I make my voice sound throughout the castle as I announce, “We’re home!” as everyone makes their way to join us.
Sam warns, “Eva, lay off the powers since we are back.”
I sigh, “But I'm recharged now.”
Eric says tersely, “Don't care!”
Vincent looks at me with concern, “You blacked out, my love.”
“Just did a bit much too soon after giving you all my blood is all. I'm fine now!” I urge.
Vlad glares at me, “Eva, no excuses. We could've lost you!”
Vincent nods, “Yes and you just gave Elena some too.”
“I'm fine! Vlad expended more magic at the end,” I huff.
Vlad smirks, “Maybe so but the dragons were a nice touch.”
I grin, “Pays to be creative.”
Vlad gives me a warning look, “Just no more bats!”
I laugh, “Awe is someone afraid of bats.”
Artemis yells, “No more bats, Eva!”
“It's fun!” I giggle.
Artemis looks at Vincent who replies, “Don't even give me that look, Father!”
Artemis shrugs, “Elena, welcome back.”
Marcus dashes in, “Elena!”
I smile and Marcus asks, “So he released her?”
“No, but I did,” I say with pride, “Guys meet my half-sister!”
“How?” Artemis asks in confusion.
Elena smiles at him, “We saw it! Plus I fly now and glow a bit too.”
“How do you think she had her psychic and electronic abilities as a human? She's a Demi-Goddess and was bound. She needed set free. Her abilities didn't start manifesting when she turned 25 like mine did. Plus she hadn't found her mate and accepted it. Perhaps the binding prevented it too,” I look at Marcus, “Because I know she's loved.”
Elena and Marcus are just looking at each other as he asks, “You saw this, Eva?”
I grin, “I can't confirm nor deny.”
Artemis shakes his head, “We have even more to research.”
“About that, the book I summoned in the library points to Egypt,” I inform them.
Vlad adds, “We couldn't read it.”
“No, but it had a word I know, Amun,” Sam says.
“As in Amun-Ra, why we say Egypt,” I add.
Katie squeals as she finally joins us all, “You're back!!!”
She runs and hugs me, “Yeah,” I reply.
“That was fast. He was a pussy, huh?” she teases.
Vlad, smiles smugly at her, “It went mostly as planned after a small hiccup.”
“You better have been very good to my bestie or I'll take the hose to you too!” Katie threatens.
Vincent chuckles, as Vlad raises an eyebrow, “Seriously!”
Eric nods, “Remember we said we lost days.”
Katie exclaims, “Well I didn't!! I can't unsee those things!”
Steven jokes, “Some of it was funny too.”
“Sis, what are they talking about?” Elena asks.
Katie waves, “Oh hi, welcome home, Elena!”
I introduced them, “Elena, this is my best friend, Katie.”
Elena says in surprise, “She's not compelled!”
“Nope, she knows everything, well will in a minute,” I answer with a smile.
Katie asks, “What did you find out?”
“Well, we're going to Egypt,” I state.
As Katie shrieks with excitement, Vincent grumbles, “God my ears!”
Katie huffs, “Stuff it!”
“Also, Elena is my half-sister,” I add.
Katie looks at me in surprise and I nod. She then turns to Elena and asks, “Cool, what all can you do?”
Elena shrugs, “Besides what I could before I can fly. Guess we will learn what else soon.”
“Will she Haze? Is she part wolf too?” Katie inquires.
As he sniffs, Steven says, “She smells like flowers.”
That gives me an idea, “Hmm. Elena try to shift. Think of being free roaming the woods. The sunlight on your fur, the breeze caressing you, and the cool dirt under your paws.”
Elena nods, “I’ll try.”
Nothing happens, I sigh, “Well you're not part wolf.”
“Is that good or bad?” Elena asks.
I shrug, “Depends, some days I wish for normal.”
Eric squeezes my hand, “You'll accept it eventually.”
Katie says as she shakes her head, “Elena it's probably a good thing. I love sex but babysitting them is exhausting!”
Vincent sarcastically replies, “Yeah, and babysitting you was a walk in the park when Eva was at the Fall's!”
Katie scoffs, “I wasn't that bad.”
Sam comes to her defense, “Let her be. Just because you can't handle a little cat, you don't need to take it out on her.”
Vincent barks, “It was more than a little cat! There were hundreds of animals. I had a damn zoo in my yard!”
Sam smirks, “Well don't piss off my Snow White!”
Vincent retorts, “Like you don't. She's just as likely to put you in the doghouse because of your controlling shit!”
Elena asks, “Is this normal?”
I nod, “They know better than to try anything because I'll put them in timeout again too!”
Katie adds, “Yeah, just what they do. I'm surprised they don't measure their cocks.”
We laugh and she adds with a sly grin, “But we know who'd win!”
“Katie!!” I yell as I feel my whole body turning red with embarrassment.
“I can't unsee, Eva!” Katie reminds me.
Elena asks her, “Do you want to? I could help.”
I shake my head, “Actually right now she's protected from it.”
Elena inquires, “You can do that?” I nod as she continues, “I've got so much to learn!”
I sigh, “Oh we all do.”
“So you know about Vlad?” Katie asks Elena.
She nods, “Yes, it's fine. I'll always love him but he was never fully mine. I know that now,” as her gaze drifts to Marcus.
Katie notices, “Wait, Marcus! Eva, you told him that there was a mate for him.”
I smile, “I did. I didn't know it was Elena until recently.”
Katie smiles, “That's so cool!”
“Yeah it is,” Elena says with awe mixed with longing.
I look at my wolfy husband, “Sam, I'm hungry!”
Sam shakes his head, “Fine, let's cook but Vincent I'm so not done with this conversation!”
Vincent replies smugly, “Oh you should be!”
“Boys chill!” I command before turning to Elena, “Oh Elena try food.”
Confused, she asks, “Why?”
With a knowing smile, I reply, “You'll see!”
This is going well. Sam was right that Elana would understand, but I was still concerned. I had to both hear and feel it from her. I have never had a family until now and I wasn't going to allow a misunderstanding to break it.