Alix already knew that because she was the Chosen One that she was expected to do that, but it still sounded scary. But regardless of how she was feeling she held out her left wrist, so James could put the bracelet on her. She had a moment to look at it before he continued. It was a silver colored chain and had a small stylized “A” as a charm hanging from it. She was surprised by how light it felt on her wrist. Like nothing was there.
He spoke again but this time directly to her and not for the whole room to hear. “This must remain on you as long as you are a member of the Almati Council. It will help others recognize you as a Council Member as well as having a couple of very unique properties that you will discover later.”
And then to the room he said, “Ben Travers and Shay Stevens, please join us.”
Ben and Shay came forward and automatically stood on either side of Alix.
“As Protector and Lossat of the Kaelneth you are important to the Council as well. Although you won’t be actual members we felt that it was essential that you be recognized for your roles. Please accept these gifts from the Almati Council as a token of our appreciation.”
James then put a bracelet similar to Alix’s on Shay’s wrist and one that was much heavier on Ben’s wrist.
Then one by one the other members of the Council came to greet Alix. Each one held up their hand with their tattoo and pressed it against Alix’s tattoo. Each time she felt a little shock and tingle when the tattoos touched. After the last Council member greeted her James spoke again.
“May I present to you the newest member of the Almati Council, Miss Alix Dracon, Kaelneth and the Chosen One of the Nykara people.”
The crowd cheered for her like she was a rock star. She turned around to face them. People were clapping and waving and whistling. It was crazy. She just sort of stood there, overwhelmed. There had to be at least four hundred people in the room. She wasn’t sure what to do so she just kind of waved at them. In reality she felt kind of silly but had no clue what was expected of her. The noise died down and the crowd broke up. Music started playing somewhere and waiters were walking around with drinks while everyone started to mingle.
Ben could tell that Alix was flustered so he took her arm and weaved them through the crowd and out a side door.
“Better?” he asked.
After Alix took a few deep breaths she did feel better. “Yes, thank you. But I don’t think I can stay out here for very long. I’m sure there’s a million people wanting to talk to me.”
“Maybe not a million,” Ben said winking, “but there are a lot for sure. Don’t worry, Shay and I will be with you the whole time. Okay?”
“Okay. Let’s do this,” Alix said determined to handle the crowd of people.
They made their way through the throng of people to where they had left Shay. Alix actually squealed when she saw who Shay was talking to, it was Sara, one of the hikers they’d rescued.
“Oh my God Sara, it’s awesome to see you. What are you doing here?” Alix said hugging the other girl.
“We all got invited to your Induction Ceremony,” Sara told her.
“We?” Alix questioned.
Just then Samantha and Jack stepped up beside Sara.
“It’s so good to see you guys,” Alix said hugging each one of them. “I had no idea you were going to be here.”
“The Council sent us invitations about two weeks ago, but we wanted to surprise you," Samantha said.
“Well consider me surprised. It’s so nice to have more people I know here. Are you three here by yourselves?” Alix asked.
“No, we each got to bring someone,” Samantha said. “This is my husband Connor.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Connor said.
“And this is my mom, June,” Sara told them.
“We’re so grateful to you Alix,” June said and hugged her.
“And this young man is my nephew Logan,” Jack said.
“Well hello there Logan, I’m Shay,” she said putting her arm around Logan’s shoulders. “Why don’t you and I go get something to drink?”
Alix was trying to hold back a laugh. This was typical Shay, but Logan didn’t seem to be phased in the least.
“Looks like I found something to do that’s not boring Uncle Jack. See you later.”
Alix wanted to be a little upset that Shay was leaving her to deal with the crowd of people, but she could tell that Shay liked Logan. And the way Shay looked at her and winked, Alix just couldn’t be mad at her. Besides it was Alix’s job to mingle with the people, not Shay’s.
“Why don’t we go find everyone and introduce your loved ones,” Ben said to the group. “I know my mom and dad would love to see you guys again.”
They eventually found Natalie, Rick, Heather and Ted talking to a couple of people they’d met during cocktail hour.
“Mom, dad,” Ben said, “sorry for interrupting but look who we found.”
“Oh, my goodness, come here, come here,” Natalie said and grabbed Sara and hugged her, then did the same thing with Samantha and Jack.
Alix’s parents hadn’t had a chance to meet the three as they were mostly unconscious after being rescued so introductions were made all around. Everyone was talking and laughing, it made Alix happy to see them having a good time, that actually helped her to relax so that when people came over to introduce themselves she wasn’t so nervous.
A little while later Alix decided she needed something to drink. “Ben, would you like to walk with me to the refreshment bar. All of this talking has made me thirsty.”
“Sure,” he held out his arm for her to take and of course she had to take it.
It took them longer than she thought to get there as people kept stopping them to talk to her. When they finally got there, Shay and Logan were still there talking to each other. Alix took a minute to watch them before Shay noticed her. Alix could only smile at her friend.
