A L M I R A

Chapter 13
Almira Davenport

Today was the day of the dinner and I was both anxious and nervous. My palms were sweaty and I kept thinking of the endless posibilites of how this dinner could go wrong. A knock at my door snapped me out of my panicked state. Alva was behind the door holding a dress, makeup, and hair supplies. "Surprise, I'm dressing you up!"

I smiled, happy to see a familiar and friendly face. "Oh, you have no idea how bad I've needed to see a familiar and friendly face today."

"Yeah, I know, you're worried. Trust me, I'm here to make things run as smoothly as possible appearance wise! Now, get out of that and let's get you into this!" She ordered, smiling at me as she set her supplies on the table.

I quickly undressed and Alva handed me the dress to wear for tonight. It was really beautfiul. The dress was solid black with gold designs and buttons going down it on the front. There we two rows of buttons and they were connected by a golden string. The dress was tight up top but flowed freely after it reached my hips. The collar went all the way up to my neck and the dress had long sleeves. I smiled and twirled before Alva sat me down to do my hair and makeup.

She pulled my hair back into a tight bun and did a smoky but natural makeup look. I thanked her and made my way downstairs, holding the pendant around my neck. I said a quick prayer to the ones up above and knocked on Calix's office door.

He opened up, wearing something similar to my dress. I looked at him for a moment before clearng my throat. "What do I do now?"

He stared at me for a moment before blinking and turning around. "Come in here."

I followed him inside and he quickly turned to face me. "I'm going to tell you what to do, and if you mess this up, the consequences will be bad, understood?"

I nodded and he ran his hand through his jet black hair. I looked into his winter grey eyes and he explained everything to me. "If they ask you something, try not to make your response sound dumb. Secondly, don't touch anyone unless they touch you first, always eat properly, no elbows on the table, smile like we actually have something, and if they ask something about or relationship, let me answer it, or if you answer it, make it seem like we have something so I don't get reprimanded for this."

"You want me to lie to them?" I scoffed, rolling my eyes.

"Excuse me?" He raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms and looking down at my petite frame.

"You know damn well the most romantic thing we've done as mates was hold hands at the ceremony! You didn't even want me at this dumb dinner until Ambrielle scolded you!" I argued, daring to raise my voice at him.

"I have my reasons for my behavior!" Calix yelled back, getting frustrated.

"Oh, really? What would that be, hm? I know I can't compare to your other four mates, I get that, but do you have to make me feel so bad about it? You know what? Don't answer that. I'll see you at the dinner, and don't worry about me messing anything up," I hissed, storming out of his office.

I was so frustrated with this man. I couldn't deal with him right now, I didn't need to be timid and snappy at a royal dinner that was meant to be friendly, not today at least. I made my way to the library to calm down. I sat down and read spells until it was time to go to the royal dinner. I sucked in a breath and two guards escorted me down to the dining hall, handing me off to Calix. Calix nodded at me and placed the same crown from the ceremony on my head. "You have to have that on to look like you actually have a say in what happens to this kingdom."

I scoffed at him and he lead us to where we would be greating the guests. He stood tall and proud, and I stood behind him, plastering a smile on my face. The doors opened up and all of the royal came in, shaking hands with Calix and bowing before me. It was weird but I curtsied at every one of them and smiled.

We all walked to the dinner table and a couple maids served us the food and poured our drinks. Luckily I know all of the royals' names and they all seemed pleasant, which I was thankful for. "So, how's the war tension going Calix?" King Colton asked, taking a bite of his perfectly cooked food.

"I'm waiting for him to make one more wrong move and I'll declare war," Calix replied, nodding at King Colton.

"Alastor and Wryler kidnapping your mate and passing her around like a hot potato wasn't enough to declare war?" King Colton's wife, Malaniah gaped, taking a sip of her wine.

"Malaniah," Colton corrected, giving her a look. She mumbled a small apology and quietly ate her food.

"While the topic of Almira is up, I have a few questions," Princess Eva commented, looking at me and Calix. I mentally screamed adn gulped, awaiting her questions. "How did you two meet?"

I could technically tell the truth on this one. I went to say something and Calix kicked my foot under the table. I jumped and coughed, trying to play it off while Calix answered for me. "I saved her from Alpha Ross. He had kidnapped her and was in the process of forcing her to be his mate."

"Oh my goodness! Almira, you poor thing! I've heard you've had quite the misfortunes happen to you. Being kindapped multiple times, always being a target because you're Calix's mate, not to mention Prince Atlas coming after you! You poor soul," Princess Eva cooed.

I bit my lip, glancing at Calix before responding. "Ha, yeah, tough times," I nervously laughed.

We continued to talk and I noticed Calix was starting to slip in and out of it. Was he okay? Calix took another sip of his wine and coughed before continuing to converse with the others. The men were talking and now it was the women carrying a conversation on with me, although I'm beginning to worry about Calix.

"Excuse me," Calix gruffly spoke, standing up. He swayed on his feet and made it to the stairs before collapsing.

