Princess' Journey

Chapter 7

    I wake up the next morning to the sound of my alarm, I really need to change that I think to myself. With squinted eyes, I look at the mound of fluff next to me, I can hear Leka faintly snoring and his breathing is slow and even. Picking up my phone, I look at the screen, 7AM, guess that means it's time to get up. 

    "Leka," I nudge him, "it's time to get up."

    A soft rumble shakes the bed, the brown blob that lays next to me begins to grow legs. First the back two, then the front two, and lastly its head with a long snout. How he curls up like that and is comfortable, I will never know. Satisfied that Leka is now awake enough to comprehend anything, I sit up and let my feet dangle off the edge of the bed. I really am going to miss this bed, I think of the upcoming events and nerves pile up inside me.

    I am mid thought when I hear a gruff and low voice come from behind me, "you know, you're quite the bed hog."

    "Me? You're the one that insists on sleeping in a BALL and taking up three quarters of the bed." I laugh and toss my pillow towards Leka, he lets it hit his face and when it falls off the bed he just chuckles.

    Leka jumps off the bed and heads toward my closet, he comes back dragging a duffel back across the floor. Not wanting my mother to hear, I quickly change our conversation to a telepathic one.

    Leka, what are you doing?

    We need to get some things packed for our escape tonight. Only pack what is needed from your room, we do not want to raise any suspicions.

    I nod and toss the bag onto my bed. I begin thinking about what I need to take with me, I toss three pairs of jeans, a few t-shirts, socks and underwear, and my pair of hiking boots into the bag. Going to my bathroom, I grab my toiletries and I finish packing by placing L.J. on top of the contents. Zipping the bag up, I slide it under my bed and wait for Leka to give me the list of other items in the house.

    Are you all finished, Alora?

    Yes. What else do we need?

    That is all. We will pick up whatever else we need on the way.

    Where are we going, anyway?

    Romania.

    No longer able to keep my thoughts in my head, I look at Leka and whisper "Romania? How the hell are we suppose to get to ROMANIA?"

    I have it all figured out Princess. All you have to do is get out of the mansion alive.

    "Oh, well that's helpful."

    Just go about as if it is any other day, get ready for your party, and once the toasts begin we will sneak out via the tunnels. Jakob and Amaru will meet us at the end and have a car waiting. I will tell you the rest once we are safely away from the mansion.

    I nod and begin to get ready for the day. After I get dressed in my typical jeans and t-shirt, I walk out of my room and toward Anna's. I gently knock on the door and wait a few moments before opening it. Anna's room is so...well, Anna. There is pink EVERYWHERE. I walk over to her bed and give her a small poke, to which I get no response. I try again and still nothing.

    "Anna. Anna, it's time to get up," I give her a gentle shake. Damn this girl can sleep through just about anything. But there is one thing that neither of them can sleep through, I look at Leka and give him a small nod.

    Even on a day like today, what happens next is hysterical. Leka, in all of his glory dive bombs the middle of the bed. Landing on both Anna and Olek, and shaking the bed in the process. Olek comes flying off the bed and tumbles to the floor, hackles raised and ready for a fight. And Anna bolts upright and items begin to fly across the room. 

    "Anna, it's just us!" I yell as I narrowly dodge a hairbrush that was thrown at my face.

    After her moment of panic, I hear "God dammit Alora! You scared the piss out of me!"

    "Happy birthday!" I put on my silliest smile and just shrug my shoulders.

    I look over to where Olek had fallen off the bed and see that Leka now has him pinned and is sitting on him. I swear, we may all be turning one hundred and fifty today, but we have the mental maturity of a teenager. I think to myself, and as I do so I remember a lesson we were taught long ago.

    Anna and I were one hundred and twenty years old, and were sitting in our classroom watching mother write on the chalkboard. Class was so much more fun when the hounds were here, but today they had lessons with Luther and Anika; so it was just me and my sister.

    Mother sets the chalk down, and gracefully turns toward us. She had written the words "Coming of Age" on the board. Anna and I glance at each other, please tell me she is not going to say what I think she's going to say. 

    "I know what you are both thinking and no, this is not a discussion about intercourse," Anna and I both let out a deep sigh. I don't think I will ever be ready tor that talk, especially with my mother.

    She lets out a small chuckle, "I know that the two of you will be wanting to venture into town and mingle with humans. I was the same way. But there is one thing I want you to remember. You will be much older than the humans you come in contact with, and you will have experienced more of the world's history than they have as well. Remember my Lovelies, you may have experienced more history, but you are still young, teenagers in fact. Can either one of you tell me how many human years we age in a fifty year time span?"

    "Six." I answered with confidence.

    "Correct my beauty. So even though you are one hundred and twenty now, you will come across as a fifteen year old human. So keep that in mind when mingling with them."

    "Mother, we are not some young human though, why should we act like it?" Anna interjects.

    "Because my dear, you are still a very young vampire and once you meet a few humans, you will understand what I mean. Physically we age much differently than they do, but mentally we age at about the same speed."

    "Ah," both Anna and I voice our understanding at the same time.

---End Flashback

     Anna and I make our way down to breakfast, where hopefully no one gets butchered this time. Upon entering the dining room, we are greeted with the strangest sight. Mother is...smiling?

    "Good morning my lovelies," she says in a singsong voice. "Happy birthday! Sit down for breakfast. I made pancakes, hash browns, eggs, and fresh squeezed orange juice."

    Mother made breakfast? I haven't had her cooking in at least seventy five years. I think to myself as I take my place at the table. The aroma hits my nose and it smells heavenly, but I cannot get Leka's dream out of my head. I look down at my hound and quickly ask if the food is okay to eat. He nods and Anna and I dig in to what has to be the best breakfast we have had in a long time.

    After breakfast, it's time to get our hair done for tonight's party. Anna's is a simple bun with pearls intertwined in her hair strands. She has a small braid on either side of her head that flows beautifully into the bun atop her head. My hair has been piled on the top of my head in an elegant messy bun that is adorned with diamonds and rubies. Our hair takes most of the day, and before we know it the time to put on our dresses has arrived.

    While waiting at the top of the staircase for our introductions, I admire our outfits. They really are beautiful. Anna is wearing a beautiful pale pink ball gown, the bodice is full of purple Tanzanite crystals in the shape of small flowers and her skirt is covered in a pastel purple mesh.

    My gown is more form fitting with a sweetheart neckline and a plunging back. It is black with gold lining along back and rubies splash the front, my hair was finished by placing a golden tiara with a single ruby on top of my bun. We both looked beautiful in our gowns, but underneath we were dressed in leggings and tight, sleeveless shirts. If we were to pull this escape off, we would need to ditch the dresses. I take one last look at Anna, giving her a thumbs up, and I look down at Leka; his black bow tie is almost swallowed by his fur.

    I hope we can do this

    We can. And we will.

    With Leka's words still fresh in my mind, the doors open and our plan is set into action.