Dancing with Destiny: Love or Fate?

Coronation and Seduction

I went back to my room to shower and about an hour later Gramps came and told me that I should start getting ready for the coronation because afterwards it would take a long time to prepare for the ball. He handed me the dress I was to wear and left me to dress. I let my eyes span across the dress, and I have to admit that it was beautiful. It was completely white and when I put it on, it brushed the floor. The sleeves were long and shaped like bells. It hugged my curves perfectly. I walked over to the mirror in my closet and began to apply a light layer of makeup. Eye liner, lip balm, and mascara. I continued to stare in the mirror and let my thoughts drift to Malachai and I put my hair up in a loose bun.

I wonder how he is doing… He left the high school after the note was given to him. He must hate me. I would give anything to see him. To apologize to him. To beg for his forgiveness and try to explain everything. Only I couldn’t explain anything. I wasn’t allowed to tell a human anything, and he wouldn’t believe me anyways.

I groaned and let a few strands t the side of my head fall to my temples. A knock came from the other side of my bedroom door and I walked over to it. I rested my hand o the door, knowing this might very well be the last time I could see this room Surely the vampires would make me stay with the Prince. Maybe the Prince will come here, but Ii know I would no longer get to enjoy this room alone. I opened the door and came face to face to none other than…Gramps. He smiled at me and held out his arm. When I took it in mine, he began to speak.

“You look beautiful Waanaki. I’m just calling you Waanaki to help you get used to answering to it. Now you know what you are to do at the coronation. Hand to heart. Deep breaths. Don’t be nervous. Be brave. Your people need you. I love you.”

“I love you too Gramps. I’m sorry for the wrongs that I have done to you,” I said with tears threatening to spill.

He kissed me and led me into the main living room. When the doors opened, it took all I had in me to stop from gasping. The room was full of wolves of all shades of brown, auburn, and black. There was a plush velvet ottoman in the middle of the room and the Elders stood behind it. Gramps let me go and I walked over to the ottoman. I smiled at the Elder and bowed my head respectfully before taking my seat. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and when I opened them, each wolf had its paw on the others shoulder, symbolizing brotherhood and unity. The wolf directly in from of me lifted its paw, and I took it in my hand, smiling as I did so.

The room stayed silent as I guided the wolf’s paw to my chest. When his paw touched the skin that was in front of my heart, I felt a deep rumbling in the core of my being. My heart began to pound rapidly, and a fire like no other burned inside me. The burning became so intense that I wanted to drop my hand, but something told me not to. The pain began to die down and I took a shaky breath. The, without warning, the pain shot through my hear t like a bullet, and I could hold the cry inside. I shouted out, and the wolf dropped its paw from my chest.

“The deed is done,” an Elder said behind me. “Please welcome Rani Waanaki.”

I smiled as every wolf lifted its head and began to howl a song greater than all the famous singers combined. Every sound was different, and the sound came together to create a symphony greater and more meaningful than any I have seen in the sixteen years of my existence. When the song finally finished, another Elder began to speak.

“Everyone should go and get ready for the ball now. There are quite a lot of vampires here tonight. I will need you to be vigilant, because we will never know if one will decide to strike. At least five people should always be watching for our Rani and her grandfather.”

After all the Elders and my Gramps gave me congratulations, I ran upstairs to get ready. I went into my closet to my vanity and stared in the mirror. I laid all the makeup I owned out, looked at the dress, and began to apply my foundation. After a good layer of eyeliner and mascara was put on (I had to put on a lot so the eye part of the mask would look good) I stared at my lips. They were too…plain. I decided to dab on some red lip stain.