Frankie woke to the silent thump of water coming around him, he woke to feel dizzy with pain dashing through his body. He smelled the sweet tangent smell of the rain before he saw it, he looked out his window trying to see where they were but he only saw trees stretching miles away. He looked to his left seeing the empty seat of the driver's seat, he was afraid then, a slight terror rising in him, he didn't like being alone.
"DAD! Rufus!" He calls out softly under his breath, looking around the van thumping lightly on the metal wall block behind him, "is anybody here?"
"Frankie!" He heard his father's voice booming from outside.
"Dad?" He says turning his head towards the window looking for his father's figure.
"Frankie where are you?!" He hears again the booming sound of his father.
"DAD I'm here!" He screams opening the door, a cold mist of wet air bursting through, he climbs out, hands still on the door hanging on for support, "daddy I'm here! Where are you?!" He screams to his father's voice, one foot stepping on the ground.
"Just follow my voice, Frankie! Try to come to me!" He hears again, this time his voice coming from his left.
"Okay I'm coming dad!" He screams towards the voice, his second foot hitting the ground, "my head hurts dad and I can't find Rufus," he says, slowly dragging himself to the voice of his father.
"It's okay Frankie I'm here now!" He hears his father's reassurance, a surge of relief running through him.
Frankie slowly walks to his father's voice, his hands resting on his chest, holding the pain. He stomps on the ground splashing on a little pond, his feet getting mucky with mud, he reaches down to his shoes, crouching on his feet.
"Daddy my sock is getting wet," he says to his father, sitting down on the ground to untie his shoes, "and it's cold!" He screams back, looking up in the direction of the voice.
"It's okay Frankie, just come here!" His father's voice screams at the last word, making him jump in fright.
"Okay I'm coming," he says quietly squeezing the water out of his socks, he then proceeds to put his red mud-streaked shoes on, putting his socks in the pockets of his blue jeans, with mud on their butt and the ends of the legs.
"Just follow my voice, you are so close now"
He walks slowly to his father, hand placed on his chest, holding himself up, "Where are you, dad?" He says one final time looking around himself.
"Here" he hears the voice say, close this time.
"Where?"
"Almost got you now"
Frankie stops walking and then, looks around him, looking for his dad's voice that appears to come from everywhere. "Dad?" He says quietly now afraid.
"I'm right here" he hears it again much closer this time, he pushes his soaked hair out of the way, twisting the water out of his white shirt now, muddy from his fingers.
He is quiet then only the thump of the water is heard, he looks around him, squeezing the water out of his eyes, and he feels the wind hit him from his right, sending a shiver up his spine, he hugs himself shivering from the cold, turning in circles looking for his dad.
A cold hand grabs him by the ankle suddenly, dropping him to the ground, he turns quickly gasping in surprise. He meets eyes with the baker lying on the muddy ground, with his forefinger on his lips.
"Shh," he releases a quiet breath, silencing the boy. Donald slowly crawls to the little boy, stopping with every stumble and sound.
"Stay down" he whispers to the little boy, trying to look around them in the dark.
"Mr. Hurley? What is going on?" The boy questions ducking his head like the baker, speaking in a hushed whisper.
"That's not your daddy Frankie, that's no one's daddy"
"What do you mean? That is him. he sounds like him"
"That's a monster imitating your dad's voice"
"What's engertating?"
"Imitating is when you make it look or sound like something it's not. That monster is pretending to be your daddy"
"Why?"
"Because that's what eclairs do" the baker replies grunting in pain, Frankie notices the blood-stroked shirt then, "they chase, they imitate and they.." he stops himself looking at the little boy, "well let's just say they do something really bad".
"Then where is my daddy?" Frankie asks almost in tears.
"I don't know Frankie, all I know is we need to get out of here, and quick!" He says to the little boy, who in return quietly nods, tears mixed with water running down his pale face. "Now I want you to crawl to my van, very quiet and very slowly, you got that?" The boy nods again looking in the direction he came from, "now go!" The baker urges him, crawling beside him.
"Mr. Hurley?" The little boy whispers to the man beside him, getting his nod of reply he continues, "how did you get out here?"
The baker stops the boy from putting his arms out, they both freeze at the sight of the dark-washed white foot thumping in front of them, passing them by a small gap. The boy grabs the baker's arms tightening his grip.
