As the chauffeur opened the limousine's rear door, camera flashes blinded Giora and Balke. Giora grunted but she dealt with it. Balke however nodded, smiled, and waved. With a gentle grab by the hand, Balke helped Draga out of the car. She straightened her dress again but her eyes were bombarded with bright flashes. When Taren stepped out, his heart suddenly dropped. Below his feet was a blue and white carpet leading to the entrance of the castle. To his left and right, both kalurins and humans were either cheering them on or threatening them with harsh slurs such as "Ponce Lover" and "Rhac Fucker".
Giora quickly turned to her children. "If the journalists shove mikes in your face and ask you questions, don't answer them. Just say "no comment."
The two responded with a quick nod and the family walked down the aisle. Knight officers blocked the protesters, but funny enough, some gave bad looks. News reporters asked random questions such as "Will your children take over the Kinzar name when you retire?" and "Will the kalurins be able to stay or leave?" The family ignored them and walked on. The doors of the castle's outer gates automatically opened and they all walked in. On the other side where the castle's gardens; littered with arrays of beautiful blue and white flowers. Taren and Draga felt a little relaxed after all the bombardment of people. Even though some shouted racial slurs at them, the siblings were too focused on reporters asking them questions and theirs lingering in their minds.
"Hmm... doesn't surprise me that there's no one to escort us in." Giora said, irritated. Walking down a white-bricked path.
"Well, we've been here more than a thousand times." Balke said. "It doesn't surprise me either."
Taren and Draga followed their parents. The garden was huge, possibly bigger than their own back home and about 30 feet away, bricked walls barricaded the outside world. Draga looked up to see knight officers patrolling and looking down at them. One of them winked at her, but Draga rolled her eyes and faced forward. Taren looked to his right to see kalurins maintaining the gardens. A few looked at him with either forced smiles or blank faces. Taren realized that the female kalurins wore white maid outfits with a metal collars around their necks. Four black spikes decorated it and were pointed at their lower jaw and nape.
The same went for the males but instead, they wore blue butler suits. Taren hasn't seen one of these collars in person. He read up about them some time ago and knew that they were used to stop a kalurin from transforming into their bestial forms. He thought it was cruel and unnecessary, but there was nothing he could do.
-
Seconds later, the Kinzars sat in the main lobby. Giora however grew impatient, pacing back and forward. "The meeting starts in three minutes, what the hell are they doing up there?!"
Suddenly the desk receptionist called them over. "Kinzar family: the royal family will now have you upstairs!~" He said with a seemingly happy tone. "Just use this elevator and go up three floors."
"Thank you." Balke said.
The family did just that, but Taren had that sinking feeling again. One last time, he remembered all the questions he wanted to ask, but Draga tapped his shoulder. He saw her smile at him and whispered "you got this!". Giora pressed the up button and they all got in the elevator. It wasn't long before the doors opened to the third floor, but before they could go into the throne room, they had to be scanned and disinfected. The process didn't take long since they all had to go in individually.
Draga was the first to come out. On the other side of the disinfection chamber was a long hallway, leading to the throne room. The floors were shiny and made of milky white marble, with a long blue and white carpet leading to the doors. Before she could walk, a sharp pain stabbed her heart. Draga groaned, but it went away as soon as she touched her chest.
It was weird because something like this barely happens to her, but the tapping of shoes from behind caught her attention.
Taren walked up to Draga and jokingly asked "Were you clean?" but Draga continued rubbing her chest.
"Are you ok?" He asked, seeing Draga's discomforting expression.
"Yeah, just a weird ache."
Minutes later their parents came through, but something was off. They both stood there like statues with half widen eyes and shaking hands. Draga twitched her tail out of confusion while Taren tilted his head a bit.
"Mom? Dad?" Are you ok?" Draga asked.
They continued to stand there. "Yes, just was thinking about another question I had to ask." Giora finally said. "Come, as soon as we get in here, the sooner we can get out!" She said, grabbing Balke by the hand.
"Yes, when we see the royal family. Stand straight and smile." Balke said walking by.
Taren squinted a bit. "Since when did they start holding hands??" Draga whispered to Taren.
"Since never. I guess just for representation?"
-
The family stood in front of the throne room's doors. Taren looked up with nervous intent, but Draga gazed at her father. He seemed tense and sweat rolled from his forehead. Before she said something, the doors were opened by maids. The Kinzars stood in a proper posture and they walked in. The room was beautiful and big like an ancient cathedral. Sunlight shined in from tall windows on the left and behind the thrones. Chandeliers made of white and blue marbles hung and below, blue and white runway carpet. Taren looked up and inches away the royal family sat on thrones.
In the middle was the king, to his left: the queen, and finally the princess to the right. They were all decorated in unique ways; the king's had orange and red crystals making up most of it and the queen's with purple and black. Their daughter had a throne made of plants, flowers, and tree trunks. A small primate-like creature made of tree bark and plants sat in her lap along with two others sitting close to her feet.
It was hard for Taren not to show his intimidation, but the way the king looked down at him made it hard to look into his eyes.
"You may approach." He said with a raised hand and seemingly positive grin.
YOU ARE READING
THE KINZAR SAGA: VOLUME 1
Fantasy"The murdering of loved ones, hate, or abuse can make the most kind-hearted of people into demons; seeking vengeance or any way to soothe their bloodlust and goals. Sometimes, doing the wrong thing can be the right thing. Justice should never be vio...
