Make Your Move Katherine

Welcome to Castle Wen

"Simon!" Kat screamed as she felt like her soul was being sucked out of her body for maybe ten seconds. Her eyes were immediately covered by something and at the same time, she was yanked out of the man’s arms who had been holding her. Kat yelped and she heard a hiss, “Shh,” and she felt a cloth material covering her head and over her shoulders and back at the same time.

“Your Highness,” she heard mature undertone female voices say but in a different language and one that she understood. She skited back a little, and then stepped back forward when her body had slightly knocked into someone. Then the large cloth was removed, freeing her eyes and Kat saw she was enclosed by a bamboo screen.

She didn’t need to be told that the screen was placed to conceal her almost nakedness.

“I’m sorry,” Kat managed to mumble but her eyes were still wide as she stared at the woman in front of her before swerving to glance behind her. The two heavily weighed women with her, exchanged glances and bowed their heads. Kat reacted by scratching her neck.

She gasped and slouched down, trying to cover herself with her hands when her clothing was pulled off her body- what remained anyway for it was no struggle as it came apart like cotton candy. It had been burned to that extent but Kat was not. Her mind whirled- what was this?

“Raise your arms,” she heard Oscar’s voice command from a distance and she did. Both women's eyes bulged and they once again exchanged glances before one lowered her arms from above her head where she had put them straight up to the ceiling, to the sides of her chest- titanic style. They held a gold-colored robe up to her and she felt the softness in the texture as the sleeve opening slid down her arms. Then she was belted at her waist. A few seconds later, she was turned in another direction and the bamboo screen was taken away.

Kat stared at the Royal Guard, Anthony, who was next to Oscar for he was directly in her line of vision before her eyes darted to her left and three women bowed before exiting the room quietly. Kat assumed the additional woman was there just waiting for some other purpose for she saw Oscar dismiss them altogether.

Her eyes swiveled across the room at the others and she saw the men were all in black robes with pants underneath before her knees buckled. She hurriedly steadied her feet on the floor but only by grabbing the man’s bare arm that was next to her but he looked at her with an irritated look on his face muttering, “Gosh.”

Kat's legs were like jelly.

"Yeon! One- address the future queen with respect, all of you," Oscar said in a stern voice looking at the guard that had held her, "And two- who is Simon?" he finished, watching her.

"Uh-," she stared puzzled, at the guard that was straightening his back from bending in a bow in front of her. She had shrunk back at his movement with one hand on her chest.

"My apologies future Queen."

‘Future-what?’

"What was that?" she looked to Oscar and back at the guard who was avoiding her gaze. “Is this a joke?”

"He's lucky he got off with a warning. As the future queen, he could have lost his life for being disrespectful towards you- but you aren't yet so I spared him,” then he turned to her, raising an eyebrow, “Simon."

"Oh, okay. Uh, there is no need to apologize to me-” she ignored Oscar’s query about Simon and turned to the guard knowing that her long nails must have dug into his flesh and she must have screamed into his eardrum too and muttered, "I'm sorry-”

"Silence! You do not apologize- Ever!" Oscar thundered making her jump with fright for she was already reeling from the entire vanishing act from her living room space to here...wherever ‘here’ was. He held the sword up to the guard's throat and the man closed his eyes as if he accepted his fate- death by beheading.

‘What? This had to be another one of Oscar’s weird jokes.’

Kat looked around her to see if she spotted a camera somewhere, positive she was in some reality show being filmed, and her eyes encounter Anthony’s glare. Then he cast down his eyes as Oscar spoke up, "Henceforth as future queen you will give her all due respect in and out of court.”

Anthony glared at her then cast down his eyes as Oscar spoke up, "Henceforth as future queen you will give her all due respect in and out of court.”

"Yes, Your Majesty," the men cried out, and taking one last glance at the neck and blade, Oscar withdrew the sword and stepped back. To Katherine, there was nothing sexier than a near-death experience with a tall elegant, handsome man holding a sword, threatening to take a life- in a white robe and slipper-clad feet. Oscar and her were the only ones not in a black.

She shivered.

"Simon, Kat?"

"Uh- he's my best friend," she mumbled. He was more than her best friend. She had him landing every possible fantasy she had since college. The blue-eyed man had starred in every romantic movie and book she had read since she met him. Every fantasy and dream she had. He was her action hero s***h romance crush but he had no idea. Simon was both beauty and brain and currently on a book tour to promote his latest fantasy trilogy.

"Now. As of today, this room is off-limits to you. This is where my knights and I gather and women aren't allowed. Is that clear?"

Knights. She searched the room again for hidden cameras.

Kat blinked a few times at the command and high authority his voice held- he wasn't like that before. In fact, he had been the total opposite back in high school. She nodded and stepped back eyeing the guard that almost lost his life.

‘Did he actually say women aren’t allowed?’

Just then a knock was heard and Kat saw the sound was coming from behind the largest pair of doors she had ever seen which had her looking up above it to the …highest ceiling she had ever seen too. What the hell?

