Just 19 years old, Aryanna Kollie was faced with the challenge of a lifetime: rule the continent of Africa.
Born in Washington D.C., USA, Aryanna (better known as Arya), lived a simple, quiet life. Her mother died while she was young and her father...
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I woke up at the perfect moment, minutes before we landed. I have to admit that my doing so was probably due to the loud announcement that the pilot made over the speakers. I looked around, blinking, as we hit the ground gently. I saw a crowd in the far distance; signs that I couldn't read were being waved around. But before us, at a much closer length, stood servicemen ready to lead my father and me to Doe Castle.
A lady rushed out from the back of the jet as I stood up, ready to go see if my father was up. "Princess!" she beamed, "out, that way!" she ushered me towards the door.
"Wait!" I called out, trying to look back, "What about my stuff?" The lady didn't care to hear it; she pushed me towards the front of the jet. I planted my feet so that I couldn't be pushed any further, "Doesn't my father have to walk out first?" I asked, "Isn't that protocol?"
The lady looked at two agents that stood behind her, seeming to not have an answer for me. The two agents nodded in unison, "Yes," one agreed with me, sounding frantic for some reason. "But your father's suit ripped badly while he was asleep. We need to get him a new one, and that might take a while. Follow the guards' lead when you walk out; they will direct you to Doe Castle safely." I gave up, ready to do as was asked.
Cheers erupted from the distance as the jet door fully opened, and I emerged, my right foot stepping out onto the platform before my left. I could not read any of the signs that commoners had been holding because they were far too far away, but I could tell that people were jumping. Salutes were given by the men who stood on the platform, each stair being occupied with a set.
As I made my way down the stairs, a single loud clap of thunder sounded unexpectedly, given the sky was a nice light purple shade, and the weather wasn't bad. I attempted my royal wave again, mentally grimacing the whole time, before entering the car that would take Dad and me to Doe Castle.
As I waited, I could see the same lady who attempted to force me out of the jet covering her face with a folder as she spoke to the men who had just saluted me. They nodded, and before she made her way back up the jet, she looked over at the limo that I sat in as if she wanted to make sure that I did not notice.
"What's going on?!" I called out to the front, as I had been among a whole new set of security. None of the people whom I shared that jet ride with were sitting in this car with me. Did Dad set me up? I grew more and more frantic as the car drove, with nobody giving me an answer. The security guards looked at one another, looking worried, but wouldn't dare turn their heads in my direction. I stiffened my jaw and attempted to unbuckle my seatbelt as the car was moving.
"No!" A guard finally spoke to me, lunging in my direction. "I promise you are fine, Princess. You will know what's going on soon enough."
