The Negalai's Mate

As I gazed upon him, in his true raw form, I now knew I had irrevocably fallen in love with him. How I wish I could explicitly tell him how I felt in this very moment but there was not enough time. Time. It's either we don't have enough of it or we foolishly squander it. How have I spent my time? Have I used it wisely? Or have I spent it by investing in foolish endeavors? These are the million dollar questions. In order for it to be judged, you will have to know my story so without further ado, here it is. Essie!!" My mother yelled. "Can you please come down here?" Little did I know what was about to happen. I was about to be told how the rest of life was going to go and I was only eight years old. I scurried down the wooden stairs. With each step, you could hear the steps creak in protest. When I reached the bottom of the steps, there stood my mother. She was of average height, average weight. Long wavy brunette hair with the softest hazel eyes. I did not inherit any of those features from her although I wish I had. "Come. Let's go into the living room." And so I did. There was my father, waiting for me on the couch. He patted the seat next to him as I looked upon him with worry in my eyes. This must be something big for both of my parents to talk to me. My mind is starting to reel about whether I did something wrong. Nothing comes to mind. I am your pretty typical kid. I go to school, do chores at home like cleaning my room. I mean I fuss sometimes when mom has me do extra miscellaneous things but that's about it. So what could possibly be going on. I walk over to dad and sit as mom sits across from us. We don't have a huge living room but it is sufficient. We live in a log cabin style house so everything is wooden. The floors, the walls, the small porch. The only other thing we have in the living room is a long coffee table in the center as well as a flat screen TV up on the wall. "Essie, we have to talk about something important." Mom says as I see a sadness written all over her face. "We have to go to a gathering in town this evening. You are going to dress up in one of your favorite dresses. The king is going to be there." She pauses and I take that chance to speak up. "The king mom? That is great! I have always wanted to see him. He is like the most important person!" "Yes he is." Said mom glancing towards dad warily. "If he likes you, he is gonna send you to a special school. A school in which you will learn many new skills." "I don't want to go to a new school." I pouted. Dad had been silent this whole time but now he choose to speak up. "Honey, you know how we have many nice things?" I noded. "Well the king provides these nice things for us and pretty much let's us do whatever we please. So in return, we have to do this for him." "Ohh." I replied. "Besides, there will be many other girls going as well. You wont be the only one." My dad chuckled awarkdly. There was a few moments of silence. Like my parents were nervous just like I am stubborn at times. Then dad resumed speaking. "Let me tell you of a time before the king arrived." I scooted to the edge of my seat, ready to listen. I loved stories. "Many many years ago, when your mother and I were about your age, maybe a little older, there was no king. There was chaos. People robbed each other of money and small high valued assets like jewlrey and electronics. TV's, ear buds, DVD players, stuff of that nature. If you did not like someone, whether they said something wrong or looked at you disdainful, they simply tortured you or even killed you." I gasped at hearing this. "How horrible daddy!" "Yes, it was a bad time back then. You had much to fear. You didn't know who was friend and who was foe. Night time was the worst. These....creatures would roam the streets. They had olive colored eyes. Fur sprout from them where skin should of been. Largest horns I have even seen protruded from their head. If that wasn't enough, their height surpassed ours greatly. They would roam the streets and attack anyone within sight." A slight shiver ran down my spine hearing dad describe this creature. "In the mornings,.." My dad continued. "when you stepped outside you never knew what you were gonna find or who. These creatures, didn't favor any particular type of person or age group. The after math was devastating." "What did the creatures do to people?" I had interrupted. I could see my dad thinking for a few moments before he decided to resume the story. "That part we will save for when you get older. We can't have you having nightmares, now can we?" I spoke my headed vigorously. "Then one day, the king came. We all gathered in town to listen to what he had to tell us. He told us that he could keep us safe from our neighbors, from the people we didn't trust. He said if there was any wrong doings, he would justify them with an appropriate sentencing. He would keep the balance. He also said he could aid us with our Negalai problem, the night creature. The king proclaimed he had some experience in dealing with them. He could not rid us of this problem but he could assist us. And assist us he did. The Negalai would show up every night but since the king had arrived, they showed up a lot less and that we are thankful for. But Essie, nothing comes without a price." Then mom butted her head in. "I think that's enough storytelling for one day. Essie, go rest up before tonight." "Mom! It was just getting good!" Then mom gave me one of those eye piercing looks and I knew this was not up for debate so I sulked my way back up the creaky steps.