3. Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Calliope

Mom's face flushed, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red. Osirus couldn't contain his excitement, his laughter filling the room with a contagious giddiness. Meanwhile, Dad's hand gently brushed through his thick beard, amusement evident in the twinkle of his eyes.

Dad had been attempting to persuade my mom to see reason that I was old enough to leave the tree house more, but she remained adamant that I always had someone with me.

This was the reason why I always caught them playing games in bed that were meant for mates.

"Calliope, why don't you go pack your bag?" Dad suggested and nodded his head to my room.

I let out a high-pitched squeal of excitement, and my voice echoed through the air. With anticipation bubbling inside me, I bounced up and down on the balls of my feet, feeling the ground beneath me spring back with each joyful movement. The wait had been agonizingly long, but today was finally the day I had been eagerly counting down to.

A whole month at the magnificent palace, with my beloved Uncle Osirus and Aunt Melina, awaited me. The grandeur and opulence of the palace would surely mesmerize my senses, from the intricate details of the architecture to the shimmering chandeliers that illuminated the halls. The air would be filled with an aura of elegance and sophistication, tinged with the faint scent of freshly cut flowers that adorned every corner.

But that wasn't all, the icing on the cake was the much-anticipated mating ball, which was a celebration like no other. The thought of attending this enchanting event sent shivers of excitement down my spine. I couldn't help but feel a rush of anticipation, imagining the vibrant colors of the ballroom, the soft melodies of the orchestra, and the rhythmic sound of dancing feet on the polished marble floor.

Melina, with her loving and caring nature, had promised to take me to the ball. I could already picture us twirling and spinning, our dresses swishing around us, as we joined in the festivities. The thought of being a part of such a grand event, surrounded by the laughter and joy of the celebration, filled my heart with giddiness.

This was a day I had been dreaming of for what felt like an eternity, and now it was finally within reach. Anticipation and excitement coursed through me.

I bounced my way into my roost and could already hear Mom starting her protests. Her complaint was that I wasn't old enough. She'd put it off every year, but Osirus said he wouldn't let her put it off any longer.

He pinky-promised. Pinky-promises were sacred!

"No, Kelsey. I won't let you talk me out of it this time. Calliope is old enough, far old enough." His tone was bored and, in my mind, I could almost see his wings flicking about.

I was old, especially by human standards. I was practically an old maid! I was going to get wrinkles, and my boobs were gonna sag.

If I had boobs.

I wrinkled my nose and looked down at my low-cut dress. They were the size of tiny apples. Wait, smaller than that. Dwarf apples. No, not even apples. Why am I obsessed with apples, right now? Did I want an apple? Am I hungry? Mandarin orange! They were the size of a mandarin orange…

"I just don't think it's wise. That spell has made her—"

I stopped and listened. Maybe this time she would finish her sentence, but she didn't.

Made me what? What was wrong with me? And what spell?

Was it my hair?

I pulled a strand in front of my face. For my sixteenth birthday, Osirus and Melina gave me a tonic that turned it pink. Forever it will be pink—my favorite color. It was awesome. I'm the only human in the Golden Light Kingdom with pink hair.

"Please, Birch, just one more year?" Mom groaned and Birch let out a huff in disagreement.

Dad was on Osirus' side. He was ready for a kid of his own blood. I understood; he hadn't experienced having a baby yet, and neither had Mom.

I picked at the cuticle on my nail with my teeth and sat on my bed of thick blankets. My bed was so large it covered almost the whole room.

I liked living here, don't get me wrong, but I knew Dad wanted to start their own family. I just wanted a little more freedom, just a little. I could live next door in my own tree house.

But Mom wouldn't let me. And I didn't know why.

"She's been through a lot; I have to protect her—" Mom urged both men.

Protect me? Been through a lot? My life has been great!

Parties, solstices, great food, traveling to the Cerulean Moon Kingdom - I have even been to Atlantis!

"And you don't think Melina and I can protect her?" Osirus mused. "Honestly, you wound me right here." I heard Osirus pat his chest.

