Chapter 4

Adri and Avalon

Talia's POV

I walked away from the trash cans as fast as I could. I had to experiment more. But not here. And there was no way I was telling anyone about it. I had to go back before David called the cops and they started searching for me. I googled the way back to the castle and went in the building. David was coming out of the elevator and toward me. I held my breath and hoped he wouldn't touch me. I'm not intangible. I accidently bumped him, but he didn't suspect anything. I think. I was in the elevator before I could see.

I made it back to my room and shed my disguise. I checked my eyes. They seemed to be glowing green, but I could suppress it if I tried. I went to Alex's room and put the hoodie back where I got it. Then I went back to my room and took a nap because using magic made me sleepy.

Talia's POV End

Owen's POV

There turned out to be a slight problem. Alexander had still had several projects to due in the next week.

"Alexander, it is imperative that I teach her." I told him. He called me after I texted him the news.

"Don't you think I know that?! Just let me finish these projects. I'll be there after that." He smiled nervously.

"You and I both know that might be too late." I said.

"Where's Talia right now?" He asked.

"Sleeping. She was tired after using her powers." I checked the camera to her room.

"What powers did she use?" He asked.

"I don't know, Alexander. She wasn't in the building when she discovered them." I frowned.

"She snuck out?" He chuckled.

"Yes. We have to get the bounds of my punishment altered before she decides to run away while I can't change into Puck to follow her. Or-" He cut me off.

"I understand, Owen. I just hope she doesn't discover the wrong thing before I get there." Alex frowned.

"I hope so too." I agreed.

"Just do the best you can in the meantime." He told me.

"My best might not be enough." It wasn't going to be easy now that Talia's Halfling blood was active.

"Keep my little sister safe, Owen. I don't care how, just do it." He said sternly.

"Yes, sir." I replied.

Owen's POV End

Talia's POV

I woke up from my nap and wondered where I was before I remembered. I yawned.

"Talia, are you awake?" Owen asked.

"Yeah…" I said.

"Mister Xanatos says there is someone here to see you." Owen informed me.

"Elisa?" I rubbed my eyes.

"An 'Adriana Cason.'" He says.

"Adri?!" I opened the door and look at him.

"Yes." He nodded.

"Where?" I asked.

"Follow me." I follow him to the dining room and there she was.

Her brown hair was longer and crimped. She lit up when she saw me, dark blue eyes sparkling. "Tai!"

"It's really you." I swallowed thickly.

I met her halfway and we hugged. I smiled as she peppered my neck in kisses. She whined as I tilted my head away from her mouth.

"Don't be mean." She pouted.

"I missed you." I kissed her on the lips. Her hand tangled itself in my hair and I tried to pace her, but her excitement was just too infectious.

Her other hand started to travel when someone behind us coughed. I remembered where I was and attempted to pull back, but she traced my lips with her tongue and nibbled and god damn it, she knew me too well.

"My pretty devil…" I said breathlessly as she kissed my neck.

"My naughty angel." She purred.

"Talia, if you're going to have sex, please don't do it right here." Owen told me.

"Fuck off." I said huskily, glaring at him.

"Oh, I love that voice." Adri moaned.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Mmm hmm." She hummed as she unhooked my bra.

"That's not fair, Adri." I said as I took off her shirt.

"What are you going to do?" She taunted.

"You're going to wish you played fair." I smirked as I kissed the top of her breasts while I nudged her hands away from my chest.

"Talia..." She whimpered.

"That's right, beg. Beg for me." I told her.

"T-Tai." She gasped as I pinned her to the floor.

"You don't get to touch." I grinned viciously.

"Hey, Dad, I finished my- Talia?! What are you doing?" Alex shouted.

"Looks like you're going to have to beg later." I kissed her and got up.

"No…" She whined.

"Blame Alex." I glared at him. "I certainly am."

"You're having sex out in the open!" He blushed.

"Owen warned you." David said.

"I like a little risk." I shrugged.

"Dad and Owen were right there!" Alex pointed.

"Ok, yeah, maybe I should have listened to Owen, buzzkill." I put my bra on.

"I'm the buzzkill?" He asked.

"At least, they didn't shout at me." Adriana got up. "Oh, this is my girlfriend, Adriana. Now if you excuse us, I'm gonna go show her around."

