Black Queen

Chapter One: The Choosing

"Stop... Please...." I heard a faint unfamiliar voice whisper, heavy with sleep.
I flipped in my bed, pulling the covers over my head.
They always sleep talk. I thought to myself as I tried to go back to my slumber. The room, oddly quiet, slowly was filled with the creeks and cracks of mattresses as the girls around me attempted to wake to another long, depressing day.
The younger girls mumbled to one another, hoping, praying that maybe, just maybe, they'll get chosen today. Chosen for a new life. For a new family.
"Beth. Beth, wake up, today's Choosing day." I heard the Mother of the house call, yanking my blankets off of me. The room, as always, is extremely cold. My arms immediately grew goose bumps, surprised by the sudden touch of the frozen air. I grumbled, rolling over. "Why should I even get out there? No one ever picks girls my age."
"Beth, you must try." She said, her voice becoming gentle. "You never know. You're a beautiful young girl. Cute as a button." I sat up slowly, running my fingers through my hair.
"Fine... but I'm not gonna get picked. I'm too old" I say, flinging my legs over the bed.
My feet hardly reach the floor - lucky me. Its usually even colder than the air in the room.
Reluctantly, I hop off, gasping as my feet make contact with the stone floor. I run to my dresser quickly and pick out a dress.
I look around the room. Empty. Except a few of the younger girl's beds, everything strait and clean. Just as it should be in a orphanage.
I slowly undress, replacing my previous clothing with the almost identical, 'Fancier' clothing that we always wear on Choosing day.
"Beth! Get down here!" I heard the Mother call loudly. "I'm coming, I'm coming!" I yelled back, grumbling to myself quietly.
I made my way down the stairs, not bothering to be quiet. Being as clumsy as I am, I stumbled on the last few steps, tripping over my own feet.
"Oh!" I gasped as the floor zoomed at me at a breath taking rate. The floor couldn't have been more than two inches away from my face when it happened.
The ground was swept from under me, saving me from myself.
I shivered, the arms like ice around my waist. They felt stone hard, but also gentle in the was they caught me.
Before I had the chance to even blink, they were gone, leaving me in the big room at the bottom of the stairs by myself.
"Hello?" I called out, my voice echoing up the staircase.
Who could that have been?
I thought as I twirled around.
My hands made their was down to my waist, where the arms had looped themselves.
"Beth!" I heard the Mother scream angrily, the sound of her voice bouncing off the walls and ending my hands search.
"Crap!" I muttered softly as I ran to the Choosing room and stood with the other children and teenagers against the walls.
"Glad you've decided to join us, Beth." The Mother said as she glared at me.
I rolled my eyes and returned my hands to the cold spot on my dress. Why were the arms - or at least what I thought were arms - so cold? I thought to myself as the Mother divided us into age groups.
"Okay​, under the age of six, middle of the room. The rest of you know where to go."
We slowly divided, finding our individual groups.
My group, the 13-18 ages, migrated to the left side of the room. I let myself get pushed to the back and against the wall.
"Okay girls! Here come the families." The Mother said and slowly opening the door.
The door slowly swung open, revealing a small family of three.
"Hello!" The Mother said, walking forward to meet the man in the group.
"Hello." He said, his voice polite and soft.
"Welcome to Kindie Orphanage. Please, feel free to wander and choose a girl of your liking."
The Mother said, gesturing around the room.
I shrunk back into the corner of the room, sinking to the ground.
I don't want to get picked by them. I can't trust them. I can't trust anyone.
The family slowly stepped over the threshold of the house.
I watched they're feet through the crowd as they made their way to the children.
Of course. The children always get picked.
I leaned back, letting my head rest against the damp wall.
I am not getting picked. Ever.
The day dragged on, each family came and went, taking a kid in their turn.
At last the sun fell in the sky and cast a warm yellow glow across the room.
Finally the day was near its end.
Almost time for bed.
"Okay​ girls, one more family then we can all have a goods nights rest."
The Mother said, smiling softly at everyone.
She opened the door and a warm breeze blew into the room, sending my long hair to tickle my face.
On the other side of the door stood a couple.
Every girl around me gasped.
The women and the man were breathtakingly beautiful.
The woman, who's skin looked soft as silk, had long, black hair, which fell to the middle of her back. The man, although skinny, definitely has a dominant look to him. His hair was short and brown and he looked a foot taller than the girl.
They both smiled and walked to the Mother of the house stepped forward to greet them, obviously also stunned by they're beauty.
"H-Hello, I'm Genie. The mother of this house."
She held he hand out, offering a hand shake. "I would rather not. We both currently have the cold." He said, shaking his head politely.
"Okay, no problem." She said, staring at the man's features.
"What about your name?"
The man smiled. "My name is Rilee, and this is my wife Kassie, or Kass."
The Mother - or Genie - smiled back. "What lovely names. So are you here to adopt a girl?"
Kass nodded, looking around the room.
"Okay​, any age preference?"
"I would say in the teens. Around the ages of 13 through 16."
All the girls in my ground started adjusting their hair and clothes, hoping to be picked.
I, of course did nothing to prepare. If they we're gonna pick me, they're going to have to take me as is.
The couple held hands and made they're way through the crowed, giving small talk till they ended up near me.
"Hello young lady." Rilee said, crouching down beside me. I looked up slowly, "Hello."
He smiled softly, his eyes searching my face and like usual, I did not betray my emotion.
He stood up and walked away to talk to his wife. They talked quickly, using only whispers.
She looked over his shoulder at me and then back at him.
Finally they parted and turned towards me and started walking slowly and carefully.
Once they reached me, they crouched and looked me in the eye.
"What's your name?' Kass asked, cocking her head to the side in curiosity.
"My name is Beth." I replied softly, not meeting her gaze. "Well, Beth. How would you like to be adopted today?"
I looked at her in shock. "Y-You want to adopt... me?"
Kass looked back at Rilee, laughing softly, he voice tinkling like bells.
Rilee smiled with humor, looking me in the eye, "Of course we want to adopt you."
Me!? They want to adopt me? How could people like this, want some one like... Well, like me!?
"Um...."
The question is, should I trust them?
"Take the time to decide." Kass said, nodding. "Its a big decision."
They're so nice. How can I not go with them?
"I-I would love too." I said, my voice cracking slightly.
They both grinned wildly and stood up. "Well, lets get home then."
I stood up as they turned around to make their way through the crowd.
Home. I thought. I've never had a home before.
Whispers rose from the group of girls around me, some of congratulations and some rude.
"Why her?" Someone whispered to a red head who turned to gossip about it.
It's my time. After 15 years, its finally time for me to go home.
At last, they reached the Mother.
"We've chosen Beth. We would like to adopt her." Rilee said, taking Kass's hand.
The Mother smiled at me, most likely excited that I was finally leaving.
Rilee and Kass did the paperwork, placing me in they're custody.
"Ready Beth?" Kass asked as we walked out the door, her and Rilee hand in hand. "I just can't... believe I'm leaving." I said when we reached the last step and stepped onto the sidewalk.
I turned to look at the house I spent my whole life in. The brick's red barely visible in the faint glow of the sun.
Kass stopped, turning back towards me. "Is everything okay Beth?" She asked, returning to my side.
"I'm fine, I just cant believe I'm finally leaving..." I say, holding back tears of joy.
"Well, now you never have to go back." I heard Rilee say behind me.
I nodded, turning towards them.
"So... Where to now?" I asked them they led me to their car.
They stopped beside a red one, Kass opening the door for me.
I slipped in and before she shut the door, Rilee said,
"Now, we go home."