My lip curled into a smile, and my butt wiggled on the bed.

"It's not that I don't trust you, it's just... She isn't ready for a mating ball. There are things she doesn't know," Mom hissed.

"Like the Hokey Pokey?" Dad barked out a laugh, and Osirus followed.

I snorted. If only she knew how much I knew about all that.

Giggling softly, I instinctively placed my hand over my mouth, and the sound muffled against my palm. Suddenly, a thump resonated from behind, causing a jolt of curiosity to course through me. The delicate tulle curtains swayed gracefully, their ethereal movements whispering across the creaking floorboards. Emerging from within, a majestic figure materialized before my eyes. With each step, the barefooted goddess exuded an aura of enchantment. Her flowing white hair, adorned with vibrant blue and green tips, cascaded down her back as she gracefully approached. Bathed in the morning sunlight, her exquisite purple dress, perfectly complementing Osirus' attire, shimmered and sparkled, casting a dazzling reflection.

"Aunt Melina!" I squealed and ran towards her.

Melina screamed, her beautiful wings, that resembled those of a butterfly, fluttered violently and pushed the fabrics away from us. "Calliope, I haven't seen you in forever!" Melina squeezed me tighter.

"I saw you three days ago," I said, muffled into her shoulder.

"Still too long." She pushed me back and looked at my empty bag on my bed. "You forgot!" She pushed my shoulder, and I shook my head.

"No! Okay, yes, but there was this pixie and—"

"Yeah, yeah, I know all about it. The forest was laughing about how he got sent to the dungeon for messing with the king's favorite." She winked at me and pulled out my dresser drawers.

Melina packed only a few of my things and said she had a whole special room full of clothes made just for me. I was going to match her and Osirus the whole time I visited, and my heart flipped in my chest the entire time she talked.

Rough life, my butt! My life was awesome. Mom was over-protective sometimes, but awesome, nonetheless.

"Ready?" Melina chucked the bag over her shoulder and pointed to my wings on the bed.

I scooped them up, and she eyed the broken tip, but I waved her off as we stepped out of my room.

Simon bleated from the elevator entrance. Not that he needed an elevator. He could climb the tree with only three legs if he really wanted to, because Simon was a talented goat. He could climb anything.

"She's ready!" Melina gave the bag to Osirus and put her arm through mine. I waved to Mom and Dad, and pulled Melina to the elevator before Mom could say anything more.

"Hold on a second," Dad grunted when he pushed away from the door frame. He was wearing his traveling gear, now. It was actually for hunting and fighting but Mom had made him swear not to hurt the little critters from the forest anymore. Dad wasn't even allowed to hunt for food and bring dead animals home.

Thank the goddess!

I cried for two days straight when he came home with three bunnies dangling from his belt for Mom to cook one night. Now, we get our meat already skinned and precooked from the palace.

Maybe I couldn't live on my own.

I leaned my head back to sigh and stared up into the leaves of our roofless home.

Huh, the rain never gets in. I wonder how that is?

Wait, what was I supposed to be thinking about?

Oh, right.

I'm never gonna have a sleepover at Uncle Osirus' palace.

"You are allowed to go, but..." Dad said, stepping forward.

Simon bleated.

"Damn goat," Dad muttered, and I gasped and put my hands over Simon's ears.

"You can't cuss like that in front of Simon. I told you that, he is sensitive. He almost fainted when I said the word b-l-o-o-d today," I whispered.

Dad pressed his lips into a thin line, and Mom elbowed him in the gut. "What I mean is, your mother would prefer…" She elbowed him again, so he took his arm away from her and stepped away. "We prefer you do not attend the mating ball this year."

My shoulders sagged in defeat.

But balls had food, dancing and more food. They also had really handsome men there, too. Which has really, really been on my mind lately. I wanted to see what a dick looked like. I've only read about them, and I didn't want to see Dad's dick.

Ew, gross.

I wanted to see a real one.

