Meeting the King

Part 1

I awoke from my slumber, greeted with cold air. I closed my window swiftly before any more snow could enter my room. I looked around at my familiar room. It was my favorite place in my parent's mansion, I felt at peace. The white walls were surrounded with white furniture and cozy cream-colored blankets. It was clean but warmed my spirit. Unlike my friends, I wanted a clean room with barely any color.

I walked to my bathroom to quickly freshened up before the long day I was going to face. I curled my hair and applied some mascara before picking out a dress to wear to my classes. I was in my last week before finals, then I would be a college senior. I was so close to finally reaching the end of my long education.

"Alexia!" my father yelled from downstairs.

"I will be down in a second!" I yelled from my closet. I finished putting on my promise ring, a birthday gift from my boyfriend, sealing our future together. I added a scarf and matching hat to keep me warm. I grabbed my purse before quickly making my way downstairs.

My father awaited my arrival at the bottom of the stairs with a sorrowed look on his face.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Alexandria, it has come time for the 'conversation' that will change your life." My father's old face was no longer the happy face I had seen every day since I was born, he looked remorseful.

"What? What is going on?" I asked. He took my arm and we walked to the dining room, and our breakfast graced the long wooden table. My mother had our wood table carved in India a few years before she passed away. The table was now decorated with our breakfast china and silver utensils.

"It is a tragic day that I prayed would never come. There is a world that you have never seen before. There is another world beyond the suns called Everlasting, this place holds more than humans. It contains vampires and werewolves that survive a different way than we do on Earth. In Everlasting, they have Kings who rule the land. Humans are used as slaves for the vampires, or the humans are rich, teaming with the other creatures to get power. We were blessed by the Gods to live our life here on Earth as a wealthy family." He clasped his hands continuing his lesson. "Every wealthy family on Earth has the opportunity to be successful in Everlasting, too. To be successful there you must bore a daughter suitable for the King. Your mother and I had you, a beautiful young woman, which means you must go to the Everlasting castle. I wish I didn't have to send you off, but your brother and I will be murdered if we don't put forward our daughter. It is a better chance of survival to let you be taken."

"Father, have you lost your sanity?" I chuckled thinking maybe it was time for my father to get an in-home nurse.

"I know that you will not believe a word I say, but I speak the truth. As one of the wealthiest daughters on Earth, you are a strong contender to marry the King. If you do marry him, you will bring glory to our family name. If you don't succeed on marrying anyone while you are there, you could become a slave, and we will lose everything we have here on Earth. If the King doesn't choose you, another rich human, vampire, or werewolf can choose to marry you; this is your best bet for your survival. Be the woman every man wants, and our family name will gain more power than it has ever had before." He sipped his water.

"Father, there is no way any of this is true." I started munching on the crispy bacon from a serving platter.

"It does not matter if you believe me or not, it is the truth. The Everlasting Royal Guards will come to retrieve you tonight around sunset. I would skip school and pack a small bag to take with you or you will have nothing while you are there." He called over our maid. "Cecilia, could you please bring in our favorite dessert?" She nodded and left into the kitchen.