Journal 1: The Beginning

Empress Zenovia

"Goodmorning, Empress Zenovia." One of my maids greeted me.

"Goodmorning." She handed me my clothes. I unfolded a pale yellow dress, I continued to get dressed, showered, brushed my teeth. Sitting down at my vanity as the hairdresser starts on my hair, for the day. Once she was done I started out the door to begin my day. Walking down the hallway to meet my secretary. She was waiting for me at the end of the corridor with a folder in her hand.

"Goodmorning Empress Zenovia, here are all the reports for today." I grab the folders from her and take a look at the contents inside. The first page had a picture of a woman, older than me.

Lorna Newton
Age: 67
DOB: April 18, 4035
Location: Sella Palace
Notes: DECEASED

"What the hell? Umm..okay can you call a meeting with the research team ASAP?" I close the folderI began my walk to my office, my thoughts begin to run. I am beyond stressed out, someone died with another 4 sick. I reached my office, sitting the folder down on my desk. I glanced out my floor to ceiling windows looking over St. Clare. I don't know what's going on. This is the third time this has happened. I'm just now getting the hang of everything since I took over. My dad died before I could even start training, I don't know how I'm supposed to train Avery if I don't even know myself on what to be training her on.

"Knock, Knock," Looking away from the window I tell the person to come in.

"I called the research team for a meeting. The meeting is at 10 am." My secretary said,

"Okay, and when Emory comes in can you tell her I want to see her? In the meeting room."

"Yes, Empress Zenovia." She replied and left, shutting my door behind her.

I gathered my things, mainly the folder that was sitting on my desk. The meeting room was just down the hall, not too far from my office. It was already 7:20 am. I know Emory would be coming in, she's never late, for anything. I stood behind the chair at the head of the table, waiting on Emory. I hear the door creak open to which I didn't even look in that direction.

"There's been a situation at Sella Palace."

"What's the situation?" I heard her say. I finally looked at her and saw her daughter, my God-Daughter, was with her. I locked my eyes with hers. I don't want to tell her the briefing with her here. Emory caught my gaze and she told Nairobi to wait outside. I forgot today was the start of training. Me and Emory watched her walk out the room before she asked what was going on. I told her what was going on while leaving out some details. I didn't tell her someone died yet. I can't tell her too much. My phone rang, interrupting our conversation. I looked at the caller and it was my Husband, the Head Of Research.

"Hello?"

"Hey, I have the reports you need, I'll be in your office in about 15 min." His deep baritone voice came through the phone, we said our goodbyes and hung up. "That was Ivory, he wants to talk." I knew Nairobi was listening this whole time, I caught her movement from the corner of my eye, nothing gets past me.

Emory left and went to tend to her daughter, while I tried to figure out where mine was. Avery could never be on time for anything. I know she's around somewhere, I get up and head back to my office to hear what my husband has to say. Already knowing I already know what the outcome is going to be.

"Hey," I hear my Husband say behind me.

"Hey." Reaching over my desk to give him a kiss. "What are the results?" I said cutting to the chase.

" Well…" I can hear the hesitation in his voice. "First the research hasn't come up with anything. They are now beginning to check on the plants and animals. Second, the 3 people who were sick, died today. Doctors tried everything, they haven't been sick that long so they are going to check with natural causes to rule everything out."

I just lean back in my seat, taking the information all in. What am I going to do? If this starts to spread to the food then I don't know what to do. I want to blame my dad for leaving me with this mess, never training me on what I'm supposed to do. There are some things I know not to do such as I'm binded by law to not say anything to anyone, even my own husband.Or speak out to the public about anything that goes on. I have to make sure those who work for me and under me sign NDA's. If anyone sees something they are not supposed to see they must see me, they have to sign NDA's as well.

"Okay… Please keep me updated on the reports, let me know if someone else gets sick."

"Alright, I'll let you know, and I'll let my team know. Look, we are going to figure this out. Okay? It's nothing we can't handle." He said, I looked at him, he was giving me reassuring eyes. I hope we can.

"Yea, we are." I said goodbye to him, knowing I'll see him later on. Getting my mind off today's events I try to go find Avery knowing she's either in the cafeteria, or out in the courtyard. After looking for Avery for about 45 minutes, she was in the Courtyard with one of the guards.

Since Avery is coming to age to know about this position, I know I have to prepare her sooner or later. But should I put this stress on her right now? With this going on? Should I wait till after? How would I train her? With me knowing little to nothing.I shake my head at those thoughts. Me and Avery spent the rest of the day in my office. I told her I wasn't going to train her today. She sat there on her phone for the rest of the time. I had some other work I had to catch up on.

4:30 pm
My clock reads, time to go I have to pick up my son Ivory jr. from daycare. He was on the way to the living corridors. Thank goodness, I live here and I can walk a few doors down and be home.

I sit on my bed, thinking about the day I had. Getting news that someone died today is just outrageous. Some of the people that died were young, not to mention they are not the only ones. Just the only ones that are being reported. Many more people have died, that's why I'm so stressed, trying to hide this from my husband and the people can be tiring. If word got out people would panic, wouldn't know what to do, and I can't have that. I have a duty to do and I have to protect my people as well as my family. But what is really the main issue is who would I choose when that time comes?

My people or my family?