And fae balls are freaky-deeky. At least, that was what Melina had said.

There are hot fae, fairies, shifters of all kinds, and I've heard about orcs.

I haven't seen any pictures of the monsters, but I heard through some of the gossiping fairies that they are large, can be scary, have big teeth, wear a loincloth that barely covers their…

I want to meet one.

Melina stomped her foot and crossed her arms when Osirus continued to shake his head that I couldn't go.

With Melina being a queen and all, I did the same.

"You are being unreasonable, Kelsey. Let her go. There won't be any harm in it." Melina flopped her arms by her sides. "People go years without finding—"

Osirus cleared his throat and put his hand on his mate's shoulder. "We should talk about this later, Melina. Her parents believe it is in her best interest that we wait, and wait we shall."

Melani gasped, "You promised we wouldn't take her, didn't you?"

Osirus frowned. "She is their daughter. We are not her parents."

Melina's eyes flickered with a brief glimpse of pain and a subtle shimmer of unspoken emotions.

My lower lip curled into a pout. "But why?"

"Things happen at fae balls that you should not see. Of all people, you know that, Melina." Mom raised a brow.

Melina's mood quickly changed, she snickered and nodded. "Yeah, but they are fun."

Mom sighed. "Alright, well. Calliope, do you still want to go to the palace for the month? You don't have to. Your dad and I can stay at home. Right, love?"

Dad gave a forced smile and nodded, reluctantly. This was supposed to be their anniversary month. They wanted a baby; I know they did. One that was part Mom and, part Dad. I wasn't related to either. Well, Mom said she was actually my aunt. She was my birth mother's sister.

Not that I remembered any of that. I didn't know my real mother.

"I'm certain. I absolutely want to go!" I sprinted to my mom and hugged her tightly. As I pressed against her, I felt her squeeze me tight. I inhaled her deeply and savored her familiar scent. She smelled of Dad - a crisp essence of the forest mixed with the fragrant aroma of tree sap.

"Thank the goddess," Dad groaned in relief. I peeked out from my mom's shoulder and saw Dad rub both hands down his face and tangled his fingers into his beard.

I knew that face. He wanted his Hokey Pokey time.

I pulled away from Mom, or at least tried. She held onto me and let out a whimper, until Melina and Osirus pried her off of me.

A tiny tear escaped her eye, and I almost felt bad.

Keyword was almost.

I was ready to go and have some fun!

"Remember, no funny business while we are away. I expect you here the day we get back," Mom said, as we all stood at the bottom of the tree house.

Osirus had his fingers on my fake wing, trying to repair it the best he could as it sat on my back. Meanwhile, Mom went through a mental list, to remind me of all the things I was supposed to do.

Like I was going to remember her long list.

Brush your teeth, take your vitamins, send clothes to the launder, don't tell jokes to the guards, don't run up and down the hallways. It's like she thought I was a child or something.

"And lastly," she leaned down and pulled me into another hug, "remember that I'm gonna miss you." She pressed a kiss to my cheek and pulled away.

I smiled and gave her one last hug before Dad pulled her into the carriage. "If you don't hurry, we won't get to the Toboki tribe by tomorrow, and I want their damn barbeque."

Mom's face lit up, and she playfully slapped Dad on the shoulder. With a swift command from Dad to the coachmen, the enormous horses sprang into action and the carriage jolted forward. The coachmen skillfully prodded the powerful beasts to pick up speed, sending the carriage careening down the winding road. The sound of hooves thundering against the ground filled the distance between us.

As soon as they were out of sight I jumped up, letting out a yell of victory, and Melina did the same.

"Now, we can really party," Melina said, pulling me away from the grove of trees.

Osirus trailed behind us, carrying my small bag of clothes on his shoulder, while Simon trotted behind us. "Now hold on there, I'm not breaking my promise to your parents, Calliope. We will not be taking you to the ball."

I whined and kicked the dirt. "It isn't fair. Everyone else gets to go when they are eighteen."