"Mr. Hurley?" He calls out again, the creature turns swiftly in their direction, its raptor feet splashing water on their faces, the baker slams his hands on the boy's mouth, eyes still burrowed on the creature in front of them, and it turns again passing them quietly, it's dark cloak following behind.
"Thank heavens for the rain" the man quietly says, removing his hands from the boy's face and turning to look at his pale face, "keep moving Frankie"
They continue crawling to the van side by side, "why didn't it see us?" The boy whispers turning to look behind them, seeing nothing in the night.
"They can't see. They smell" the baker replies, looking at the confused look of the small boy he continues, "they see with smell, not light and colors. As long as the rain washes our smell, it can't see us, we just need to be quiet and keep moving"
The boy reaches the van first pulling himself up with the door handle, "Mr. Hurley, have you seen Rufus?" The boy questions the baker still lying on the ground.
"He's in the back" he whispers back pointing to the back of the van, the boy proceeds to slowly walk to the back ignoring the man's protests, back plastered to the metal, he quietly opens the back door exposing the brown ball curled up in the corner, "Ruf?" He whispers climbing in.
"Frankie?" He hears the baker's voice from the small vent in the center of the metal wall, separating the back from the passenger seat, "Frankie can you hear me?"
"Yea Mr. Hurley, I can hear you" he replies standing up on his tiptoes, trying to reach his voice through the vent, "I found Rufus," he says smiling down at the shivering figure of his friend, "he is a little scared but I think he is okay," he says again, going to pet the brown dog.
"Okay Frankie boy, that's good. Now I need you to slowly and quietly, remember Frankie slowly and close the door, okay" the baker says grunting with pain.
"Okay" the boy replies slowly walking to the door, he grabs the top of the door pulling it to him sliding his hand as it gets closer. he stops suddenly, a slim hand grabbing the door in place. It pulls on the door hard, swinging it open to expose itself standing idly by the back door of the van, smiling its hundred smiles.
Frankie stumbles on himself hand slipping from the door, he straightens up slowly backing away, eyes bold with fright.
"Frankie, I was waiting for you" he hears his father's voice escape from the creature's throat. "You make me wait a long time," it says scraping the van with its fingers, its void eyes burrowed on the boy.
"Mr. Hurley, it found me, the monster found me," Frankie says his back meeting with the metal door, his tears slapping the van floors thumping with each drop.
"Now you will be punished," the creature says hands stretched out to its sides a black snake wrapped tightly around its arms. They suddenly hear a rumble, and both look down to see the trembling body of Rufus standing between the boy and the creature, growling lowly at the dark monster in front of them. The creature turns to the dog its teeth bare, "your little dog can't save you, Frankie, you know that"
Rufus knew what he had to do now, he had to protect his friend no matter what, like how John died protecting him. So he took a step forward baring his fangs to the creature, his fur perked up and his ears straight. He took another step growling Louder this time, the creature's attention was solely focused on him, he took a third step reaching the creature.
"HEY! HEY, YOU TURD FACE!" they all turn to look at the slumped figure of Donald Hurley standing a few meters behind them holding a small knife in his hand. "WHY DON'T YOU PICK ON SOMEBODY YOUR OWN SIZE!" He screams at the creature, hitting him on the head with a rock. The creature barely reacts as the rock hits it on its forehead, standing idly for a moment before sprinting towards the man, striking him in the gut. Donald Hurley bellows in pain, his screams of anguish deafening the little boy.
"NO!" the boy screams looking at the blood-stroked body of the man, the creature looks back then still smiling its hundred teeth, taunting him.
"Hey" Mr. Hurley calls out to the creature turning its attention back to him, "suck on this!" He says slitting down the arms of the creature slaughtering the snake wrapped around it. The long pink and black body of the snake drops to the ground, leaving the creature's arms.
The creature stares at the slaughtered flesh of the snake, before looking up to meet the baker' eyes, the same smile planted on its face, then slowly like the flesh of its partner the creature's body splits in half exposing black dust, the creature drops to the ground as the black dust washes away with the water into the forest ground.
"MR HURLEY!" the boy screams running up to the man lying on the ground, "Mr. Hurley get up we need to get you to a doctor," he says sobbing at the pale face of the baker.
"It's okay Frankie," the baker says smiling at the little boy kneeling beside him, "I'll be okay" he reassures him lightly stroking the boy's face, the trace of his blood resting on his cheeks. "But I need you to do something for me okay" the baker instructs.
"Anything!" Frankie almost screams, weeping at the man.