Oscar held his hands out and a blue robe was placed over his shoulders then and belted by another who stood in front of him, covering the white one beneath. Then Oscar nodded and one of the Royals opened- the thick… she had never seen doors so thick before. Her eyes bulged imagining the weight…if it were to fall on someone… It revealed a busty-looking old woman who bowed before speaking, in the same foreign language as the women had before, "Your Majesty- you're back! Is all in accordance?"

"Yes, Miss Seed, go on with the proceedings. Gather everyone now."

She bowed low before she backed out closing the door.

‘This is the part where you faint Kat.’

Her legs sure won’t be able to take another step soon, Kat knew. She could feel the strength leaving her body. This is real- it’s actually happening… what the…!

"Well- show me to my room," Katherine tried to sound happy and unaffected as she walked to the door on wobbly knees and pulled the handle just as a pants-wearing, black-robed guard, reached for it too. She had to settle her brain. Oscar was a majesty that appeared in her apartment. Forget the marriage part- just how was that even possible?

"Katherine- you do not open doors," his calm voice was heard behind her.

"Oh- I didn't- why?" she stuttered as she looked around the wealthy but musky-smelling room.

"Doors are opened for you. You have much to learn. Very well, men, I'll take my leave-”

"Your Majesty! I should inform you-” Anthony called out as Oscar placed the sword on the large table and walked towards Kat. He still hadn’t said what he did not want her to hear.

Oscar paused and looked back, "Speak."

"But-”

"Speak- she is my soon-to-be wife. I trust her."

"Very well. We saw the phoenix back there. In the flames-”

"Really? Ah- see. She is near that's why. Soon."

Kat had no idea what they were talking about but she guessed it was the bird she had seen in the flames. What a field day Simon will have with this as a story, for he was a fantasy author. He would not believe what she had to tell him. This had to be a dream if not a prank.

‘Please wake up Kat.’

Please be a dream she pleaded with her mind as she squinted her eyes shut. This must be the dream where you think everyone is looking at you strangely and it elongates till you're terrified but then you wake up 1,2,3 She counted and reopened them- Why were they all staring at her?

"Oh, Anthony- the contract," Oscar went on saying and Anthony opened a draw from the large cupboard and brought a folder to him. Handing her the pen Anthony held out to him, Oscar opened the file and pointed. "Sign please."

He was serious about an actual contract? "How will I know my parents are, okay? Can I call them?"

"No. They are after you sign this."

"They are what?"

"Sign," he flared his nostrils as he twisted his neck to the side making Kat's heart pump with fright and she tried her best to mask it. This was just eerie she thought.

"How can I trust you? Can I at least read it? This is kidn*pping," she tried to pull the file away from his vice-like grip.

"Well, you can't. But you know what you saw- so I can just kill you if that's what you're thinking," he spread his lips thin then, "and I haven't- have I?"

No, Kat agreed. He hadn't but yet her insides trembled. Oscar was sinister. He was never this way in school. He was mostly quiet till she had pushed too far and he had retaliated - was this revenge for that? She did not have a choice and even if it was, for she had no idea where she was and how far from home. The President had kicked her out too- wait…that would mean she was not in her homeland anymore.

‘What country am I in?’

Kat figured she must be in a different one for her own President’s words indicated it. Imagine being kicked out by…she scoffed.

"Your parents need the money," Oscar raised his cheeks up in a forced smile.

Kat took the pen and scribbled her name on it not bothering to fight him on the matter. He indicated with ink for her to seal with her thumbprint too before he turned the pages, indicating four more places for her to scribble her name.

She did not feel any doom as she had expected which was strange Kat thought.

"Welcome to Castle Wen, Katherine," Oscar smiled widely at her, giving Anthony the signed documents and stood beside the door while a Royal guard opened it for them.

Castle ‘When’? What a strange name.

They were in a castle? So, this was an actual knight's room? She looked around- yup. No furniture except the huge cupboard Anthony had taken the file from. She guesses that's where 'weapons' were kept. And one-five-ten-fifteen, sixteen chairs, she counted, around a wide rectangle table. Kat figured from the books she read, the table was heavy and wide for they placed their weapons and armor on it while talking strategies about the next battle.

They walked out into a wide hallway and Kat caught her breath, halting her steps. Almost thirty people were standing muttering amongst themselves and came to an abrupt hush and bent their heads slightly. Well- at least they are dressed like normal people Kat thought.

Of course, they would be Kat she scolded herself- this is not a long ago once upon a time book, is it?

“Your Majesty,” they greeted in the same foreign language.

‘What the- definitely real and definitely a different country.’

"Ah everyone- good this is Katherine Turner, my-soon-to-be betrothed. I just wanted to let you all see who she is before the ceremony. In future, please use English so she can understand what is taking place," Oscar addressed the small gathering and they raised their heads. Kat felt each and every scrutinized pair of eyes on her followed by a low murmur.

"Dismissed."

The hallway was empty almost in five seconds.

Oscar walked out and a woman in her forties walked up to her in a hurry. “Ma’am, I am Julie, your head maid- come with me.”

Kat didn’t see any other choice but to follow the woman. She was spellbound. As if in a trance she let the woman guide her away.

“This is Oni, one of your handmaids, she will cleanse your skin while I get the dress.”

Cleanse- what?