And I mean everyone. I've seen fairies and pixies who lived around here for years come and go. Some found mates, some had yet to find them. I was human. I would never find one, but at least I could go to a party.

It wasn't like I didn't know what sex was. I'd read plenty of Mom's dirty books she tried to keep hidden.

A girl gets bored on a rainy day.

So, what was the big deal?

"I told your parents I would not take you, and I will have to stand by that . I will make sure you go to the ball at some point." Osirus put his hands behind his back and leaned over me. "But for now, I will respect your parent's decision. We will not take you to the ball."

Melina snarled at him. "Well, it doesn't mean we can't have fun while Calli is with us. We can still have our spa days, cook and mess with the guards, right?"

I perked up at that. Melina knew how to get into trouble. It was her favorite thing.

"I have a meeting," Osirus glanced up at the vibrant sky, its hues of pink and blue blending together. The first sun ascended, casting a warm glow, while the second trailed closely behind. "I have a pixie to put in line."

I snickered. Boo ya, Karma.

Osirus picked me up with one arm under my legs and the other around my back. I squeaked and wrapped myself around his neck.

"Hey Melina, you wearing panties this time?" I snickered and winked at her.

Her face reddened, and she hissed at me. "Calli!"

Oops.

Osirus growled. "Darling," Osirus' voice was smooth when he turned the both of us to Melina. She was holding Simon by his collar, getting ready to attach him to his flying sling, which she used to carry him with us while we flew.

I cupped my hand and leaned into Osirus' ear. "She's been wanting a spanking, Uncle Osirus." He hummed and smiled.

"Is that so? Well, Darling, why don't you go put your underwear back on, and I will give you a punishment you won't like."

Melina tsked, dropped the sling and sashayed behind a nearby tree. "Promises, promises."

Osirus let out a chuckle, and I tilted my head up at him.

Everyone that had mates were so head-over-heels in love. The books I read, about romance and about fairy tales from the human world, just didn't compare. Mates were sacred and beautiful, and the few mated stories written by authors here in Bergarian were so… possessive. Raw.

But I was human.

Would I ever get something like that?

"Am I going to get a someone to spank me like you spank Aunt Melina?" I asked Osirus.

Osirus coughed, and his grip around me tightened. "Is that what you want, little one? A someone to spank you?" He raised a brow.

I curled my lip into my mouth and scratched at the skin. I couldn't deny that I have desires of being with a male. I had fantasized many, many times what it would be like. I've touched myself in the privacy of my bed more times than I could count, but never had a satisfied feeling afterwards. I didn't know what I was missing. I've just never been with someone. It was hard to with a mother who was so overbearing.

"I want a mate," I stated firmly. "Like you have Melina, like Mom has Birch. But—I'm human." I lowered my head, ashamed.

Being human was so boring. I couldn't fly like a fae or fairy, I couldn't swim like a siren, I couldn't shift into an animal. I had nothing. Mom used to be human, but Birch found her on Earth and when the bond snapped into place and he made her his, she turned out to be just like him.

And where did that leave me? Just a human in a supernatural world.

I was plain.

Osirus shrugged his shoulders. "So? Who says you can't?"

"No one said I could have one." I tilted my head. "Does that mean I can have a mate?"

Melina came from behind the tree and brushed her dress down. She picked up the sling and stuck Simon's legs into the holes so he would be comfortable flying.

"You see Kelsey as your mother. She has taken care of you, loved you as her own. I don't see why you wouldn't get a mate, Calliope. There are many humans who have had children before they have met their mates. Those children from other relationships have all found mates."

My smile widened. "You think it's possible?"

"Your mother isn't sure you have one, and she doesn't want to leave you disappointed." Osirus placed his forehead against mine. "For now, we will have fun and I will speak with her more on the matter. There are balls every six months, it's not like you are running out of time to meet a mate."

I nodded, and Melina pranced up to us.

"Ready?" Melina lifted up her dress to show her panties, and Osirus groaned.

"Darling, not in front of Calliope."

"I don't mind!"