JM BENAVIDEZ

As I walked into the dining room they had set up six small tables, each with a different colored tablecloth. I smiled at the olive green one third from the left and I sat down at it, knowing it had been meant for me. I sat crooked in the chair, resting my elbow over the back casually as I waited for the others to arrive. Some of my half-brothers shuffled in followed by my sisters, the rest of the young guys and then the older guys. My sisters recognized their favorite colors on the tablecloths and sat down accordingly, organizing us in descending order by age. Azrael stepped up towards the front. "For now I'll control the timer. Why don't we do it by age in descending order? Etienne start with Aureliana, Lael with Eirian and so on down." 

I tried not to panic as Zuriel sat down at the table with me. Azrael nodded as everyone was situated. "Alright, so ladies you go first. When the timer sounds then the guys get to ask. When it sounds again, switch seats to your left. Etienne you'll go stand behind Matthias and follow him through until you've spoken to each of the girls." He looked at the eleven guys in my generation. "Any questions?" Aimi frowned. "So, after Etienne, then we ask you guys?" Azrael nodded. "That's correct. Now remember, the whole point of this is to eliminate anyone who makes you uncomfortable or you don't think you're interested in. So feel free to ask whatever comes to mind. And if you already have your mind made up against someone, just have fun and ask something anyway. Just be nice and remember we all have feelings, just like you do." Azrael looked from Aimi to each of us girls, pausing a second longer to nod at me. I closed my eyes, sighing as he walked over to the timer. "Go!"

Zuriel turned towards me, giving me his undivided attention. With only a minute, I had to act fast. "If you could only say one more sentence to me, what would you say?" He wrinkled his brows thinking. "I'm sorry I upset you because I really missed you today." The timer sounded and he frowned. Azrael paused a second and Zuriel tilted his head, quickly thinking about what to ask. "Go!" His eyes met mine. "Can we fix this?" I shrugged, fighting the ache in my heart. "I hope so, but I don't know if it will be the same." He nodded and the timer sounded again. I laughed. "Damn, that's fast!" Azrael nodded. "Ok, switch." All of the guys stood up, switching chairs and moving to the table to their left. Bao grinned and sat down at my table. I shook my head. "Trouble." He smiled as Azrael held up his hand, preparing to start the timer. He dropped his hand and I quickly blurted my question. "You are always the first to act goofy, tell me something about yourself that I'd never expect to hear coming from you." He smiled. "I've got a soft spot for girls with brown eyes." My mouth fell open as the timer went off and Bao grinned. Azrael set the timer again and Bao, leaned forward. "If we went on a date, what would you hate to do?" I wrinkled my forehead. "Have a beauty pageant?" I blurted, unable to think of anything else. Bao burst into laughter as the timer sounded. "I'll keep that in mind." He stood up and moved to the next table over.

I took a deep breath as Elijah sat down in front of me. Eirian's twin had always made me a little nervous. The timer started and I smiled, asking the first thing that came to mind. "If we went for a hike and got lost and it was nearly dark, what would you do first?" Elijah opened his mouth and wrinkled his brows as he struggled for an answer. "Make sure you weren't afraid of the dark?" I giggled as the timer went off. "I'm not." He smiled and Azrael set the timer again. Elijah narrowed his eyes, thinking of a question. "If you were going to get lost in any terrain, where would you most like to be lost?" I wrinkled my face, looking upwards. "On a tropical island?" He smiled and nodded as the alarm sounded again. "I don't think I'd mind being lost with you there." I smiled as he stood up and stepped to the next table over. Elijah was kind of cute. Who knew? 

Khittania's older brother sat down in front of me and I couldn't help but lower my eyes. He looked so much like his dad it was hard not to feel like he demanded just as much respect. I was never going to get anywhere with that mentality. I lifted my head, meeting his eyes as the timer started. "What activity would you find the most entertaining to watch me try?" He laughed, caught off guard by my question. "Um, rock climbing in a skirt?" I scrunched my face, picturing the hilarious image that painted. "You're awful!" I laughed as the timer went off. He grimaced apologetically as his dad reset the timer. His eyes met mine. "In ten words or less, describe me." I inhaled sharply, frantic for time. "An intense enigma fluctuating between entertaining and intriguing?" I stuttered, counting off the words on my fingers. I grimaced as the timer rang again. Salathiel smiled as he stood up. "I think I like that." I blinked several times as he stepped to the next table over.

