with his gaze. "Did you sleep well?" I nodded in reply. "Good." He moved away from the window.
"Where is mother?" I wondered as I watched Stefon pass me and grab a piece of bread from the plate on the table.
Samuel was nowhere to be seen either, and I started to get worried. I sat down to eat and wondered if I should go find Lula, but I couldn't bring myself to leave Stefon alone.
He seemed so out of place, I watched as he paced the room. "Will those guys from last night return?" I asked him, he stopped and frowned.
"Well, I am not sure." He was hesitant in his words. "Who were they?" He started pacing again. "No one you need to worry about." He seemed like he was trying to reassure me but I frowned.
If he was in trouble, we could help.
I was about to open my mouth to reply when the door opened and mother entered. She looked amazing from her hair to her dress. "Is there a party mama?" I asked standing.
She came over to kiss my forehead. "No." She pushed me lightly towards my room. "Now pack quickly, the footmen will be here soon to gather up our bags."
I wanted to ask some questions but I obediently went to pack. 20 minutes later mother had us loaded in a large carriage, it fit all 6 of us. Lula was squeezed in between Samuel and I while Stefon, mother and Mark Hamthumb sat opposite us.
As we pulled away from the castle walls it was apparent that Mark wasn't too happy that Mother was cutting our trip short without warning.
The day went on slowly as we traveled back towards the border of Hilldren, the roar of the river grew louder as we approached.
But we wouldn't reach it or the crossing bridge until the next day so with a tired smile I was glad when mother decided on an inn to stay in.
Lula and I tumbled out, while mother and Stefon got us rooms we stood beside the carriage. "Mother is going to be so excited to see you Sammy! I wish Uncle Dominic was here, traveling is so boring!"
I smiled knowingly at her, Samuel stood beside us but his posture and hunched shoulders made me wonder if he was worried about the people that walked around us.
"Stefon has told me about my mother, but I don't see why I need her now. I haven't had her all this time." Lulu stared at him, my own mouth fell open.
"I will forgive you for saying that because you have been trapped in a blasted shadow realm for 17 years!" Lulu said with a pang of hurt. "But you better at least promise me you will try to love her, you were her world. She misses you."
Samuel's eyes looked pained but he continued to be silent. "Aunt Coral is the best. Aside from Aunt Cassy, she is the strongest mage!" I put in my comment hoping he would understand.
"I need to fight something." Samuel says before he turned and walked away. Lulu threw up her arms with a shout as she turned to me. "He is so annoying. I always dreamed he would come back! But he is so much different than I thought he would be."
She sounded dejected, I placed an arm around her shoulders and pointed a finger into her cheek. "At least he is back. You will get to him sooner or later." She sighed. You