AN: Hello everyone and welcome to Chapter Twenty Three! So the Drakes are together again! Hooray! But we are so close to the end. There's just the Epilogue left. We'll be starting in Starlene's head this time. Hope you all enjoy! Be sure to drop some comments as you read! Now onward and forward to Chapter Twenty Three!
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*Starlene*
"You got out the old decorations?!" Mother gasped.
"Yeah, Malcolm found them," Damien replied.
"Well come on then," Stefan told us, "This tree isn't going to set itself up."
Damien and Gabriel grinned as they took the fake tree out of the box and put it together. Sorina set her phone down on the table and played a joyful song. Calder, Mason, Emberly, Raine, and I got to work getting the decorations out of the boxes.
Selena set Julian on the floor and handed him a round ornament to play with. Julian smiled and took the ornament from his Mother.
Damien and Gabriel finished setting up the tree and I saw Calder hand Gabriel a string of lights. Stefan froze and Emberly noticed right away.
"Stefan," she said as she walked over to his side. She placed a hand on his cheek. "Hey, look at me," she told him, "I know it still hurts, but I promise it'll get better." Stefan nodded.
"Maybe we should skip the tree this year," Damien suggested. We all understood why. Stefan was remembering the Christmas where he decorated Alexandra like a little Christmas tree while our Mother wasn't looking.
"No," Stefan told Damien, "Just...I need a minute."
Stefan rushed out of the room and Emberly went after him.
We continued decorating the tree and Stefan and Emberly returned a few minutes later.
He sat down on the floor next to Julian and the small boy studied his Uncle for a few moments. Then he offered Stefan his ornament.
"Aw, thanks Jules," Stefan told our nephew. Selena and Damien smiled at their son's attempt to make Stefan feel better.
The star was placed on the tree and I couldn't help but smile. It was beautiful.
The tree was dark green and had numerous strings of lights wrapped around it. There were garlands of silver tinsel wrapped around the tree. Numerous silver, red, and blue ornaments had been placed delicately on the branches. The whole tree glittered. It looked just like the one that was showcased in our childhood photos. It was perfect.
Julian was fascinated by the glittering Christmas tree and couldn't look away. Selena smiled at her son's amazement.
Sorina glanced at her watch and sighed.
"I hate to ruin this moment, but it's almost time for Court," she told us. We all groaned.
Mother laughed.
"Still don't like Court, I see," she chuckled.
"Oh they've been like this for as long as I can remember," Selena stated.
"I'm not surprised," Mother replied, "None of them enjoyed Court when they were young."
Selena smiled.
"Alright then, let's go get ready for Court," Damien told us.
We all dispersed and left the parlour to get ready for the onslaught of questions that was surely waiting for us in Court.
We entered the throne room and the Lords and Ladies of the Court all bowed as we entered.
We sat down on our thrones and Malcolm began the Court session.
"The Kings and Queens have some things they'd like to address," Malcolm told the Court.
Damien turned to the Court.
"We'd first like to introduce you all to King Gabriel's chosen Consort, Lady Raine Riverton," Damien told the Court. The Court applauded for Raine.
Damien waited for the applause to die down before speaking again.
"We'd also like to welcome the Queen Mother, Maricara Drake, home," Damien replied. There were whispers and murmurs at that and Damien spoke again, getting everyone's attention. "I understand that this is a bit of a shock, since you were all told that Maricara Drake was dead, but rest assured that she is very much alive and has returned home."
"Where was she?" a Lord asked.
"That's something that only the Drake family need know," Damien replied.
"Will you be returning to the throne Your Grace," a Lady asked Mother.
"No," Mother replied with a smile, "I think my children have been managing things just fine."
"Now then to the other items at hand," Malcolm stated, "Leon Rhodes has requested to speak."
I saw Selena look at Leon curiously as he made his way down from the gallery.
Leon walked to the raised platform and knelt.
"Queen of the Stars," he greeted Selena.
"Leon Rhodes," Selena replied, "Speak freely my friend. What's wrong?"
Leon swallowed hard as he tried to muster the courage to say what was on his mind.
"A few weeks ago, you offered me the position of Headmaster at the school you are building," Leon told Selena, "Well...if the position is still available then I'd like to take it. I'd like to be the Headmaster of the school."
Selena smiled. She glanced at Gabriel.
"Leon is no longer under my jurisdiction, cumnată," Gabriel told her, "He is free to do as he wishes."
Selena nodded and smiled as she turned back to Leon.
"Leon Rhodes, I, Selena Drake, hereby strip you of your Fledgling status and award you the title of Elder," Selena told her friend, "No longer are you the lowest rank, now you are among the strongest and most powerful."
Leon glowed bright red and when the glow subsided I noticed that Leon now had a ring on his finger. It was an ornate silver ring with a onyx and bloodstone R on it. All the powerful vampires wore family crests and Selena had honoured Leon by giving him his own.
"You honour me, My Queen," Leon told Selena, "I have two more requests."
"Name them," Selena told him.
"The first involves my own soul mate, Harper," Leon told Selena, "I would like her to be able to leave the Coven and teach alongside me at the school. I have discussed it with her and she desires that as well." We glanced up at the gallery and saw Harper's pleading expression. We turned our attention back to Leon and Selena spoke again.
"We would have to discuss it with the High Witch, but I don't see why Harper cannot join you at the school," Selena told Leon, "And your other request?"
"My other request involves my blood sister, Ava Summers," Leon stated, "I ask that she be given a teaching position at the school as well."
We all turned to look at Gabriel. He sighed.
"Your request is honourable Leon, and I respect the fact you're looking after your blood sister," Gabriel told Leon, "But I don't believe that she's ready. Not yet. Perhaps someday." I glanced up at the gallery and saw the disappointment on Ava's face.