Amadeus smiled as he sat down and I wished I could hug him. His eyes met mine as the timer started out countdown. "If we could start over, what would our first date be like?" He shook his head. "It wouldn't matter as long as we had one." The timer went off and I touched his hand softly. He looked down at my hand and then back up into my eyes as the timer was set again. Our stare was filled with hundreds of unspoken words. "Are you happier now?" I shook my head, fighting all the words that wanted to blurt out. "No, I'm more confused than ever." He nodded as the timer went off. "I meant it." I smiled as he stood up. "I'd like that." He nodded and walked to the next table.

Zebulon sat down in front of me and I cringed. Not only was this the little punk who harassed me, but the son of the guy I had woken up wanting to kiss. I wrinkled my face as the timer started. "If I told you that I dreamt about your dad last night, what would you say?" His mouth fell open as he considered my words. "I don't want to know the details?" I nodded, smirking as the timer went off. "Fair enough." His eyes met mine as the timer restarted. "Can you ever see me as anything other than a little twerp?" I sat back in my chair, caught off guard by the sincerity of his question. I softened, smiling at him. "I just did." He smiled back as the timer went off and he jumped up to his feet.

I exhaled as I had the table to myself for a second. Nathanael approached my table and I smiled. He was always to quiet, but so cute with his baby blue eyes hidden behind dark brown hair that almost seemed black if you were indoors like we were now. He looked up at me through his thick lashes as he sat down and I felt butterflies under his gaze. I smiled as the timer started. "Of all the guys, I know the least about you. What is one thing you'd most like me to know?" He smiled and I wanted to swoon. "If you took the time to get to know me, you'd find we had a lot in common." I smiled as the timer rang. I looked down at the table and then back up at him through my lashes at the timer reset. "If we went on a date, what should I do if I really wanted to win your heart?" I chewed my bottom lip thoughtfully. "Look at me with those gorgeous blue eyes and flash me your winning smile as often as possible." He looked straight into my eyes as the timer rang and I could tell my response had caught him off guard. "Is that so?" I nodded and he sat back in his chair, chuckling softly. He raised his eyebrows, shaking his head as he stood up and walked to the next table.

Seosamh sat down across from me and I knew he and I weren't going to ever be more than friends. He smiled as the timer started and I raised an eyebrow. "Name one thing about me that you don't like and why." He shrugged. "The way you act like you don't care when you really do. It keeps people from reaching you." I tilted my head curiously as the timer went off. He smiled as they reset the timer. "What superhero would you NOT want to save you?" My mouth fell open. "What kind of a question is that?" I wrinkled my face. "I don't know! Hulk?" He laughed as the bell rang. "Why?" I shrugged. "Because lately I seem to I make everyone angry." His expression softened and he smiled as he stood up. "Not me." I nodded and he stepped away from my table. 

I exhaled as Matthias, the youngest of my siblings sat down across from me. There were only three more of the young guys to go and then grown-ups. Matthias was a younger looking version of his dad; Halon; who already looked like a baby compared to the others. I wasn't really feeling it for him. The timer started and I smiled. "You are the youngest of the boys, if you wanted to make the biggest impression what would you do?" He shrugged remembering our water fight the day before. "I'd make sure I threw myself under you if you ever fell, so then you'd be falling for me instead." I shook my head smiling as the bell rang, poor kid was trying hard. He raised an eyebrow and smiled. "If I was having a really bad day, what would you do to cheer me up?" I smiled, he was too cute. "I'd give you a great big hug and kiss and then we'd drown ourselves in ice cream." He chuckled as the timer sounded. "I think that would do it." I nodded as he left me to my next suitor.

Etienne sat down in front of me; the eldest of all of us kids. His calm expression and lack of a sincere smile left me clueless as they set the timer. "What would your ideal date look like?" I stuttered. He sat back in his chair looking at me. "Someplace quiet where we could talk and you wouldn't be distracted by anyone else..." The alarm sounded and he finished his sentence. "And we could really get to know each other." I nodded and he crossed his wrists, laying them on the table as they reset the timer. "I've heard how you gave Zuriel a hard time about being older than you, how would it be different for me?" I raised an eyebrow; suddenly clear on why he seemed more hostile than usual. "Because I only said that to protect myself from getting hurt by him." The alarm sounded and he uncrossed his wrists looking at me. "You have a funny way of protecting yourself. People don't like playing with porcupines; you only end up getting stung." He stood up looking down at me with a mixture of sadness and pity.

