Celestial Growing pains.

Chapter 26: The Quiet Before The Storm.

No other words after the all to final yes were heard. The blob inside her head where her brain was supposed to be felt like an early morning winter. Foggy. Channery had given Gruya no resistance when she had come in to retrieve her to get ready for the dinner. Was there truly no escape from this hell planet? If General Alzez was right, then she was on her own.
Hours passed in that same fog. Servants and beautifiers carving her into a fierce majestic Zexrious  female as best they could from the stone in front of them. Once each had left the room she faced herself in the mirror again. The red dress was stunning on her curvy frame, but all she could see was the color of blood. General Alzez blood. Her dark hair was piled neatly upon her head a few loose curls dangling down here and there. The reflection was perfect. Not a single flaw, but the reflection did not miss the emptiness she felt inside. How could the transfer turn her into something she hated so much?

"You look like a queen."

Gruya spoke from behind her. Lost in thought Channery had not heard to whoosh of the doors.

"But I no longer look like her..."

General alzez's words rang like alarms in her mind.
Don't let your guard down...

For a moment Gruya seemed to battle with a question but thought better not to ask.

"Follow me."

As we walked the halls were eerily quiet. Around every dim corner nothing but silence. No servants scurrying about. Not a single soul. We traveled in the opposite direction of the hospital. We delved deeper into the castle. Portraits of past Zexri beings lined the walls in elaborate frames. All massive beings with the same black freckled crown the beast wore.... and now her as well. Maybe it was a family trait? Did that mean she was his family as well?

The thought was odd. Having a mate here was like having a husband without being married. The bond did not need your consent. That much was clear.
The click clack of her heels followed the sound of Gruyas military boots. But soon notes it music floated through the night. Butterflies danced almost to the swell of the music on her stomach. They could of as easily been destructive moths. Turning one last corner two iron framed doors came into view, sweet music spilling out from under them. Two guards stood guarding the daunting doors both refuses to make eye contact. Their suits were stiff and shown even in the candle light. The beast was putting his best foot forward as he had asked her to do with his family.

"Are you ready?"

Asked Gruya looking sideways in her direction.

"Would it matter if I wasn't?"

Knowing they both knew the answer well enough the guard at her side did not bother answering the question. A weak step forward, then another when a hand clasped her wrist gently. One guard did pay attention to this. His hands on his weapon ready.

"Rumor is they can smell fear... Just keep your head up, don't let them intimidate you and you will be alright. It wouldn't be in the kings best interest to let anything bad happen to you."

Somehow those words did not find her any relief. Channery only knocked. With the few interactions she had had with the king she did in fact know they could smell fear and that did nothing to stop the pitter patter of her racing heart. Wiping her sweaty hands on the red gown Channery motioned for the guard to open the doors. Each sharply dressed guard pushed the daunting doors open wide. The doors groaned their protest and all the chatter inside the room ceased. Silence once again. Every step was forced, like stepping into a den of hungry wolves. Once's fight or flight response says to run. But here running was not an option. Every dark eye in the room followed her every movement. Predators. Their predatory orbs judging overt inch of her elegantly dressed body. One pair in particular creating a heated trail every where the lustful orbs traveled. All the seats at the long wooden table were preoccupied except the one at the kings right side. An unknown strength carried her feet to the kings side inwardly groaning at the proximity. An obvious statement if her importance. Nearing the table as if on cue every being in attendance stood to their feet. The last being to rise was a silver haired female whose beauty was something out of a fairytale if it had not been for her sour face. A cruel joke these beasts pretending to show respect when one could feel the distain oozing out of the majority of them. The lemon faced Zexri included. Gruya softly trailed behind her, the protecting presence adding a small comfort. The royal family and influential wings were adorned each with luxurious gowns and silk suits. A chandelier illuminated over head. Crystals to numerous to count sparking. The long engraved table ladened with a feast large enough to feed a small army. Tall crystal flutes filled with crimson wine, silver sparking in the candle light. Perfection, down to every detail. But some how the perfection of it all made it even easier to hate. Reaching the high backed chair at his side a guard approached to pull her seat out for her as is polite to do for a lady. With out hesitation a calloused hand flickered up, a noiseless command for the guard to halt in his tracts. The guard returned to his post beside Gruya. These guards were the personal protection of each royal present. That meant.. Looking further up the line Channery spotted him. The personal guard of the king who had nearly beaten her General to death. The barbaric Zexri unconsciously storming his arm she had stabbed the bolt through. Inwardly she hoped that it hurt like wild dogs pulling his limbs apart. So engulfed in her own thoughts of revenge she had failed to notice the kings proximity til his presence was right at her back guiding her into the chair. His massive body blocking her line of sight to the battered guard.

"Be nice little one."
His breath crisp on her ears. Warming them despite her anger at him. His words sending chills down her spine. The wooden chair met the back of her knees with as much grace as she could muster Channery sat to escape his smirking mouth.
A soft scoff pierced the night air seemingly to go un-noticed by the proud king. One would only notice it close enough to see the color of his eyes change ever so slightly. Once the king returned to his seat the rest of the dinner party did as well. Kitchen staff shortly after began placing dishes of delicious smelling food in front of every guest. Sounds of tinking silver overcame the silence. None of the foods seemed too bizarre so Chanery took a few bites of every dish. If she could not escape she would have to learn to eat exotic foods. Her appetite was much smaller than those in attendance so when she was finished before everyone else there was little left to do but stare. To the kings left seated directly in front of her seat sat a female Zexri with dark hair, one would easily assume was black but the slight hints of copper gave it away. Her eyes were green, almost cat like. The family resemblance was nearly impossible to miss though. Catching her eye the Zexri flashed a friendly smile. These two may resemble one another but that was where the likeness stopped. One would not describe the king as friendly. The greened eyed Zexri elbowed the male beside her who sat enjoying his meal. Nodding in my direction he smiled as well but his smile was unlike the kings relative. His smile did not quit reach his eyes, while the female at his side practically beamed.

"The energetic female before you is my sister Arberus, who is carrying my future nephew and beside her is her partner Sedrix."

The king spoke interrupting the private moment. It was hard to believe he was a brother to some one. There was little room inside her mind for her brain to associate him with being a part of a family instead of a wickedly cocky king. Arberus spoke breaking her thoughts.

"Sedrix and I have been keen on making your acquaintance ever since we heard you arrived but my brother has always been a little selfish keeping you all to himself. Which I will add was very rude on his part."

Avoiding my gaze the king simply continued scarfing down his meal. Uninterested in the conversation any longer. Arberus had been under the impression the king and herself had been spending a lengthy amount of time together which was far from the truth. Gladly. The other beings most likely were under the same pretense. Arberus shifted excitedly in her seat allowing a full view of her round belly. It was odd seeing a pregnant being. Not since leaving earth had she seen any species pregnant. Sedrix placed a protective hand over the baby bump. A gruff noise came from the king as he cleared his throat signaling everyone's attention.

"I called you all here today to address the rumors being spread that I found my mate, which I need not remind you is a rare and powerful event in ones life. One that has not been granted in thousands of years."

He paused to look up from his plate directly at his guests.

"Elder Channery of Earth is indeed my true mate."
The meal had been an uncomfortable kind of quiet before the announcement. The quiet before the storm...