Boarding School for the Mythical

Velaric:

"Well I wont make you go to bed now, but you have to at some point." I told her. "So... Wanna color?' I asked, I had gotten her a few coloring books and a box of 500 different colored pencils.


Tabitha:

I got out of the car and went around to join him on the other side. I took his hand in mine and squeezed gently. "Here goes." I said as lead him to the front door, Shade following behind us.

Sphinx:

I let her lead me inside, schooling my expression to hide that I was nervous to be around her family. I couldn't even remember right now if she had told them she was bringing me.

Vivian:

I nodded rapidly. "Yeah!" I got up and ran over to where the coloring books and the pencils were. He had always gotten me the best stuff, and never even bothered with prices. But that wasn't what I liked about him, he was always looking after me and very caring to my problems no matter how minor or in some cases major.

Tabitha:

I lead him into the house without knocking. I could hear voices coming from the kitchen. I started to make my way there when I heard loud thuds coming down the stairs. Suddenly a massive dog was upon us and jumping up happily.

Velaric:

I slid onto the floor to color with her. I selected a coloring book with birds and picked out a peacock, only I started coloring using shades of red rather than blue.

I snuggled against him as I started coloring in a dark castle. I hummed softly as I worked, happy that I could be working so close to him. And that he was coloring with me.

Sphinx:

I blinked in surprise as a giant dog was suddenly in our faces jumping at us. "Well hello." I said with a soft chuckle as I tried to get the thing to calm down enough that I could pet it.

Tabitha:

I laughed and hugged him till he calmed down. “This is Mishka.” I said happily and patted his side as he leaned heavily against our legs. Another set of thumps came down the stairs and threw them-selves at me. “You’re here finally!” My little sister exclaimed, hugging me over the dog.

I laughed softly and since Tabitha was being hugged by a little girl I bent down to rub at Mishka's head. I dug into my pocket and nearly gave the dog one of the treats I had but I thought better of it. Shade was probably as much an outcast as I was.

Shade hunkered down as the dog came over to him. This was not the first time he met the beast. The last time had not been any more pleasant for Shade. He laid his ears back as the dog licked his head.

Tabitha:

“So this is him?” My sister turned to Sphinx. “He’s cute.” I laughed nervously and introduced them. “This is my little sister Lira, and this is Sphinx.”

"A pleasure to meet you Lira." I said with a gentle smile. This was the first time I had met one of her family, that wasn't looking at me with displeasure.

Tabitha:

Lira grinned at him. She looked like a younger version of me with lighter hair and more delicate features. “You too.” She said and grabbed my hand. “Come on, Moms in the kitchen with the others.” She tugged me along.

Hearing about the others is where I got the most nervous. The last time I had met two members of her family, it had not gone well and I was sure that they had hated me. So who knew what kind of reception I was about to receive.

Tabitha:

Lira only let go of my hand when I went to hug my mom, brother and older sister. Then I turned and introduced Sphinx. Ari shoot his hand, Dory half waved and my mom gave him a hug. Dory and Ari had always been more reserved than the rest of us.

Sphinx:

I smiled to them all and gave polite greetings to them all. "Thank you for letting her bring me. I would have been staring at a pathetic little tree for Christmas instead." I flashed them a grin before resuming my regular smile.

Tabitha:

“Of course, of course. Would you like something to drink? Are you hungry? We’ve already had dinner but I could fix you a plate to heat up?” My mom offered. She was an excellent cook and always made enough for leftovers for days.

"Yes please if you wouldn't mind. Tabitha ate all my snacks on the way here." I winked at Tabitha as I rubbed my hands together. "Just tell me where plates are and where food is. I wouldn't want to trouble you while you catch up with your daughter."

Tabitha:

“No trouble, no trouble.” She said as she went to the fridge to pull out the food. I got a couple plates from the cabinet to help her. “So tell me about yourself, what do you do?” She asked him.

I had wanted to get the food so that I could talk and be doing something. But since both Tabitha and her mother had set to work, I was left to lean against the counter. It was shocking to me how awkward I felt around her family. When I was usually so good with people. "What do I do? That is a question I have never been asked before...except by those who aren't a part of the magical world. I am not just called Sphinx. I am the Sphinx ma'am." I shrugged my shoulders. "I haven't done any actual work beyond what was needed to keep up appearances in a long, long, long time." I said it all without boast, for me it was simple truth. I could go into nearly every kingdom or clan among the magical races and be taken care of. Some viewed me as a god walking among them, others a celebrety, still others viewed me as a myth or an ancient adviser to the leaders among the races. Few knew me enough to call me friend. Only one had the right to call me theirs.

Dory:

I slid off my seat on the counter. Our mom looked surprised and was speechless for a moment. “What does that mean, The Sphinx?” I heard Lira whisper to Ari.
“But what does The Sphinx do? There have been so many stories, so many tales. Like anything that has been around for so long, the truth gets distorted. So what do you do? What can you do?” I asked as grabbed a glass and held it out to him. I made it slowly fill with water from the bottom to emphasize my point.
“We like to know who our dinner guests are. Beyond the teachings of fairytales.”

Tabitha:

I frowned at Dory from behind Sphinx’s back. While she wasn’t exactly being rude, she wasn’t being friendly either. And her tone was condescending.
“She just means we want to get to know you. Hear things from your own mouth.” Ari cut in in an attempt to lighten the mood.
“He knows what I mean.” She said dismissively.

Sphinx:

I set my eyes on Dory with a dangerous look in my eyes. "I am sorry, I do not appreciate your tone. You wish to know what I can do though? Name something you want. Anything you want." While she had created water, I spread my hands items flashing between them. Diamonds, flowers, food, live animals, and more.

Tabitha:

I handed the plates to my mom then took Sphinx by the arm. “Everybody has powers, yay.” I muttered stepping between him and my sister and taking him into the dinning room. Lira followed us.
“Are there others like you?” She asked curiously.

I shook my head, and let my shoulders slump tiredly. A few years ago I could have done even more and wouldn't even have broken a sweat. But right now, I was dizzy because of what little I had done.

Tabitha:

“You shouldn’t use your powers just to prove a point like that.” I told him softly looking at him with concern.
“Does it take a lot of work to do that?” Lira asked with a tilt of her head. “Here, let me,” She took hold of his hand in both of hers without waiting for consent and closed her eyes. I had my hand on his arm and even with that little contact I could feel the pulse of energy she sent through him.

Sphinx:

"Usually no...but lately...lately it has been taking a lot out of me to do that." I said, my eyes lifting slightly as I felt the energy run through me washing away my tiredness.

Tabitha:

“It’s a pretty cool power though. I wish I could do that.” Lira said as my mom brought us our plates warmed up. My tummy rumbled in anticipation.

I looked at the food appreciatively. "Thank you very much ma'am. I'm sorry for my rudeness to your daughter." I said to Tabitha's mother my eyes lifting from the plate to her.

Tabitha:

“Not to worry. Dory has very strong opinions, sometimes she can be overly stern with them.” She patted his shoulder. “I think you’re just fine.”