3. THE LAST NIGHT

“You threw a dinner party, did you not?” I chuckled, hearing the music from where the dining hall was as we descended down to it. My arm was hooked around my father’s arm, lanterns lit all through the passage, father’s guards right behind us. He never had them accompany him before because he was such a proud and powerful man but since his deteriorating health, he began moving around with two guards just incase my brother emerges. I would not put it past him to kill our father.

“Only the best, my daughter is leaving, she needs to be celebrated.” Father whispered out, me giggling and tightening my hold on him. He was seven foot nine and I was just six foot five which made walking next to him one of the best things ever. I could just lean my head on him and feel like a little girl again.

“But I am not dressed for the occasion. I am under dressed.” I cried out, the sound of my heels echoing all through the halls.

“What are you talking about? You dress up for everything, you are never under dressed.” He said chuckling out with me nodding my head because no matter the chaos in my life, I would always face my problems in style. I wore heels that had me way taller than I was, six inches more. The strapless black leather dress hugged my body, squeezing all of me in. What was beauty without pain, right? Beads of different vibrant colors sat around my waist, hanging to my lower region so stylishly. I looked amazing and I knew it. My waist swayed from side to side even next to my father, a force of a woman, a beautiful goddess brought from heaven to light up the whole world. When I looked good, my confidence was a hundred and there was nothing I could not tackle with such confidence.

I felt as if I was walking on top of the world, my head so high, never to be brought down. The double doors to the dining hall were opened, the guards there bowing and singing praise.

It had been a while since we had an event and I guess this had been needed.

My eyes took in all in the room, our officials in their best, standing tall and proud. My stomach ached, wondering who was on my father’s side and who was spying for my brother? You could never relax, not knowing who was sent to end your life.

All in the room bowed down, their knees hitting the floor with my father’s praises sang out so loud. I had been fascinated with them ever since I was young, sure some of the praises were made up like him going to the dark mountains and coming back with a blood snake’s heart. No one had even seen a blood snake since the existence of time so how could he have gotten one? I shook my head, turning it around to stare at him. My father was a strong man who had been said to live the longest life but sickness had swooped in, turning such a force of a man to one who needed assistance when walking. I hated it, my body quivering as I held on tightly.

His praises poured from my lips with such pride. My father turned around to stare at me with a bright smile on his face. His head lowered, a pair of lips on the tip of my head.

I was a proud daughter, and I was happy I had a father like him who had trained me and taught me the ways of life.

My head turned back, staring ahead with the whole room seeming to stop for me. My eyes locked on grey orbs, orbs that seemed to have lost their spark. As much as I tried, I could not stop looking and the infuriating Beta seemed not to care. He seemed not to care about anything actually and I tried to recall if he said anything in my father’s office but it never came to me. I frowned, still staring at him. Was he those spoiled entitled men who think they are above everyone else? Something was brewing inside me, just bubbling in my chest. I was not sure if it was hate, frustration or something else but I was getting irritated. I wanted to pull my eyes from him, not wanting to give him the satisfaction but I could not help myself. Something about him just drew me into him yet I was a person that prided herself in having immerse control, so as hard as it was, I pulled my stare away, going back to my father.

Why was my heart drumming so hard? Stupid Royal Beta Brum. I suddenly cursed father for not finding someone less, just less in everything. I hated feeling these foreign feelings, my eyes wanting to take him in again but I would rather die.

We reached the throne, my father taking a seat. I bent my body before him, a wide smile on my face as I bowed for him.

“My king.” I said out, my head bowed down until his royal and feathery horse tail fell on my shoulders, blessing me as always. I lived for these moments.

“My child.” He said back with my head finally tipping up. He held his hand out, me taking it to stand up and move then lowered down on the queen’s royal chair. The first time I did this, the people jumped up in a roar yet stubborn me sat none the less, legs crossed, head up high. My brother had nearly died in anger.

Since I was not even meant to live, I did not have a royal chair. It was my father’s chair at the center, my mother’s on the left then on the right was my brother’s royal throne chair. According to my brother, I should not have even carried the princess title because to him I was a ghost, a bug that he would crush.

My hand tightened around my other, taming my anger because even thinking of it pissed me off.

“You may all rise and take your seats.” My father said, all those in the room picking up and taking their seats around the large table. The royal table was brought into the room, set before us where different foods were placed on it. My heart just jumped around so fast. Food was the love of my life, always there for me and loved me just as much as I loved it. I stood up, plating for father and filling two plates for him then I sat them down. He waited for me as I plated my own food then I sat down. We gleamed together, him digging in first and I dived in right after. When food was before me, I lost all manners. We just dug in with dad like animals, tearing our food apart. I took the habit of eating like a starved dog from him, just eating everything with my hands until none was left.

I licked my hands with my dad doing the same and we turned to stare at each other only to burst out laughing. He was my first love and none would ever have my heart the way he had it, such unconditional love.

He picked up his goblet, and I would have objected if not for the smile on his face so I let him be. He drank the alcoholic beverage down. I picked up mine and did the same.

Those at the different tables ate their food, chatting with themselves. My eyes trailed to one man as I placed my goblet down. He was the shortest man in the room. Dragons were taller and larger than werewolves, taking after our animals. We had all the abilities werewolves had and more. My eyes narrowed because he had barely touched his food, his eyes just staring ahead. What was wrong with him? Something was not right, shifting in my seat. I frowned deeper, reading his body language, trying to read him but he was closed off tightly, nothing, no emotions.

“Now we dance. My daughter is getting mated, we need to celebrate, more music!” Father shot out, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Father no.” I cried out, he was supposed to be in bed, not dancing.

“Come on,” He called out, standing up. I rushed to hold out my arm so he could find support there. He fully stood up, all the men clapping and roaring out in excitement. I shook my head, we going down to the dance square at the other side of the room. I loved dancing but I don’t know why I was suddenly so nervous.

My hands were in my father’s, him standing up straight and together we began dancing. The music got faster and louder with us dancing as if we were young, my head thrown back with my laugh escaping me just as I had done when I was five years old. It felt as if my body was floating, knowing my dad would never let go, that even if I fell, he would catch me. My beads jumped around, everything blurring away as we danced probably for the last time. The tears drowned my eyes so much, for once, just this once, I let them go. My head tipped forward, just taking my father in as he smiled in a way I had not seen in a long time. My heart exploded, my own smile too bright it would light up the whole world with so much of my tears flooding down. It seemed as if we danced the whole night, never stopping, not even seeing any that joined us in the square. No one even asked to dance with me, them just letting us have this night. No sickness could stop us, dancing until we could not dance anymore, both out of breath, both sweating and even then we just stared at each other and burst out laughing.

No matter what happened after, at least I would always have the memories, memories of father teaching me how to hunt, teaching me how to fight, how to survive in the wild. He was there for my first shift, holding my hand and cheering all throughout. He showed me what love was, what happiness was. I would never forget. I would forever be grateful.