Alpha King and I

Chapter 5: The Kingdom

My body felt cool, then warm. Too warm. Something was on me.

I open my eyes.

I am surrounded by the see-through silk fabrics of a canopy bed. I sit up and view my surroundings. All around me are walls covered in paintings of obscure beings. To my closest view, the paintings include those of a large wolf standing next to a man of equal height, a weird pointed eared creature with four eyes, a man who smiles with horses teeth and a purple tongue, and a normal looking woman in a decorative silk kimono with a taller man who had unfeathered wings and golden reptilian eyes.

Above in front of the canopy of the bed is a chandelier made of the same strange purple material, now looking at it, it must be some type of gem. It shimmers above the room and provides some added light. A barred window to the very corner diagonal from me, reminds me that I am not here by choice.

My face still hurts like hell. One of my hand slips up to check if its still blistered, it's not. Completely healed. I wonder how long it took. I don't even know how long I've been out. I'm not even wearing my own clothes. I'm dressed in some type of gown, but I can't see what it is below me due to the linens still covering my body. I pull them down and see that I'm wearing some type of ivory nightshirt made of a fabric I've not felt before. It's smooth but cool feeling when nothing is on it. It's thicker and more knit-like than a silk, but its definitely not a cotton.

An old lady is sitting beside me. She's as short as me, and filled out more so. A corset looks to be tightly wound around her waist. Below that corset looks to be parts of a dress, older style like Victorian times. She smiles at me. Bringing her hand close to my leg. I try to pull away, but she presses down firmly.

"Don't scream yet sweetheart, know I can take you down in two seconds flat. Cookies?"

She's not smiling anymore. More of a stern look. I don't know why, but I nod my head in agreement. Cookies just sounded good. I just need to figure out what's going on. I can't do that if I'm hungry.

She hands me a cookie, it tasted nutty and fruity, but not of any nut nor fruit I could think of off the top of my head. I look down on it as I continue to chew and try to see if I can recognize any of the shapes sticking out from the cooked dough. Dark violet and deep brown colors are all I can see, still nothing that matches the taste. I look back at the lady. It's then I realize she too has no aura, like that man. She doesn't even have a temporary one.

"His highness won't be back for a few more hours. Let's not cause any trouble hmm?"

"His highness?" I raise my eyebrow as I look at her with my question. It's at that moment I notice the biggest picture in the room. Only slightly bigger than the rest, but still noticeably bigger. I'm embarrassed I didn't see it before. In it, is Gustav in a very fancy Victorian style suit with medals along his shoulder and a crown made of the purple gem. The crown was tinted with red and looked to have a design of various organs being stabbed through all along it's tips. Before she can answer me I speak again.

"You mean Gustav? Oh I mean, what is his name miss?" She smiles again and pats lightly on my leg.

"The Terra realm doesn't teach these things? We know your king! How rude..." She chuckled at me as she said such. I was a bit confused, but in favor of not voting myself out as crazy nor her, I continued to listen. Waiting for her to answer my question. Finally she spoke again.

"His name. Cadeth Haerstone, King Haellraiser as he's affectionatly referred to by us maids. Alpha Stone in close company, such as with you miss. King of Devaleon realm, the main realm of us Werewolves." Can't rule crazy out yet.

It's all a bit too much to believe. I need proof. Though is being in such a weird place with all of these paintings and this lady some type of proof? It could be a prop. Werewolves are not real, obviously she is making some of this up. I finish my cookie and she hands me another one. Again she speaks.

"You heal incredibly slow for a Werewolf deary. You were out for three days. Eat, eat, as many as you need!" Another smile and more soft pats. A shade of yellow aura flashes around her for just a moment, but it's gone before I could blink. Yellow equals worry. Why do they keep disappearing? Back to auraless, but at least now I know I little about her feelings. I think I like this lady. I need to correct her though. I can't let this lie continue. I'm human. Not whatever she's imagining. I try to be as polite as possible.

"Miss?"

"Ms. Sunya. Call me Baba, everyone does."

"Miss Bab-"

"Baba dear."

"Yes, Baba. Thank you... I'm not a Werewolf." I could feel my cheeks warm. I was hoping to be a little more tactful, but she just kept correcting my title usage. I looked up to see her reaction. Hoping she wasn't upset. Mother would have been. I took in a deep breath.

She was looking at me as if I'd just jumped in front of a moving train. Worried, but then a huge smile crossed her face. She started laughing in fact. For a good minute. I exhaled. My eyes dashed left to right. Trying to avoid the awkwardness. At least she was okay. Baba put the rest of the cookies down on my lap and got up. She started walking away. I could hear slight chuckling still. When she got to the door, she stopped. Her face turned toward me. Her words came out almost in song.

"Of course you know nothing! He really is a hellraiser! You're in for a surprise sweetheart. I look forward to the later gossip about your soon to be revelation! I'll prepare extra cookies to celebrate!"

"O-okay..." She doesn't believe me. Or I don't believe her? I don't know. Either way this is weird. I want to talk with her more, find out more. Enjoy her company, even if she is a bit off. But I don't want to bother her.

I'm scared.

She leaves. The door locked close behind her.

I put the cookies next to me and out of my lap. My throat itches, and this time I don't fight it. Tears roll from my eyes to the sheets. I cry until it hurts too much to let out any more. Then I force it all back in.

I'm making the best of this. Crazy or not. No matter what.

Whatever the hell's going on.