"I need you to take your dog and I need you to run Frankie, run and don't look back, don't stop for anything or anyone, hide your smell and stay out of the main road," he says his voice straining with every word, "run up the street till you find that little house with blue doors, you remember that Frankie boy?" Having the boys nod at this, he continues, "I want you to go to that home and I want you to say, my name is Franklin Caballero, Mr. Donald Hurley sent me here after we were attacked by the eclairs" he recited taking off his small bracelet and placing it on the small hands of the little boy, "can you repeat that for me, Frankie?"
"My name is Franklin Caballero, Mr. Donald Hurley sent me here," he says stopping to wipe his nose with his sleeves.
"You're doing good, go on" the man encourages him.
"Mr. Donald Hurley sent me here, after" he stops to hiccup catching his breath, "after" he manages to say before he hiccups again, "after"
"After we met with the eclairs" the baker continues, looking at the little boys striking blue eyes draped in tears, "how is that? Is that better?" He asks, earning a nod from him.
"Mr. Donald Hurley sent me here after we met the eclairs" he finishes, looking proud at the baker.
"Good, now take this bracelet and give it to the guy, he has a long white beard and small glasses, remember Frankie! Run and don't stop!" He warns the boy one more time, holding his arms with little force it saddened the boy more.
"Mr. Hurley, come with me" the boy sobs, resting his head on the man's chest.
The man lightly strokes the blond silky wet hair of the little boy, plastered on his face, before proceeding, "I can't Frankie, I wish I could" he says turning to meet eyes with the brown dog sitting beside him, "so do this for me okay? Take my bracelet, Run to that house and say those lines, you will be safe there" with this he feels the boy's nod softly on his chest, agreeing to his orders, "now Frankie, Go!" He strains out seeing the boy stand up slowly, his face scrunched and blotched from the crying, he wondered if he could see him, the last person he will ever see and he wondered if he saw him, how ironic he thought scoffing at himself.
"Bye Mr. Hurley," the boy says softly, taking slow steps away from the man.
"Bye Frankie boy" he strains out, a bloody grin plastered on his face.
The boy turn swiftly and then sprinted up the road, his friend following behind him. They leave the bloody road and the limp body of Mr. Donald Hurley. The boy runs past the van and stops in his tracks meeting a broken tree trunk sitting idly on the road, blocking movement, he thinks about how Mr. Hurley got out to move the tree when he was attacked, and he thinks back to how he saved him three times today and he begins to cry covering his face with his arms. the brown dog bats him with his head, urging him to move, the boy looks down at his friend nodding firmly.
"For Mr. Hurley," he says climbing up the fallen tree and sprinting up the road. The boy continues his path like he promised to recite his lines along the way, not missing a word, but he cries till the rain stops and till he reaches the house, he cries while knocking at the blue door of the small house, he cries while reciting his lines to the white-bearded man and small glasses, he cries while he takes a bath hugging his brown friend, he cries while eating his dinner and cries while trying to sleep, he only stops when he finally sleeps and dreams about his dad and Mr. Hurley, both surely alive.
While Frankie climbed over the tree lying on the road, Donald Hurley's thought went to princess Vonsuala, and her golden eyes, 'i won the bet' he thought then smiled to himself. He thought if he would reincarnate as a cat next, and hoped to God Mrs brown would not find him.
**********
Olivia could smell the aromatic smell of eggs from her room, she imagined Mikayla in their kitchen, down the hall, wearing her pink apron with the words "your opinion is not in the recipe" written on the front, humming softly to herself. She never knew what Mikayla would make until she sets it on the table, she had always been the spontaneous one, the one to always want to try new things, but this time she could smell fried vegetables and cooked eggs, she guessed it would be an omelet.
She groggy opened her eyes, her body surprisingly weak and soar, she could barely move without another surge of pain, she picked herself up slowly rubbing her eyes gently. She moved to the side of the bed placing her feet on the floor where she would put her slippers on and join her friend in the kitchen, instead her feet are met with a coldness that jolts her awake pulling them up to the bed. She looks down at the glassy ceramic tile in confusion, expecting her familiar washed brown wooden floor tiles, she takes a moment looking at the dark tile with golden specks before looking around herself.