I wrinkled my face immaturely at his back as he walked away. Lael fought a smile as he caught me. I shrugged as he sat down. Lael had always made me feel comfortable, almost like a male version of myself. Long wavy brown hair and brown eyes like me. He wasn't anything too special to look at, but still pleasing on the eyes and loads of fun. They reset the timer and I smiled. "What personality trait do you think we share and how do you feel about that?" He tilted his head looking at me curiously. "We love to make faces at that guy?" He nodded towards Etienne and I laughed as the bell rang. "Does that count as a trait?" He shrugged as they reset the timer. Lael looked down at the table, avoiding my eyes. "After spending time with Zuriel and Amadeus, could you settle for someone like me?" He looked up into my eyes and I felt my heart sink, he was exactly like me. "Are you kidding? I would be lucky to get someone like you." I placed my hand over his as the bell rang. "We are a lot alike Lael." The corner of his mouth turned up in a smile as he stood up and backed away from the table.

I smiled at him and then met Azrael's eyes as he set down. How had I missed that Lael would be the last of my siblings? I wrinkled my brows, trying to come up with anything to ask Azrael. As they set the timer, I blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "I've heard stories about your previous forms, will you show me?" He wrinkled his brows and reached across the table, pressing his thumb to the center of my forehead and touching my temple. I gasped as a vision of him in a black feathered skirt and massive black wings came into my mind. He had black swirling tattoos across his body and his skin was grey and covered with feathers. His eyes were jet black and hollow. The vision vanished as the timer rang and he pulled his hand away shaking his head. I watched as his jaw clenched as he tried to regain his focus as they reset the timer. "What do you think is the most important thing about being in a relationship with someone?" I knew that he wasn't really interested in me, but more in my train of thought. I tilted my head. "Trust and the ability to completely be yourself." He nodded and I met his eyes. "This may sound odd, but I think you were beautiful." He nodded. "Aeowynne did too." He stood to his feet, nodding politely and stepping past me. 

I cast a quick glance down the row at Aimi who was about to sit down with her fourth 'uncle' and she shot me an annoyed glare. I smirked and drew my focus back to my own table as Aftiel sat down. It was so awkward. "Does it bother you that I was interested in your son?" I blurted and he smiled, shaking his head. "Not really, except that you said WAS, as in past tense." The timer sounded and he gave me a knowing glance. "Does it bother you that I can sense your emotions?" I nodded emphatically. "Yes, very much." He smiled as the timer sounded again. "Good." He stood up and lowered his head towards me. "Then you know I can also sense Amadeus' too." I nodded and he left my table to speak with Eirian.

I exhaled loudly as Sabrathan sat down in front of me. I recalled my conversation with my mom and raised an eyebrow at him as the timer started. "Why would mom say it would be worse for me to have dreamt about you than Zaaz?" His mouth fell open and he quickly closed it before bursting into laughter. "She said what?" I raised my eyebrows as the timer sounded and he shook his head. "No comment." He chuckled softly and then shook his head as they reset the timer. "What is the difference between love and lust?" I shrugged. "I don't know. One is purely physical and the other can be both?" He nodded as the alarm sounded. "I think your answer is in there somewhere." I wrinkled my face. "What?" He stood up and looked down at me, raising his eyebrows several times suggestively. I smacked my forehead and he laughed. "Like I said... no comment."

I groaned as he left my table and Tartys sat down. He smiled and I knew exactly where Xoana got her brilliant smile from. I recalled what I knew about him as they started the timer. "If you could have one wish, what would you want?" He smiled. "Ah genie, well I'd wish for happiness for everyone in this realm." The timer rang and he winked at me. "Same question." I shook my head. "I think I'll second that wish." He tilted his head. "It's going to work out." I nodded. "I'm sure that eventually it will." The timer rang and he stood up, bowing politely as he left the table.

