The second prince of Cerian Isle stood at the top of a tower with an impassive look on his face, his pitch black dark hair moving with the wind as he watched the car that he had vacated from a short while ago make it's way pass the tower he was on top of. He had some knew clothes on, a black shirt with equally black trousers and a long black coat, that revealed all his well ripened muscles and biceps. He stared in his manly glory, as the cars made their way to where the country's palace was located before he leaving the tower.
~~
Back in the car, Meryl could not tier her gaze from the window. The sight that welcomed them as the drove through the enormous gates left her stunned for words. She was hypnotized by the tall ancient buildings with a touch of modern glow. And the people, they looked different; unique they had very pale skin and the women were slender and delicate but sophisticating in a way. And the rising morning sun looked different too. She couldn't believe that a place this fascinating came right after the never ending mountains and valleys.
Meryl knew she should be freaking out because she was abducted by a bunch of mysterious guys to a place she knew nothing about. God she did not even know what exactly they wanted from her, she was not in a position to be this relaxed. But she was, the moment they passed through the gates she felt it, like they'd been transported into a different world. There was something about this place, it felt strange, like an imprint, like she had known it all her life. She felt for the first time in her life a sense of belonging, like she was home. Which she found peculiar because up until now she did not know this place even existed.
Shaking off the weird feeling, she brought her attention back into the car. She needed to push for more answers. The chauffeur or whatever he was has been a bit cooperative for a kidnapper.
"What is this place? Why have you brought me here?" she asked making sure her voice was devoid of the despair she was in. There was a minute's silence before the chauffeur answered.
"This is the Kingdom of Cerian Isle miss. And as for why you're here I believe you will find out soon enough." His answer was short again.
Wait Kingdom, as in ruled by a king and queen? Was that why they took her, to sacrifice her? She had read about a lot of these things from her novels. Virgin sacrifices and all.
Did they know about her little celibate life? Was that why they took her? It couldn't be, she was sure there were a lot of virgins in Glee Point.
Non of them was stupid enough to offer themselves as a free meal. Her subconscious shot at her.
"Are you going to kill me?" she finally asked the one question that has been on her mind but had been fearing to ask this whole time. Their eyes met in the rare view mirror for a moment before he answered, "I believe you already know the answer to that miss."
Well she didn't. She knew nothing anymore.
All her parents ever did was monopolize her life her entire life and she so badly wanted to get away from them because it was killing her. But even with the control and their self righteous justifications, she still felt a little bit of control. With this though she felt like she was being closed out of her own life.
"Who are you working for? Do I know them?" She asked,flashes of blood an a dead body and the expensive dark shoes coming into her mind all at once. If that guy was who they were working for then she was sure had no clue who he was. She had met only a few people in her life, and if she met him before, she would have remembered him.
"I think you've exhausted your questions time for today ma'am," the other guy answered, he was annoyed about their conversation it seems. Well she could care less about how he felt but she was not going to tell him that. She still wished to leave this place alive.
He looked younger and more serious than the chauffeur, he looked like a pimp with his all too serious attitude and saucy look. She rolled her eyes feeling annoyed herself and he caught Rangard smiling at her in the rare view mirror.
She didn't like his friendliness, it made her want to let down her guard. And knew she couldn't do that, not after the fear and terror they put her through on that God forsaken alley. No, she was not supposed to recover from that just yet.
She needed it to hold on to it to give her more reason to want to leave this place. She was going to leave this place, one way or the other, she told herself firmly.
The uncomfortable silence dragged on for a while before it was broken by the chauffeur's announcement. He announced into the earpiece in his ear that they were about to enter into the palace premises. He was communicating with someone it seems or he was taking instructions from someone?
The palace? So they were palace guards, Meryl thought the looked like elite bodyguards. They all had strong auras that was impossible to ignore, even though some were stronger than the other, like in ranks.
Why would they take her to the palace of all places though? Was she a palace guest now?
Since what time did she move from being a victim of abduction to a palace guest?
She was still trying to wrap her head around the fact that this place was a kingdom ruled by a king and not a country ruled by a president and now this?
What did that even mean for her?
The car stopped after some time. Were they there already? She wanted the ride to last a little longer. She was not prepared for this yet. And she felt tempted to tell the chauffeur just how she felt, but she didn't.
Instead, she readily got out of the car when he held it opened for her, and took notice for the first time the line of cars that was following after them. They really did travel in park, it seems.
The wind felt cold on her, very cold for Spring. This type of cold was different, it was edgy and chilly.
Something told her the weather was always like this around here.
As if sensing her discomfort, Rangard led her into the palace. The place was grand, ancient but yet modern, gloomy yet welcoming; it was simply stunning, unlike anything she'd ever seen before.
Maybe she would paint it and add it to her collections when she got out of here,she made a mental note for later.
The inside was a total opposite to what she had been expecting. She thought ancient relics would be scattered all over but she was wrong. Except for a few old paintings draped on the walls, and the unique chandeliers, there wasn't any other decorations.
The place looked dead to her.
They halted in front of a giant door and Rangard looked over to her.
"This will be your room miss, you have everything you need to help you get changed in there," the chauffeur told her, she needed to know his name. "If there is anything else that you may please let me know," he continued.
What she needed? She was not sure if he could give her that. She shook her head indicating that that will be all before she asked as an after thought.
"Your name... I mean what can I call you by," she added when the man looked at her confused.
"Oh.. Rangard, but I prefer Gard," he said and Meryl nodded slightly before slipping into the open door which was closed right after she entered.
He had the servants prepare one of the guest rooms, when he came to get rid of his bloody clothes and take a shower. They encountered a little bit of animal problem on their way that needed taking care of, so he had his shirt dirtied in the process.
He thought those wild beasts at the Northern parts of Cerian Isle were annihilated years ago but it seems that was not the case, they were either back or never left. Whatever it was, he
needed to deal with it as a matter of urgency.
He left the car when she started to gain full consciousness, he didn't want the first thing she saw after so much darkness to be his bloodied cloths and messed up hair. He was a sucker for first impressions. But since his first was bummer, it didn't mean that his second has to be.
He was looking forward to meeting her properly but there was someone he needed to see first. But before he left, he left orders for them to take special care of her.
If she was what he thought she was, then she was a very crucial part of a mission, centuries in the making.