Chapter 1.7

Life at the Amarel household begins a new routine with Drake around. Due to his higher position, he tries sharpening his mind as much as possible by practicing on the weak; he'd never win against his daughter or Caolan.

Soon enough, the three children's birthday comes too fast. Before the party guests arrive, these four spend some quality time watching the food network. Ray and Caolan watch it at least... all Ary and Drake can think about is each other.

As the first guests arrive, Oriana emerges from her room dressed for the occasion while Ray finishes up on the birthday cakes.

Sabelyn is one of the first to arrive and pulls Oriana into the bathroom for a quick gossip session away from her older sisters. Ray and Ary have never liked Sabe much, but Oriana is quick to jump into friendship with her Aunt.

In the living area, Drake is finishing up on some leftover paperwork and Ray is watching her step-mother and daughter play video games when Ary calls everyone into the kitchen for cake.

Melainn takes her time finishing up on her current mission while Oriana and Caolan blow out their candles and spend their last seconds as teens making a wish.

Caolan grows up into a heart-breaker and decides to use his keen intellect and enroll at the local Police Force Academy.

Grandma Abbey cheers Oriana on as she blossoms into a beautiful young woman with no plans for the future.

Melainn ages up moments later and the family takes off for the graduation ceremony.

Oriana is declared Valedictorian and presents an uplifting speech to her entire class that leaves most of the parents and graduates in tears.

Afterwards, the tears finally hit her as she says goodbye to her siblings who have purchased a small residence down the street. Even though they'll be close by, the prospect of not seeing them everyday seems depressing and plain wrong.

Back at home, Ray and Ary share a congratulatory hug. At the beginning, neither thought they would ever make it through raising three kids on their own, but here they are victorious.

With Caolan and Melainn out of the house, Oriana spends a lot of time with her dad. Most of the time he's doing work on his computer and reminding her that she needs a job, but she's content to just sit around the house living on her parents incomes.

Ary finally gets another call from the science facility and she gets to work on building the invention laid out on their blueprints. It's going to take a lot of time to build, so she doesn't mind when she's interrupted by a call from her mother inviting her and Drake over for dinner.

Just minutes after they leave, the doorbell rings and Oriana goes to answer it, wondering who it could be.

"Miss, I have a pepperoni pizza here to be delivered to an Oriana Amarel. Might you be her?" the man asks.

"Yes, I am she, but I didn't order any pizza. Might you have gotten the name wrong?" she questions as she takes the box from the man.

"Of course you ordered a pizza, Oriana Amarel. You should invite me in," he slowly states, focusing on keeping eye contact.

"Yes, I ordered a pizza," Oriana says in monotone, "Please, do come in?"

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"Oh how terribly cliche this is, Your Goddess," the vamp states as she rolls her eyes at the decor.

"Oh Theresa! It's such a surprise to see you! Please, don't wait for me to get up, come right in," Hathor responds sarcastically.

"Now tell me. Why are you desecrating my dwelling place with your presence," she says, her voice turning to ice.

"Such hospitality, My Lady," Theresa spits, "Why I just wanted to share a cup of tea and some old stories of better times!"

"Tea? Better times! Hah!" Hathor approaches the vamp as she senses her malicious motives, "Then let me show you just how great a time I'm having."

Before the vamp has time to make another snide comment, Hathor uses her great strength and attacks at lightning speed. When the altercation is over, Theresa is left on the floor badly beaten. Slowly standing up, she prepares to complete her quest.

Favoring her right arm, she approaches the Egyptian and a sneer takes hold of her face. Pointing a lone finger at the goddess, she struggles to speak.

"You may think you have won this time, My Lady, but I assure you, your daughter's child wouldn't be so quick to agree, if she can still agree at all."

Immediately, Hathor blinks out of existence as she goes to find her granddaughter. Left alone, the vamp duly notes her quest's completion as she hopes her brother has finished his, as well.