Halon sat down across from me and I watched as he tucked his wings awkwardly. Although he was over two thousand years old, he didn't look much older than me. I smiled into his young face and he smiled back. "If I asked you to take me flying, what would you show me?" He cast a glance back at his wings. "Anything that you wanted to see. I'd even make some stuff up if you wanted." I grinned and the alarm sounded. He narrowed his blue grey eyes at me, looking so much like his son. "Are you more interested in sunrise or sunset?" I shrugged. "I'll take either. I'm not picky." He tilted his head looking into my eyes as the timer sounded. He nodded and left the table. 

I cast a quick glance down the line, instantly sorry I did. I frowned and then smiled as Fremiel sat down across from me. Aureliana got her beautiful looks from this handsome man. He was certainly something to look at. I glanced over at Aureliana and then back at her dad. "What is one piece of advice you'd give to your daughter before sending her out on a date?" He smiled, appreciating my line of questioning. "I'd tell her to set her own pace and decide with both her mind and her heart before ever considering her body." I smiled as the bell rang. "Sounds like my dad." He nodded. "What quality do you think is most valuable in a partner?" I sighed. "Someone that makes me feel safe and special even when I'm not at my best." He touched my shoulder. "That's what you deserve." I smiled as he stood to his feet.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as Zaazanach approached my table, sitting down hesitantly. I opened my eyes, meeting his for the first time since our dream. It was just like in the dream, every speckle in his eye and every nuance of his face. I swallowed as they set the timer. "Why did you go straight to my dad after our dream last night?" He wrinkled his brows. "Damage control. I wanted him to hear it from me before he heard it from you." He dropped his eyes as the timer buzzed. I gave myself a half second to drink him in and then dropped my eyes before he looked back up. "If I asked you to dance with me like we did in our dream, would you?" I looked up, meeting his eyes. I saw a reflection of my own insecurity there. "I would enjoy it very much." I answered softly, almost lost in the sound of the timer ending our session. He nodded, standing to his feet. "So would I." He blinked and then nodded politely before breaking eye contact and moving on to the next table.

I felt like a melting ice cube as Abasdarhon sat down across from me. He turned his head towards Zaaz and then looked back at me, not speaking about what he saw. They started our timer and I raised an eyebrow. "Will you ever show me your fire dance?" He smirked. "I told you, you should ask Lael to show you." I looked over his shoulder to where his son perked up at the sound of his name. I smiled and Lael smiled back at me as the timer rang. I looked back at Abasdarhon who smiled. "What would you say is your best quality?" I shrugged. "I think I can be pretty sympathetic when people are down on themselves." He nodded as our time ended. "You really need to give yourself more credit. You don't realize how many hearts you're pulling along behind you." He stood up, smiling down at me as he pushed back in his chair.

I scrunched my face as Mendrion sat down in front of me. Zuriel's dad raised an eyebrow as they set the timer. "Does it bother you that I was interested in your son?" He nodded. "I wish you were still interested in him." I sighed as the timer rang. Mendrion met my eyes pointedly. "Does it bother you that I had a son with your mother?" I snorted, knowing he was trying to make a point. "Not as much as you'd think." He shot me a knowing glance as the alarm rang out and I shook my head. "Hey, I didn't make the dream so don't get all pissy with me." I caught a glance of Zaazanach's head snap in my direction out of the corner of my eye as Mendrion stood up. Mendrion shook his head. "You started it, not me." He shook his head again and then stepped to the next table over.

I tucked my hair back behind my ear as Gastrion sat down at my table. His eyes were exact replicas of Nathanael's and I smiled. He nodded and I giggled. "After dressing up as Tarzan to impress mom, would you recommend it to others?" He opened his mouth to speak and then laughed, shaking his head. "No, not really." I giggled as the round ended and his began. "Is it better to take risks and learn from your mistakes or to only make calculated choices?" I smiled. "Sometimes both, it depends on the situation." He looked over his shoulder to where Nathanael stood in the corner and then back at me. I smiled. "That's a risk that may be worth taking." He nodded and stood to his feet. "He seems to think so." 

