The Royal Castor

White knuckles clutching the bunched-up sweater at my chest, with violet bound eyes that I sense piercing into my closed ones as sirens ring in the back of my head. Attempting to stay within-trance, getting closer to that impudent pestering inside your thoughts, that’s been haunting you for months. Finally seeing an outline and then, “WAKE UP!” Annoyingly opening my star-silver eyes to a completely panicked girl inches from my lashes. All while my good-for-nothing best friend is reading in the corner, “what did you see this time?”

Ignoring the small Chime complaining next to me, I look down to the charcoal drawing on the half charred – half mutilated desk to what this lazy dufus is asking about. Ugh, if Chime’s weren’t so useful for their insight, her voice box would’ve been yanked out by now. Gods I’m such a good person. I should honestly be awarded or something.

“Well,” cocking my head to the side, “if someone didn’t pull me out of the trance, I could’ve told you”, staring at the more calmed down version of the girl from moments before. “I’ll take that as a thank you, cause it seemed to me like you were seconds away from seizing.” Throwing her hands up and moving towards the door.

“Hmm, first time seeing a Castor?” Her eyes went wide, mouth shut. The room filled to the brim with an uncomfortable silence that only an old, broken down church could compare to, after that spare comment. “The look on your face is priceless darlin’ but if you don’t mind.. get out and keep that pretty little mouth of yours shut,” eyeing her up and down as I close the distance between us in long strides across the dark cemented ground beneath us. Suddenly very aware of how breathlessly close we are. Being only a hair-width away, I can practically feel her heart rate speed up with every tantalizingly slow movement I made. Especially while getting just a little bit closer to her neck. Slowly sending my warm breath across her, now sweat-cloaked throat; that I was imagining she’d look better without a few minutes ago. Slowly grazing the edge of her ear continuing, “unless you’d like to find out the agonizing extent of what I can do.”

In all my years I haven’t seen someone more awestruck and terrified at the same time. Jared burst out laughing as soon as the door slammed, almost wheezing, and falling out of his chair. “Hah! Keep that up and you’ll run out of options in this species Dom” trying to talk between heaving breaths. “At least I can speak coherently to other species,” that shut him up quite quickly. Snickering as I come back to my seat, staring at the half-drawn-out vision from a few minutes ago.

“Anyhow,” coming up behind me, “what do you think it is?”

Lifting the textured paper to the lit-up lamps around us, “it looks like a perimeter, or maybe an outline of something”. Sighing while taking the paper out of my hands, flipping it upside down, as he starts pacing the room. Jared usually doesn’t care for my visions, drawings of such, or any other abilities to see into the future, and seeing him so invested in this is kinda freaking me out.

“Remember to breathe over there alright?” “Whatever dude, you’ll probably just say I’ve gone off the rails again”, “well it was a thought considering this is the most physical exercise I’ve seen you do in a while,” not that he is out of shape, since he is kind of like my bodyguard. “So, just amuse me.” “You’re gonna mock me..” “Ugh, no I won’t history buff. Now tell me why your head-gears are in overdrive over there.” He still pouts like he did as kids, but he still walked over to me hastily. Taking off the top of the lamp that’s sitting on the desk, lifting the drawing to it.

Almost in synchrony, “holy shit” was our only response.

Everything went mute. All I saw was red. I didn’t even notice that everything in the room began to levitate as my mind went blank with confusion. “Hey hey hey! You need to chill out before you send everyone off into a tornado or something.” Shoving his elbow into my side. “You know exactly what that looks like don’t you.” “I’m not an idiot Dom. That’s either an uncanny resemblance or that’s your mother’s necklace.”

“This better be a joke.” “Well sweetheart I wouldn’t laugh about this, but I can guess where we should start looking into this..” “Don’t...” “I wasn’t gonna say anything but instead I have somewhat of a solution into how we should get in.. unseen.” Finally turning my head towards my fellow delinquent. “I’m listening.” Cheeky as always, he leans in closer, “well you see I heard a little rumor going around that there’s a Crow nearby.” I guess he could tell how my ears perked up. Crows are known for practically teleporting. They are able to become invisible and sell magic to do the same for others amongst other things. “Well shit, if we’re gonna sneak back in, might as well go all the way.”

As we walk into a store, after receiving a tip that the Crow owns an antique shop a town over, I instantly feel comfort as soon as I see her. Of all the people it could have been, “Babyyyyyy! How’ve you been?! It’s been so long; sweetheart tell me everything! How is the traveling duo doing? Haven’t been kidnapped back there yet huh?” Pulling me into a huge warm hug.

It’s comical how people think Crows are such antisocial people, naturally cold personalities, and uninterested in other’s affairs unless the asking price is steep enough. She seems to be the black sheep in her specific sector of the World’s design because she is the biggest gossip you would ever meet. She has a motherly kind of love but the older I get and find more about her, the more mysterious and scarier she seems.

