True Family
1060 Words
The doors to the throne room slowly swung open. Dani took a deep breath and walked in. The morning sun shone through the large window looking over the kingdom. The king, Julian, and the queen, Maria stood, waiting for her, Maria clearly nervous.
As Dani reached the steps, Maria was right there. Holding Dani’s Face in her hands, Maria cooed , "My darling, look at you. You've grown so much.” Julian watched, his stern expression melting into a soft smile. “Me and your mother always wanted you back home,” Julian started, “just not now.” Dani’s eyes welled up with tears, “is it because of the prophecy?”
Julian and Maria were surprised that Dani knew and looked up at Mallorie. “Ace and Artemis explained some of it to me,” said Dani, wiping tears from her eyes. Dani spent the rest of the day touring the palace and enjoying all its enmities. Dani felt a sense of comfort in her unfamiliar surroundings and the warmth of her real parents.
The next day after having her first breakfast with her real parents, Dani expressed her desire to return to her school but not as a princess. Her parents nodded understandingly, yet insisted on ensuring her safety above all. “You may go back but Mallorie and James will remain close by, you are to not wander far from them,” Julian bargained. Dani nodded in agreement.
Returning to school, Dani felt more relaxed, until someone hugged her from behind. “Dani, where have you been!” Sherry smiled, “you missed a couple of days and when I went to your house you weren’t there.” Dani had no intention to reveal the fact that she is the princess, but she couldn’t bring herself to lie to her best friend.
“You’re the princess!?”Sherry screamed. Dani rushed to cover her mouth to keep her from screaming again. “Shhh, don’t tell anyone,” Dani hushed. With Dani’s hand still over her mouth Sherry nodded, looking like she would burst with excitement. “You’re a princess? Does this mean I have to call you your highness now?” Sherry babbled on.
Dani shook her head, “you are my best friend, that is something that will not change.” Dani spent the rest of the day explaining everything to Sherry, from her terrifying dreams to the revelation of her real royal identity. “So what now?” Sherry asked as they sat for lunch "Now," Dani replied, "I just want to be normal. At least for a little while.”
In another world, in a quaint town, chaos was about to begin. A clock tower looming in the distance gave a loud deep sound, causing the townsfolk to run and hide. They jumped through open doors or windows of cars locking themselves inside, moments later dark smoke rose from the cracks on the ground revealing a mysterious woman in a black dress, “I just love walking the streets past curfew.” The lady continued to walk, followed by hideous monsters.
Back on Destiny Island, the last bell rang, Dani and Sherry walked to the school’s driveway, where a black SUV waited. “Will I see you soon?” Sherry asked nervously . Dani gave her a quick, reassuring hug before sliding into the car.
While heading back to the castle, James informed her that tomorrow she will formally begin her training. “I was afraid you were going to say that,” Dani says as she puts her head in her hands. Mallorie looked up at the rear view mirror and said, “your parents are proud of you Dani, you will be excellent .” Dani smiled at her kind words.
Waiting outside the castle, the king waited, with a serious expression. The moment Dani exited the car, his expression softened. “How was your day, my little one?” He asked as he hugged her, “did you have fun with your friends?” Dani nodded and said, “Sherry always made me feel welcomed.” The king smiled, “Next time bring her over, we will welcome her with open arms for her kindness to you,”then Julian led Dani into the castle’s warm glowing entryway.
The next day, Dani was woken up before the sun was up and with tired eyes she got dressed. When she stepped out of the gates Ace and Artemis were waiting. Surprised Dani ran straight to Ace and Artemis and gave them both a bright smile.
“Are we heading back to the Oasis?”Dani asked. Ace shook his head, glancing at Artemis, “We’re training here today instead.” The car stopped at an old gym that has seen better days, the walls, marred with graffiti and dirt; the windows either cracked or broken, looked more like a criminal’s hideout than a training ground. Still, Ace assured her it was the safest place for their secret lessons away from prying eyes.
Artemis opened the doors, “time to start your journey.” Walking through the doors, Dani was met with, not a decrepit space but a grand training hall. Dani’s mouth gaped and with a smile, Artemis says, “ let’s begin.” The walls had intricate details depicting past masters over a millennia. It smelled of rich wood polish and incense; and looked like a mansion. As they continued to walk, Dani started to feel uneasy.
The knot in her stomach intensified the deeper she walked into the training hall. “Feeling a little uncomfortable?” Artemis coldly asked, “what’s happening to me?” Dani grimaced as they stopped at a thick door. “You must get used to this feeling, for this will tell you when voidlings are near,” Ace stated.
Grasping the meaning of his words Dani’s eyes widened with fear. Artemis knocked twice, prompting a faint whimper from somewhere beyond the door. As they entered the room the whimpering became a roar. Dani froze for a split second but continued on behind Ace and Artemis, who stared ahead with serious expressions.
Ace and Artemis stopped at a thick golden door and stepped aside. Inside, what looked like a trembling girl chained to the wall, a voidling raised its head slowly, its eyes wild with terror
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