Nadine - The Beginning

8. For The Best

"Momma I'm so bored." Me and Clay are just sitting on cushions on the floor in the house.

"Yea mom, it's been weeks." We are both so bored.

"It's been barely over a day children and you will not go outside until the guards clear the entire area. Try reading a book."

"Ughhh."

Daddy walks in and sees us. "You may go out, if you take 2 guards each, and stay with them."

We both jump up.

"Do not go far children and make sure to keep the guards close." Mom yells as we run out.

"Oh I forgot my shoes Clay."

He laughs. "I'll grab you a pole. Meet me by the big tree. We can fish there."

"Ok I'll ride a horse over. See you soon."

I walk back in and I hear dad and mom talking in the kitchen. I sneak over by the door.

"They found another one my queen. This one wasn't on our land. They followed the river and found her close to the human village."

"So this is a human doing this?"

"That's the way it looks."

"Are you going to step in?"

I hear daddy sigh. "The guards will be keeping an eye on the situation yes. But, we can't interfere to much. We don't interfere with human villages. It causes to many issues."

"I hope they find the man doing this."

"So do I my beautiful queen."

"What should we do with this free time my king?"

I grab my shoes and run outside. I don't stop running till I'm in the barn. Ewww.

"Good afternoon Zacier. I'm taking star for a ride."

"Ok princess. Have a nice ride." He yells from somewhere. I don't see him.

I throw a blanket on Star and hop on. I start walking to the big tree with 2 guards behind me.

I make it to the big tree and tie Star up. I walk over to Clay and grab a pole. "I heard mom and dad talking."

He looks at me with big eyes. "Oh really?"

We both start laughing.

"Yea, really."

"What they say?"

"The guards found another girl. Not here though. Somewhere near a human village. So they think a human did this."

He nods and tosses the line back out. "So I guess we're safe now. We won't have these guards on us for very long."

"Yes, it'll be nice to get back to normal."

He manages to get a lot of fish over the next couple hours. Fish hate me. I'm just accepting it.

"We should take these fish to momma, sister. She can make them for dinner."

"Yea I'll get Star and then take her back to the barn. I'll be there soon."

I get back while momma is thanking Clay. "This is so many Clay. You did so good."

"Sister helped."

I walk in. "Yeah mom, I held a pole. But I was just enjoying being outside."

"Well thank you both. And your father invited Advisor Dracul, Asa, and Tre for dinner tonight. I guess they have some kind of announcement for us."

"Do you know what it is momma?" I ask sitting down at the table.

"Nope I do not. I guess your father and Dracul decided on something. We'll just have to wait and see."

"I'm going to cleaned up. I smell like fish momma."

She laughs at me. "Yes you both probably should."

Mary walks in to help me. "Do you know what the announcement is Mary?"

"I haven't heard anything child. I do know the servants are making the formal dining area spotless though. Are a lot of people coming tonight?"

"I think it's just 7 of us. Tre will be there."

She smiles. "Would you like to wear the bracelet and necklace he gifted you miss? They would look good with your yellow dress."

I smile and nod. "I hope I get to sit by him."

"Well I'm sure he will sit by you if he has a choice in the matter." She gives me this all knowing look while fluffing my dress.

She helps me finish up and I walk into the dining area. I pick a chair at random and play with the bracelet. It really is so pretty.

"Good evening Princess."

"Hi Tre." I look around. "Where is everyone else?" I look right at him and I can tell he looks upset. "What's wrong Tre?" He sits beside me and I reach out to touch his cheek. "What has happened?"

He shakes his head and takes my hand but doesn't say anything.

"The bracelet looks amazing on you princess."

"Thank you Tre." I'm so confused. "Are you ok?"

My dad and Advisor Dracul walk in first followed by my mom and Asa. Brother comes in last. Everyone just sits wherever they please. Tre stays beside me. He holds my hand under the table.

My dad stands up. "We will do the announcement first. Advisor Dracul and his family will be overseeing the building of Galhurst Castle. They will be leaving 2 days to make the journey to the new land."

No one says anything. I can feel my hands and legs shaking and the tears building pressure in my eyes. Tre squeezes my hand. I can feel everyone looking at me.

Advisor Dracul stands up. "We have thought long about this decision and we both believe it is for the best."

Suddenly I can move and I have to get out of here.

I stand up and walk out.

I run to the barn and get Star.

"Evening Hypatia. Going for a late ride today?"

I just nod and take off on the horse.

We run as fast as she will take us. I don't even know where she's going. We just run and run and run.

We run so far I can see a village in the distance. I just watch the village for a long time.

I just sit there on Star and it gets dark outside.

"Why are they taking away my only friend Star? He means so much to me. Someday he might be my king. But they just send him away. They don't care at all."

I look around me. "I must have lost the guards somewhere Star."

"I really don't want to go back. I'm just going to sit here forever."

I watch the fires in the village a while longer. Just small fires. They use them for light. Maybe it would be easier to be a human. They get to pick a mate and no one gets in the way.

