Chapter 6: A Warm Welcome

Vampiro exited the ship first and the inhabitants cheered as they saw him. "Hail, King Vampiro!" Someone called out.

"Long live King Vampiro!" Another person called out and the cheer was taken up by the others.

Sasha gulped at seeing the inhabitants and hid behind her sister, who hugged her, understanding her fears as this was rather new to both of them. "Don't worry, just stick close to me," she whispered.

A hand rested on her shoulder and she looked up to see Phantasmo looking at them and smiling gently. "Don't be alarmed," he said. "The inhabitants will not hurt you."

"It's not just that, Phantasmo," Rachel admitted. "I guess...we're just unsure about if we'll fit in alright and...well, this place is a little different from Earth."

"True," he said understandingly. "But I believe you'll find the inhabitants here much more accepting."

The cheering died down then and they saw Vampiro had raised his arms in the gesture of 'quiet'. "Thank you, my loyal subjects," he said with a smile. "There are two people I wish for you to meet. They are the daughters of a dear friend, one you may all remember."

The inhabitants looked at their king and he smiled and turned to where the sisters were, holding out a hand to them. "It's alright," he soothed.

Rachel took a deep breath and placed her hand in his trustingly, letting him guide her to stand beside him. A gasp of awe ran through the crowd, making the Vladat King smile. "Yes, my loyal subjects, this is Holly's oldest daughter, Rachel," he said. "She and her sister shall be living here on Anur Transyl, for they are in great danger on Earth."

A Thep Khufan stepped forward, bowing to the king. "If I may, Your Majesty, what danger are the girls in that they are not safe on Earth?" He asked.

"Holly's ex-husband is after the girls," he said.

Rachel could have sworn she saw them all straighten and look angry at that. An Ectonurite came forward. "Does he know they've been taken from Earth?" He asked.

"No," Vampiro said. "But from what Holly told us, he has ways to find them. He did nearly find Sasha before Ghostfreak and Alien X managed to get her to safety."

A Loboan came forward. "Holly was kind to us and accepted us," he said. "In return, we shall help you guard her daughters in any way we can."

"Yes, they shall be safe here," said the Thep Khufan that had first spoken. "Should the girls need shelter, our homes are open to them."

Vampiro saw all of them nod before some children approached. One was a Thep Khufan, the other a Frankenstein look-alike, an Ectonurite, and a Loboan. They went up to Rachel, their gazes curious. She smiled at them. "Hello," she said softly.

The Thep Khufan child giggled. "She looks like Miss Holly," she said.

The other children nodded before the Ectonurite child, who had been holding her hands behind her back, came closer, looking a bit shy. "Um...I have something for you and your sister," she said, looking down bashfully.

Sasha was surprised as she watched and Whampire placed a hand on her shoulder, smiling. She smiled back and allowed him to guide her to stand by her sister. The alien girl took a deep breath and brought out two roses from behind her back. The roses were dark purple with little stars on them. Awed, the sisters accepted the gift. "Thank you," Rachel said. "It's a lovely rose."

"I've never seen one like it," Sasha said before smiling. "Thank you."

The child ducked her head bashfully, to which Vampiro chuckled. "This little one grew these roses herself," he said. "She is quite talented with plants."

"Yes, she is," Rachel said with a smile.

"Thank you," the child said before bowing and floating back to her mother, who smiled at her.

Vampiro turned to the crowd. "Forgive us, my loyal subjects, but we have some business to attend to," he said gently. "Before we go, is there any business you need to meet with me about?"

One Transylvanian came forward, bowing to the king. "You have just finished a long journey, Your Majesty," he said politely. "My business with you can wait until tomorrow."

"Mine as well," said a male Loboan.

"Are you sure?" The king asked. "I can make time to meet with you both."

"We're sure, Your Majesty," said the Transylvanian with a nod.

"Very well," he said. "The court will open at nine o'clock."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," the Loboan said with a respectful bow.

Vamps, Zeus, Apollo, Ghostfreak, and Phantasmo came into view and the two Vladats stood with their father before he began walking down the rest of the ramp to the road. The inhabitants bowed in respect to the king and princes as they passed. Apollo held out an elbow to Rachel, who accepted it with a smile as he walked with her. Ghostfreak did the same with Sasha, who gave him a grateful look. Zeus, Alien X, and Phantasmo brought up the rear, keeping guard though they knew there was no danger.

After a bit, Vampiro stopped at a house and knocked on the door. It opened to reveal a male Thep Khufan with purple eyes and a purple-and-black headdress. "King Vampiro," he said with a smile. "Prince Whampire and Prince Vamps, welcome."

He bowed in respect to them before standing up. "Please, come in," he said before his eyes widened at seeing the Ectonurites, the Celestialsapiens, and the two human girls. When they were all inside, he shut the door and gestured to the living room. "Please, have a seat and I'll inform Mother and Snare-Oh that you're here."

"Thank you, Kuphulu," Vampiro said with a smile.

They all found seats and moments later, a female Thep Khufan appeared with Kuphulu and a male Thep Khufan with her. She wore a light brown headdress and a light brown dress while her long light red hair flowed behind her back. Her light brown eyes widened as she saw them all before she smiled and bowed, her sons doing the same. "Welcome back, Your Majesties," she said. "And welcome back, dear friends."

"Melodica, it is good to see you again," Vampiro said with a smile and a nod.

Ghostfreak went up to Snare-Oh, who smiled at him. "Good to have you back, old friend," the Thep Khufan said.

"It's good to be back, Snare-Oh," he said.

Melodica then noticed the two sisters and she looked curious. "And who are these two humans?" She asked curiously.

Phantasmo stood up with a smile and went over to the girls. "These two are Rachel and Sasha, Holly's daughters," he said.

"I was wondering why they looked familiar," Kuphulu said.

Snare-Oh looked at the girls. "Then...Holly's fears must have come true," he said.

"Yes," Zeus said. "The girls' father is after them."

Vampiro stood up and went up to Melodica. "Melodica, I know this is much to ask of you, but would you be willing to take Rachel and Sasha in?" He asked.

"I'll do more than that, Your Majesty," she said with a nod. "Holly actually left me with something before she had returned to Earth." She turned and went to a bookshelf, pulling out a book and opening it to withdraw some papers, handing them to Vampiro, who read them and nodded before turning to the girls.

"According to these papers, your mother made Melodica your godmother," he said.

Rachel blinked in surprise. "Our godmother?" She asked, looking shocked.

Sasha looked equally surprised. "Mom...never mentioned that," she said softly. "We honestly didn't know what would happen beyond us being reunited."

Melodica smiled gently and kneeled down in front of the girls, who looked at her. "I know this is a lot to take in," she said gently. "But you girls will be safe here. Your mother was a dear friend of mine and I promised her that I'd take you two in if you both were in danger."

The sisters were silent, but when the female alien hugged them, they hugged her back, silent tears escaping their eyes. Snare-Oh came forward, as did Kuphulu and they hugged their mother and the girls.

"We'll keep you safe from your birth father," Kuphulu said.

"He'll never even get near you two again," Snare-Oh promised. "Welcome to the family, little sisters."

Rachel looked up at him and he smiled with a nod. She smiled back before hugging him with her free arm. Sasha did the same with Kuphulu as the Vladats, Ectonurites, and Celestialsapiens watched with gentle smiles.

"They're going to be alright," Zeus said softly.

"We'll make sure of it," Vampiro said with a nod.

Looks like the girls have a new family that instantly accepts them. :)

Next up: Rachel has a talk with Whampire about his crush on Sasha. How will it go? :)

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