She finds herself in a black bed with silk sheets and six fluffy pillows, she turns behind her to see contoured concrete decorating the headboard of the bed, a small light illuminating from the top, She sees the big bedroom, three times the size of hers back at home with black and gold decorations dominating the space. She looks around the room slowly, looking to her left she sees a big fireplace, with a small fire crackling, giving the room comforting warmth. She turns her head to her right to see the huge floor-to-ceiling window and next to it a small reading space with black furniture and hundreds of books stacked neatly on the bookshelf. She raises herself from the bed, missing the fluffy slipper on the floor, heading for the door across the bed. She moves slowly waiting for anyone to jump from under the bed or the closet to grab her. She reaches the door placing her ears on the frame and listening on the other side of the wall, she hears soft murmurs coming from the door, and she identified them as a man and a woman, talking to each other.
Olivia backs away from the door looking around the room with bulging eyes and raspy breaths. She follows the sweet aroma turning to see a tray of food consisting of, an omelet, French toast with a small tray of butter on the side, orange juice, and a big mug of steaming coffee, sitting on the black with golden detail coffee table of the small reading space, her feet start for the tray of food, now aware of her hunger.
She was staring at the omelet, gulping at her filling mouth when she heard voices, closer now coming to the room. Olivia quickly runs to the bed jumping on fast, her right hand under the pillow she closes her eyes, pretending to be asleep as she hears a small knock followed by the click of the bolt, opening the door. She hears footsteps approaching inside sending a shiver down her arms, squeezing her eyes she takes a deep breath in and out calming her breathing.
"I thought you said she was awake?" She hears a raspy voice of a man say, coming to the right side of the bed facing her.
"She was your highness. I saw her turn and I asked her if she was awake and she told me "just 5 minutes" placing a pillow on her face, your highness" she hears another voice explain, a woman standing on the opposite side of the bed. She thought the man was the higher power as how the woman kept calling him sir.
"Maybe the dose was too much this time," the man says, softly placing his hands on her head, checking her heat. "She is burning up a little, but she seems fine, maybe..." he stops with a sudden kick hitting his gut, blowing the air out of him.
Olivia jumps from the bed standing on the soft mattress kicking him a second time on the chest, the man then grabs her feet causing her to lose her balance. She starts to pull on her feet hard, her other foot slipping on the smooth silk sheets, the man holds her as she slips from the bed his eyes wide, and she jabs him on his neck with her fist releasing her from his hold. She pulls him by the collar twisting as she sets him on the bed. She holds both his hands in place with her knees climbing on top of him, straddling him on the bed.
"Don't move or I jab this fork inside his throat," she says looking up to the woman standing on the opposite side of the bed, with her hand on her mouth and eyes wide with worry at the sight in front of her. Olivia stays in her defensive stance, the fork from the food tray on the coffee table tightly pressed on the man's neck.
"You know birdie if you wanted me on the bed, you could have just said so" she hears the man speak from under her, a small smile on his lips, "I would have gladly obliged," he says exposing his perfectly aligned teeth and long dimples.
"You," Olivia says staring down at the man with scrunched eyebrows.
"Now I'm beginning to think you forgot my name," he says the same smile not leaving his face, staring deeply at the girl on top of him.
"What do you want from me?" Olivia asks sinking the fork deeper into his throat.
"Excuse me birdie, but I'm not the one on top" he replied lightly stroking her legs, causing her to jump in surprise losing her guard. He quickly twists them around placing the girl on her back, lying between her legs. "Now that's better" he replies smiling down at the girl.
She freezes in place the fork still burrowed on the man's neck, as they stay there staring at each other, "what do you want?" She questions again, tightening her grip on her small weapon.
"Now I want this fork digging on the side of my neck gone"
"Stand back and it will leave your neck" she replies. The man looks at the girl for a moment before quietly stepping back with his arms outstretched. "Now talk," Olivia says standing up, and standing on the head of the bed facing both her visitors.
**********
Olivia quietly watches the man sitting on the couch, reading a book. With the fork still in her hands, she slowly walks to the reading section joining him on the other couch.
"When will they come back?" She questions eyeing the man with dark hair and tanned skin sitting across from her, in her other arms she holds a little piece of paper, the letter from her best friend telling her he will be back with Mikayla, and explaining the man's trustfulness, tightly in her hands.
"Any time soon" he answers shifting his gaze to her, he looks at the girl before him with the same dress as the last time he saw her, hair braided behind her in a single braid. "You can take a shower and change if you want, I have placed new clothes out in the bathroom for you there," he says pointing behind them to the door beside the bed.
