O'Conner's School for the Light challenged

[The Madame Red]

Oscar took Emma's hand and Jamie's hand before giving them both a comfortable squeeze, "Perhaps now is the best time to give our goodbyes to the others before our departure."

He loved Emma and Jamie, and was happy to spend quality time with just them. The others were better off on their own now that they were growing up and/or growing apart. Scarlette would have shared rule with Sebastian, and Nyx was learning more about her own path now that she knew where her history was coming from. They wouldn't forget about their parents or not love them anymore, but they were moving on with their lives and so were Oscar and his wife and their shared child.




Astrid nodded and let Keagan sleep, Nyx wouldn't budge though. She was too happy to see Keagan safe and sound. Nyx stayed by his bedside before Astrid began to take her hand and take her away. When the witchling tried to fight her sitter, Astrid whispered in her ear, "This is not your man, let the Lady Scarlette care for her man."

"But..." Nyx protested at first, before seeing her sister's caring eyes on Keagan and had a change of heart, "He'll love you, Sissy."

Nyx smiled before leaving with Astrid. The older witch already missed Sebastian though he was just a room away. She loved him too dearly that it was unnatural. Perhaps she should stay away from him to get over this love spell she was under for him.



Luna just smiled before gently shaking her head, "Nothing, my dear. It is simply that it's been a long night for both of us."  

[Hikari_Mamo]

Emma blushed softly and clutched at Oscar's hand. It was obvious that she adored Oscar. She'd held a meeting with the councils and announced that she was retiring and they couldn't change her mind. They would not accept either Scarlette or Sebastian as full rulers because of past sins however, they held high hopes for Scarlette as they could see a bond between her and her childe. Both would act as co-regents until Scarlette and Keagan got married.

Scarlette smiled at Nyx. "I hope so, hey! The cook has your cocoa for you when you're ready for it." She purred happily sitting by Keagan's side. She wouldn't stay too close to him, in case he woke up and freaked out.

Lauchalin smiled softly. "Do you want me to escort you to your room?" My room? My bed? Anywhere as long as I get to spend more time with you. He wouldn't add the last part. And he was being so tender and caring and romantic he didn't want to ruin it with his second brain.  

[The Madame Red]

Oscar wrote a letter to his old friend Anya about their retirement and that she could meet them at the other castle with Connie. Not that he wanted to see his father-in-law, but it had been centuries and a quick get together wouldn't kill anyone. When he finished, he went and saw Scarlette with Keagan in her room. He recalled the first day that he saw her as an infant when Emma was still married to Liam. Now look at her. A young woman who had found someone she cared for and perhaps something more would bloom. His eyes then went to Sebastian, who seemed tense to be in the same room as his sister. Oscar knew the twins would not see eye-to-eye that much anymore. They were their own people now and were adult with responsibilities. He knocked before walking in and approached the bed in which Keagan slept, "You two probably already heard that your mother and I are retiring and taking Jamie with us. Besides the council here, you two will have the highest authority. I'm not going to ask, instead i'm going to tell you that you two need to work things out to make it civil between you two and keep this kingdom from falling."

He then eased up and grinned slightly, "In the end i'll still be proud of both of you. A good parent always loves their children, or step-children, even when they screw up. Take care, Scarlette, Sebsatian."

Oscar left the room before going outside where a limo was waiting. He wasn't one for fancy cars, but a limo escort was a nice touch to the retirement.



Nyx smiled and nodded, knowing that Scarlette wanted her time alone with Keagan. She left the room swiftly where she found Astrid peaking in to look at Sebastian. With a giggle, Nyx skipped down the hall and left Astrid surprised and slightly embarrassed that she was caught.

"What's there to look at inside?"

Astrid nearly jumped at the unfamiliar voice. She turned to see Octavia, though she didn't recall that they ever met. The witch slowly closed the door to Scarlette's room before answering, "I was just making sure that my mistress was safe in there. Her half-siblings are not exactly at peace with each other and I didn't want her caught in the battlefield."

"Mistress, huh?" Octavia raised a brow before crossing her arms, "I thought the whole same-gender thing was taboo?"

The witch sighed before opening her mouth to explain that Octavia's thinking was backwards when she felt something press against her mouth. Astrid opened her eyes to see Octavia was kissing her? What? Octavia slowly pulled away before whispering, "I'll keep that a secret from your mistress if you do. See you around."

Astrid felt herself twitch slightly as Octavia walked away humming a tune.




"That would be fine," Luna smiled and began walking with him.

On the way back to her room, she recalled many memories of when they were children. How meek and mild she was before, always being saved by him or Celia. It was such a different time than it was now. After being married to a pig for so long she almost forgotten what it felt like to be desired by someone.

