THE FARAWAY LANDS OF OZ - Book One

Part Two, Chapter Eleven: Vampire Academy

EVANORA

Even the sun returned, the moment we brought the so-called "Almighty Vampire" down. Not a single cloud covered the sky, and the weather was just like you expected it to be on an August morning. Hot but windy; a slight breeze from the Thames.
The city itself was alive again and people walked and cheered on the now crowded streets, hugging their friends and family who they have been unable to see. The sight warmed my heart, and I knew now that what we had done was in fact, worth it. Despite the ease of the task.
My sisters, Marcy, Zion, the Van Falls and I were now on our way to the Siren's Call to see how the Werewolves were doing now and to say our final farewell to Vincent and Isabel and a proper one to Ambra and Aureliu.
Now, Siren's Call too looked different. It looked like it should: A proper pub, glamorous and inviting. Now, Vincent was no longer obliged to hide it and could live his dream of owning a bar and go back to the time when it used to be packed with people.
I led us through the beautiful, cherrywood door and into the warm and comfortable, brick interior. Once the door opened – even just a crack – all of us were greeted with cheers and warm embraces from people we didn't even know at all.
I was so happy to see these people happy as well compared to how they had been once Marcy had freed them: bony wrecks. Now, the Werewolves had at least some color returned to their skin and faces. But with another week or so of good nourishment and exercise, their typical body-mass and defined muscles should return too.
I shook hands, hugged young women and I don't know how many other people. I began to walk towards the counter, where Vincent, Isabel, Aureliu, Ambra and the young Werewolf – as far as I recalled his name was Simon – were standing in a circle, drinking, and discussing something.
Yet, instead of coming closer to them, I felt myself and my sight distance itself from the world, creating a long and black tunnel around the group. My body was getting heavier, as I tried to lift foot after foot off the ground but this proved nearly impossible and I lost my balance. I began falling in slow-motion and saw the heads of the people across me dart towards my direction and with concerned faces they sprinted over to catch me.
I felt a pair of strong arms underneath my body and looked up to see into Ambra's worried face, her eyebrows furrowed and making little crinkles all over her forehead. Her aura reminded me of Ruby. A strong, beautiful yet elegant woman.
"Are you alright? You suddenly went completely pale and began falling..." I had no idea what just happened. The nausea had hit me out of nowhere and I did not know why as well.
"Yeah, I think so. I just feel a little queasy, that's all."
Ambra moved the sticky streaks of hair out of my face to feel my forehead. I hadn't even realized that I was breaking out in cold-sweat. "You're quite warm..."
She directed her eyes towards Glinda, who – alongside everyone else present – was standing in the wide circle of people that was eyeing me with unease.
"Are you sure that the Dark Magic was removed properly?"
Glinda stepped a little forward and held her wand over my body, scanning me from top to bottom. "No trace of it left. But I think I know what's wrong with her."
What was she talking about? What had happened to me while I was out? Has anyone done anything? Glinda looked around the circle and waved over someone. Zion as I found out seconds after. He kneeled beside me and took me from Ambra's arms and into his own.
"Honey, I have to tell you something." He looked around the room a little. "Perhaps it would be best if we could get a little privacy."
Vincent nodded and as Zion helped me back up onto my feet – the world spun again for a hot second – the man led us into the backroom of the Siren's Call. Zion placed me onto the single bed standing in the room to sit while he was pacing up and down the small chamber.

"What is it? What do you need to tell me?" I was curious now for most of the part. Not mad or anything but curious.
"Come and sit down next to me." His pacing made me nervous and even more nauseous than I already was. Zion did so and I placed my hand onto his stubbly cheek, gently forcing him to look into my eyes. He swallowed and sighed. I knew that he was collecting all his courage.
"Honey, you're pregnant."
My head moved back a little. Now that was not what I was expecting to hear.
"The night...," Was all I could say before I stood up and began pacing around myself. Oddly, when one does it oneself, it works just like medicine.
"But we did everything to prevent it!"
Zion raised his shoulders and dropped them again. "I guess even the most reliable tools have a slight chance of failure."
I moved to bed again to sit down. I was drifting off again and didn't want to fall. I grabbed hold of my husband's hand and squeezed it hard to relieve a little of the confusion that was slowly taking over my body. Those are one of the disadvantages of being a witch. The pregnancy develops into its later states much faster so that the child will be able to live longer.
"How could I have been so stupid?! I don't even know how to take care of a child! I don't think that I'll manage," I said more to myself than to him but now Zion was the one who made me look into his eyes now.
And to see him smile and be calm in this weird and unbelievable situation eased the panic within me. Even if only just a tiny bit. "Hey... There is no need to talk yourself down! You're the most capable witch that I ever had the pleasure to meet, and you are a loving aunt. You'll be the best mother there is!"
His words made me smirk and I moved closer to place a warm kiss onto his equally warm but prickly cheek. "Besides, you're not alone. You never were. You have me, your sisters, your mother and your friends to help you whenever you need help."
I chuckled quietly. I knew that of course. But for a while I had forgotten it. "I know, dear. I know," With that, I stood up from the bed and from his side and began walking towards the door. "But we'll tell the others only when we get to Oz. That way, we can tell everyone at once!"
"Of course, honey. Whatever you want."
"Now, let's go and bid farewell to our new friends and finally return home!"
Together, we moved back into the crowded serving area of the pub, walking hand in hand and ready to say our final goodbyes. Together with Zion, I moved behind the counter for our announcement. I needed him as mental support. I cleared my throat and began my improvised speech of goodbye.
"Could I have your attention for a second? Thank you." The room went quiet, and my anxiety rose with each passing second. I felt like I was back at the funeral but only worse. Back then, there were at least many people that I knew. Here, there were mostly strangers.
"My family and I have to return to our home. But we won't do so without a proper farewell to our new and dear friends. In these trying times, there were only a few people we were able to trust from the very beginning. I am talking about you, Vincent and Isabel. You were always there for us and never even doubted it once. And as soon as you got your memories back, you rushed into action and backed us with everything you could. Farewell, dear Van Helsings." I had to pause for breath.
"Aureliu and Ambra. Despite us thinking that you were the bad guys, you never even once held grudges against us. You knew who was really behind all this and you fought for your freedom and for your voice to be heard. For that, I respect you. You were strong, where most people would have collapsed under the pressure that Dracula was inflicting on you, but you are no people, for starters. You are Vampires. And Vampires are not evil – whoever told us that was lying!" I cleared my throat.
"Everyone! Thank you for everything. For the Baileys we got here, although now I'll have to distance myself from it; for the wonderful friendships we now have and for the kindness you showed in the end despite our efforts to destroy you all. We shall raise our glasses to unity and a never-ending bond between Vampires, humans, Werewolves, and Magicks. The way it should be. You are all welcome in Oz – whether as guests or to stay – there is always a place for everyone in the Faraway Lands. Thank you for everything and goodbye!"
I pretended to raise a glass and the others did so with a real one, taking a sip of their liquor. But I could not. As much as I would miss the sweet taste of wine and the prickling sensation of champagne. Zion and I walked through the room, collecting our family and saying goodbye to the people face-to-face again before we walked up to Isabel who would bring us back to Oz with the powers that the Black Fairy had let her inherit.
"Ready?" She asked and as I was about to say yes, Aureliu, Ambra and Simon walked up towards us, requesting a word with me.
"We were wondering about your offer to come to Oz to stay. I mean... There's barely anything for us left here and the three of us agree that we want to leave this place behind as fast as possible. Is it perhaps possible to accompany you to Oz?"