Olivia nods her head turning to look at the man, "later" she replies shortly, earning her a nod in response from the man.
He quietly looks at her studying her face, "I see you can defend yourself pretty well" he says moving forward, resting his arms on his knees, "but next time go for the eyes" he says winking at her, with a small smile plastered on his face.
Olivia smiles back raising her eyebrows "That's some advice to give to a Stranger'.
The man stands up, putting the book back in place, "but you are not a stranger" he says his back still turned to her.
"An acquaintance?" She asks tilting her head with a small smile on her lips.
"A dance acquaintance," he says turning back to meet her amused eyes, "the highest form of formality," he says causing her to turn away from his deep green eyes, a bright smile illuminating her face. "That's" he stops himself, causing her to turn meeting his eyes, "if you still remember my name" he finishes tilting his head a little.
Olivia nods her head, eyes still trailed to his face. "Cameron," she says, with a distant smile, "Cameron Achilles"
The prince takes a deep breath nodding his head at her response, he looks away from her amber eyes tugging down the sleeves of his smooth silk shirt, "they're here" he says turning to leave without another word.
**********
"When will she wake up?" Olivia questions eyeing the woman standing beside her on the bed.
"In any minute now" she replies looking at the girl sleeping in the bed, her purple dress sitting idly on the chair beside her, now wearing a white pajama, giving her a deep glow on her dark skin. "It's hard to say. You should get changed though, I will take care of her" the woman says, shifting her soft gaze towards the girl.
"Thank you, but I should stay here until she wakes up, it would be better if she saw a familiar face" she say her eyes not leaving her friend's unconscious figure on the bed.
"I can stay," Noah says, from his position on the opposite side of the bed, leaning against the couch below the window, "you should go freshen up"
"No, that's fine" Olivia replies with a hard expression, not meeting his eyes.
"Please oli, you need rest. And I promise to call you as soon as she wakes" he says pleading with the girl, "look oli I'm sorry, I wanted to tell you so bad, every single time" he says walking up to her to hold her by the shoulders.
Olivia backs away from him, her glassy eyes meeting his for the first time, "then why didn't you?" She asks leaving the room with her arms stiff to her side, balled into fists, not waiting for an answer.
**********
Olivia walks out of the steaming shower with her hair in a towel wrapped tightly on her head and another towel snapped around her chest. She crosses to the dressing table, inside the bathroom, Removing her hair from the towel and proceeding to dry it with a hair blower.
Olivia ducks her head hot air blowing on the back side of her hair, she flips her hair back eyes meet with green emerald eyes across the mirror.
She jolts up her hair lifting on the nape of her arms, "who are you?" She asks turning to the two girls standing idly behind her, faces pale with dark hair running across their faces.
"Sabrina and Valentina," they both say staring at the girl holding the hair dryer out in front of her.
"What are you doing here?" She questions looking around the bathroom.
"We came to see you," they say with a stone expression on their face.
"Okay.." she says with narrowed eyes, "but I'm changing now. Can we meet again when I have clothes on?"
"Okay," they both say again walking out the door, their hands interlocked all the way.
Olivia slowly walks to the door of the bathroom, turning the lock before going back to the dressing table. She finishes with herself half an hour later, changed into a flow black dress running to her ankles with a shoulder-length start and puffy arms, her blond hair slung back in soft curls on her bare shoulder. She steps in the Brown sandals, at last, walking out of the bathroom with her red dress in her arms.
"Hello again," the two girls say stepping in front of her, hands clasped together.
"Hi," she says looking at the two girls in front of her, "your still here?" She says walking past them to the door.
"Yes, we waited until you wore clothes" they continue following close behind her, "to ask you to play with us," they say causing her to stop in her tracks and turn to look at them.
"I would love to" Olivia answers, her eyes jumping from one girl to the next, "but I have to go see my friend, don't you have other friends you can play with?"
"No, we don't" they both answer dropping their heads.
"What about siblings, or your mom or dad?" She asks reaching to hold both their shoulders, causing them to lift their heads.
"Our brothers are busy," they say rolling their eyes, "and we don't have a mom and dad, they died before we knew them" they reply with glassy eyes.
"I'm sorry," she says stroking their hair gently, confused as to how they are so in-sync, "I don't know my mom and dad too, but you know what I and my friend do" the girls reply shaking their heads lightly, expectant eyes borrowed on her, "we play this game where we guess each other's parents, it could be random based on what you are doing then or what you are wearing, anything. We do this for each other, whenever we are having a bad day and we instantly feel a little bit better" she says to the two girls, stroking their hair lightly, "do you want to try?" She asks earning an enthusiastic nod from both the girls with gleaming smiles now plastered to their faces.