When they reached her room, Luna turned to look up at Lauchlain. Should she invite him inside? Would it be just that then? Was she even ready for this to happen? She silenced her brain and her thoughts. Over-thinking anything would just end up in an endless game of torture. For now, she would think with her heart instead.

"Would you like to come inside?"  

[Hikari_Mamo]

Scarlette smiled softly at Oscar. "Thanks dad." Scarlette replied with a smile. Jamie gingerly moved from behind her father.

"Here," She said handing Nickolas back to her older sibling.

"Keep him." Scarlette replied. "You need him more than I do." She hugged her little sister tight. "Be safe and no chasing boys till you're three hundred."

"Yes mum." Jamie giggled rolling her eyes. Scarlette giggled and pressed a kiss to her sister's forehead. "Bye Scar, if they give you trouble rouse on them, show them how scary you are." Then she followed her parents to the limo.

Sebastian had left shortly after Jamie in search for Astrid. He would always follow her he knew this. And he would do anything to make her happy.

Lauchlain smiled softly and pressed a kiss to Luna's forehead. "I would." He begun contemplating what she might be implying. But instead of over thinking it he held her gently in his arms. "However, I think, for now kisses and cuddles shall do for us, okay?" He smiled and rubbed his nose against hers. "I don't want to rush things." He was thinking of her. Always he thought of her.  

[The Madame Red]

"That's fine with me," Luna ushered them inside.

She opened a bottle of blood for her to drink before sitting on the bed, "Despite what you have thought, I was happy in Italy. Not with my marriage. But the life I had. There were parties and everyone knew everyone. It was everything I had thought it would be and more. However, after living there for so long, it's nice to live out here in the country where things are different."

Luna took a long sip of the blood, "I'm surprised my daughter isn't bored to tears out here. Every night was a different party or a social event."

Her eyes lingered to Lauchlain, "You haven't changed a bit since I last saw you. Still trying to prove yourself to the world and look where you are now. Just a shy title beneath my brother's. Being High Alpha is but a dream away, but enough about political stuff. What else has kept you busy since my departure?"



Astrid was still in shock when she heard Sebastian nearby. She covered her mouth. Did he see her kiss another woman? Her eyes were wide as she stared at the ground, "I've been...waiting for you. How is Scarlette and Keagan? Nyx looked happy so i'm assuming the childer is still alive and well?"

Why did she enjoy kissing Octavia. It was too odd for words. Astrid put on her best front to smile up at Sebastian.




Octavia cornered a lone servant woman who seemed flustered at the forward notion of her touch. She whispered in her ear, causing the woman to tremble slightly before kissing on her neck. This must've made the servant woman feel uncomfortable by the way she tried to move away, but Octavia blocked her in. She continued to kiss along the woman's neck before she found her lips and kissed her roughly. As much as the servant woman squirmed and begged to pull away, Octavia kept her in place until her satisfaction was finished. Once she finished, she allowed the woman to rush off to her duties.

"It isn't nice to force people."

Octavia looked over her shoulder to see Nyx sipping on her hot chocolate. She gave a shrug, "It's really none of your business, is it?"

"It is when you're scaring people that live in my household," Nyx placed her mug down, "Stop scaring them."

"I live here now, I can do whatever I please," Octavia looked over at Nyx.

They stared each other down, neither wanted to make the first move.  

[Hikari_Mamo]

"Is this lady bothering you Princess?" A tri-breed growled glaring at Octavia. He stood close to Nyx. "We have prevented the Lycans from taring you apart because of Lauchlain and our respect for him. But abuse my Princess' people and we will not be so kind." His eyes shifted purple with his emotion. "Come my Princess," He said pulling her away. "There's a flower outside I want to ask you about."

Sebastian frowned at Astrid. Something was wrong. He moved quickly to her and pulled her into his arms. Something was wrong and he needed to comfort her. He didn't know what exactly but he needed to comfort her. His cheek rubbed on hers a tiny bit as he kept her close. "What ever has you in this way you can tell me, I swear I won't judge you or anything negative like that."

Lauchlain chuckled a little. "There has been nothing." He replied. "Aside from the night blooming flower I preserved all I did over the last hundred years was try to make myself look like an even better option than your late husband. And assisted in the down fall of some of the court that made you choose him over me." He looked away recalling those memories.  

[The Madame Red]

She was a witch! How dare that woman lay claim to her lips without fear of a consequence! Astrid's temper flared for a moment before Sebastian took her attention away and she calmed. She glanced away as she answered, "Octavia kissed me. That I don't take lightly since I haven't kissed anyone before."



"You've crossed someone you ought not have crossed," Nyx commented towards Octavia, her eyes glowing a bright golden as she stated, "Your lips are sealed shut until someone chooses to kiss you."

