From the Heart

Chapter One

"There can be no failure to a man who has not lost his courage, his character, his self respect, or his self-confidence. He is still a King." -Orison Swett Marden

Four years ago

The King stared into the mirror. He was certainly blessed and certainly he knew he was gorgeous. He had beautiful light brown eyes and reddish brown hair that fell past his shoulders. "Remind me," He said, turning away from the mirror. "Why do you want to live with those pathetic mortals?"

"My best friend is human," his sister sighed. "And her parents are gone. Horrible things have happened to her and I can't abandon her, especially for this stupid throne!"

The King sighed. "Fine. Go ahead and prepare. You won't be returning soon. I'll take you tomorrow, understand?"

"Yes brother," she turned and walked out of the King's study.

The King's sister was beautiful as well, she had bright orange hair and a freckled face, and light brown eyes just like the Kings.

The King turned back towards the mirror and examined his beauty more intensely. He had beautiful tan skin and when he looked close enough he could see little gold flecks in his eyes.

I guess it's true then, he thought. I really was blessed by a god.

"Your highness," a guard interrupted.

"Franz, what have I told you about interrupting me?"

"I'm sorry , sire, but it's urgent. There's a lady here, she claims to be another suitor for you. I tried to turn her away and tell her that we have already begun to find you a wife, but she wouldn't leave."

"Fine. I'm coming." The King glanced at his appearance one more time and then followed Franz out the door.

The palace was huge. The walls were all painted Wolfdoms color, blood red, and the lighting fixtures were all black. The King had thought about adding some gold to match his eyes, but his sister wouldn't let him change the castle.

"Your highness, I saw Ms. Odessa storm out of your room, is everything alright?"

Why was Oddie mad? She seemed fine when she left!

"I'm not sure Franz. Our conversation went quite well."

"You do know she's leaving tomorrow?"

"Yes, ah, about that." He paused in the middle of the hall.

"Yes sire?"

"Can you drive her to wherever she's going?"

"Your highness, I think she would best appreciate it if you drove."

"I'm too busy, Franz. Now where is this lady?"

"Right down this hall sire."

The King through a large, ornate doorway into his throne room. His throne was beautiful. Beautiful just like me!  He thought.

The throne was pure gold and encrusted with diamond on all sides, the rest of the room was painted that horrid blood red with the king's emblem hung on the walls. The emblem was the figure of a wolf howling at the moon; they were a kingdom of werewolves.

The lady stood in front of the king's throne, not really a lady. She's way too old for me! EW!

"Hello, your highness." The lady spoke, her voice was raspy and her lips barely moved. She had white hair and wrinkly skin. It looked as though someone took a piece of paper, crumpled it up as much as they could, and then made a person out of that paper.

It took all the resilience the King had not to run away.

"Hello. Franz tells me you are here to be a suitor?"

"Not quite. Franz, leave." This enraged the King, who was she to dismiss his soldier?!

Franz left, "What do you want?" his expression changed.

"You will marry me." The King was shocked at the audacity of this lady.

"What?" he gaped.

"You will marry me. I will become your queen."

"No thank you. I have plenty of beautiful women who need me more than you, old hag!"

The old lady smiled, "Fine have it your way dearie!"

The lady muttered something, "What was that?" The King asked.

Then a flash of green filled the room, the King felt something he hadn't felt in forever. He felt like he was changing, back into a werewolf.

Once he could see again he shrieked, "Guards! Get her!"

But everyone was gone, it seemed the lady had taken everyone, leaving the King alone. He noticed a paper on the ground. The King struggled to sit up, once he finally sat up he examined himself. He was covered in fur the same color as his hair, and he had paws! He had been right, that evil old lady had turned him into a wolf.

He picked up the note, on the creamy paper read:

Osiris, The only way back comes from inside the heart.