Destiny

CHAPTER 2

　　"It's demons, Dad. They keep haunting me in my sleep, telling me that... that Lucifer wants me," I told him, looking up at him nervously.

　　"What do they want from me?" I added as a sob broke out of my lips.

　　Dad furrowed his brows, rubbing his temple and looking at his table as if he was looking for an answer there, but we both knew there wasn't. He released a sigh and then turned his head to look at me.

　　"Don't worry about it, Princess. It's going to be fine," he replied with a tight-lipped smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

　　"Tomorrow, I'll be taking you to Mr. Williams for potions. It will help you sleep better and keep the nightmares away," he added, patting my shoulder in a comforting way. I hesitantly nodded.

　　I felt like Dad was hiding something, that he knew something, but instead, I decided not to ask.

　　"Dad," I said with a small smile, standing up and dusting an invisible dirt from my PJs. "I'll be going to my room now." I kissed Dad on the cheek and then walked to the door.

　　"Happy birthday, dear, in advance," I heard him say.

　　"Thanks," I replied, looking back at him.

　　I laid on my bed with a sigh as I looked up at the white ceiling. It didn't take long before I fell asleep.

　　Everyone was busy preparing for my birthday. I was in the dressing room where the makeup artist had just done a final touch on my face.

　　I got up from my seat and walked to the mirror on the wall. I gasped in awe at how I looked. I smiled at my reflection and did a little twirl. The yellow mermaid gown hugged my body in all the right places. I flattened my palm on the soft silky material.

　　I looked so beautiful... No, scratch that, I felt beautiful.

　　"You look beautiful, my lady," Lilly, the makeup artist, said, looking at me with admiration.

　　"Thanks, Lilly," I replied proudly, with my chin raised high.

　　When everyone left, I took a deep breath before pushing the door and walking down the hall. It would be the first time the Kingdom got to see me in twelve years, and I was a nervous wreck.

　　I stood behind the closed door that separated me from the guests who were in the ballroom. The sound of shoes against the marble floor made me turn my head around to see Dad in a blue tuxedo, walking straight toward me with a large smile on his face.

　　"You look beautiful, my princess," he mumbled against my temple, and I closed my eyes, releasing a soft sigh.

　　"Thanks, Dad," I said with a grin.

　　Soon, the door was pulled open, and I walked with my left hand curved around Dad's. We walked down the flight of stairs.

　　All eyes were on me, and whispers filled the large room.

　　"She's beautiful."

　　"Is she the princess?"

　　"I don't like her."

　　Those were the words that filled my ears as I walked past the people.

　　When we reached the middle of the ballroom, I stood awkwardly, not knowing where to go or who to talk to since I didn't have any friends.

　　Fuck! This was way harder than I thought.

　　There were so many people looking at me, and I felt really shy and uncomfortable.

　　Dad cleared his throat, and the room became silent. Even if a needle were to drop on the floor, it would be heard by all.

　　"We have all gathered together to celebrate the special day of my daughter, the princess of Cloud Kingdom. Today, Destiny turns 18," Dad finished his little speech, and the crowd cheered and clapped.

　　People came forward and congratulated me, and I answered them with a smile. When over seventy people came to greet me, I became exhausted and excused myself from the group that had gathered around me.

　　I went over to the bar to get myself a drink. I gulped down a glass of orange juice when I heard someone from behind me.

　　"Would you care for a dance, Princess Destiny?"

　　I looked back and saw a young blonde guy standing behind me with his hand outstretched. I almost gasped at how handsome he was. His blonde hair was slicked back, and his plump pink lips stretched into a half smile— half smirk.

　　"Uhm, sure," I stuttered nervously, tucking a strand of white hair behind my ear and also taking his hand in my right hand.

　　"My name is Kelvin," he said, tightening his hand around mine as we moved to the middle of the room to dance.

　　"I'm Destiny," I replied, putting my hands on his shoulders.

　　"Oh, I know," he chuckled, and I smiled.

　　We danced quietly, and he kept looking deeply into my eyes like he was searching for something. My heart felt like it was about to burst out of my chest from how hard it was beating

　　"You dance really well, princess," he said, putting my hands on his chest, and my heart did a somersault.

　　"Thanks. You danced beautifully too," I told him and gently bit my lips.

　　I wasn't doing it to seduce him or anything; I was just really nervous to have danced with a boy, and not just any boy, but a handsome one at that.

　　"Your white hair makes you look cute," he added.

　　"Thanks."

　　I looked over Kelvin's shoulders and saw Dad walking towards us. I stopped dancing, and Kelvin looked down at me in worry. He turned his head to see who I was staring at.

　　"Your majesty," Kelvin bowed his head, and Dad nodded.

　　"Destiny, come with me. I have something to discuss with you," Dad said, and I became worried that something bad had happened.

　　"I will be back," I said to Kelvin, and he nodded with a smile.

　　Dad and I walked away from the crowd to a more silent place.

　　"Dad, what's wrong?" I finally asked.