Snippet #1374095

The car jerked to a stop, causing an irritable Serefina to awaken. Rei smirked as she groaned.

"We have arrived. I'll get your things from the back." Alexander, their driver, opened the door and strode around to the trunk. His tone was short, and Rei chuckled. It hadn't been easy wrestling Serefina in to the vehicle.

She had thrown a fit back at the palace, and set the original limousine on fire. After about 2 hours of yelling, kicking, and punching, Serefina was finally thrown unceremoniously into the car. Now, Rei gazed at his sister who was squinting in the midday light filtering in through the window. Rei sighed and opened his door.

"C'mon Sara. We're here. You might as well attempt to look regal," he said, stepping out onto the gravel driveway. Serefina laughed within the car.

"Fat chance. I could care less about what these fools make of me," she replied, stretching. It was true, she had made no effort to look like a princess. She was wearing a pair of ripped skinny jeans and a red tank-top. Her hair was sticking up every which way, and she was covered in dust and dirt from the struggle this morning.

Stepping out of the car, Serefina scoffed. She gazed at the massive stone structure incredulously.

"They expect me to live here? The architect must've had no imagination whatsoever. This so called castle looks like a block." Her nose scrunched up in distaste. Rei rolled his eyes.

"Well, we're going to have to live here... Can't you just run a hand through your hair or something? You look like you recently survived a tornado," Rei laughed. Serefina stuck out her tongue at her burly brother. She waltzed over and grabbed her suitcase. Rei took his own items out and closed the trunk of the car. Immediately, the driver pulled away. Rei guessed he didn't want to risk witnessing another fit from Serefina.

The brother and sister stood in the bright sunlit driveway, staring up at the castle. Rei wondered whether the others had arrived yet. Serefina, on the other hand, was watching the sky for Devlin. She spotted the bird, soaring through the air. Smiling, Serefina held out her arm. Instantly, the bird flew downwards. His fiery plumage was stunning in the afternoon light, and Serefina beamed. She loved her pheonix.

Devlin lightly landed on her leather-sheathed arm, gazing at her with intelligent coal-black eyes. He began to preen his feathers. Unlike Serefina, he liked to look his best. Rei sighed, gazing at his unkept and unruly sister.

"We'd better get a move on. We're probably late as it is." Rei strode over to the doors of the castle. Serefina groaned and followed her brother.

"I'd better not be stuck with an angel, Rei. I swear, those bird-brains think they're all high and mighty..." Serefina grumbled, as they approached the servants. The doormen tried to hide their shock at the Fire princess's appearance.

"Um, uh-" the first man stammered. Serefina glared.

"Where the hell do we go?" Yet again taken aback, the doorman could only point. Serefina walked briskly down the hall, her boots leaving dusty foot-prints on the stone floor. Rei looked to the doorman, apologized, and asked again where they were supposed to be.

"The Dining Room, Sir. Is she-?" Rei cut him off.

"Yes. You'd better brace yourself, she can be..." Rei watched as Serefina marched down the hall, "troublesome." The doorman looked nervous. Rei shrugged and ran after Serefina, leaving his luggage at the door. Hopefully someone would take it to his room.

"Hey! Wait up," he called. Serefina looked over her shoulder and raised an eyebrow.

"You are so slow, brother. You'd better get it together, or before you know it, one of these royal bastards-" Rei shushed his sister, frowning.

"Sara. Please, keep some composure!" he whispered, looking around nervously. They were here to keep peace, not start a war. Serefina snorted.

"Who said I had any to begin with?" With that, the girl was off again. Devlin was still perched on her arm, his ruby feathers shimmering. Up ahead was a large door.

"I'm assuming this is the Dining Room... Serefina, listen to me. This is a very delicate political matter. You can't just barge in and-" Too late. Serefina threw open the double doors and snapped her fingers. Flames leapt up around her as she strode into the dining room. The fire crackled and hissed, but didn't burn her. Her face was illuminated by the orange glow, the light throwing shadows over the sharp planes of her cheeks. She grinned as Devlin let out an ear-splitting screech.

Cackling, she pulled out a chair from the mahogany table. The flames disappeared as soon as she sat down. She leaned back casually, smirking.

"Serefina Gavin. Now, who the Hell are you?" she said, staring intently at the other people in the room. Rei flushed, and cleared his throat a bit.

Well, I can't say I didn't see this coming, he thought.

Rei looked at the other royals. He spotted the vampires first. Something about them was a dead giveaway, but Rei couldn't place it. His eyes glided over the princes and princesses seated at the table. Fallen angels, sirens... Over in the corner, Rei spotted a shaman. The room was silent, and Rei realized he was still standing in the doorway. He cleared his throat again and sat next to his sister.

"Ah, yes. I'm Rei Gavin. Pleasure to meet you all." He shot apologetic glances to the others. He did the best he could, but Serefina was a wild card. He just wished she hadn't choose to set herself on fire. That was bit too theatrical for his liking.