The magnificent palace

“You don't have to make it seem as if your entire existence has ended, Pat.” Grog frowned at me.

“And what's to say it has not?” I narrow my eyes at him. “My life is at its end.”

“Don't be too dramatic, vampire.” One of the werewolves with us rolled his eyes at me. “this is an opportunity everybody wants to have. And here you are, making it sound as if we are going to hell.”

I gave the werewolf, who spoke a once over. My eyes took him in from the top to the bottom before I sighed. “If you have nothing else to say, werewolf. Then, don't say it. If everybody wants to be here, I don't.

And I will gladly give this up for anyone who needs it.”

“Pat!” Grog gasped.

“Oh, my. He's acting as if he's better than us.” One of the demons, with us spoke up as he narrowed his eyes at me.

“Call it whatever you wish, demon. I don't care. All I wish is to leave this damn place!” I shouted just at the same time, the carriage took another turn, and I almost knocked my head on the carriage door.

“You might not wish to be here, but you have been chosen, vampire.” One of the fairies spoke up.

“Even if you don't like this place, just go with the flow.” The twin dragons said.

“For how long? Two years?” I scoffed at them. “I don't think I will survive two years with them.”

I dread going to the palace.

Although I have heard only good things about the kings, I can't help but be wary of them.

I just don't trust the other species, and that includes the kings who live in the beautiful Palace and take young men as guards every year.

“Why do you despise the palace?” The second werewolf asked. “Have you been there before?” He sounded curious.

“No, I've not. However, that doesn't mean I don't shun the palace.” I fold my arms, and turned my face to the window, “if only I can escape from all these, I will gladly do that.”

I would rather not be shackled to a lifestyle that I don't wish.

But here I am, in a carriage that's taken me straight to the place. I fear the most in this world.

“Just make good of your time there, vampire. It's not everyone who gets this kind of Chance.

And even if you don't like it, you can just pretend to do it. It's only two years that we've got to spend there.”

“Two years seem like a lifetime.”

*********

Thereafter, it seemed as if a hush fell over the entire place.

No one made a sound as the carriage continued, taking us to a place where I wouldn't have wished to be.

The trail to the mountains changed the moment we left the villages behind.

“Wow.” Grog's eyes glistened as he took in the scene in front of him.

And I don't blame him one bit. The beautiful flowers and all that made the place so breathtaking, it even tempted me to awe at this place.

“My father mentioned serving in the Palace is the best experience any young man can have.

Most times, we hear him sighing as he recalled the time he spent there.

It wasn't a secret that he would have wanted to return if he had the chance to do so.”

“That's what my mother said.”

Oh, I forgot to add.

Aside from the men in the kingdom going to the Palace to serve as guards, the girls are taken just like the men, for the maids' jobs.

Presently, I do not doubt that the card of the girls was being drawn.

*********

We left the carriage in a file. The dragons were the first to leave, followed by the fairies before the demons. Grog and I exited before the werewolves came out last.

“Wow.” The others gasped as they took in the splendid Palace in front of them.

And despite my resolve not to be awed by anything, I couldn't help the gasp that escaped my mouth at the sight of the beautiful grand palace.

Gods in black gowns.

The palace was truly as magnificent as we were told. The glittering gold and architectural designs were so mouth-watering, it made me want to stuff the mansion in my pockets.

“You don't have to pretend as if you don't like it,” Grog playfully nudged me.

“Did I say the house isn't beautiful?” I narrow my eyes at him. “It's magnificent. I—”

“Younglings! To your line!” The voice of a guard, who suddenly appeared, startled us.

Immediately, we all went to our line. It wasn't so hard to keep, since that was how we sat in the carriage.

Talk of the carriage, I turned, just in time to watch it leave the great gates.

“You are all welcomed to the palace of the kings.” The dragon's voice rang through the entire courtyard.

Aside from the two guards at the gates and the one standing in front of us, there were no signs of guards.

A person would have thought the palace will have guards parading it at all times.

“It's an honour to be here, to serve the kings.”

His words caused me to scoff.

Serve the kings, my foot.

“Who did that right now?” The Dragon's eyes racked through us.

“I coughed, sir. I'm sorry about that.” Grog immediately said, to cover up for me.

“You coughed?” The guard sounded like he didn't believe his remarks.

“It was something he ate in the carriage.” One of the dragons spoke up, “don't mind him. Just continue.” He reported to the dragon, who was addressing us, while he shot a dark glare at me.

The way his eyes narrowed at me made it seem as if I did something wrong.

Is it unethical to say your mind?

No, of course.

It's not sinful to stand for the truth!