The Hidden City

Chapter 4

Authors Note: The last chapter I accidentally named it Chapter 4, it's actually chapter 3.. so yeah.. also please don't forget to comment, like, and vote!

We walked into the ball room, looking at all the servants running around with trays and towels, decorating and cleaning. They spoke in rushed voices, voicing orders this way and that. I sighed, and we left the room and went outside, looking at the ground with wonder. The grounds outside the kingdom were expansive, covering many leagues. The ground was never really a base, it led to other dimensions and kingdoms. It was like a portal, always opening up to other civilizations. They could be opened anywhere, anytime. You just had to know where you were going, and you would get there. Not everybody was open to them, of course. Only the people that the ground saw fit. The ground here was spiritual and accounted for many prophecies in our culture. If you're heart has good intentions, then you can pass into other dimensions. Every time you cross, this must be reported to the king. That's what we called it. Crossing. Crossing into other dimensions, civilizations, and cultures. It was extremely dangerous, and not everybody came back.

It was weird. The tops of trees could be the beginning of another one. If you dived too far deep into an ocean or lake, you could come crashing down from the sky into another world.

We walked to the lake and sat beside it's crystal blue water, watching nymphs, sirens, and mermaids dive and swim back into the water, making intricate patterns in the air and causing the water to ripple out across the expansive lake. Getting an animal was an extremely spiritual and serious thing. It meant you received an animal that reflected your soul, and they would stay with you for the rest of your life. Nerus had a mermaid, Eurybia. Mermaids were extremely dangerous and cunning in their wild form. Demi had a large deer, which were incredibly fast and smart. Her name is Nemesis. Anemone has a hawk, whose name is Eos. An animal is different than a beast. A beast is like an animal except everybody can have them and they can die. However, if I die, then my animal dies as well, usually of heartbreak.

"What do you think you're animal will be?" Ebony asked, bringing me out of my thoughts. "I honestly don't have any clue. I just hope that it will be something large and not small." We watched the sun hang in the sky, and we knew it was time to go back. When we got to the gates a maid rushed out to greet us, apologizing and ushering us back inside the castle. "The king, along with the queen, have wanted to know about you're whereabouts for the past few hours. They wanted to rehearse what you were going to do when the ceremony started." Oh. Well then. I'd best get back. "Where are they?" She hesitated, and I encouraged her to tell me. "Apologies, madam, but the king has requested I bring you here myself." "Oh for the love of God, alright then"

We were brought to him, and the maid quickly addressed him. "My king, Serafine and Ebony are here." He turned around slowly, as if in a dream. "Father? Are you alright?" I asked, gazing at his face. It was so calm, almost eerie. "Serafine!" My mother shouted, breaking father out of his spell. "Where have you been? We have had maids running around the courtyard trying to find you. We have to rehearse for what you are going to do during the ceremony. Come with me, please." I walked over to her, unwilling to rehearse. The next hour went by in a craze of memorizing what I am to do, act, and speak. A ringing sound reverberates throughout the room and I look up. Father speaks up. "The first of the guests are arriving. Please walk with me to the front gates." All of us, including my sisters and their counterbodies, make our way to the gates.

"I'm so happy for you, Serafine!" Nerus says as we stand at the gate. Demi and Anemone giggled at something Mother had said. "Thank you so much! I'm excited to soon receive my animal." I hated this. I hated having to speak so formally. As if I felt no personal care to my family at all. I hated having to call my parents "Father" and "Mother". Having to speak to my sisters with the utmost care.

We escorted our guest, a lord from a different kingdom in a separate dimension, to the ballroom. He had come with three other me and an elderly woman in a green floor length dress, with soft white hair. We got to the ballroom and mother stayed with them so we could go back for more guests. I sighed inwardly.

Guests began to flow through the gates and we no longer had to greet them outside because there was too many. They were dressed elegantly, in long dresses and suits. I almost began to nod off at having to listen to someone talk about how their maid served them lemonade instead of jasmine tea. I shot father  grateful look when he called me over to his table." You looked like you were going to burst with excitement over there." I laughed and reveled in the rare amount of time we got to spend together. The lights began to dim and father told me it was starting.  Father's advisor, Arod, called me up to the raised platform and announced why everybody was here, and how important this was. Blah, blah, blah. He finally got to the part when I would receive my animal. I felt my nerves begin to buzz with anticipation. This was it.

The ground began to swirl with smoke and fog, flickering gray and green. I felt pain everywhere. I writhed in silent agony and torture until it subsided. The smoke suddenly turned red and orange, clearing out to display a small baby dragon.