Octavia was about to laugh when she realized she could not open her mouth. How could she feed? How could she talk? Her eyes flared angrily as she neared Nyx until the young girl put her hand up in defense. Nyx smirked as she placed her other hand on her hip, "Despite my lineage, i'm still a member of this court and I uphold the respect to anyone in my court being bullied by someone like you."

Nyx took the tri-breed's hand and went outside with him. She hoped the spell she put on Octavia wouldn't be too long, but a lesson needed to be learned.



"You've always been a better option," Luna sighed with a small smile as she poured herself and him a glass of blood mixed with wine, "It was to my court's happiness and Alexei's gain that others prospered while I endured a loveless marriage. The only good that came from him were the children i've bore."

Luna sat on the bed as she gazed up at Lauchlain, "If I could go back in time, I would not have been so meek and weak to go along with such an atrocity. I would've fought for you as fervently as I would now."  

[Hikari_Mamo]

Sebastian felt a flare of aggression. But he had to quell it. He was no longer the stupid child whom hurt his twin and shunned Jamie. "Be calm." He said trying to be soothing. "I'm sure she has been dealt with."

The tri-breed smiled. "I don't like those kind of people." He said. "Reminds me of my creator."

"We can't keep dwelling on if's and but's Luna." He said simply. "And honestly? Those Italy ties aren't that strong." He fought for her hard. His child body refusing to give up on her. "I mean. It would have been more wise to have married me, yes Leon was an Original but I am Alpha of the West." He shook his head. "Actually now that I think about it. It occurs to me that they may not have cared. They may have thought "anyone but a Lycan." And that sucks because Emma has been trying to bring peace for a very long time." He pulled Luna close. "Just like I have. And I want you by my side fighting for peace with me." He paused. "One day, as my wife. And if I beg to your liking, the mother of my children."  

[The Madame Red]

"I feel it," Astrid felt the spell, "I feel it, she has been cursed by Nyx for taking advantage of women like myself."

She held Sebastian close, "those who haven't been kissed before by someone we love."

She held Sebatian tightly against her. Astrid could swear that she loved Sebastian at that point. That she loved every fiber of his being at that point. She glanced up at him as she held him against her, "Do you love me?"




"That's why I don't like them," Nyx agreed as she glanced down at the flower he pointed out to her, "They are nothing but trouble. However, this flower can grant one wish for you. I cannot grant th wish because i'm already a wish. I can get anything I want, but this wish is for you."



"I'd like to have your children one day," Luna smiled up at Lauchlain, "One day, not so soon though. There is still great change between Scarlette and Sebastian going on that I fear anymore change will come much too soon for their likening."  

[Hikari_Mamo]

Sebastian blushed darkly. He looked around and found somewhere to sit and guided her to it, sitting them down. He pulled her onto his lap on instinct and put her head on his shoulder. "You mean the world to me." He whispered in her ear. "When things were bad for me, you were there. You never left me. Not really. The feelings I have for you are strong. So strong that if I didn't have you in my arms I would court Luna's wrath by destroying her child for what she did to you." He wasn't one hundred percent sure it was love he was feeling. He'd never loved anything before. "I. . . I don't know what the feeling in my heart is for you, but I know it's bigger, more intimate than anything I've felt for anyone." He sighed. "I guess what I'm saying is, I think the feelings I have for you are love, but as I've never been in love before, I don't know." He blushed more knowing that he had exposed himself so completely to her.

The tri-breed nodded with a soft smile. "I wish to have a name." He said.


"Then we shall go at your pace." Lauchlain purred holding Luna tightly in his arms. "It can be like doctor who, the man who waited." He teased kissing her softly.  

[The Madame Red]

Astrid felt a blush coming on, not knowing what to say after asking him if he loved her. Those who followed magic in their blood were not so easily swayed by their emotions. She smiled at his last sentence before giving a slight squeeze to his hands, "I look forward then to trying this new feeling out with you then, Sebastian."



Nyx gave a slight glow as she used her magic to grant his wish. The flower petals gently left the flower and danced in the wind caused by Nyx's aura until they disappeared into a thousand even tinier petals as Nyx's magic faded. She smiled up at the tri-breed before as she dropped the flower's stem to the ground, "Locke, your birth name is Locke."



It was wrong to feel such love for a man; especially since it was her first love. Luna gave into Lauchlain's kiss before the door was creeked open. Octavia walked in and stood frozen at the scene. Her eyes then softened as she pushed the hair from her bangs, "Hey, Mother. Sorry to bother you, i'm just heading to bed early. Have fun on your date."

Luna was surprised her eldest was taking in Lauchlain a lot easier now. Why wasn't she going crazy that her father was being replaced? Then again, she was now relieved not having to hide her feelings anymore from her children. Luna then looked back up at Lauchlain, "That was easier than I had imagined."  