“Well, funny you should mention that” as Jared leads the way in. Her eyes are practically sparkling ruby’s at the slightest hint of anything to do with my birthplace.

Malindram is one of the founding kingdoms, ever since the plague prior to our current society wiped out millions, and those left ended up gaining abilities that were then understood to be hereditary. So then a similar sort of casting system came about and people with the most useful or rare abilities established their own kingdoms; thereby reigning over others and such otherwise.

I am the youngest of 5, all others being boys. Lucky dad. He actually loved kids and having boys brought him so much joy. Once I came into the picture, he might have gone a little crazy with having a baby girl though. I would be lying if I said it wasn't quite enjoyable when I was a kid. Until he realized he might have cloned himself as I had his attitude and character traits. Also realizing he couldn’t really corral me into doing anything an ‘elegant princess’ should do. Not that I’m unable to fools visitors however, so that’s all that matters. There are 2 other kingdoms/realms within our continent and a few others over oceans that we will only communicate with on critical matters.

“So tell me, what is it that you need from me deary,” the old Crow asked me. How time flies; it felt like it was only yesterday that she helped me sneak out of the kingdom for the first time. “I don’t know if you’d be able to help me though, you seem to be pretty busy with your new shop.” Laughing, “Oh sweetheart you mock me, I just use this as a pastime to learn about newbies and other fun information” in other words, she wants to see if there are any other new species. There has been quite an increase recently in some lower parts of the realms. Plus, she probably already has eyes and ears everywhere else. Leaning in closer, as Jared blocks off any onlookers;

“So, tell me whatever it is you want sweetie and you know I’ll do my best to help you.”

I look at Jared and he nods towards me. “Okay okay, I had a vision about something that belonged to my mom before she passed, and we need to go back home to figure out more. Do you think you could help us?”

She looks between me and Jared, and he’s already giving her pleading eyes with me, almost begging for her to help us. “You kids are gonna take years off my life, you know that?” Slightly jumping up and down, “aww thank you! You know you love us anyway.” Grinning as she goes behind the counter to reveal a small velvet pouch of invisolution (as what I like to call it), or simply put; her invisible powder.

“Now, before giving this to you, I also heard that little ole Collin is asking for you,” kind of surprised. He would usually send me something through telecommunications, strange. “Well, then I guess he’s gonna see me sooner rather than later. Wonder what my brother has for me when I get back though.” Chuckling to herself, “Oh don’t worry deary, I don’t think it’s too bad of a surprise, good luck.”

Walking out of her store Jared goes, “that definitely wasn’t ominous whatsoever.” “Right! What was that supposed to mean?” Whatever it is, I guess I’ll just have to deal with it later.

Sprinkling the powder over us, as I put my hand on his shoulder and imagine the front gate of home sweet home.

Opening our eyes to those golden gates we haven't seen in a long time. This time they can’t see us sneak back in though. Quickly through the gate and zooming through the palace, Jared goes to his parents as I prepare to go see mine. Just as the powder is wearing off, Gabriel sees me and smiles, running down the hall to throw me into a massive hug. “You are such a brat! Why haven’t I heard from you in months?! I’ve missed you so much!” Giggling, “I know I’m sorry, I’ll be better about that next time.” He carefully puts me down, “about that, you might want to see Collin. And while you're at it, you should probably get out of whatever godforsaken thing you’re wearing right now ‘cause he has a fancy guest with him.”

“Judgmental much?” Poking my side to get me to move faster, “haha fine, I’m going okay, I’ll see you after!” Running off to change into a floor-length blue satin dress with silver jewelry to accentuate my star-silver eyes.

Walking into Collins common space, I’m greeted with a big hug from my adorning eldest brother and a pair of eyes that sapphires couldn’t hold a candle to. Walking towards me from the couch, he holds out his hand to take mine, “I’m Alexander Mastovich” I look at my brother questioningly as this gorgeous story-book Prince, kisses the back of my hand. Still in shock, I don’t even notice that he slips a small box into my palm.

“Open it,” Collin says.

But what I found made my heart sink into my stomach. Apprehensively, I look up at this man who’s already staring back at me, but somehow, I feel calm looking into them, as if I knew this man from a past life almost. “Where did you get this?”

He smiles, leaning down to whisper in my ear, “I can’t answer that yet, but Azalia says hello.” I barely register what he said afterward. My mind went blank from hearing my mother’s name. Taking a step back as I look down; where my mom’s heart-shaped locket lies in my hands. Looking back up, to see them in shock, Collin pulls me towards a mirror. “Oh my Gods.” My eyes. They’re just like mom’s. I have her Compass Eyes.