“Oh, hey Alix,” Shay said in a singsong voice walking toward them. Alix smiled harder, she knew that tone, Shay liked him. “Ben, keep Logan company, I need to talk to my girl here.”
Shay walked them to the nearest door and into a hallway. There she proceeded to squeal and do a little dance. Alix let her have her moment but laughed at her the entire time.
“Oh, Alix I really like him. He’s hot, funny, smart and did I mention hot," Shay said fanning her face with her hands.
Alix snorted with laughter. “Uh, yeah, you might have mentioned it. And I can’t wait to hear all about your night, but do you really think it’s a good idea to leave Logan alone with Ben for very long?”
“Good point. We’d better get back.”
The boys looked like old friends by the time the girls reached them.
“I got you something to drink,” Ben said handing Alix a glass of the yummy punch they’d had earlier.
“Thanks,” Alix said and then drank the entire glass. “Wow, I didn’t realize how thirsty I was.”
“Let me get you another one while you talk to Shay and Logan,” Ben said.
“That would be awesome. Thanks.”
“So,” Logan said to Alix, “how long have you and Ben been an item?”
Alix blushed and stumbled over her words. “No … we’re not … nothing …” She took a deep breath to compose herself. “We’re not an item, we’re just friends," she finally managed to say.
Logan looked at Shay for confirmation. She nodded at him. “Well you could have fooled me.”
“Do you always say the first thing that comes to your mind?” Alix asked getting a little agitated with Logan.
“Yeah, usually. It seems that Shay and I have that in common," he replied.
“Hmm," was all Alix said. She stood there awkwardly until Ben returned. “I guess I should probably go mingle. I’m sure there are lots more people who want to talk to me. Oh yay," she said sarcastically.
“You don’t like talking to people?” Logan asked.
“But you’re the Kaelneth?” Logan said clearly confused.
“Yes, that’s true but that didn’t mean my personality changed overnight.”
“Huh," was Logan’s response. He was staring at Alix like she was a puzzle he was trying to figure out.
“Well,” Ben said breaking the moment, “should we go make the rounds?” He held his arm out for Alix.
“I suppose we should. See you two later," she said linking her arm with his and they walked back into the crowd of people.
Chapter 17
Alix and Ben moved very slowly through the crowd of people. It seemed like every two or three steps someone wanted to congratulate her or just introduce themselves. After about an hour of that Alix needed a break.
“Ben,” she said in his ear, “if I don’t get out of this room in the next minute I might lose my mind.”
“We can’t have that. Take my hand and follow me.”
So, Alix grabbed his hand and Ben started to move quickly through the mass of people. She practically had to run to keep up with him. By the time they were in the hallway both of them were laughing.
“Did you see the looks on people’s faces?” Alix said.
“Yeah, I think they were wondering where the fire was.”
“That was fun, probably the most fun I’ve had all night,” she said. “What’s with that look on your face, you’ve gotten all serious on me. Are you okay?”
“I’m perfectly fine but if that’s the most fun you’ve had all night then I’m not doing my job. Dance with me?” he said softly.
“What? Here?” Alix said just as soft.
“Yes here. You’re far too beautiful in that dress to not have at least one dance tonight.”
Alix really wanted to dance with him, but they were in a hallway with no music and someone might see them. Her heart and her head were at odds with each other.
“Stop thinking so hard,” Ben told her. “Please dance with me.”
So, Alix did as he asked. She stopped thinking and danced with him. She didn’t have much experience dancing with anyone and was slightly nervous. But then Ben put his arms around her waist and it just felt natural for her to put her arms around his neck and her head on his chest. They swayed to the non-existent music for a few minutes until Alix heard a noise in the hallway and stepped back from Ben.
“That was nice, thank you,” Alix said trying not to blush. “Do you think people are going to be leaving soon? I really have had enough of talking to people, but I know it’s my job to be in there and letting people get to know me.”
Ben pulled out his phone. “It’s almost 11:00 so I think people should start leaving soon. You want to go back in there?”
“Not really but I don’t think I have much of a choice. And I at least need to find Sara, Samantha and Jack again. I want to find out if they are staying for a few days or leaving right away.”
“Alright, then let’s get back. And Alix, thank you for the dance. It was the highlight of my night," Ben said as he took her arm again.
Alix knew she was blushing, but she hoped the semi darkness of the hallway would cover it. She hated blushing all the time, but she wasn’t able to stop it.
When they entered the Ballroom, Alix was hoping that the crowd would have thinned out a little, but it certainly didn’t look like it. So, she did what was expected, and they walked around the room making small talk with people she might never see again. She found Sara and asked if they were staying there for a few days or if they had to leave. She was happy to find out that all of them were going to be there for a week and that they were staying in the castle.
