Chapter 81 - Doubts Part 3

"Xander did you come alone?" Ariana asked but Xander averted his gaze. "Yes. I heard Edlyn's screams and rushed over." He said but Ariana dashed forward and looked around the corner. No one was there. "I'm so pathetic...." She whispered under her breath. "Xander please take care of Edlyn. Something is after her, it wants to make Edlyn it's queen and something needs to be done about it... but first I'm going to the mess hall to address the first and third years. I want to get this done and over with already."

Xander nodded his head as Edlyn's tears turned into tiny sniffles and hiccups. "I swear I'll protect her with my life." Ariana looked back and smiled. "I'll hold you to that." She said before she walked off. When she was sure she was far enough she slowed down her pace. "Lumas, you have see that monster three times. Do you know what it is or what it wants with Edlyn and what is a pure princess?" The Lumas didn't say a single word. Ariana stopped walking and sighed. "Vasu, please come out." She asked while the Lumas protested loudly. Vasu happily appeared before her. Ariana stretched out her arms and waited for Vasu to jump in but he hesitated.

"Will no one tell me anything?" She asked as her gentle smile slowly disappeared from her face. Vasu was torn, he wanted to jump into his master's arms and cuddle but that would mean revealing things he had no right to speak of but he didn't like seeing his master so unhappy. 'Master it's not we don't want to tell you it is just we can't tell you.' Aroha whispered into her master's ear. "Why can't you?" Ariana asked. 'We would be disrupting destinies if we meddle too much.' Lorelei chimed in. 'We are just observers nothing more.' Davita said. 'Our responsibility is to our Master no one else.' Rahul said. 'We are drawn to her like any other creature but we can't let our own personal feelings interfere with our own mission.' Duko said sadly.

"Your own mission? What mission? I thought I gave you life, your purpose was to live freely, I didn't give you a mission. I didn't want you bound to me, that's why Adonis is with Cayden but... who gave you a mission?" No one answered. Ariana could feel tears well up in her eyes. She always believed they stayed with her because she was something like a mother to the Lumas but to find out they had their own agenda. It was nothing short of a slap to the face, who gave them a mission? What was their mission? Did they even want to be with her?

'Master, your meeting...' Vasu said as he stared at Ariana. "I... No... my head is a mess right now. I don't want to go." Ariana said as tears rolled down her face. Vasu rushed forward and cuddled against Ariana's neck. Ariana's body started to warm up and she closed her eyes. 'I will lead you to where you can get your answers.' He said gently. 'Vasu!' Aroha roared but he ignored her completely. 'Go do your job first. Smile, don't show any weakness then we will go.'

"Vasu can you tell me about your mission?" Vasu removed himself from the crook of her neck and looked up at her. 'Not allowed.' He responded shocking Ariana. Vasu was very stone faced creature, he usually should his affection and joy with actions but everything else sadness, anger, fear, envy or sleepiness was something she had never seen. However the way Vasu looked at her in that very moment was shocking. His eyes showed so much desperation, sadness and fear that she couldn't look at him anymore. She averted her gaze. "Don't answer... instead can you answer one question. Only this one question and I promise to never ask anything about your mission."

'Ask.' Vasu said while the other Lumas protested. "Is it hard being with me?" She said as she broke down into bigger tears.

All the Lumas came out and looked at Ariana. 'No Master, being with you has been a pleasure.' Aroha said as she floated next to her, resting on top of Ariana's right shoulder. 'We have never been so happy in all our lives.' Lorelei said as she took the spot on her left shoulder. 'I kneel to no one! But for you I would gladly do it just to see you smile.' Rahul said as her stretched his paws forward in front of her feet and stuck his tail into the air.

'The mission has never been our top priority... we want to be with you more than anything else.' Duko said as he plopped himself next to Rahul, he rolled onto his back and showed her his belly. 'We want to be with you for all of eternity.' Davita said as she laid on Ariana's head. 'Master, we love you. Never doubt that.' Vasu said as he resumed his cuddle. Ariana carefully collected her Lumas and hugged them all at once. "Thank you." She whispered. "Thank you."

After a moment Ariana released her Lumas and watched as they turned back into light. They flew back to her ears and turned into beautiful, stud earrings. Ariana walked to the bathroom and cleaned up her face. When she felt ready she made her way to the mess hall.

When she saw the familiar double steel doors to the mess hall she still felt her heart panic a little but she took a deep, calming breath and pushed on through. "Sorry to keep everyone waiting!" She shouted as she walked in to a segregated room. First years were plaster against one wall staring down the third years. While the third years sat down at the tables on the other side of the room, immersed among themselves. However when they heard her voice everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at her.

Their gazes were a giant mixture of jealousy, hate, fear, joy, admiration and relief. Ariana inwardly groaned as she looked at the whole room. "Alright, I guess we should get down to business! I want to talk with everyone of you but I know it's practically impossible since it looks like there is what 300 of you? So I will be the first to select a mentor. Vera DuChamp will you do me the honour of becoming my mentor?" She said proudly. Vera stood up with her mouth open. "Me?! Why would you want me?!" She shouted as the third years murmured.