I felt like I heard angels sing as I saw Pamyel sit down in front of me and my dad sat down in front of Aimi. We were almost done! I narrowed my eyes as I studied Aimi's face for any signs of flirting. My dad stuck out his tongue at me and I snapped my head back towards Pamyel who chuckled. I smiled apologetically. "What advice would you give to a girl trying to find love?" He smiled thoughtfully. "Be yourself, have fun and sit back and let it find you." I smiled and he ran his hand back over his bald head. "If you could only make one thing known about you, what would you want it to be?" I frowned remembering my conversation with Etienne. "I'm not a porcupine. I just don't like being hurt and it seems like I always am." He wrinkled his brows and then looked up into my eyes. "Maybe if they see how vulnerable you are, they'll take more care to protect you." I shrugged as he stood up. "Maybe."

Vraniel gave me a reassuring look as he sat down. "He's right." I shook my head as they restarted the timer. "As a father of both a son and daughter, what are you most reluctant for them to learn?" He smiled softly. "That life and love is messy and sometimes it hurts." I nodded smugly. "Ain't that the truth?" His eyes met mine. "After having a dream about one of the adults, what bothered you the most?" I shook my head. "Besides being a pariah? The fact that it upset mom." He raised an eyebrow. "Not that he was so much older or had a kid your age?" I shook my head. "Being around his son is a bit awkward, but that's it. It's really all about mom." He nodded and stood up, leaving my chair empty for Dardariel.

Bao's dad sat down facing me and I couldn't help but smile at his grin. "I'm sure your son has learned all his tricks from you. If you were trying to make a good first impression, what would you do?" He chuckled. "For you? Probably dance like a fool because I know it would make you laugh." I smiled. "It would too." He nodded, his smile fading slightly. "Is it more important to have someone who can make you laugh when you are sad or who makes you smile when you are angry?" I nodded. "Either, no. Both." He grinned. "Good answer." The bell sounded and I grinned like the Cheshire cat.

My dad took Dardariel's place in the chair sitting in front of me and I frowned. "You aren't interested in any of these girls are you?" He smiled. "So far so good. I told you, no one younger than you." I rolled my eyes and he smiled. "And how is your count doing?" I wrinkled my face, counting down in my head. "I don't know seven or eight?" He raised his eyebrows and I frowned. "I know. That's way too many." He shook his head. "It's better than fourteen or even eleven." I shook my head. "It's just that one that bothers me." Dad nodded as he stood up. "You're the only one that can fix that." I nodded and he stepped to the next table.

I tried not to watch him like a hawk as he sat through the next two sessions but I did. I was like a jealous lover, only I was his daughter. Everything seemed fine with Eirian but I think some horns may have grown as he sat with Aureliana. She smiled too much and laughed too often. Lael grabbed the chair and turned it backwards sitting down at the table in front of me. "I wish you watched me like that." I blinked several times and then turned my full attention towards him, placing my chin in the palm of my hand. "Like how I was watching them or she was watching him?" He smiled. "I'll take either." I snorted and looked up, noticing several other eyes watching us. Of course I had Amadeus and Zuriel's attention in addition to Lael's. But I also had Elijah, Salathiel, Nathanael and Zaazanach's too. I blushed and tucked my hair back behind my ear. "Just keep it up and I'm sure you'll catch me doing it at least once." 

I winked at him and then stood up. "I hate to be rude, but I need a quick break. Nature calls." He nodded giving me no resistance as I made a quick escape from the dining room and headed towards my house. I was nearly to my house when Xoana jogged up behind me. "Hey Meira!" I smiled, turning towards her. "I just had to use the bathroom, I'd be right back." She giggled. "Sorry." She paused a moment, catching her breath. "Hey some of the guys wanted to go night swimming but I didn't want to be the only girl to go. Will you go with me?" I smiled. My younger sisters never wanted to do anything unless I did it too. "What about Eirian or Aureliana?" Xoana rolled her eyes. "When I said girl, I didn't mean girly girl." I laughed wrapping my arm around her shoulders. Xoana was more like me when it came to abstaining from being overly feminine. She could also hold her own in any sport with any of the guys, something I admired about her. I nodded. "Alright I'll go. But you should see if the others want to go too." She drew her fist in towards her chest victoriously. "Yes!" I smiled. "So, can I pee now?" She nodded emphatically. "Yeah sure, I'll meet you at the pool." She turned and then grinned back at me. "Wear that green two piece again." I snickered and walked inside. "Alright."