Deserving of More

Chapter Two: An Invitation

The envelope came flying across my desk and landed squarely atop my computer's keyboard.

"Delivery," came the flatly toned announcement from the Corporal in the doorway before he walked away.

I looked down at the white rectangle. It looked very formal. Official. My name written on it in beautiful calligraphy.

"Lieutenant Minerva K. Vasa"

I turned it over to open it. Blue sealing wax, with a "W" stamped into it. I wondered who I knew that would a) invite me to something so formally, b) know what my middle initial was, c) had W for an initial. I quickly broke the seal, and pulled out the contents of the envelope. What I saw both surprised and confused me. I had to read it twice just to make sure.

"Duke William Baldwin extends this invitation to you to attend a celebration in honor of our beloved King Chester so that we may acknowledge his generous spirit and giving heart.

23rd of September, 5:00 p.m., Scottsdale."

What? How was this possible? This had to be wrong. Fake. Someone trying to be funny. Right? I picked up the envelope again. Return address was Scottsdale. Duke William's estate out in the desert. My head swam as I dialed my office phone.

"Hey," Cara's voice came from the receiver.

"You're not going to believe what I am holding in my hand right now," I told her.

"Oh really? Should I take guesses or will you just tell me now?"

"You know that thing Duke William has been posting about?"

"Yeah, the humanitarian/philanthropy thing or whatever."

"Yeah, that. I got an invitation."

"What?"

"Yeah, I don't get it either, but here it is. Formal wording, my name on the front in calligraphy, sealing wax. The whole deal. And not even like "Hey, come be on the security team" kind of invitation. A real one."

"I'm stunned."

"I am too. It's why I called you."

"Are you gonna go?"

"Well since I'm invited, I think I have to. I'm kind of scared to death, though."

"Really? Why?"

"Duke William. Queen Veronica. The Dowager Queen. A couple of the Royal Children. They're all gonna be at this thing. They're them. I'm me. I do not belong there."

"Well, apparently someone thinks you do."

"Yeah," I mused, "I wonder who."

"This is so great!" Cara gushed, "I feel special knowing someone so important!"

"I'm not important," I corrected.

"The kingdom seems to disagree."

"I'm gonna go," I sighed, "I need to RSVP to this."

"Yes, do it. Before you wimp out."

"Shut up. Bye."

I hung up before she could say anything else.

The invitation had an internet address to respond to. I typed it in, and confirmed my attendance. Still in disbelief, but I did it anyway. Part of me couldn't help but wonder if it was a mistake. It didn't seem like one. Time would tell. I still had a few weeks to make arrangements to travel. I'd never been to the desert. Some heat would be a nice change from seven-month winters.

* * * * *

The room I was in was unfamiliar. Warm. Inviting. But foreign to me. Rich wood. Lush plants. A table, set with coffee service. Small. Intimate. For two.

"Minerva."

I startled a little at my name being spoken. And not just because I was used to being addressed by my title. The voice that spoke it. I turned in the direction from which it came and stopped breathing.

"Your Majesty," I exhaled in a whisper, dropping to my knees, and lowering my head.

"Please," he said, taking my hand in his, "Nothing so formal. Chester."

I raised my head and my eyes in his direction. That smile. I missed it so much. He lit up everything when he smiled. His dark eyes sparkled, outshining the brightness of the room. He squeezed my hand and helped me to my feet before leading me to the little table.

"Please," he said again, gesturing for me to sit. I meekly complied, very aware of how anxious I was. Couldn't even get rid of the plague in a dream. I awkwardly brushed my hair behind my ear as he poured coffee into the cup in front of me. Even with my shallow breathing, it smelled heavenly. I swallowed as he poured some for himself and set the pot back where it had been off to the side, but between us.

"Your Majesty. I-" I began once I found the strength to inhale.

"Chester," he corrected with a smaller version of the smile he'd given me a few moments ago.

"Chester," I forced myself to say through the effort of breathing, "I don't understand. What is all this? Is this a dream?"

"Of course it is," he replied, "I'm dead."

"Damn," I said as quietly as possible, "I was hoping that was the dream."

"Aww!" he exclaimed, "You're sweet. Unfortunately, that part is very real. But I needed to talk to you, and I thought this would be nice."

"You needed to talk to me?" I asked, blinking in disbelief.

"Yep," he confirmed, "That event Duke William is throwing?"

"That was an accident, wasn't it?" I inquired.

"No," he shook his head firmly, "That was no accident. You should be there."

"But why? I'm not anybody. Not important."

His eyes dulled with a hint of sadness, and I found my hand in both of his.

"You are important," he informed me, "But aside from that, I want you to be there. There are things you need to see."

"Things I need to see?" I felt my brow furrow in confusion. He gave a small nod.

"Things aren't as they seem," he quietly told me, "Appearances can be deceiving."

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

The sound tore through the serenity of the room.

"What is that?" I wondered aloud.

"Your alarm," he said with a chuckle.

"Oh. I guess I'll be leaving then."

"We'll talk again soon," a smile graced his features once again, "I promise."

My eyes flew open to the darkness of my bedroom, my alarm beeping its discontent at being set off. I slapped it into silence and rubbed my eyes. I grabbed my glasses and slid them over my nose. The action brought everything into focus, literally and figuratively. The dream I just woke from flooded my conscious mind.

"Things I need to see?" I asked out loud, peeling back the bedcovers and sitting up, "Things aren't what they seem?"

I plodded to the kitchen and started my coffeemaker. While it brewed that lovely elixir of sustainable brain function, I went back to the bedroom, and after grabbing my phone, I sent Cara a message.

"Stop by my office after school? Need to talk to you. Not deathly urgent."

I shuffled back to the coffeemaker and got some of the essential liquid before going back to my room again. My phone was blinking. Cara.

"Yep. You didnt wimp out, did you?"

I sighed as I opened the closet door and started gathering pieces of my uniform.

"No," I thought,"And I sure as hell can't now."