"Okay I can go first, your mother is a gorgeous artist with a beautiful voice, going around the world to perform concerts for millions of people and your dad is a handsome manager that found your mother's talents and now goes with her every step of the way helping her, they fell madly in love when she first sang to him and are still in love to this day" she finishes looking at the two gleaming faces of the girls, "why don't you play together, and I can join you some other time?" She says earning a nod from the two girls. Olivia stands in her place for a moment eyes trailed on the retreating figure of the two girls, she turns to leave heading for her friend as they take a corner leaving her trail of sight.
Olivia softly knocks on the door to the infirmary before stepping into the room, her eyes land on her friend's hazel eyes, sitting up on the bed, already staring back at her.
"You braided my hair," Mikayla says near tears.
"Of course, I did, you would have had my head if I hadn't" Olivia replies walking to her friend, "I missed you MK," she says climbing on the small bed to hug her friend.
"I missed you too" Mikayla replies hugging her tightly, burying her face in her hair smelling like roses and strawberries, "you smell good," she says taking another whiff.
"And you smell like you need a shower" Olivia responds earning a chuckle from her friend.
"Speaking of, where are we?" Mikayla says still hugging her friend.
"He should explain," she says turning her head to meet the soft blue eyes of her friend standing beside the windowsill.
"Noah?" Mikayla questions looking at the boy with a raised eyebrow.
The two friends continue to stare at each other, seeming to have a staring contest, before the boy finals speak up with a small sigh, "Okay, I think I'll start from the beginning" he says sitting on the chair beside the bed, "my name is Nicholas Caballero, son of Howard Caballero, king of the southern kingdom" he says.
"Pfff" Mikayla scoffs placing her hand on her mouth while laughing at the boy sitting in front of them, "very funny no-man, thumbs up for lifting the mood" she replies pulling her thumbs upwards at him.
"I am not joking," he says
"Yea sure and I'm Beyonce" she jokes turning to look at the serious look on Olivia's face, "oh come on Livie you seriously believe HE is a prince, the same HE that steels food from our fridge," she says emphasizing on the "he".
"Let's just listen to him Mk" Olivia replies turning to look at the boy.
"My home is the underworld, the southern kingdom. I am the 3rd child of 8 kids, although both my oldest siblings died in the war" he says looking down at his hands, "I have 5 young siblings, all of whom I have yet to meet".
"Why?" Olivia questions again her eye not leaving him.
"I left Ladon the same day you left, which means I never got to meet my younger siblings properly," he says looking up to meet her eyes, "we left together actually"
"Ladon?" Mikayla asks eyeing her two friends with narrowed eyes.
"I might have to start from the beginning-beginning" Noah says shifting slightly in his seat.
**********
"Shape-shifting?" Mikayla asks looking at him with a raised eyebrow, "prove it" she finishes crossing her arms on her chest.
Noah stands from the chair rolling his eyes, he looks at the two girls with his gleaming blue eyes, bright like the light. Then in a split second, his hair grows out changing to red, his body shrinks, his breasts and ass increase in size, while his arms and thigh shrink, he stands in front of them with his clothes stuck to him for a second before, now drowning him in the small figure of their cheerleader classmate.
"LEYLA?!" they both exclaim looking at the girl in front of them replaced by their friend.
"Hey girls, how do you like the fit?" Noah asks sounding like the cheerleader, "I think it makes my ass look big" he continues turning to flex his ass in the cheerleader's body.
"I can't believe it," Mikayla says looking at her friend with bulging eyes, "DO THE CHEER" she exclaims jumping up and down, her face full of glee.
"B-E-A-R-S" Noah chants clapping his hands on each letter, "GOOOOO BEARS! he finishes throwing his arms out like he is in a cheer leading squad.
This causes both girls to roar with laughter, falling to the bed. "MORE!" they exclaim again waiting for their friends' next disguise.
This time Noah's figure grows tall, his hair shrinking to his scalp till he is bald, and his chest alongside his ass falls flat, now in the figure of their 9th-grade art teacher. "No no no no, the brush strokes, not pushes, stroke not push, stroke" he continues imitating the voice of their teacher, flaring his hands up and down, "now say it with me" he continues gesturing to the two girls bent over laughing while clapping like a couple of seals.
