Chapter 2
2347 Words
“Dad!!”
I exclaimed loudly as I saw the person I was closest to entering the house. He chuckled at me as I threw myself in his arms, hugging him as tight as possible.
It’s been two damn weeks since I last saw him and hence my actions were justified.
“Hello to you too liebling.”
Placing a kiss on my forehead he released me from his hold and handed me a bouquet of fresh lilies which I didn’t notice till now. Lilies being my favourite flower successfully got my attention as dad went to greet mom.
I swear they were so in love that one could see it practically dripping from their eyes, not that I mind, even I wish for such a relationship.
He softly kissed my mom and I mentally awed at how red she turned and handed her a bouquet of peonies, which were her favourite.
“Dad guess-”
“Zara let your dad rest for a while. You can share all your adventures after dinner.”
Pouting a little, I lowered my excitement and nodded my head as dad left to freshen up.
Dinner was then served and we all ate in silence, a comfortable silence. Nadine had gone back to her home as uncle and aunty returned today too along with dad. They have taken a week holiday from their military duties and God knows why the council even granted them.
It's not that I am not happy for them, it’s just that it seems quite weird. The council behaves very strictly in terms of army officials and they are given holidays only when something extremely serious comes up.
“Prinzessin, what are you thinking about so deeply?”
Snapping my head in his direction, I realized that I was so deep in thought.
“Nothing important dad.”
I tried to assure him but by the looks of it, he wasn’t.
“If you say so.”
We resumed eating once again with me trying to put all my worries at the back of my mind. This is my main problem. Why do I overthink a situation so much? Ahh!! Mind, stop already with all your assumptions.
Finishing my dinner faster than expected, I excused myself and went to my room, desperate in need to assure my fast beating heart that everything was alright. Picking my phone the first thing that greeted me were 9 messages from Karl and 5 missed calls.
The guy was starting to get on my nerves.
Ignoring all his messages, I quickly shot a text to Nadine.
Me: Hey, what are you doing?
I got a reply almost instantly, the girl literally sits with the damned phone 24/7 in her hand.
Nadine: Hey, nothing much… Missing me already?
Me: Puh-lease. I was just checking on you.
Chatting with her for more than 20 minutes relaxed my wreaked mind immensely. It was past 12 and before mama could come and give me a lecture about healthy sleeping habits, I quickly started making my bed. Changing into a comfy pair of shorts and oversized shirt, I got under the covers, snuggling with my pillow but it seemed like sleep was far away from me.
Tossing and turning, tossing and turning continued for God knows how long and I finally gave up. Throwing the duvet off me I walked towards the balcony. Sitting on the chair I gazed at the night sky that looked calm and serene. Stars twinkled within them whereas the moon looked magnificent as always.
In the midst of me praising the beauty above me, I felt heat spreading throughout my body. A feeling that I had become used to, to say the least. A feeling as if I was being watched but no, I didn’t feel uncomfortable, instead it felt like something or someone was calling me.
I shot up from the chair and walked near the edge of the balcony. My brown eyes roamed in the dark, trying to find the source of this weird sensation yet all that met my eyes was dark. I was about to turn and leave when I caught a glimpse of something behind the trees.
I squinted my eyes slightly, trying to get a better view of whatever or whoever that was but within seconds the place was empty again.
Oh dear God, am I hallucinating things now?
Zara, you are in desperate need of some sleep.
Giving myself a small self-talk, I again got under the covers but this time sleep came to me on its own within seconds. As my eyes started closing and I could have sworn I saw two golden orbs at my balcony but how can I be sure that I wasn’t imagining things again?
*****
"I missed you princess."
"Me too dad." I didn't realize I was crying until he wiped the tears.
I just kept hugging him. The feeling of safety and the warmth of love was enough to make me feel at home. My first home, which was in my dad's embrace.
"Hey, now no crying, let's go to the castle. Your mom is going ecstatic to meet you."
*****
Groaning out loud, I woke up yet again after a very relatable yet completely unknown dream. Rubbing my eyes, I looked around only to find that it was still dawn. I fell back on the bed and again tried to find some connection with the weird dream but even I knew I was gonna get none.
It could have been an old memory of me and dad but from where did a castle come in the middle? How much I remember according to the history books I have read from middle school, all they say was that the castles that once were tourists sight for humans had been taken over by the royals of different species but what surprised me the most was that all the castles in Germany were under the Lycan Kings.
But why would they need these many castles in the same region?
“What’s up schon!!” (beautiful)
I screamed in fright, not at all expecting someone’s voice in my room.
Quickly getting up, I looked at the door only to meet a fully dressed and hyperactive looking Nadine.
“What the hell? At least warn me before giving me a heart attack.”
She shrugged while coming in the room and threw herself on the bed. Lying on her back with her hands crossed under her head.
“What is it that has gotten you so deep in thoughts?”
I could only shrug in return not knowing myself why I was pondering over something that's none of my business.
“Lady, you know that it’s your birthday right?”
“Hmm, my birthday…”
Wait…
What?
My birthday?