I look up and watch the stars. So beautiful and twinkly tonight.

I look over and see Dipak walking towards me on a horse. "The guards are looking for you princess."

"They don't care what I want. Why should I care what they want?"

He nods and jumps off his horse. He walks it over so it can drink out of the river.

"Your horse had a drink in awhile princess?"

I don't get down. I just use my feet to guide Star to the river.

"It's not forever princess. He will be back."

"It'll be a long time."

"Yes it will. But you are both to young to claim each other. This will only make you stronger. Together and separately."

"Do you think he's my mate Dipak?"

"Honestly no."

"Everyone else thinks he will be."

"I am aware of that."

"Was it your idea to send him?"

"No, I advised against it."

"Why? If you think we're not mates."

"This will unite the 2 of you more." He looks at me. "It will make you closer in the long run. I tried to get them to let this relationship you have run its course."

"You think its..."

"A crush dear. You both care for each other, that's obvious but, they are forcing you both to be even closer."

"You really don't think we'll be mates?"

"No. You'll find someone better and stronger princess."

I nod but he doesn't know how good and strong Tre is.

"Don't get me wrong. Tre is growing to be a good strong man. I just believe you will be with someone else." He walks the horse away from the river. "But I have been wrong before princess. Speculating who a mate will be only causes pain. Just take this time to focus on yourself. Tre will be back and he won't forget about you."

"Princess!" Tre jumps off a horse and runs to me.

He helps me hop off Star. "Hi Tre. I'm sorry I ran out. I just couldn't..."

"It's ok princess." He grabs me and hugs me. "This isn't forever. It'll just be a few years."

I can't even say anything. I just start to cry.

Tre kisses my head on the veil. "We have 2 days before I go princess. Let's make it count. Ok?"

I just nod and cry into his shoulder. "I can't believe they're making you leave."

"It won't be forever princess. I'll be back in a few years and don't forget my dad is an advisor. I'll come back with him every chance I get."

"Maybe I can come and visit you too."

"We need to get the princess back now." Dipak says looking around.

Tre tenses up. "What is it?"

"Something is off... Take her and go. Do not look back!... NOW TRE!"

Next thing I know Tre is on his horse and pulling me up.

"Tre. I have to get Star."

He makes his horse take off while holding tight onto me. "The guards can."

His horse must be really fast cause it doesn't seem to take us long to get back. Tre runs right up to the front door and jumps off pulling me down.

"Dipak is by the river close to the human village. Go now!"

The guards sound the alarm and some of them take off on foot. Others head to grab horses.

My dad and Dracul come running out of the dining area.

Tre pulls me towards them. "Dipaks in trouble. By the river near the village. I already sent the guard."

They take off running towards the door.

I just stand there with Tre. His arm around me.

"Your safe princess. That's all that matters."

"I didn't sense anything off. Did you?"

"I caught the smell off something like a dog. But I'm not sure. It was a weird smell. I've never smelled it before. It was faint though." He shakes his head. "Like I said, all that matters is your ok."

I grab his hand and pull him to the dining area. "Maybe my mom will know."

We walk in and mom and Asa both give us sad looks. "What happened child? Why did the alarms sound."

"Dipak sensed something off ma'am. Sent me back with the princess told me not to look back."

Asa walk over and helps me sit down. "Did either of you sense or see anything?"

"I didn't ma'am."

Tre sits down beside me. "I smelled something like a dog. But it was faint. I don't know I never smelled that before. Maybe it was just a sick dog or something."

Mom and Asa both stare at each other for a minute.

"What is it momma?"

My mom takes a drink of blood. "There's something called a werewolf."

"A wolf?"

She shakes her head. "It's a human that can shift into a wolf."

Asa looks up. "They usually don't dare come near our land though. We are stronger than they are. But their scent is that of a dog."

My mom sits up. "Servant can you bring them some food please. They haven't eaten yet."

The servant brings some food out for us. "But Dipak was still out there."

"Dipak is fine son. A werewolf is no match for him. But for a young vampire or someone not so skilled. A werewolf maybe able to kill."

Mom walks behind us and puts an arm around each of us. "You are both safe. That's what matters. Just eat something. They will be back soon enough and let us know what they find."

Me and Tre both start picking at the food.

Mom and Asa leave to the sitting area and Clay roams off somewhere.

"You look like your having a hard time. Do you want me to go outside so you can eat easier?"

I shake my head. I'd rather starve than have him leave.

Mary walks over and unpins a couple of the pins. It gives the veil a little more room to move. I just stare at her.

"It'll be a bit easier for you this way princess. Just be careful. Don't pull it up to far or it go all the way up on its own."

I nod. "Thank you Mary. This is easier."

"I didn't realize how hungry I was." I finish the plate and sit back. The veil catches on something and nearly comes off. Me and Mary both grab it just before it falls.

"I'll just pin it back down now princess." She says trying not to laugh.

Then I start laughing. "Yea we'll just pretend that didn't happen."

Tre looks at us both laughing and starts to laugh too.