"STROKE!" they all exclaim followed by fits of laughter that leave them gasping for air.
"Excuse me to interrupt" a voice speaks from the door followed by two boys walking inside, joining the trio.
"What were you laughing about," the tall boy asks looking at the three people with a smile plastered on his face.
"I KNOW YOU?" Mikayla exclaims looking at the familiar face of the two boys standing beside the door.
"I assume you are doing well" the prince notes looking at the girl on the bed.
"Yes, thanks for asking, and carrying me around" she says looking at the little prince's face, red building upon his cheeks.
"Arthur! Craig!" Olivia exclaims standing up to hug the two boys, "come sit, we were just talking" she says leading them to the sofa under the window.
"Who is that? Princess" Arthur asks pointing at the art teacher standing beside the bed.
"Oh that's our art teacher from 9th grade" she replies, seeing their faces she continues, "Noah was just showing us how shape-shifting works" she finishes as Noah goes back to his original form his eyes no longer bright and gleaming.
"Hi, boys," he says raising his hand to greet them.
"Southern royal" Craig whispers bowing down to meet him.
"Oh no please don't," Noah says raising his arms to pick the boy up, "besides we're all friends right?" He says smiling at them.
**********
They all burst into laughter, following Craig's figure flying across the room, wiggling his arms and legs about, imitating all sorts of fish.
"Well, it's nice to see you are having fun" they hear Cameron say standing by the doorway, his hands in his suit trouser pocket, "I expect the same for tomorrow then?"
"Tomorrow?" Olivia asks
"The annual kingdom banquet," he says looking at each of them, "you are all attending"
"I don't know" Olivia answers turning to look at the confused face of her friend lying on the bed, "Mk just woke up, and she is not feeling for a party right now" she answers.
"A party? I love parties!" Mikayla exclaims straightening up with a wide smile.
"You are tired remember?" Olivia asks again murmuring the last part to her friend.
"Oh. And Sabrina and Veronica were so excited, it would just break their little hearts" Cameron taunts pouting.
"Wait how do you know them?" Olivia questions looking at the prince.
"They're my sisters," Cameron says shrugging lightly.
"Oh come on Livie! A party!" Mikayla remarks tugging at her friend.
"It would be fun" Noah remarks shrugging.
'another kingdom's banquet' Craig says still floating above them, 'that would be a first' he turns then looks directly at the blond girl sitting on the bed, 'oh please can we go?' he pleads hands clasped together.
"Okay okay, if you all say so" Olivia answers looking at her friends in defeat.
"Wonderful, I'll be sure to have Mrs. Gibson send you dresses for the banquet" he replies looking around them, he finishes his sentence his eyes landing on Olivia, "I look forward to seeing you there," he says turning to leave.
"What was that?" Mikayla whispers to her friend, who shrugs in response.
**********
Olivia looks at her reflection, a big dress practically tight on the top with delicate flowery prints dressing it, leaving her back bare. It drops below her ankles with layered straps, gliding across with every movement. She turns to look at the trail extending from both her shoulders down to the bottom of the dress. She fixes the small fairy crown, with flower embodiment running across her hair and golden specs that compliments her blond, almost white hair.
"Is this too much?" She questions for the 9th time looking at her friend by the dressing table putting on the detailed copper gold earrings, her hair strapped back in a tight knot.
"Maybe they dress up too much here?" She says joining her friend in the mirror, she looks at her dress a black flow dress, with a long v-neck running down her chest and stopping just above her belly button, with simple straps holding it up. Her skirt falls below her ankles with a heavy trail, a gold leaf detail delicately running down the dress, "But we got to admit we look hot" Mikayla finishes looking at their reflection.
They turn from the mirror hearing a soft knock on the door, "who is it?" Mikayla calls out going to open the door, "oh Noah great timing" Mikayla compliments stepping back to let him in.
Noah enters the room eyes not leaving the brunette, "wow" he exclaims before turning to look at Olivia, "Double wow" he finishes looking at both girls.
"We know," Mikayla says going back to the mirror next to her friend, continuing to stare at their reflection, "come here join us" she calls back to Noah, urging him over.
Noah joins the two girls, his dark tux with blue shirt giving his eyes a new kind of gleam, "we do look good" he remarks standing with his best friends.