My hands instantly got hold of my phone and unlocking the screen I saw the date 2nd of June 2121.
Can I be anymore dumb?
“IT’S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!”
I screamed in delight when reality sank in.
I was finally eighteen.
Oh my, that’s….
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Boring?
“Calm down lady. I need to keep my hearing skills intact.”
“Whatever.”
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINZESSIN!!!”
I turned around and saw my parents and Nadine’s standing at my door with a small chocolate truffle cake in their hands.
Oh they know me so well.
“Thank you!!”
We did a small cake cutting ceremony with me and Nadine eating most of the cake while our parents just took small bites. Mom and Aunt Mila then started making some calls and inviting the ones that were still left and dad and Uncle Ben left to check the decorations. The party was at 7 in the evening and it was just 10 in the morning.
“Zara?”
“Yeah?”
“The moron is calling you.”
Confusion laced my features but seeing the annoyance and anger on her face I realized who she was talking about.
“Karl?”
“Yeah the moron.”
I chuckled at her and took my phone, mentally praying for it to shut up on it’s own but damn the boy was stubborn and kept calling again and again.
“Let me see what he has got to say.”
Picking it up, I put it on speaker as his voice greeted me with an extra cheerfulness in it.
“Hey Zara.”
“Hey…”
“I, ahm, was wondering if you are holding a party tonight?”
“Yes she is dumbass. Did you forget the rule of anyone celebrating their 18th birthday?”
“No I didn’t but I was just asking since I didn’t receive the invitation yet.”
I looked at Nadine only to find her glaring at the phone.
“Right, actually mom is still inviting some guests but I will just ask you. Will you come?”
“Of course I will. Happy Birthday!!”
“Told way too early…”
Nadine mumbled beside me as I suppressed the urge to giggle at her.
“Thank you.”
I disconnected the call as awkwardness was getting way too high for me to tolerate.
“I swear if not for that law then I would have not let the guy in for all he is going to do is ruin our mood.”
The rest of the day then went by really fast with everyone running here and there screaming to bring this stuff and that stuff. It was about 5:30 in the evening when Nadine practically dragged me back to my room, screaming that she needed more than an hour to do my makeover.
Time passed by again with me sitting like an idle in front of the dressing table as Nadine kept doing this and that. The girl was an expert when it came to makeup and beauty care, unlike me who hardly knew how to match the shape of her eyeliner on both of her eyes.
“Nadine how much more, I think the guests have arrived.”
“Done!! Great, now when your mom calls you to get down, yeah? I am going, byee!!”
“Wait!!”
But she was already out. How is she so fast?
I was almost done putting my heels when mom called me from outside,
“Zara hurry up, the guests are here.”
“A minute mom.”
I tried to calm my nerves down as the whole house was flooded with guests even though I had no idea who they were apart from some of our close relatives and a few of my friends.
I assessed myself one last time in the mirror, to make sure that I looked proper.
I was wearing a sleeveless black frock with golden embroidery. It reached till my knees with the neck and shoulder region made with lace along with the end of the frock.
My hair was braided on one side with a few strands left out. I wore golden studs paired with a thin black chain and a black watch.
I gave myself a flying kiss in the mirror and then took a deep breath and exited the room.
I reached the top of the stairs and all the movement in the room stopped. All of them looked at me and offered small smiles, well apart from my best friend Nadine who was grinning from ear to ear at me.
My dad had a smile too and I bet I saw his eyes becoming watery before he looked away. Mom, like always, gushed me downstairs with a thousand pairs of eyes on me.
I received many ‘happy birthday’ wishes till I reached the centre where a huge truffle cake was waiting for me.
“Come on, cut the cake.”
“Yeah but don’t forget to make a wish.”
I closed my eyes and made a wish. I opened them again and blew the candles. As I looked up from the cake my eyes met someone else’s.
They were silverish blue in colour and held so many emotions that were very tough for me to recognize. I let my eyes travel throughout his face which was structured by the Gods themselves. His bronze hair was neatly styled with his eyes trained on me.
Beside him stood a person looking exactly like him.
Am I dreaming?
No stupid. There is something called twins.
My subconsciousness said with sarcasm in her voice.
No one asked for your opinion.
I swear there should be a device to stop your subconsciousness from giving its reviews on a situation.
I finally peeled my eyes from them and fed the cake to everyone but not before taking a bite myself.
What?
It’s my birthday and I should be the first one to have the cake.
After the cake cutting everyone started chatting among themselves and Nadine tried her best to coat my face with cream but failed miserably as I threw a whole piece directly at her.
She left to clean herself and I stood in the middle not knowing what to do.
“May I have a dance with you?”
Startled by the sudden voice I turned around to come face to face with the same man who I was ogling at.
His voice was as good as his looks and even hypnotizing.
What the hell? I never think like that about a man so why him?
Mentally scolding myself, I composed my stance. I looked at his extended hand and with a polite smile placed mine in it but what happened due to the contact made me want to pull my hand back. And not just my hand but my whole body was soon covered with it.
Sparks.
- Writer
