Old Promises, New Mysteries: Book 2 of The Kinstone series

The plane jerked as it landed, prying me from the nap that I started while we flew over Germany. I looked over to everyone, who already was awake and getting set to head off the plane. I groaned, stretching my body, feeling it burning back to life.

Peering out the window revealed that it was in middle of the night. I sat forward, gathering up my things. My headphones chimed saying that the battery was low. I for one am glad that the battery lasted as long as it did.

One of items I ordered before the trip was a 5x charge battery, which held the capability of charging a second device. A little pricey, but worth every penny I spent on it, which is hilarious because my mother is wealthy beyond my understanding.

Pulling the headphones around my neck, I yawned softly, still tired from all of the nearly fourteen hours of flying that I had been doing. Talk about a long day. The jet lag alone could potentially knock me out for a couple of days. But soldier on I must.

“All right everyone,” announced Sarah, “I know you are all extremely exhausted from this entire day. But rest assured that it’s all coming to an end. We just have to get through customs, gather up our things, and drive out to the hotel. It’s late and so that means bed for the youngest upon getting in the door.”

No arguing with that logic.

I pulled out my phone, having charged it while I slept. A hand rested onto my shoulder, looking up, I saw Elizabeth smiling to me. “Why don’t you give her a call once we get to the hotel?” I nodded, stashing away my phone.

The passengers soon began to disembark from the plane, and soon came our group’s turn. I rose out of my seat draped my satchel over my shoulder.

The line filing off of the plane was slow. I could hear some of the younger children complaining about how tired they were.

No one could really blame them. We’d all been travel for nearly twenty hours. I’m just amazed that I was able to keep my sanity. Heh, now I know how my birth parents really felt during their mission trip.

My headphones rested on my neck, having plugged them into the charger. I led a second cord from it into my phone. Like I said, this charger was pricey, but worth it.

My body was sore and stiff from both just sitting in my seat and even when I lied down a few times. So it was nice to finally get up and walk around.

Our group headed down the gantry and emerged out in a relatively calm and quiet airport. I pulled out my phone, 11:23 pm. Well, even the busiest of airports are sometimes deserted this late in the evening. Personally, I was just looking forward to plopping headfirst onto a bed.

The group “sped” through the terminal, the sounds of the kids whining echoed around the nearly empty corridors. I stuck close to Elizabeth and her kids, only seemed natural. As we walked along towards customs, I turned and peered outside.

Off in the distance shone a brilliantly lit city. Florence. The first stop of our trip. Now I wasn’t going to gush over the sheer amount of history or examples of art the city contained. The contributions to the world it had made were staggering. I wasn’t going to go weak at the knees when touring the vistas or explore the numerous museums held within.

That all can wait. Bed first.

Getting through customs was a snap. Was just asked a couple of questions and had our passports stamped, nothing to it.

We finally reached baggage claim where our luggage was just now coming down the shoot. Seeing my suitcase, I quickly snatched it up while helping the others get theirs.

“All right everyone!” shouted Sarah. “Do we have everything?” The group nodded.

“Good," she continued. "I know everyone is tired, and I promise that it’ll all be over soon. We just have a little more to go before we can really get some rest.”

I popped my neck, hearing it crack loudly. Crap am I tired.

She turned around and directed us towards the main doors. Outside waiting for us were several large vans. We piled our luggage at the back, with some of the adults hoisting it into the back-end.

We climbed into the vans, with some of the children still complaining about wanting to go to bed. I sat in the back of my van and buckled in. My mind was a haze of exhaustion and nervousness. I laid my head against the window, too tired to even pull up my headphones once more.

I felt my hand being held, turning to see Alexis smiling to me. “You okay hunny?” she whispered.

I nodded softly. “Just hope the hotel isn’t too far away,” and then smirked, “I think everyone is thinking the exact same thing.” She grinned, leaning back in her seat. My eyes grew heavier as our caravan slowly pulled away.

The roads were pitch-black, so you really couldn’t see much of anything. But what I could see were a few street signs and the occasional home or two.

One thing everyone was grateful for was the lack of rain. That would’ve put a bit of a damper of all our moods, while piling on top of our already considerable exhaustion.

Our trip, as promised, didn’t take us that long, maybe fifteen to twenty minutes give or take. We pulled into the city itself. The city felt old and rustic, rather comfortable honestly. There were a few people out walking the streets, several couples sat around a large fountain, whose water jetted and danced against the lights.

Buildings on each side of the wide street were lit, many made with bricks of yellows and whites. You could barely see the red roof tilling despite the dark.

My heart fluttered softly the further we ventured in. I was in one the most historically important cities in the world, and I couldn’t wait to explore it. Man I’m such a nerd, I thought to myself.

We finally stopped in front of our hotel. It was massive, rustic and yet full of elegance. The kids were carried out of the vans as we stepped out.

The air was chilled, feeling a soft breeze blow around us. I really was grateful on my clothing choices. While the chill didn’t bother me all that much, due to being able to transform into an ice dragon, I still felt comfortable in my hoodie.

The group sleepily walked into the hotel, with several of the adults heading for the front desk. I clenched the handle to my suitcase as I stood there.