Sometime after midnight an announcement was made that let everyone know that the party was coming to a close. Her parents found her and said they were headed to bed and they could talk about everything tomorrow. That was fine with her. She wanted to go to bed but Ruth came and got her. She wanted her to join the rest of the Council and stand in the foyer as people left. Ben waited off to the side while she and the Council saw their guests off for the night.
By the time the last person left it was around 1:00 am and Alix was exhausted. The Council members dispersed, and Ben and Alix made their way upstairs to their rooms. She was even too tired to talk to Shay about Logan. But since she didn’t know where Shay was at the moment she supposed it didn’t matter. She had to admit that she was disappointed Shay had spent so little time with her after the ceremony but at the same time she was extremely grateful that Ben had been by her side all night. She wouldn’t have made it without him.
Ben was just about to walk into his room when she stopped him. “Hey Ben,” she said, “I just want to thank you for tonight. I wouldn’t have been able to handle it without you.”
“I’m sure you’d have been just fine, but it was my pleasure to accompany you this evening. Good night Alix.”
“Good night Ben.”
Alix knocked on Shay’s door to see if she was there. There was no answer. So, she was either sleeping or still with Logan somewhere. As she went to her own room she was trying to figure out what it was about Logan that bothered her. Was it is attitude, the fact that he was the reason Shay didn’t spend time with her or was it something else entirely. But she was too tired to think about it too hard.
She got her sleep shorts and shirt and headed to the bathroom. She thought she’d have a shower to wash off all the makeup. She went to unzip her dress and realized she couldn’t reach the zipper. It was too tight to pull over her head, so she kept trying to get to the zipper but with no luck. She walked across the hall to her parent’s room and knocked. They didn’t answer either, but they were probably asleep already. It had been a long day. She tried Rick and Natalie’s door but there was no answer there either.
She turned around and looked at Ben’s door. She really didn’t want to ask him for help, but she didn’t want to sleep in her dress either. She walked across the hall again and knocked. He answered just a few seconds later.
“Oh, hey Alix, is everything okay?” Ben said concerned.
“Um … I … well … uh …” she stammered and stared at him. He must have been ready to go to bed because he was only wearing a pair of pajama pants and she found that very distracting.
Ben waved his hand in front of her face. “Alix, is everything okay?”
“Uh, yeah, I just need help with my zipper and I don’t know where Shay is. I tried my parents and yours, but I guess everyone is asleep because no one answered when I knocked and I don’t want to sleep in my dress," she said in a rush.
“Oh, I see, so you want me to undress you. I don’t think the hallway is the best place for that, you’d better come in," he said with a grin.
Just like that Ben’s teasing snapped her out of it. “Very funny, will you just help me please?”
“Of course, I’ll help. It’s my job to protect you from evil Grynn and stubborn zippers.”
Alix had to laugh because he said it like a superhero. She turned around and a few seconds later she heard the zipper move.
“Can you reach it now?” he asked.
Alix reached behind her and sure enough he’d zipped it low enough that she could reach it but not low enough that he could see anything.
“Thank you, you’re a lifesaver. I really, really didn’t want to have to sleep in my dress.”
“Anything you need Alix, I’m your guy.”
“Uh, okay. Well good night again.”
“Good night sleep well.”
Alix went back to her room and sat on her bed and thought about what Ben said. Could Shay be right, and Ben liked her? She was much too tired to think about it tonight. She was even too tired now to have a shower. She changed into her sleep clothes and fell asleep quickly.
Chapter 18
Alix woke up disoriented. When she was awake enough t
o realize where she was she immediately looked at the clock. It was almost 11:00 am. She threw the covers off and headed straight to the bathroom. She must be late. But late for what? She wasn’t woken up earlier by Gordon and she hadn’t looked at the itinerary, so she really had no idea what she was supposed to be doing. Before she got in the shower she decided to look at what was happening today.
Friday November 4
- Morning – free time, breakfast will be available all morning in the kitchen
- 1:00 pm – picnic lunch by the lake and free time
- 6:00 pm – dinner
- 7:00 pm – movies in the recreation room / free time
Alix could relax now that she wasn’t supposed to be anywhere in particular. But she was hungry, so she had a shower, got dressed and headed for the kitchen. When she got there she saw that besides the kitchen staff she was the only one there. On a table off to the side were an assortment of pastries and fruit. She sat down and started munching on an apple Danish. It was fantastic. She wondered where they got them from or if they were made there.
“Excuse me,” Alix said to one of the ladies, “do you guys make or buy these?”
“We have those delivered fresh by a bakery in town, aren’t they good,” she answered.
“Good is an understatement, they’re wonderful," Alix thanked her and went back to the table with the pastries. She just had to try another one. As she was eating a cherry Danish she was joined by Sara.
“Hey Alix, good morning, or should I say almost good afternoon. Are you just getting up?”
“Yes, I was exhausted from last night. Talking to all those people really wore me out. Are you just getting up too?”
“No, I’ve been up for a while, but I just had to come back and see if there were any more Danishes left. The one I had earlier was soooo good.”
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