Reunion

Chapter 9: Reunion.

Despite her disarrayed state, the princess refused to accept that she was an orphan and that her name wasn't Isabella. But she was just a five-year-old kid, utterly unaware of this alien world. With no other choice, she reluctantly followed the two guardians and Dylan back to the orphanage.

The princess sat quietly in the taxi, her wide eyes glued to the window, absorbing the curious sights of this unfamiliar place. While Mythiopia had been home to various mythical creatures, here she was introduced to the wonders of 'cars,' 'bikes,' and 'bicycles.'

"Ahem... Stella. Where did you find that dress? It's pretty. But I think we should return it to the original owner." Miss Jasmine advised the little girl. Though the girl was wearing a simple blue coloured cotton frock, she had packed that royal dress in a bag and refused to give it to anyone.

"Lady Jasmine, Sir Edgar. This dress I am holding indeed doesn't belong to the girl you are referring to. It belongs to Isabella Campbell, and that is me." Jasmine shut her mouth and no more intended to argue with her.

Dylan's gaze lingered on Stella, seated across from him. There was an inexplicable difference about her, a touch of complexity. She appeared slightly plumper than he remembered, and her words held a newfound sharpness.

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[Mythiopia | The Royal Palace]

"We put Calhoun to bed and went out. By the time we returned, both the kids were missing." Kristina told to her husband. Everyone were gathered in Isabella's room. Jayen, now aware of the truth thanks to Lawrence, focused on sensing the energies swirling around the room.

The atmosphere was charged, the aura tinged with an almost arcane energy. Mothers in the room, overwhelmed by the unknown, were on the brink of panic, mistaking this potent geriatric force for dark magic.

"Aliza, Kristina, this isn't dark magic. It's Calhoun's beast power. Calm down both of you. Let me find them first." The women didn't disturb Lawrence as he expanded his energy in circular spirals through out the kingdom to find the whereabouts of their kids.

"Temple of Dekius. The kids are there." Lawrence's voice cut through the tension, and without delay, the group embarked on a swift journey to the sacred Temple of Dekius, bordering both Vandrad and Mythiopia.

The temple, a testament to age-old tales, greeted them with gentle sunlight streaming onto its ancient walls. Amid centuries-old inscriptions of dragon legends, a surprise awaited. The children were safe, but not alone.

The majestic dragon lost in the annals of time was sitting there in all it's glory while basking in the warm sun rays of the dawn. Filling up the entire expanse of the temple, it's magnificence was beyond what the legends have described.

Perhaps the dragon sensed someone has intruded it's place and lifted it's head. It's eyes, blazing with blue fire moved over the four people and the next second it transformed itself into a brilliant blue orb which moved and settled in Calhoun's chest.

As the intensity abated, the kids were now in the clear vision of parents. Their small form previously covered with the dragon's huge one.

"Calhoun"

"Isabella"

Kristina and Aliza rushed to their kids to check if they were fine. Kristina went and took Calhoun into her lap but Aliza stood rooted in her place looking at the little girl on floor.

She looked like Isabella, but who can fool a mother? Aliza knew she wasn't Isabella. But it would be a lie if she says this girl felt alien to her. No. In fact the girl felt like a part of her.

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SLAP!

That harsh slap on Lawrence's left cheek resounded in the room but the queen's anger was yet to dissipate.

"You choose to tell all this to me now? NOW?"

"It was me who gave birth to them. It's ME who bore them for nine months and brought them into this world. WHO GAVE YOU THE RIGHT TO ERASE MY DAUGHTER'S EXISTENCE?"

When they returned back to the palace with the kids, Lawrence had to come clean with everything that transpired five years ago. Aliza couldn't believe this was the man she loved and married.

"Aliza.. Wife. I am sorry. I wanted to bring back our daughter before I could tell you anything."

"STOP. Not a word more Your Majesty. Come to me only when you have got my youngest princess back. I am going to see my first child. I won't bother you anymore. I will be moving out of your chamber." Aliza left and Lawrence stood rooted to his spot, now all alone in the excessively large king's chamber.

Though Aliza didn't explicitly spell it out, he knew she had separated herself from him the moment she used his delegation to address him instead of 'Lawrence' or 'husband' that she usually used when referring to him.

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Looking at the girl inspecting everything curiously, Aliza felt a pang of heartache. Never thought that one day she would have to ask her own daughter about her name and life. She had a beautiful name - Stella. But she teared up when Stella claimed to be an orphan.

And listening to Stella, she was worried sick about her other daughter who seemed to be swapped into that world. Her Isabella would be scared and alone in that foreign place. What if she is hungry? Or crying? Or in danger? What if she is calling for her mother and father? These questions haunted her.

"Stella. I am your mother. You can call me Mama." Aliza expectantly waited for Stella to call her mother.

Stella looked awkwardly around the place. This aunty looked kind, but wouldn't the orphanage first ask her if someone wished to adopt her.

