Ink

Prologue

Rush hour at noon is overwhelming.

Especially in the heart of Illinkus.

Here, everyone is moving a mile a minute trying to get ahead, and then there are people like myself, who would rather be anywhere than in the center of all of the attention.

To alleviate the matter even more, it was the eve of the princes coronation, and everyone in the kingdom had gathered to catch a glimpse of the royal family.

As a recent graduate of DeLuce School for Gifted Minds, I supposed it wasn't that surprising I was here. Most of my fellow graduates looked for work in the kingdom as well, as the positions were the most prestigious in our nation. I knew I would end up here. Call it what you want, fate, and omen, the kingdom was my final destination, undoubtably for the rest of my immortal life.

Today was no regular day.

It was the day that I was accompanying my father to his offices in the Royal Financial Affairs section of the palace to discuss financial affairs within the castle.

My qualifications were unlike any other candidate for the position due to the fact that I was the top of my class, and had earned enough credit to graduate earlier than most of my peers.

When my father was informed that there was a position available for international financial mediator, he was quick to offer my name for service, and today was to be the first in what my father described as a short interviewing process (short because I was already guaranteed the job). His own had lasted nearly three months and had consisted of background checks and training. My father even hinted that the starting salary became more than negotiable. Not that money had been a problem for my family seeing as my father was a high up official, however, I was eager to gain some financial independence.

As we approached the gates of the castle, I noticed a man standing about ten feet from the giant metal bars in official uniform. He quickly whispered something into his headset before walking in our direction.

My father outstretches his hand to the man who shakes it firmly in return, and looks at me expectantly. I stick my hand out towards him and hold his gaze for a moment.

"Pleased to meet you." His green eyes narrow as he inspects my attire and then my face.

"Likewise." He grasps my hand in his own tightly and I'm almost tempted to grimace at the grip. As if sensing my slight twinge of pain his lips perk slightly before he turns to face my father once again.

"This way Mr. Nixon." He turns away from the gates of the castle and walks toward the way which we just came."Too many wondering eyes."

As we approach the road there's a black car parked on the side of the road. A sleek black Rolls-Royce.

This was definitely more low-key.

The back doors open and the green eyed man looks at us expectantly. I enter the car and slide to the opposite side of my father. The passenger door opens and shuts as the man enters and we drive off.

"Please do pardon the secrecy."The man begins."His majesty refuses to open the main gates on the eve of such an important day, and he does hope that you'll understand."

"Of course."Says my father promptly,"His majesty knows what is best for his son."

"I'm glad you understand." The man says before glancing back at me through the rear view mirror."I see you've brought someone else with you today, and seeing as though your scents are intermingled I'm guessing she's blood, a daughter perhaps Mr. Nixon?"

What? Not creepy at all.

"Why yes Klaus. She is my daughter, today is the first day-"

"Of her interviewing process, I'm aware Mr. Nixon. I wouldn't have allowed her to enter the car if I hadn't already been sure she wasn't a spy."

Someone's a little paranoid. I can't help but think.

His tone is demeaning and almost taunting towards my father. It makes me uncomfortable that he apparently knows so much about me when I only learned his first name a few moments ago, but judging by the smile that comes across his face in the mirror I can tell he already knows that. In fact, I'd even go as far as to say that he was pleased with my discomfort.

I begin to wonder how he came to know so much about me. Surely he must be quite high up in the kingdom to have access to my files.

"Your file was very interesting Alliana Nixon."I look into the rear view to see a pair of catlike green eyes peering at me with curiosity. "You graduated first in your class, and early, as well. I must ask, how did you do it?"I couldn't tell if his interest was genuine or false, but judging by the way my father reacted to his words, I was better of answering as if he was genuine.

"I studied very hard-" I begin before I'm abruptly cut off.

"I'm well aware of that Ms. Nixon, what I'm asking, however, is if you had any assistance in your academic successes?" Annoyance is clear in his tone.

What is he trying to accuse me of?

"Well."I pondered for a moment, turning my head away from Klaus's intense gaze."I had assistance from my professors from time to time-"

"Of course you did." His head turns until I'm looking at his profile, and his eyes almost seem to have illuminated.

Klaus's mouth twitches yet again."I'm aware that you don't understand. So we will have to pick this conversation up at a later date when you do." He turns back to the road.

I glance at my father who is already looking at me and raise an eyebrow, a gesture which he mimics to signal his understanding of my current emotions.

We turn a corner into a small neighborhood and then pull off to the side when we reach a generously sized house and Klaus steps out of the car.

"Please excuse me a moment." I watch was he walks up to the front door and knocks three times promptly before an elderly woman answers. They chat for a moment before the woman goes back inside of her house and the garage door begins to open. Klaus comes back to the car and resumes his place in the passenger seat. He looks at the watch on his wrist and nods in approval."Right on schedule, Ramone, enter please." The gentleman pulls into the garage and shuts off the engine. There's a slight rumble as the garage door begins to close and the room gradually gets darker. It's only a matter of seconds before the entire room is engulfed in darkness and silence.

"Please excuse the wait. Our systems have been running slow lately. I will report this to the engineering department." There's a soft clicking noise in the floor beneath us and Klaus turns toward me once again."You haven't seen anything yet." His green eyes are crackling with amusement when I jump as the car is lowered into the ground, beneath the house, and onto an entirely different high tech roadway that's underneath the city of Illinkus.

"Wow."I whisper as the platform that lowered us ascends back up into the garage.

"Wow indeed Alliana Nixon, welcome to the Royal underground." Says Klaus.

~
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