The lobby was filled with red carpeting and pillars strewn throughout the floor. Chairs and couches dotted around us, with a few of the older children instantly plopping themselves onto them. I smiled softly. I eyed a piano off in the distance, actually considering hopping onto it and playing a little.

“Okay everyone, let's head up to our rooms.” Snapping back to reality, I followed after the group as we piled into the elevators and ascended upwards.

The elevator dinged to a stop on the third floor. Everyone slowly exited and followed Sarah and a couple other leaders down the hallway. We stopped near the end of the corridor, with the leaders turning and facing us. “All right, we have the room assignments.”

They handed out pieces of paper to several of the adults. Elizabeth walked over to Alexis, who then motioned me over to them. Guess I’m bunking with them.

I pulled my suitcase and walked on over. The group was split up into four groups. The room I was staying in was the third down the hall. I didn’t realize until then that we had the floor to ourselves. Nice.

Our room or rather apartment, was easily the size of the hotel room that Rachel and I shared in Japan, go figure. But the interior wasn’t the same.

Single level with a balcony in the back. There were multiple rooms on each side of the central common area with a kitchen to the left of the door. I smiled softly, but now feeling even more tired.

“Your room is the second door on the right, Aria,” said Elizabeth. I nodded to her, walking towards it. “And do give your mother a call.”

I nodded, and then opened the door.

My room was rather quaint. I smiled, thinking it was a little smaller than the bedroom in my old apartment. In the center was a full-sized bed with a small chair and table. A dresser sat across from the bed with a TV resting on top. It even came complete with its own bathroom. I had to chuckle, seeing a window with a miniature sitting balcony.

I pulled my suitcase next to the dresser and pulled off my satchel. I heard a clinking sound coming from it. I looked and saw a small badge dangling from the side of the bag. On it was the crest of House Rivenfeld.

I smiled, holding it. I plopped onto the bed, examining it. This was Rachel’s crest. Well…mine now too. I remember the first time I ever saw it, the first day she began to teach me magic. I took a deep breath, filled with pride, knowing that this was now who I was. And I loved the moment it truly became mine.

I nodded, opening the bag and pulling out my phone. Not wanting to hold the phone, I linked it to my headphones. I lied back onto my bed, pulling the headphones onto my head and dialed home, hearing it ringing loudly in my ears. I placed the phone onto the bed beside me.

“Aria?”

I smiled, “Hey Rachel.”

“Why can’t I see you?”

I raised an eyebrow, “Huh?”

“Sweetheart, you’re on a video call.”

I lifted the phone up to my face and saw my mother on the screen, giggling softly, “Oh.”

She smiled, “I take it that you made it to Florence without incident.”

I nodded, “Yep. Traveling commercial is way different than flying privately, kinda forgot that. Not to mention doing it internationally.”

She grinned, “I wager that you are extremely exhausted.”

I bobbed my head tiredly, “Very. Twenty hours of traveling, including the layover in London, and finally the car trip to the hotel. Just lots of trying to find some way to feel comfortable.”

She chuckled, “Then I won’t keep you long, my love. You get some rest. I do believe you are going to spend the next day simply relaxing.” I cocked my head, looking unconvinced.

She laughed, “Yes, yes I do remember promising you the very same thing during our trip to France. But this time it will be true.” I sighed.

“Is that Little Wing?”

I grinned, hearing Silvi’s voice, “Hey sissy.”

The phone then lifted away from Rachel, watching as my dragonic sister comes into view. “Hey there, miss flying on your own power?”

I giggled, “I do, but I doubt I could’ve made the flight here myself.”

She grinned, “And you right you are. Now I’m not gonna keep you long, just wanted to see my little sister.”

A smirk rose on my face, “Miss me that much huh?”

Little puffs of flame puffed from her nose, seeing her grin even more broadly, “Snarky little hatchling.” I giggled more. “Okay, you get some rest Little Wing. I love you.”

I smiled, “Love you too.”

The phone then lower to see the face of a wolf on the screen. Grinning, I switched hands with the phone, “Hey Fenris,” now speaking more sleepily, almost in a whisper.

“Hello, little one. I feel alone without you by my side.”

My body felt as though it were sinking into the bed, smiling softly to him, “Same here Fenris. Kinda weird not having you with me.”

The wolf’s eyes glittered, seeing them staring into mine. He fidgeted slightly, like he wanted to just leap into the phone and be next to me.

I smiled to him, “I’ll be home before you know it Papa Wolf. Just have to be patient.” The wolf’s jaw chopped, still fidgeting. I giggled more, “I love you Fenris.”

He bobbed his head, “And I you, little one.” My eyes grew even heavier.

Once more the phone lifted away, now again seeing my mother, “All right my love, you get some sleep. You have a long and experience-filled trip lying before you.”

I nodded, “I will. Tell Velhemina I love her.”

She smiled to me, “I shall sweetheart. Now, go to sleep.”

I yawned, “Yes Ma’am.”

Her smiled softened, “Good girl, have a good night. And know that I love you.”

“Night and I love you too.” Rachel then clicked the phone, watching it go black.

I dropped the phone next to me, now feeling the full brunt of all fatigue from the entire trip suddenly dump onto me. I slowly reached up and turned off my headphones, and pulled them off of my head. My eyes easily closed, feeling myself drift off into sleep.