"Calix!" I screamed, kicking back my chair and running to him. I kneeled beside him and he unconcious, his skin cold to the touch. This wasn't good. Everybody rushed over to where Calix and I were, asking questions. I tried focusing, reciting the healing spell over and over in my head while hovering my hands above his chest and forehead. Nothing seemed to be working and I panicked, my heart beating out of my chest. "Ambrielle! Cole!" I called out, my chest sinking.

The two came running and seen Calix on the floor. "What happened?" Cole panicked, coming to kneel beside me.

"I don't know, he's been this way since he drank his drink," I rushed, continuing to try to heal him.

Ambrielle walked over to his wine and smelled it. "It's poisoned," She murmured, looking at me with a worry expression. She cleared her throat. "Alright everybody, thank you for coming, we hope you remain our allies, but we need to focus on Calix right now, so if you could kindly make your way to the front door, we'll try this dinner again later, thank you!"

The royals looked at Calix worriedly before leaving. Cole carried Calix up to his room and I was right by his side the entire time. "Ambrielle, what do we do? We can't let him die," I cried, begging her to do something.

Ambrielle looked at me with worry. "The only thing I know to do is contact Vira and ask her what to do, she's the most skilled witch I know."

I nodded and rushed to Calix's mirror, quickling chanting a spell. Vira appeared in the mirror and smiled. "Ah, my dear! How are you?"

"I'm not okay, Vira, Calix is dying. He was poisoned and fell cold immediately. He won't wake up and healing magic isn't working. I'm begging you, please, Vira, please help him!" I begged, tears racing down my cheeks.

"There is a way to save him, but it's very dangerous and risky," Vira spoke, closing her eyes and pinching the bridge between her nose. "I'm not sure if you're ready for it yet. You could die from it."

"Please, I don't care! Just tell me what to do, I can't let him die," I wailed, falling to my knees. "We need it, please! It's the only thing that can help him!"

Vira sighed before nodding. "As you wish. The object you seek rests in the realm of Hell."

"...Like, actual Hell?" I asked, looking at her with a confused look.

"Yes, my child. You need to rip a hole in the universe to get through, and it won't be easy. You'll face serious reprecussions for it, and you may not make it back alive. You could die, Almira," Vira explained, frowning.

"I don't care. Tell me what to do," I demanded, wiping my tears.

"It's in that maroon and navy spell book you told me about, the locked one. You'll need Ambrielle's magic to help you, I'm afraid you're not strong enough and you need full potential for the spell to even have a chance at working. Good luck my child, I know you'll do what's best." Vira cut off communication and I ran to my room, practically tearing it apart to find it. I grabbed the spell book and rank back into Calix's room, ripping the key from my neck and unlocking the book. I flipped through the pages and found the spell I needed.

"Are you insane?" Ambrielle inquired, looking at me with wide eyes.

"Do you really want me to answer that?" I retorted, keeping the spell book near me.

"You can't do this, there has to be another way!" Ambrielle yelled, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. "We can save him another way!"

"This way is more efficient," I argued, defending myself.

"This way is going to get us killed!" Ambrielle retorted, pointing at the spell book.

"If I go through with this, I die because I'm the one that's starting it, but if we don't go through with it, Calix dies. I'd rather die than him, he has a kingdom to rule, I'm a village girl, nothing will be disrupted if I die," I retaliated, looking at Ambrielle with pleading eyes.

"You'll break his heart if you pull a stunt like this," Ambrielle guilted, glancing at Calix.

"He has a heart?" I snickered. Bad timing, I know, but I couldn't help it.

Ambrielle fell silent and looked down.

"Look, I know you don't like it, but it's time to woman up and get this done," I spoke, eyeing Ambrielle.

"Fine."

"Cole, are you in or not?" I questioned, turning to him.

"This plan of yours is going to get us killed. Of course I'm in, I'm saving my brother."

I smiled."I need chicken blood, salt, five candles, a knife, a bowl, and a shot of vodka," I ordered.

"Vodka? For the spell?" He questioned, raising an eyebrow at me.

"No, it's to make me feel better about ripping a hole in the universe," I responded.

Cole nodded and sped off to get what I needed before coming back. I laid everything out like the drawing and lit the candles, slicing my hand pouring the blood in the bowl. I put the chicken blood and salt in before holding Ambrielle and Cole's hands, reciting the spell. "Το ξόρκι της κόλασης, το μόνο που τολμούν να πουν. Στείλε με στην κόλαση αυτή την τραγική μέρα. Σας ρωτώ, οι θυσίες μου δεν είναι μάταιες."

A huge black hole opened up where the candles and bowl were, extreme heat emitting from it. A loud roaring sound came from the hole, scaring Ambrielle a bit.

"Are you sure we should go through with this?" She asked, standing up and looking at the hole.

"We're already this far, let's save Calix," I said, smiling at her.

Ambrielle looked at the hole with a cautious look, not moving at all.

"We'll come back alive, I promise," I encouraged. "Now we need to hurry, jump!"

Cole jumped in and so did Ambrielle. I took one last glance at Calix before jumping in, holding onto the pendant around my neck.

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