"Where is the Prince? The ceremony will soon commence, I cannot stand one more insolence from him. I would die of a heart attack. Sentries! Fetch me, my son."
–––––
Stepping out of the apartment and looking all ready for the evening, Tara couldn't help but remain silent while she walked behind Beth who moved like some sort of combatant. As they walked on, she looked around. It was cold yet she loved it, it was all amazing to her. The green leaves on the sideways, the tall trees, the flowers and the sun setting from a distance caused the sky to be the colour she loved. Lost in the beauty of nature, she finds herself taking a quick trip back to reality as they stood before what seemed to be a road.
CONFUSED.
"Why do you have that look on your face?" Beth asked.
"What look?" Tara replied.
"You look like you have something hard on your chest," Beth told her.
"Ok, so you are reading me now," Tara said turning her face away. "Well, you can't blame me for being puzzled. I come out of a portal, end up in the woods, see you there, you take me to your place which is nothing like the real world, everything here is nothing like the real world and now, a road." She added, turning towards Beth.
Beth scoffed.
"So you were expecting horses and wagons?" She asked.
"Well, maybe unicorns and stuff but–" Tara replied.
"You think too much. This is a mystic world indeed but not some cartoon. I only choose to live back there because I value my sanity. We'll get a cab to town and you'll see this world and yours, it isn't so different after all, just more insane maybe." Beth said, holding up her thumb for a taxi.
"Oh. Great." Tara blinked her eyes.
Soon a taxi came along and while Beth hurriedly got in, Tara remained sceptical. Her mind was failing at comprehending her new reality. Beth rolled her eyes and shook her head watching her carefully get in.
"Not like the car is going to transform into some kind of monster and swallow us up." Beth joked. "And wipe that look off your face, you are going to make everyone laugh." She added.
Tara didn't say a word. She only shut the door and kept being on the lookout. Beth smiled while rescinding her eyes from her and the journey began.
'It's all so real..' Tara voiced in her head while looking out the window. They had covered a distance and she could tell they were in town. She could see people now, dressed in coats and fury jackets. As odd as it seemed, she found it fashionable. It was as though walking was a subject back in the nursery because they walked with so much confidence. They whispered to themselves or she was just too far to hear all they said.
'They must be talking about tonight ' she thought.
The taxi came to a halt. Beth cleared the bill and they got out. Lifting her head, Tara could see the tall building that stood before them. It seemed to be an ancient building because of its design.
"Don't just stand there, come in," Beth said while walking in.
"No." Tara voiced.
"What?" Beth turned.
"I am so not going in there with you. Are you for real? For all I know you could be leading me straight to my death." Tara said,
Rolling her eyes and seeming upset, Beth marched back towards her.
"This isn't the time or place for this. Put yourself together, damn it. If I wanted to kill you, I would have done so already." She said to her face.
"No." Tara insisted.
Beth withdrew her face, maintaining composure and then took a step backwards.
"Very well then. I give you my protection freely and you do not value it. Perhaps, it's time you earned it. " She said, turning away slowly and proceeding into the building.
Tara blinked her eyes and exhaled. She had just thought about Ma and remembered her words– "Never trust strangers". She exhaled while turning around seeming lost in the centre of a large crowd.
'I need to find a way back. I can't be here.' She said to herself.
Trying so hard to be normal, she moved proudly but as she walked past some men, she heard them sniff. Was it the clothes she wore? Did it have some sort of stench? She blinked nervously, tucking her hands in her armpits while fastening her steps till she took a turn and swiftly brought her back to rest on the wall. She began to catch her breath. Fear had embraced her so effortlessly as Beth's words echoed in her head. She caught a glimpse of a shadow.
They had followed her.
Quickly, she resumed walking. She could hear their never-ending footsteps.
" Oh my God" she breathed, walking even faster but they wouldn't relent.
"Going somewhere?" A man came in front of her. He had a smokey cigarette in his hand and was dressed in a flowing black coat. His hair was banded together behind his head. His voice carried panic and now she had paused her steps realising she was surrounded.
"Yes–yes I am and I am late." She stammered as she made the move to continue her journey.
"But why the hurry? Why don't we have a chat?" The man said, spreading his arms apart in the demonstration.
"There isn't a thing for us to talk about, now if you would excuse me, I owe a duty to the palace." She said quickly.
"Ah. I smell fear which makes me wonder what that duty might be." The man said, walking closer to her. " What are you? A spy?" He added.
"What–No?" She said, taking steps backwards.
"A witch?" He added.
"No," she said.
"I don't know. Maybe a vamp?" He asked.
"Stop." She panicked, and her legs trembled.
"You don't smell like us, pretty one. And guess what you remind me of?" He asked, looking straight into her frightened eyes.
"Humans" He sniffed and so did the others. It was like their sniffing had formed a rhythm and it sounded like a soundtrack in a horror movie. They began to close in on her. Their eyes began to glow blue and she could see fangs drop out of their mouths as they aimed at her.
"Stop, please." She didn't know what to do but beg. She knew her legs wouldn't carry her far considering she wasn't new to werewolf films.
"What are you doing?" A masculine voice echoed and all heads suddenly turned in the direction.
A fine young man dressed in an all-white outfit stood just by the entrance of the lonely walkway. She couldn't quite see his face but whoever he was, he stirred up fear in the hearts of the wolves and slowly they let her be. Majestically, he walked toward them with his hands behind his back.
"She isn't one of us." The other man seemed brave enough to speak.
"And because she isn't a man, you see her as an easy prey" The fine man spoke. His voice was soothing and now that he had gotten closer, she could see his face. In her mind, she drooled, a lot as their eyes met. He turned to her fully.
"Forgive my cousin, Hank, He doesn't always remember his manners." He said,
" You dishonour me before a commoner. She could be a witch, a spy, a vamp, or worse a human. Do you not smell it? It's a strange smell she carries."
Hank said in a confronting tone.
"You will address me as your prince." The man said sternly.
Hank rolled his eyes, finding it hard to accept defeat but slowly he bent halfway, placing his right hand on his chest.
"I apologise to my Prince," Hank said,
The prince heaved a sigh. Turning his head towards Tara once more. She looked frozen and he wouldn't stop looking in her eyes like he was trying to see her soul.
"Just because she smells different doesn't make her the enemy. If she was anything like all you suspect, I believe the senses of a wolf never lie." He said,
The other men had slowly withdrawn behind Hank with their heads bowed in shame.
"Come with me." He said to her as he turned to leave.
–––––
"Where is the Prince? The ceremony will soon commence, I cannot stand one more insolence from him. I would die of a heart attack. Sentries! Fetch me, my son."
The words of the queen were clear enough and soon the guards trooped out in numbers. Not with swords and shields or battle axes. They were simply just men outfitted as warriors. Shutting the door to her Royal chambers, she ordered her maidens to leave. As they did, the guards outside shut the iron door and maintained their posts.
"You worry too much for him. He is a man my Queen, let him be one." The king said to her. He had lovely grey hair and he stood looking out the large open window with a golden cup in his right hand.
"You have always spoiled him. The reason why he never does what is expected of him." The Queen responded, taking a seat on the golden-coated bed.
"You cannot control a man, my love." The king turned toward her.
"I do not control him. He is just out of control." She said,