Meeting the King

Part 2

I walked to the front door and opened it. A single man stood in front of me. He was a wearing a black sweatshirt that clung to his large chest. He didn't look very "Royal Guard." He looked like a regular guy.

"Hello, Miss Wilson. I am here to escort you to Everlasting." He did not smile and remained monotoned.

"What is your name?" I turned to retrieve my bag, but he got there first. "Oh, my! How did you do that?" I was stunned at his movements. He had moved at lightning speed.

"I am Harrison, I happen to be a werewolf, Miss." He took my bag outside.

"Oh."

"Come." He demanded, his voice was stern. "I am sorry, this is the worst part."

"What do you-" I felt a sharp pinch in my neck, and all I could see was black.

When I woke up, my head hurt so bad. It was a burning pain that consumed every cell in my brain. I screamed and screamed, but the pain wouldn't go away. I felt something wet on my arm, and the pain quickly stopped. I looked up to see what it was. I only saw Harrison on his knees. 

"What did you do?" I questioned.

"I am a werewolf, my saliva has healing components, so I healed you."

 "Where am I?" I dismissed his comment and looked around. I was in a small room with two large paintings of people on the walls on either side of my bed. The walls were a dark bougie red with black crown molding around the top. My small twin bed was uncomfortable and squeaked as I moved. I sat up to get a better look at my surroundings. 

"You are in a guest bedroom in Everlasting. We are in the Capital, in His castle."

"Who's castle?" I almost begged for more answers. 

"You will learn about the King soon enough. Go get ready for the ball. I will take you."

I scrambled to my suitcase, feeling rushed, I had no clothes for a ball!

"No, you have a personal dresser, go into that closet." He pointed to a door in the corner. I walked into the biggest closet I had ever seen in my life. A young woman waited for me at the other side of the large closet. She looked a little older than me, lines starting to form around her eyes. She wore a black pants suit without its matching jacket. 

"Come sit." She waved me over. "My name is Elise. I will be doing your makeup, hair, and dressing you until the competition is over." She was very formal, almost like this was a business.

"Um, okay?" She had four ball gowns on mannequins lined up in front of me. 

"I am going to get started." She started to paint my face with unnecessary makeup. I felt like I was in a dream. Nothing felt real. Harrison and Elise seemed like a figment of my imagination. I started to think about home and how much I already missed it. I missed my bed, my wonderfully comfortable bed. I thought about my bright bedroom and compared it to the dark room I resided in now. My recollection of home created tears in my eyes, bring up so many questions.

Will I ever return home to my comfy, familiar room? Where is my dear father? Who is the King everyone is talking about? 

"So, how does this 'competition' work?" I asked.

"I am not allowed to speak about it, there is a large ball held to introduce the ladies to the competition. They will explain everything there. It is the first of many extravagant parties you will attend. I want you to pick your dress." She shifted my attention to the four large ball gowns in front of me. "Which one would you like to wear?"