"Aunty. Did you adopt me? How come I didn't know. Can you please take me back to Happy smiles. My teachers will be searching for me."

Kristina, who was standing behind Aliza couldn't bare to see her friend like this. She too was a mother, and wouldn't be able to take it if her child was hidden away from her only to return after few years and call her aunty.

"So Stella, how about we play something till your father comes?" Kristina gently asked as she bent on her knees to Stella's height.

"I have a father?" Kristina's smile froze when she heard her innocent question. It was really painful to hear these questions from children.

"Hmm. You have a father. A very powerful one. But before that how about I show you someone you can play with?"

Stella's nod was hesitant. An orphan, she'd yearned for a family, yet she couldn't shake off her wariness. The warmth of kindness surrounded her, but would it last?

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"Son. Listen. You remember I and your Mother told you about princess Isabella?" Jayen asked and Calhoun nodded. Since he woke up, he was feeling weird and everyone around was behaving weird too.

"Good. Princess Isabella is not the only princess of Mythiopia. She has a elder sister - Stella, princess Stella. Princess Stella was lost a few years ago and now we have found her, so be nice to her. Okay?" Calhoun again nodded. Not like he can say a NO when his father was giving him his warning stare.

Just then the doors opened and Kristina walked in with Stella in her arms. Jayen smiled sweetly at Stella, almost shocking Calhoun that the little boy's eyes went wide looking at the sweet smile. Jayen turned to look at Calhoun with the same sweet still plastered but now it somehow seemed creepy and the young prince had goose bumps all over the body.

"Aunty, is he my father?" Stella asked Kristina, her voice almost like a whisper. Hearing this, Jayen really wanted to beat up his friend. This girl didn't even know who her father is till now. Sigh..

"Haha.. No little princess. He is your uncle. My husband. You will meet your father soon. Meanwhile, meet my son, Calhoun Ivanov." Kristina introduced Calhoun to Stella.

Stella finally looked at the chubby boy standing beside his father. Dark black hair, Blue eyes, natural blush cheeks, Calhoun looked like a cute teddy bear Stella always wanted. Her green eyes glinted with mischief as soon as her eyes fell on him.

Calhoun too looked at the cute girl in her mother's arm. He took two steps forward and bowed.

"Greetings Princess Stella. I am Calhoun Ivanov. The First Prince of Vandrad." Stella blinked her eyes hearing him. Prince? Princess? Was she inside a Disney movie? Queen Kristina put the girl down and walked to her husband.

"Prince? Vandrad? What is that? Where is Vandrad?" Stella questioned Calhoun. This time it was Calhoun's turn to get confused. How can someone not know Vandrad even if they were lost?

He glanced at his father. Did his father not do enough hard work to make their kingdom popular? Hmm.. That must be the reason. Most of the time his father was busy roaming around his mother. No wonder his kingdom was unknown.

"Vandrad is the beast kingdom Princess Stella. And my father here, King Jayen Ivanov is the one who rules it."

"Ohhhh..." Stella's little mouth turned into a small O as scanned the king from head to toe. Beast kingdom? Interesting? Might be when she will wake up from this dream, then she would share this with her friends.

"Calhoun. Can we be friends?" Stella asked and Calhoun went silent. Being the first prince who was also a potential heir didn't present him with the luxury of ever having a real friend. Now this girl popped out and asked him to be her friend. Can he trust her?

"Of course little angel. Calhoun, go play with Stella outside. Go." Kristina pushed the two kids out and shut the doors behind. Calhoun pursed his lips looking at the closed door. This place was entirely new to him. Shouldn't someone at least show him around.

"Calhoun. I am new to this place. Please show me around." Calhoun turned to look at the eldest princess. Wow! Just wow! Shouldn't it be the other way around.

Inside the room Kristina looked at her husband.

"How is Lawrence?"

Jayen shook his head as he removed his outer coat and sat on the bed. "Not good. He is ashamed to meet Stella and is worried about Isabella. He doesn't want to talk to anyone."

Kristina sighed. "I don't think Aliza is going to forgive him anytime soon." Silence reigned the chamber for some time and none of them spoke. They just sat on the bed leaning against each other.

"Should we betroth both of them?" Jayen asked his wife for her opinion. It was not only Stella's arrival that took them all by surprise but also the fact that they witnessed the sacred soul bond, a celestial reunion between Calhoun and Stella.

Mates were common among the beast clans. It was very rare to find someone who weren't destined with a mate. However, having a soul bond was never seen before. Having a soul bond meant that the person lived and breathed for the other. This was only written in books and many thought it was something people created to fill up the romance novels.

But now that they know how much of it was true and false, they couldn't take risks. Both Calhoun and Stella belonged to royal families. Enemies will surely plot against their kids if they find about unknown powers surrounding their kids.

"Let us not do anything for now. Stella is still scared here and it will take time for her to settle. She is new to all this. And they are still kids. Let them be kids for few more years before they shoulder their responsibilities." Jayen nodded hearing his wife. Might be they should just wait and see where this all takes them.