Dangerous Desires

It was raining when Alazaya finally pushed through the portal, landing herself on Earth for the first time in her life. Thunder cracked dramatically across the sky, almost as if the gods were angry and making it known to the humans that lived in this realm just how they felt about her shoving her way into their world without invitation. She glanced behind her, noticing the portal had already closed. She was now stranded on this alien realm, until she could master her magic and open a new one, or find one naturally active. Did Earth even have magic? she wondered to herself absently while looking around at her surroundings. Alazaya found herself in a grassy field in what appeared to be the middle of a forest. Large oak and pine trees surrounded the clearing she stood on, the lightning of the storm flashing over head every few minutes, giving her just enough light to make out just how large said clearing was. Or, how not large it was. If any of the people from her world were to find themselves here, they would end up worrying if they would have the room to transform. No matter, though. She clearly couldn't stay there with the weather acting the way it was. No, she would need to find somewhere for her to stay. She remembered learning about Earth having shelters for the humans with no homes to return to, so they could have a safe place to sleep at night. She just needed to find one. With a determined nod, she glanced around the clearing into the trees and shrugged her shoulders. She had no idea where the portal had dropped her off, so she would just have to pick a direction and start walking. Turning to the left, she began her trek, keeping a weary eye on her surroundings. The rain from the storm had soaked the soiled gown she wore, turning the bright red blood on the once purple garment turn dark. Even her shifter heat couldn't keep her warm in this weather, or perhaps it was because shock had set in due to the events that had led her to this strange new world? Laughter spread throughout the castle's ballroom, while music played in the background. People danced and laughed and partied, celebrating the 1000 year anniversary of peace in the realms, as well as Alazaya's 25 birthday. She was standing at the food table, where a large buffet had been spread out for everyone's enjoyment; meats and breads and cheeses, cakes and pastries of every shape and size and color adorned the table. She couldn't decide on what she wanted to consume first, it all just looked too divine to settle one one thing. Her plate was soon filled with a little bit of everything, and she practically pranced her way over to the table where the King and Queen, or as she knew them as mother and father, sat with a few of their trusted friends and advisors. She paid them no mind while munching on her treats, watching the party goers have a grand ol' time while getting lost in her head with random thoughts of little to no importance. The chair next to her moving drew her attention to the right, where she spotted Edgar, her father's top advisor and best friend taking a seat. She offered him a slight smile and nod before returning her attention to everyone else. She wasn't positive why he had chosen to sit beside her, but her spine was instantly straight with what she would later realize was premonition. A shiver worked through her, though she worked hard to hide it. "Are you having a good evening, princess?" he questioned, his black gaze focused on her. She bit the inside of her cheek to hold back a growl. She'd never liked the man much, but tolerated him for her father's sake. After all, they had been childhood friends turned heroes of the Beast Realm a thousand years prior when they fought in the war to bring peace to their people. It was not for her to say whether or not he deserved such respect from everyone else, but she felt like there was more to the male than meets the eye, and she didn't feel like any of it was good. She gave him a small nod in response. "I'm having a splendid time, Edgar. How about you? Are the festivities to your liking?" An expression she couldn't name crossed his face and was gone too fast for her to be sure she actually saw it, before he gave her a wide grin. "Not as of yet, but they will soon be under way to being so," was his mysterious reply. She frowned. What did he mean by that? Alazaya mused to herself. Overhead, the bell chimes midnight, and with another nod Edgar pushed to his feet and walked across the room towards the dias. The music stopped, and everyone in attendance turned to watch him, happy energies flowing around the room with the expectation of a bolstering speech to draw in another year of peace to the realm. "My kind people of the Beast Realm," he exclaimed with his arms spread wide. "For a thousand years, we have been at peace with the other realms, and have prospered greatly for it. There has been no sickness among our people, no great strife to divide us. Peace has been great for our people. Our lands have flourished, or animals and game thriving in the wild as well as on our farms. Nothing could be better for us!" Cheers rang out among the realms citizens. The King and Queen smiled proudly at their people, while Alazaya watched the male at the front of the room with rapt attention. Everything he said had been true, yet something was setting her off. But what? She had no idea. After glancing around, she found no one else that seemed to feel the way she was, so she tried to shrug it off. Yet a shiver of unease ran down her spine nonetheless. "And yet," Edgar said after a pause, "it has brought me great sorrow to announce that despite these many things that have been well for our people, we have become weak in the way that matters." Edgar's gaze took on a hard edge as he looked around the room at all the shocked gazes looking upon him, Alazaya chief among them beside her parents. "The King, who I have always considered a brother, has had it brought to his attention that the Dark Fae have been trying to breach our borders... and has chosen to do nothing!" A growl rose up to the back of Alazaya's throat, the two Beasts within her moving around in agitation at the chief advisor's allegation against her family. Her sound of protest wasn't the only one, either. Across the room, where her eldest brother stood, the sound of his snarl echoed around them, along with that of his friends. He was to be made King on the next full moon, and it was clear that he did not appreciate what his so-called uncle had to say. Alazaya didn't disagree with her brother. Edgar ignored them and continued, and evil glint taking out his dark gaze when he turned to face the shocked Queen and very angry King. "You have known for the last year that they wish to move on our realm, to slaughter our people and enslave the survivors, and you have done nothing to fix the problem. I find myself ashamed of you and your no actions, Alcuin. You have brought disgrace to our once mighty realm by doing nothing to protect its people. And so, for this reason, we are demanding that you stand down as King and name me as the next ruler, for the better of our realm!"