Katera

Chapter 2: Discovery of Katera

The next night prepared to leave her apartment, so she grabbed her bow and arrows and threw on a black jacket and pulled the hood over her head. On her way out, she grabbed her satchel and placed the Myths and Legends book inside it then Maria left and ventured into the woods in hopes of finding the city of Katera and the stranger she had met the prior night. While she was traveling through the woods, she was slightly scared but her confidence out weighed her fear. She eventually arrived at the exact spot she came across the stranger and supposed vampire prince of Katera.

"Okay, I'm where I saw him last." Maria thought to herself as she began to imagine the prior night. She went through each past moment in her mind, like watching a play-by-play. Then it came to her. "He must've headed northeast, that is the way I shall go then." After that being said, she continued on in her journey. She walked as what seemed for hours, until she came to a parting in the woods. She looked past the bushes and saw a sign that had faded letters that spelled out "Katera".

Maria had finally arrived at the City of Katera, but she wanted to be careful. She looked up from the sign and saw two men not far off. So she decided that she'd try to get there attention.

"Hey! Are you busy?" Maria called out successfully grabbing the attention of both guys. They walked over to her and asked her a question.

"What do you want?" One of the men asked in a snooty tone.

Maria quickly gathered herself, but was somewhat afraid to speak due to knowing that these guys were most likely vampires. But she didn't let that bother her, so she surpassed the thought of fear and spoke. "I..I am here to speak to the prince."

"You hear that Hukai? The lady wants to talk to the prince. What makes you think the prince would waste his time talking to you?" the other guy asked

"I don't know Tassu, maybe the lady's lost her sense of logic." Hukai replied teasingly

Maria stared at the men with a frown on her face as they began to laugh. "No, I'm serious. I must speak to the prince. Now if you two can't help me make that happen, then appoint me to someone who can. All I'm doing is making a request, so will you help or not?"

"Fine, I'll go and ask the prince if he pencil you in to his busy schedule." replied Hukai as he began to walk away leaving Maria alone with Tassu in silence.

After a minute passed Tassu decided to break the silence "So, what's so important that you be here, if may ask?"

"I'd rather not discuss it with you." After Maria said her reply, everything went back to silence.

Just a few minutes later Hukai returned to them.

"So, what did he say?" Maria asked out of curiosity

"Looks like your in luck, the prince isn't very busy tonight. So he is willing to see you. But if you go, you're going to have to hand over your bow and arrows. Don't worry, you'll get them back when you leave." Hukai replied

"Fine." Maria stated as she began to disarm herself.

Tassu then took the bow and arrows from Maria.

"Right this way." Said Hukai as he lead the way to the prince.

As they walked through the city Maria noticed everyone staring at her. She felt slightly uncomfortable and scared, as she did not have her bow and arrows to defend herself if need be. Soon they arrived at a palace-like structure and entered the building.

"Well, here we are. Now, you wait here. The prince will be here shortly"

Maria then waited in what seem to be the throneroom with about twenty people standing of to the sides of the room. It wasn't much of a wait till the prince showed up and sat down with his assistant standing nearby. Sure enough it was him, the man whom she had come across the prior night.

"Now that I am here, what is it that you wanted to speak to me about?" The prince asked kindly

"I am pleased to meet you your majesty."

"You can call me Prince Adari, but majesty also works if that is what you prefer."

"Well then, Prince Adari, I have not only came here to talk but also to return something to you." Maria said in confidence as she reached into her satchel to pull out the crown. As she did so a wave of slight panic came over her, but she hastily dismissed it. Maria then held the crown in her hands. "Here, I found this on the path and figured it belonged to you. When had found it then, I tried to give it back. But by that time you were already gone. So I decided I would do whatever it took to get back to you. And now, here I am."

The prince partially shocked and surprised at this information.

"Suri." said the prince as he gestured as his assistant

Suri, the prince's assistant then walked over to Maria and Maria hand the crown to her. Afterwards Suri returned to the prince handing him his crown.

"If I may ask, what is your name?" the prince asked

"Maria, my name is Maria"

"Maria, your valiant act is greatly appreciated."

"You're welcome."

"But I do have a few questions." the prince began to say "How did you come to find that I was a prince?" he continued "How did you know that this is where I lived? I know I told I lived nearby when I saw you in the woods. But seeing as we were in the middle of the woods at the time, I didn't actually expect you to believe me. I never told you either of those things. Also, what was the purpose of you bringing a bow and arrows here?"

"Well, the first two questions have the same answer. I read about in a book. As for the last question, I brought the bow and arrows so I could defend my just in case something or someone were to attack me on the way here."

"Is that the real answer, or were actually planning to assassinate Prince Adari?

Because honestly, your first answer sounds absolutely absurd." One person shouted from the crowd of people around her

"I'm with him, how do we know any of what your saying is true?" another random person said

"Do I look like I'm capable of assassination?" Maria said trying to defend herself

"You know what they say, sights can be deceiving. Besides, animals don't attack people unless you give them a reason to. I say your whole story's bogus. There are things that much more worth being afraid of."

"Are you calling me a liar? Or you are you referring to the matter of that I'm the only human here and the rest of you are actually vampires." After realising what she had just said, Maria put her hand of her mouth in regret "I did not mean to say that."

"Oh now I get why you were semi dodging my questions, you didn't want to reveal that you knew our true nature. But this does lead to the question of how did you find out that we are vampires? I know I certainly did not tell you that." Prince Adari questioned

"I also read about that in a book." Maria replied

"You keep saying you read about these things in a book, but what book would that be." asked Prince Adari

"It's good thing I brought the book,or they'd never believe me." Maria thought to herself as she pulled out the Myths and Legends book from her satchel. "This book." Maria opened the book to the bookmarked chapter as Suri came to take it from her.

Suri handed the book to the prince and he used his to mark the opened page so he could see the title.

""A myths and legends book?" Prince Adari said in confusion as he looked up at her after reading the title

"Yes, that would be correct." Maria replied

"Alright then." said the prince as he opened the book back up to the previous page and started reading silently. "Looks like your story checks out. Despite how unrealistic it sounds." he said as closed the book "With that being said, you are free to leave now, if you wish."

"Thank you for your time Prince Adari."

"And one more thing Maria, feel free to return whenever you'd like."

"Thanks again" with that being said Maria left the building and exited the city grabbing her bow and arrows in the process.