The trio walks down the wide stair joining the party with Noah in the middle and the two girls on each side, they walk into the big hall almost the size of a football field, seeing the beautiful decorations of the banquet feeling like they are among the stars, with small twinkling lights hanging on the ceiling and white fog illuminating the floors. They look around the place with the guests dressed up enjoying the banquet, dancing on the dance floor, and some standing by the tall tables laughing at their company jokes.
"This is amazing!" Olivia exclaims, looking around the room with a gaping mouth.
"Wait till you see the dance floor" Cameron remarks suddenly standing beside her, "Hi," he says meeting her eyes with a small smile.
"Hi" Olivia responds smiling back, "you look good" she comments looking down at his all-black tux, his hair slipped back accenting his emerald green eyes.
"Don't I always?" he says winking at the girl.
"If you will excuse us, your highness, we will be on our way," Noah says urging the girls forward.
"Of course" the prince replies stepping aside to let them pass, "oh, and Olivia," he says slowly pulling up the girl's hands, gently placing a kiss, "you look beautiful," he says softly, his eyes borrowed at her.
"Thank you" Olivia manages to breathe out her face red, turning to leave with her friends.
"What the heck was that?" Mikayla whispers to her friends bumping Noah with her ass, bumping Olivia, like a pendulum ball.
The trio stops at the dessert table eyeing the sweet delicacies with hunger on their faces, they spread out the wide table tasting every delicacy. Olivia stands by the cake aisle, admiring every cake type and design. While she carefully looks at each cake deciding which to take, she sees a hand holding a piece of chocolate cake in front of her, she follows the hand seeing the prince standing there with a small smile on his face.
"She is a chocolate shop owner, who only sells chocolate made by him. And he is a chocolate farmer that only makes chocolate for her" he says handing her the piece of chocolate cake.
"She is a baker that is known for her amazing pastries, and he is her server that works at the shop," she says looking at the boy with deep blue eyes, "he is the only one there,"
"Oli I'm so sorry," he says softly, taking her hands in his.
Olivia nods her head, listening to his words, "you don't have to explain" she says surprising the boy.
"I promise, I never meant to lie to you?"
"Let's talk about it some other time, let's just enjoy today," she says turning her attention to the crowd in front of them, "so when am I meeting your family".
"They are upstairs with the king, official royal business," he says taking a bite from his cake, shrugging a little.
"why aren't you there?" she questions the boy going for his 3rd piece of cake.
"Because I'm here" he replies with a gentle voice, stealing a glimpse of her.
Olivia smiles at that, thankful for her friends' interruption, to hide the red building up on her cheeks.
"I'm telling you. You are getting the royal sex" Mikayla says taking her 6th cupcake from the tray.
"Can you stop calling it the royal sex?" Noah says taking a bite from his vanilla cake, "he is the prince of the west kingdom, and she is the princess of the northern kingdom. They are born enemies, it's like Romeo and Juliette, and we all know how that ends" he finishes going for his 4th serving.
"OH MY GOD!" Mikayla exclaims tugging at her friend quietly eating her chocolate cake, "forbidden royal romance!" She calls out causing Olivia to look up to the crowd, seeing the prince across the room chatting with his guests, "oh honey I'm so happy for you" Mikayla finishes pinching her friend's cheeks lightly.
Olivia turns away from her friend looking for the prince, finding him standing In a crowd of people, his eyes trailing on her. He quietly sips on his drink, his eyes not leaving hers. He proceeds to say something to the crowd, walking in their direction.
The party orchestra stops suddenly, followed by a murmur from the guests in the hall, the prince stops in his tracks following the guests' line of sight. The people separate in the middle leaving a trail for their unexpected guests, a crowd of people emerges, and in the middle she glides across the floor, separating the swarm of people like Moses, heading straight for the trio standing beside the refreshment table.
Everything stops, with the woman in a long white dress, followed by ten guards standing around her like a shield, her trail flowing behind with gold armor detail en-scraping, pure white hair, almost glowing with light, bright amber eyes, and pale skin. Walking delicately toward the blond girl standing idly by the table. "My dearest niece," the woman remarks her soft voice bringing warmth, "I can't believe it's you," she says gently stroking the girl' cheeks with her hands.
"Me?" Olivia asks staring at the beautiful woman standing in front of her.
"Yes" the woman nods softly, "you look like your mother," she says looking at the girl gently, she proceeded to pull Olivia by the head placing a soft kiss on her forehead, "oh how I missed you, Olivetti'.