"You really were serious about later, weren't you?" Adri asked.

"You know you'll enjoy it." I teased and we left.

Talia's POV End

Owen's POV

"Dad, please don't tell me you were going to let her have sex in middle of the dining room." Alex asked, red faced.

"Alex, you're lucky Talia sees you as her brother. She'll listen to you. Even if she won't admit it." Mister Xanatos smiled.

"I'm gonna go take a cold shower." He left.

"Alright." He called to his adult child. "Owen, have the footage pulled and destroyed. Anyone besides you watching it is to be fired. And make sure to leave some protection where she can reach it."

"Yes, sir. Anything else?" I asked.

"That will be all." He hummed.

"Yes, sir." I said.

Owen's POV End

Alex's POV

"Ok, let's go get Talia before she decides to bang her girlfriend." Puck said.

"Don't remind me." I sighed.

"Remember that you're the prince of Avalon and more importantly, Titania's grandson. That will give you some leeway. But Talia is nothing to him. Be sure to explain her importance quickly." Puck told me as we walked to Talia's room.

"Right." I nodded.

"And make sure Talia doesn't disrespect you." He added.

"Got it." I knocked on Talia's door. "Talia? You in there?"

I heard a sleepy groan and hushed whispering. Talia opened the door with a yawn, luckily wearing a shirt and her girlfriend's pants. "Why'd you wake me up?"

"You got busy fast." Puck quipped, partially invisible.

"Well, we've been making up for-" Talia's eyes flared green and she frowned. "Alex, who's that?" She stepped out and closed the door.

"I'm Puck, Alex's teacher. And hopefully yours soon." He smiled.

"What?" She asked.

"Talia, we know you have magic. Don't worry, Adriana can't hear anything. She doesn't have Fae blood." I explained.

"… Puck, right?" She looked at him.

"Yes." He replied.

"Quick question: Can magic be used sexually? Cause, good lord, I have never been this exhausted before." She yawned.

I blushed.

"Yes, it can, but I would suggest you not have sex until you learn how to control your powers if you're using it instinctually." Puck frowned.

"Felt great though." She smiled.

"Ok, ok. That's enough! Look, Talia, I have to introduce you to Lord Oberon, the king of Fae, so Puck can teach how to use your powers while I'm at school." I explained.

"But Adri just got here." She pointed to the door.

"That may be a problem if he wants you to go to Avalon to make your request." Puck said.

"We have to do this now." I told him.

"What's wrong with Avalon?" Talia asked.

"An hour there is a day here." I explained.

"Can I go back to bed now?" She asked.

"No, I have to introduce you to Lord Oberon while your powers are still fresh." I frowned.

"Fine." She pouted.

We went to my room and we quickly explained the rules. Manners were very important. Basically, Talia would stay quiet unless Oberon said something. I placed my hand on the mirror and called my grandmother and she answered.

Alex's POV End

Talia's POV

"Hello, grandson." A green skinned woman in red answered.

"Hello, grandmother. I have a request for Lord Oberon. May I have an audience with him?" Alex asked.

"My queen, who are you talking to?" A blue skinned man came into the picture.

"Alexander has a request for you, my lord. He wishes to have an audience with you." She repeated.

"Puck, who's that?" I asked.

"Titania." He whispered back. "The queen of Avalon and Alex's grandmother. I'm not sure how she'll take to you, but remember your-"

"Talia, come on." Alex walked toward the mirror.

"Kay." I followed him until he walked through the mirror. I paused and looked at it warily.

"We don't have time for you to be skeptical now, kiddo. In you go!" Puck pushed me in.

"PUCK!" I yelled as I stumbled through it.

"Talia, shh." Alex hushed me.

We were standing in front of Oberon and his queen in the throne room. There were all sorts of Fae in strange clothes standing on the side.

"My lord, I introduce you to Talia Xanatos, my adopted sister. Puck has discovered that she is a Halfling. She needs to be trained in her mystical heritage so it doesn't wither, if you would allow it." Alex had knelt and made me kneel too.

"Stand, children." Oberon said and I stood up not of my own will. "What is your request, prince?"

"I wish for you to alter the bounds of Puck's punishment to include Talia." He said.

"Why can you not train her?" He asked.

"I am not home long enough to train her." Alex said truthfully.

