The sun shown high in the sky as the children began to stir. Katerina wasn’t asleep though, she couldn’t; there was too much on her mind. She had left the only place she really called home, she didn’t want to but it was out of necessity. Her family was getting larger. Especially, when most of the family were girls. Girls seemed to always need more space than a boy. A sigh left the wolf’s lips as she looked down at each of her children from her spot on the wagon.
Her eyes laid upon Kiyomi who slept uneasy. The once dragon girl turned fox girl was finally back; she had been missing for a month. That was one of the worst times in Katerina’s life; even for her daughter. Kiyomi had been cursed. The wolf demon’s eldest daughter had fallen prey to the most despicable of men. Katerina didn’t know how to handle this all. She wanted to find the man and kill him; nice and slow. Her daughter on the other hand said that it had been handled. Kiyomi didn’t say how; she didn't say much on the matter.
Looking back at the child beside her, she smiled softly. Even in all this chaos, she had so many beautiful beings around her. Guinevere slept soundly beside her in the cart. Her soft red hair had grown so much; she had as well. It had barely been a half a year and she was looking like a one year old.
The sudden touch of cold on her hand, made her eyes look up towards her lover. Nikolaus had returned to her almost a year ago and now stood by her side. She was so grateful that he was there for her, when all she wanted was to be there for everyone else. Leaning down to her, he placed a kiss on her lips. “Good Morning. Did you get any sleep?” He asked as he pulled away to look at her. “No.” She said with a sigh and leaned forward to lay her head on his chest. He stood between her legs while she sat on the edge of the cart. His arms circled her and pulled her close. The vampire understood what was going on in her head. The worry she felt seemed to be radiating off of her. Beginning his lips down, he kissed her head. “It will all be alright.” He whispered in her hair.
Katerina couldn’t help but melt into him. He had such a way of calming her. A smile tugged on her lips as she thought about this. Thank you was about to leave her lips, but instead she heard her child speak. “Mama?” Gwen sat up and rubbed her big blue eyes with a yawn. Soon after her other children started to wake then her Aunt.
Her Uncle soon returned from his patrol just in time for breakfast. It wasn’t long before the family packed up and continued on their way to the castle.
It wasn’t just passed mid day when they finally found the stone path up the hill. They couldn’t see the castle within the trees until they were right in front of it. At first silence fell over the family as they looked in awe at the entryway of the castle. “This is the barracks per say.” Started the Aunt. “Your gargoyle and companions may sleep here if they like.” Victoria waved her hand a bit as she spoke, motioning toward the large structure.
When they entered the courtyard, two men stood before the steps of the castle. “Miss and Mister Silverstein. It has been too long. Will this be a short visit or permanent?” The elder man said as he stepped up to the cart while holding up his hand. “Emrick. This stay will be quite permanent.” Stepping down onto the stone. She watched as the children stepped out of the carts.
The uncle only nodded to the two men before Victoria began to speak. “This is my family, Katerina is my niece and my nephew Wilhelm. You will treat her and her children with the utmost respect. Katerina, Nikolaus, Will. This is Emrick, out butler. And this is his brother, Constantine.” After the hello’s, Emrick started to walk up the steps of the castle, showing the family inside.
Instead of following, Kiyomi stood and looked over the castle around her. She didn’t hear the man but she smelt him. He was a vampire. Turning, their eyes locked for a moment. This made Kiyomi uneasy so she rushed up the stone steps.
“Kiyomi?” Katerina turned to see Kiyomi finally come through the doors of the castle. She wasn’t sure about the situation. Kiyomi had been through so much, and now a move? “I’m here.” Kiyomi said as joined the group.
The move made every one of her children excited. They all got their own rooms that fit their personality. Time had went by, Katerina and her family stayed mostly at the castle. If they ventured out it would only be around the area. There was a beautiful steam that lead to a large open lake that the girls loved to swim in. Before they knew it, it had been a few months since they arrived at the castle. It was as if they had always lived their. Katerina felt like that was more her home then any place she had stayed before.
A smile lined the wolf’s face as she sat at the dining table. It was breakfast time and everyone was eating. Nikolaus was the only one sipping his deer blood. “Everything okay?” he asked as he laid a hand on hers.”It's perfect.” She whispered as her eyes turned to him. Bringing her hand to his lips, he laid a kiss on the back of her hand. “Good.” He said with a smile then heard the giggling from the girls around him. “Ewwww.” Eva said with a laugh before taking her last bite of her eggs then running off. “Going to go outside!” The little one called over her shoulder before she disappeared out the door.
A sigh left Katerina’s lips and stood to collect the dishes. “Ma’am. You don’t fret over things like this.” The butler seemed to appear out of nowhere to grab the dish from her hand. “Old habits are hard to break.” She said with a small laugh. The butler nodded at her. “I can bring some onto the porch, you can relax and finish that book you have been trying to finish.”
With a nod, Katerina decided to follow his words. Turning to look at the rest of her girls, they were already gone, besides Gwen who was being picked up by Nikolaus.
“Let’s spend some time outside.” She said and the three of them repeated out of the house.