Court ended soon after and the Lords and Ladies left the throne room and Leon stayed behind to talk to us.
He was looking at his ring.
"What is this?" he asked.
"A family crest," Gabriel replied, "All the powerful vampires have one."
"I drew it up after you told me you needed to think about becoming Headmaster," Selena told him, "Do you like it? If not I can change it."
"I like it," Leon assured Selena, "It just...feels really weird." He turned to Gabriel. "I spent so many years, bonded to you as your Fledgling and now I feel like there's a part of me that's gone."
"Not gone," Gabriel assured the former Fledgling, "Grown up. You've always been so much more than just another Fledgling, Leon. You were never meant to stay one." Gabriel stood up and walked over to Leon. "You were my first Fledging and my favourite," Gabriel admitted, "And you always will be. But now you've become something more than that. And I couldn't be more proud of you than I am now."
Leon smiled.
"Thank you Sire," Leon told him.
"Sire no longer, Leon," Gabriel told him, "We are equals now." Gabriel embraced his former Fledgling.
Leon turned to Selena.
"When will the school be finished?" he asked.
"Hopefully in three months," Selena replied.
*Selena (Three Months Later)*
It had taken three months of work, but it was finally finished. The school was finished. It was a tall black building that was surrounded by the woods of Whiteshore. It looked like a small castle, but it had been glamoured to look like an ordinary school. There was a dormitory on site to house the students, since this school was located a little ways away from Blackfell. Besides, we'd be welcoming supernaturals from overseas as well.
"It looks magnificent," Damien told me as he wrapped an arm around me. The whole family was here. They had all come to see the finished product.
"Shall we go inside?" I asked. They nodded and I led them into the school.
The main hall was wide and open. There was a massive mural on the wall that showed the school's name, crest, and motto.
"Shadowfall Academy," Damien read aloud, "Somniare. Spero. Et Acer. Dream. Hope. And Aspire."
"That's Latin," Sorina noted.
"Is it too much?" I asked, "I can change the name or the words or both."
"It's perfect," Damien assured me.
"Shadowfall suits this place," Starlene told me, "When shadows fall, supernaturals find safety. And this place is going to serve as a safe haven for supernatural children. You gave this place a perfect name, Lena."
"Thanks Star," I replied, relieved that they liked it.
We explored the classrooms, dormitory, and staff dorms. But my favourite part was the Headmaster's office.
We stopped in front of a door with a gold plaque on it that read: "Leon Rhodes, Headmaster." I felt Leon freeze beside me.
"And this is the Headmaster's office," I told everyone, "Leon, this room is all yours."
I opened the door and Leon took in the sight of his own office. There were numerous bookshelves present, but they were bare. For now. In the centre of the room sat a large wooden desk. There was a laptop on the desk along with a gold name plate that had Leon's name on it.
"Wow," Leon gasped.
"Do you like it?" I asked, "I wasn't sure what to put on the shelves, so I left them bare."
"It's perfect, Lena," Leon told me, "I just...I can't believe this is mine." I smiled.
"You've come such a long way since your early Fledgling days, Leon," Gabriel told Leon, "You deserve everything that's being given to you."
Leon was amazed.
"Did Harper get cleared for the faculty?" Leon asked.
"She did," Damien replied, "Neoma was happy to let Harper become a teacher at the school."
"And the rest of the faculty?" Leon asked.
"You'll meet them soon," I assured Leon.
Leon nodded.
"If you want to get settled in, you're more than welcome to," Damien told him, "The rest of us are going to the manor for the night."
Damien had recently had a manor built on the outskirts of Whiteshore. Just in case I needed to visit the school. He wanted me to be comfortable.
As Damien and I settled into our room in the manor for the night, I felt at peace. Everything was coming together. The school. My family. My life in general.
I set down my copy of the Myth of the Seasons to gaze upon my very own gloriously gorgeous version of Hades. My Damien. He was taking off his shirt and I couldn't help but admire his body. The familiar black Phoenix tattoo was a welcome sight.
"You're staring," he told me.
"I can't help it," I replied, "You're just too handsome."
He looked surprised at my comment. The old Selena never would have said that out loud. But I had become something more than I was. I had become a Queen. But not just any Queen. I was his Queen. His wife. His Consort. The Queen of the Stars.
Damien smiled and wrapped his strong arms around me.
"I'm incredibly proud of you," he told me.
"Why?" I asked as he rested his forehead against mine.
"You have grown into this strong confident woman and I find myself falling more in love with you each day," Damien told me.
I smiled.
He kissed me and gently lowered us on to the bed.
This was perfect. My family was happy and together again and I was with the man I loved.
After so many battles and trials, everything had fallen into place.
Damien and I had fallen in love.
Starlene had gotten together with Calder.
Stefan had overcome his grief and fallen in love with Emberly.
Emberly had even joined us in immortality.
Sorina had come to terms with her feelings for Mason and had acted on them.
Mason had cleansed his soul and helped save us all.
Gabriel had gotten himself out of the marriage contract and admitted his feelings for Raine.
Raine had discovered her Seer heritage.
Starlene and Calder had brought Maricara home.
Julian had been born safely.
Marius had been defeated.
The Drake family was like a strong tree. It kept growing and when one part of it became sick, it didn't succumb to the illness. It was able to rid itself of the diseased parts and continue to grow. It was too strong to cut down and wouldn't bend to anyone's will.
This family would continue to grow and I had no doubt that it would survive the rest of eternity no matter what fate threw at us.
We wouldn't waver or falter. We were Drakes. We would stand tall through it all. We were bound together by either blood or marriage. We had each other's back. Now and always. We would stand together for the rest of eternity.
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AN: Thanks for reading! Be sure to comment and vote!