"Very well. I, Oberon, decree that Puck will regain his powers also when training or protecting the girl, but when you are home, Alexander, you will take over her training." Oberon's voice echoed with power.

"Thank you, my lord." My brother said.

"My lord?" I asked, remembering the stories Angela told me.

"Yes, child?" He looked at me and I kinda regretted speaking.

"May, uh, I have an apple?" I asked.

"Talia, no." Alex hissed.

"Child, how do you know that we have apples?" He asked.

"A gargoyle born on Avalon told me." I said.

"You wish to eat, child?" Oberon mused.

"Just an apple, my lord." I tried to salvage it.

"You may have an apple." He smiled and a red apple appeared in my hand.

"Thank you, my lord." I bowed my head.

"Thank you for honoring my request, but we must return home soon." Alex told him.

"Go to the mortal world, children." He said and we left.

Alex smacked me upside the head as we got back to his room. "Ow."

"Nice going, Talia. Now we're both indebted to him." He frowned.

"Is that an apple from Avalon?" Puck asked.

"Yeah." I said.

Puck reached out to touch it, but it shocked him. He hissed and nursed his hand. "I should have known."

"How long were we gone?" Alex asked.

"It's early morning now. The gargoyles are still up." Puck said.

"What was that?" I asked them.

"Puck's banished from Avalon. To 'never again sample its paradise.' I guess that includes stuff from there." Alex explained.

"… Do you want the seeds? I mean if the seeds grow into a tree, then its fruit won't be from Avalon." I said.

Puck whooped and flew around the room before mushing my cheeks together and kissing my forehead. "Such a smart girl!"

"Tanks." I said, my cheeks still mushed.

"You made his week, Talia." Alex smiled.

"You don't know how happy I am, Alexander. All for a simple apple." He laughed, letting go of my face.

I rubbed my cheeks. "This is big, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is, little trickster." He kissed my cheek this time. I blushed a little.

"Why'd you ask for it, anyway?" Alex asked.

"Angela said she missed Avalon." I answered.

"Then let's not keep her waiting." Alex smiled as we teleported to gargoyles.

"Alex, Talia, what brings-" Goliath paused when he saw Puck. "-you here at this hour?"

"Good news: Talia can learn how to use her powers now." Alex said.

Goliath was confused.

"Right… Talia's a Halfling. And now Puck's her teacher. Except when I'm here. Then I take over." He explained.

"I suppose that's fair." Puck said.

"We went to Avalon. I got an apple. Where's Angela?" I asked.

"Angela!" Goliath raised his voice slightly. I felt it in my chest.

"What is it, Father?" She walked in.

"Talia asked for you." He said.

"Isn't it past her bedtime?" She asked.

"She went to Avalon with Alexander." The purple gargoyle explained.

"Here you go." I gave Angela the apple. "Just give Puck the core when you're done."

"This is for me? You shouldn't have." She smiled. "You must have missed dinner." She cut the apple in half with her talons and gave it to me.

She shared some with Goliath. I took a bite out of mine and it was sweet and juicy. I hummed in delight and nodded at Angela. She agreed.

Alex stole a bite of the apple. "Ah, I wasn't excepting it be this juicy."

Puck smirked.

"I think that's my line." I grinned.

They both stared at me and blushed a bit. It didn't help when I licked the juice off my hand.

"I'm gonna go…" Alex left.

"You better go to bed too, Talia." Goliath told me.

"Fine." I finished my apple and left.

Talia's POV End

Puck's POV

I reverted back into Owen when Talia left. I should have done it sooner, but I lied to myself that Talia's powers were temporarily more powerful than they should have been since she went to Avalon. Which was bullshit.

Puck's POV End

Owen's POV

"Puck, why do you insist on keeping Talia in the dark?" Goliath asked me.

"Remember when how surprised you were when you found out I was Puck?" I said.

"You wish for her to figure it out?" He thought.

"It would take the fun right out of the lessons I'm planning if she knew." I told him and Angela snorted. I raised an eyebrow.

"Hearing you talk about fun in this form is odd." She smiled.

"I'm glad you're amused." I said dryly.

"Good night, Puck. Come, Angela." Goliath turned to leave.

"Yes, Father." She followed him after giving me the core.

I left as well.

Owen's POV End