I took a deep breath and tried to calm my nerves. I quickly slipped on the heels that were next to my bed. I put the heels on and looked at myself in the mirror. I looked pretty good, but my hair wasn't quite right. It was still a bit messy.
"I should probably fix that," I said to myself, before grabbing a brush and straightening my hair. I smoothed it down and tucked it behind my ears. I opened the bedroom door and stepped out into the hallway.
Zephara was still waiting for me at the end of the corridor. She saw me and walked towards me. It was only now that I noticed her outfit. She was wearing a black shirt and brown trousers, but it really suited her. She looked casual but classy, and her red eyes sparkled.
"Let's go," Zephara said as we reached the front door. She opened it and walked ahead of me. I followed her outside, where a carriage was waiting for us. It was a luxurious carriage, with a golden crest and red curtains. Two horses were attached to it, and a driver was sitting on the seat. He tipped his hat to us and opened the door.
"Your carriage awaits, your highness," he said to Zephara.
"Thank you, James," Zephara said. She turned then turned to me. "Come on, let's get in."
I turned to Zephara suspiciously. "You can't just teleport us to your parents' house, can you?"
Zephara didn't answer my question. She just gave me a look that said 'trust me' and made me get into the carriage before getting inside too. She closed the door behind us and pulled the curtains. She sat next to me.
The carriage started to move. The driver whipped the horses and drove us away from the castle. The carriage ride was super fast. I only felt like I was in it for five minutes, and then we were there.
The ride was also super quiet. Zephara just looked out the window, lost in her thoughts. I tried to make some small talk, but she didn't seem to be in the mood. She just nodded or smiled vaguely, and then went back to staring outside.
A guard opened the carriage door and Zephara and I got out of the carriage. I took the time to observe the estate we were in. It was rather large, and like Zephara's, they lived in a rather large castle.
It was a different castle, though. It was more imposing and less inviting. It had a darker color and a colder atmosphere. It had more guards and fewer flowers. It looked like a fortress, not a home.
I looked carefully and then, looking off into the distance, like 70 meters, I could see Zephara's castle. It was still visible from here, shining in the sun. It looked so much more appealing and warm.
"We could have gone there on foot," I said to Zephara. I didn't understand why we had to take the carriage, if we were so close. It seemed like a waste of time and money.
Zephara still didn't answer me. She just ignored my comment and walked towards the castle. I followed her reluctantly, feeling uneasy. I had a feeling I was going to get bored here. And maybe worse.
Guards were much more present in this castle than in Zephara one, as if they were expecting trouble. I could feel their eyes on me as Zephara and I walked through the courtyard.
The castle gates opened with a loud creak, revealing a long and dark corridor. We started to walk down the hall and at each door there was a guard in full armor. They all looked at me strangely, as if I was frightening them or they knew something I didn't. Then Zephara's voice brought me back to reality.
"Be careful what you say in front of my parents, they're pretty easy to annoy," she said in a low tone and then I had to hide a laugh.
Zephara must surely have taken her parents' temperament , but for the moment I'm going to try to behave as well as possible.
We walked up to a large door that had two golden lions carved on it. Two guards knelt in front of Zephara before opening the door. They bowed their heads and said something in a language I didn't understand.
When the door opened, I realized straight away that it was a dining room and that the food looked as if it had already been served, which I thought was quite magnificent. The table was covered with a red cloth and had silver plates, cups, and cutlery. There were candles, flowers, and fruits on the table as well. The food smelled delicious and I felt my stomach growl.
We approached the table and I saw two women at the far end, they looked to be in their forties, but they were still very beautiful. One had white hair and black eyes and the other had black hair and red eyes, they both had horns on their forehead. They wore elegant dresses and jewelry that matched their hair color.
"Zephara, to see you we have to beg you to come all the time, you can't come and see your mothers without it," said the woman with the white hair, looking rather sad. She had a soft and gentle voice, but I could sense some bitterness in it.
"Mum, every time I come to see you you try to fix me up with someone," said Zephara before gesturing for me to sit down next to her. She sounded annoyed and frustrated.
"It's not like we do that all the time," said the black-haired one with an angry look on her face. She had a sharp and harsh voice.
Then Zephara's mothers' gaze landed on me before returning to Zephara. They looked at me with curiosity and suspicion, as if they were trying to figure out who I was and what I was doing here.
I felt like I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and what's more I had the impression that they were pretending not to see me, but it didn't bother me that much. Since I had been put in this world being ignored is maybe the best.
I took a plate and started to help myself after Zephara's two mothers had already started eating so it wouldn't be rude to do the same. I quickly helped myself to the beef and rice, which looked tender and juicy. I wasn't necessarily hungry, but it would be rude not to eat anything. Besides, I hadn't eaten anything decent since the sandwiches.
I tasted it and immediately put down my fork, the meal was foul and bland. It tasted like cardboard and dirt. I'd almost forgotten that the appearance of things to eat in this world isn't good at all.
I turned my head and, it looks like there's wine, so why not try it? Maybe it will wash away the bad taste in my mouth.
I took a glass and then beckoned one of the waiters to serve me, which he did. He poured a dark red liquid into my glass and then bowed before leaving. I thanked him and then brought the glass closer to my mouth to take a sip.
"It's not wine, it's blood," said Zephara and I immediately spat out what I'd just drunk. I felt a metallic and salty taste in my mouth and I almost gagged. I looked at the glass and saw that it was indeed blood, not wine.
"What the hell?" I exclaimed, wiping my mouth with a napkin.
"Sorry, I forgot to warn you. My parents, they only drink blood. They don't like wine or any other beverage," Zephara explained, looking apologetic.
" Are you kidding me?" I asked, wanted to throw up, blood is not something I wanted to taste.
" No and just drink water." said Zephara before turning back to her mothers.
So I wasn't going to be able to eat anything and all they do is argue, so why did you bring me back here, Zephara. I wanna go home.