[Hikari_Mamo]

Sebastian let out the breath he had unknowingly been holding and smiled back. "I look forward to it as well." Sebastian replied with a kind smile. He too didn't know what to do next so he sat there with her until they thought of something else to do.

Locke smiled kindly to Nyx and bowed to her. "Thank you, princess." He said staying at her eye level. "You are so kind to me." Though the High Alpha was kind to everyone in her kingdom. He was the odd one out you could say. Before being kidnapped to be experimented on he was dabbling in magic. He learnt all about the balance of life. He knew the senseless killing was stupid so never took part. And he got bullied by the others for it. But he'd never tell her this. Never.

Lauchlain turned his eyes to Octavia and frowned calling. "Make good choices." Before she left. His eyes turned to Luna and pecked her nose. "Same for me. I thought she would try to attack me. But it's good she's getting over herself to accept that her mother has the right to be happy too."  

[The Madame Red]

Keagan coughed slightly as he began to wake. He could scent her nearby. Scarlette? What was she doing here? He opened his eyes slowly as he attempted to sit up, only to feel like his body was being torn in half. Keagan choked slightly as he emitted a low growl as he eased back down into the bed, "Damn... It feels like I took some lacerations into my organs. I would be worried of internal bleeding, but this new beast that I am will probably prevent me from certain death."

He then looked over at Scarlette, his eyes searching her features, "You don't need to stay in here. I'll come get you when you've had some rest yourself. You look like you've been up for days and quite frankly...you look terrible."



Astrid smiled for a moment before looking away from Sebastian and glancing at the calender. It was almost time to send Nyx back to their homeland for proper training. Though Nyx would leave, she didn't have to and was happy at least she could be with Sebastian. Astrid gave his hand a soft squeeze, "So who will be taking the throne now that your mother and father have took early retirement? Or will you and Scarlette be ruling together now?"

She was curious since the twins with both neither spoken for and didn't make much of an effort to claim the throne for themselves. Even Celia and Luna were regarding each other as to who would claim the throne if Alexei and his children were to abdicate the throne.



"If it were my mother, I would be appalled," Luna spoke openly as she let her hair down, "Then again, you know my mother as well and would understand why it would be surprising to me if she ever took another man in her arms. But Octavia is a grown woman and understands, I forget that it's still modern day when I was always surrounded by a different era."



Nyx regarded Locke knowingly. There was an air about him that she could recognize; something that felt familiar. It was faint, but he had some type of magic within him. She wouldn't say anything though. The first time she realized her magic was a special day for her and she treasured every moment of that time up until the present. Nyx took Locke's hand and led him to a nearby pond that she liked to dip her feet in, "Astrid will be sending me back to my real mother's land to be taught how to hone and strengthen my magic. You'll take care of Astrid for me, won't you? She's a good witch, too, but I don't want anything bad to happen to her while i'm away."  

[Hikari_Mamo]

Scarlette shook her head. "No." She replied. "I am fine." She smiled softly at him. Relief washed over her. He looked all right. His scent told her he was okay. "I'm glad you're okay now," She said after a little silence. "I was worried for a long time that, that person had hurt you irreversibly." Her iris' flashed blue.

"M'Lady." A tall vampire with white hair said glaring at her. "I don't think it's proper for someone of your breeding to-"

"Shut your mouth!" Scarlette hissed feeling her claws spring forth. "If I hear that sort of talk again you'll be replaced!" Once she had thoroughly scared the crap out of him enough that he wouldn't make that mistake again, she smiled and asked, "Now, what do you want?"

"We were wondering when you or your brother will take the throne." He asked. "The council are growing restless. They want an answer or they'll choose the first one to produce an heir-" Scarlettes hand flew up to silence the man.

"How about this." Scarlette hissed starting to get angry. She was so like her mother when angered. "You tell the council that the option they're trying to force on us is old world and stupid, and I will promise to talk to my brother about it. If they don't like that idea tell them in my current mood they should like it if they like the place their heads are resting." She could feel the world was spinning but didn't let the man see, waited until he left in fear before sitting on a chair and rubbed her temples. "No wonder mum quit."

"I don't know." Sebastian answered honestly. "I suppose I'd have to talk with my sister about it. We always thought she'd wear father down to have a legitimate son with her. We never thought we'd have to make the choice. Though, knowing the council, they'll probably try an old world approach, the first to produce an heir wins sort of thing." He wrinkled his face. "How rude can people be."

Locke frowned a little. He was going to mention that she was with Sebastian but then remembered all the times he had to punch the man's lights out to save Scarlette. "I swear it." He promised his smile returning. "I will make sure Prince Sebastian treats her right, or I'll punch him out." He stayed at Nyx's level the whole time. He wanted to make sure that she knew he was showing her great respect. "May I hug you good bye? When the time comes?" He asked.