Chapter 5 - Two Little Friends

I heard a loud howl which gave me a jump start to swim for the shore. Back on land I slipped on my nightgown but before I could make a move to head back for the steps, I heard movements a few yards from where I stood. I turned slowly to face my pursuer, my breath caught in my throat. A huge yellow pair of eyes, jet black fur, four legs, muscular body, an animal that looked like a wolf and a dog at the same time, eye level with me and huge sharp white teeth. My shock lasted a few precious seconds before I slowly backed away from the creature. Every step I took backwards, the creature advanced slowly as though it was toying with its prey. I backed away until my back went flush against the bank. 

The steps were a few feet away from me but getting from here to there seemed nearly impossible without getting torn to pieces. Resigned to my faith I closed my eyes and turned my head away from the creature and the steps that showed false promise. The wolf-like creature sniffed the air around me as though I smelled delicious, it was so close to me I felt its body heat and breath on my wet skin however the creature didn't touch me.

I opened my eyes again and saw the creature bow? Was I seeing correctly or was I dead? Without thinking my right hand slowly moved on its own to touch the creature. My fear slowly left me when I noticed that the creature leaned into my touch. Before I knew it the creature bowed its head and backed away from me. Assuming he wanted me to leave, I did without question, knowing that this creature would not hurt me.  After I got to the top of the bank I looked down to where we were, but to my surprise the creature was nowhere to be seen. After a shower and a change of clothes, I fell into a dreamless sleep.

"No let me!", "No me! ─" screech! Badong! I awoke to someone sobbing then quick movements across the room. "So, what do we have here?" all sobbing stopped and two frightened tiny faces looked up at me from the floor to where I sat on the bed. "Sorry did I scare you?" two pairs of bright green eyed children, one boy and one girl stared at me without a word.

" Are you hurt?" the little girl checked her elbows and knees before she looked at me and shook her head when she didn't find any bruises. Both kids stood up and dusted off their clothing. "I'm Elizabeth Figaro." She did a little curtsy. "And I'm Elliott Figaro" he also did a small bow "Nice to meet you Elizabeth and Elliott, I'm Malia Amari Valentina. Would you like to come and sit with me?" Both of them looked at each other with a grin then dashed to the bed. Elliott climbed up the bed with his momentum however Elizabeth is shorter than him which didn't do her momentum any good so I reached out to give her a hand up. "Thank you." She said while settling herself on the soft bed.

"You're pretty. Are you an angel?" she looked up at me with a breathtaking smile. "Thank you, you're also pretty but I'm not an angel." I chuckled. "So what brings you two to grace me with your presence?" They both shouted to me their reason for coming to me. “Uncle brainy wants to see you.” I looked at them puzzled. "Uncle Brainy? wants to see me?" I wonder who that could be. Then again I haven't seen anyone who lives here so that's understandable.

"Who is Uncle Brainy?" They both laughed "he's your father silly." Elizabeth said giggling, and then I heard a gasp from Elliott. "He doesn't like to be kept waiting." I looked at them with a priceless grin of my own "Really? then I guess he is going to have to wait a little because I just met my two new friends." They gave me two bright smiles that made my heart feel lighter than it felt in the past few days.

"You are late." Ryan didn't look up from reading the paper on his desk to know who was in his study. "Really, I hadn't noticed." I couldn't resist the urge to roll my eyes. "Have a seat." After I sat I noticed a small smile forming on his face however it was gone in an instant. "Today you will be shown around the castle,oh and do not enter the woods unguarded. Your training starts tomorrow at dawn. I will introduce your trainer at the memorial dinner tonight, I expect you to be there-" a short laugh came out of me, "With all due respect Sir. I won't be there so I'd really appreciate it if you didn't expect me to be there. Since you've finished speaking I'll be out of your hair." I was halfway out the door when I heard him laugh.

Memorial Dinner

The day was long and dreadful, it felt like it would never end, then finally it was mid-day when I got to be on my own. Mia showed us around the castle and introduced us to the staff. She seems genuinely sweet, she even treats Aaliyah as her own daughter so it's futile to be mad at her.

I noticed a few minutes ago, Bruce taking Aaliyah down to the beach. Knowing that Aaliyah is still uncomfortable being around me I decided to be on my own however I couldn't stay in the castle any longer so I decided on a stroll. Something shifted in the woods but I didn't see what it was so I slowly advanced.

"Lia! Lia!" Elliott, and Elizabeth both ran towards me with bright smiles on their faces. "Lia let's play." Forgetting about the woods I spent the rest of the day playing with the cutest children I've ever seen. "Lia, are you going to dinner tonight?" Elizabeth turned to me with bright round eyes.

"I do not wish to go. What made you ask me?" I smiled and gently touched her nose which made her giggle. "I asked for Elizabeth and I to attend but uncle Brainy said we cannot because it will be past our bedtime." As much as I didn't want to attend the dinner, an idea came to me. For the sake of these kids I just couldn't let them go to bed with sulking faces...

I stood at the entrance of the dining room with the children both dressed up and excited to be attending the dinner. Elizabeth was wearing a pink dress and a paper crown I made for her and Elliott had worn a mini tuxedo made for his size. I noticed Mr. Jenkins, the butler, standing near the big Oak doors, whom I remembered from when Mia introduced us earlier today. He smiled at us and was about to introduce us. Before he could I whispered to him.

"Introducing Prince Elliott and Princess Elizabeth. Introducing Your Royal Highness, Princess Malia Amari Valentina." Hearing him introduce me like that made me feel insecure and agitated because everyone in the room looked directly at me. The children held on to my hand as though I was their life support. Realizing that they were just as scared as I was, I grabbed my courage by the tail and led the way inside.

As soon as I stepped inside my nostrils picked up on a scent I smelled just last night. But surely it was just my nerves. Spotting Bruce and Aaliyah speaking with a couple I didn't hesitate to go in their direction, unfortunately Elliott and Elizabeth had other plans for me. They dragged me to the opposite side of the room, away from Bruce and Aaliyah.

"Michael!" Elizabeth yelled with her tiny voice. Three gentlemen stood looking at us in the direction we were headed. Before I knew it, Elizabeth abandoned my hand and ran straight into the arms of the one she had called out to. Elliott on the other hand smiled brightly and led me to the small cluster of men.

"Your Highness" each man bowed their heads and said in unison. I however couldn't curtsy so I acknowledged them with a simple nod of my head and a simple hello. Elliott did the honors by introducing this little group.

"Mr. George Donovan" the gentleman to my left, "Mr. Hermoth Gillbirth" the gentleman to my right. "My brother and pack leader Michael Figaro"

The scent I smelled at the door was even stronger now, it was crushing my lungs, within seconds I felt Bruce by my side. "Gentlemen." I felt Bruce’s hands on my arm. “Please excuse us for a moment.” With the determination I heard in my brother’s voice my eyes widened and at that moment I made a double take. I turned and ran out the way I had just entered with Bruce on my heels.