Chapter 2
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"I can't believe it. I really can't. You're really taking me to this weird place? Why? What is this? But you said you didn't want to step foot in here anymore!" I protested, as the car came to a stop in front of a cheap boutique, with only about one or two people coming and going out.
"Don't you see your Mom? If that creature returns, she can barely handle whatever injury it's going to inflict on her, and we can't even predict its next move. What if it appears while you're in school, or while you're bathing? We can't be with you at all times, so this is the best thing we can ever do, and yes, I support this because I love you," Dad said, a frown creasing his face which usually wore a smile no matter what happened.
"So, this Mysia kingdom… it has… what was that again?… you're…" I shook my head miserably, "dad, mom! You're taking me to another world entirely? Countries and cities that are all filled with people who aren't humans. I'd be the only human there!" I protested, barely finding words.
"You're not human," Mom grunted. She was already losing her temper, "Fiérrés of all creatures never attack humans."
"But mom! I can just learn self-defense from you. I can…"
"Self defense?" Dad snorted.
"I don't want to have my world destabilized. We can think of…"
"Damn it! Pierce just do the damned thing, and have her shut up!" Mom burst out, stomping her foot.
"Mom, no!" I shouted, tackling my seatbelt, but in a second, my dad's arm was on my shoulder gently.
"Sweets," he called softly… way too softly. His voice was laced with sweet venom, honeyed all over, and I looked into his purple eyes. They were glowing softly. He gave his easy smile, and it seemed like roses were being showered down on me.
"Dad, don't," I whispered, and his finger caressed my cheek.
"Make me proud. I'd want you to come back home after the school session, and surprise me by turning out to be a vampire." He said, his voice as light as a cloud.
"But dad," I countered softly. However, my heart was already melting, my stubborness fading away.
"Mysia is a wonderful place to be in. While you're at it, get a boyfriend too. Don't go near those bloody vampires, okay? They are cunning souls, and they hardly fall in love. Not everyone can trap a vampire like your Mom did. Most vampires marry and breed under contracts. You're such a poor little thing. They'll break you."
"But you didn't break Mom,"
He cast a loving look at Mom, who was nothing but frustrated, "Not like I didn't want to. I couldn't. Not Meeya of all wolves. I fell into my own trap, and was enamored completely by her. That's your Mom. Honey, I've broken a million of the strongest girls, so I know what those silly vampire boys are like. Stick to the wolves. They're calmer. Avoid the Alphas. You don't really want to get all tangled up with them. Avoid Omegas too. They're usually insecure. The Betas are the most normal creatures you'll find… the witches…"
"Why are you giving me lectures that should have been spaced out over years in just a few moments while I'm clearly under your spell?" I asked, feeling his warmth spread through me. I knew how being enchanted by Dad felt, loved it, and felt safe in it. He mostly enchanted me to go to bed, or not to fight with Mom, so my instinct whenever he enchanted me was to calm down, or sleep.
"Because I can't tell you these after you leave. You won't be able to contact us until the school session is over." Guilt was transparent on his face. Why didn't they tell me this?
My voice drawled out slowly, the spell unable to make me react how I wanted to, "A year is long."
"It will be over before you know it, sweetheart. Just keep in mind: Avoid the vampires. Now, leave, my little pumpkin. Daddy's gonna miss you."
"No, not yet…"
"You'll miss the last bus," he said, and although he was smiling, I could feel he was a little anxious to let me go.
"Mom, mom…" I turned to look at her as my hands unbuckled my seatbelt against my wish. I'd miss her terribly. I'd miss her feistiness, her meals, her strange laughter, her and dad's hilarious interactions. She didn't spare me a glance.
Then I understood.
They didn't want to get emotional before me.
And so, I walked out of the car, away from my parents, and into the boutique, not looking back once. My eyes burned harder than the back of my throat. It all happened too fast. Just three days after that incident my Mom and Dad could barely stop, and I was here with nothing but my phone and nothing to remind me of home.
"Code 116," I told the woman at the counter as I was told to.
She smiled at me.
"Trip to Mysia? Ticket," she handed me a plain brown card, then her hand swept out," You can't take anything on you into Mysia. Shop for everything you'd need."
"Why can't I?"
"Rebels. They keep trying to sneak in cameras, chips and dangerous devices into Mysia to show humans. Go through that door, hon." She said, then returned to sitting and staring at a novel she was reading.
And so I shopped. I took all the clothes that were my style, and arranged them into a large pink traveling bag, my heart feeling heavier than ever.
Another woman showed up just as I was zipping my bag.
"Follow me," she said, and we went through a series of corridors, before getting to a wall she slapped harshly with her palm. Like air, the solid wall dissolved and before me was an alleyway.
"Hurry, the last bus leaves in three minutes. Run," she said calmly, and I stepped into the alley, walking as fast as I could. On my ticket, golden numbers burned their way through.
"2001… leaves in a minute…" I read, "Wait, what?" I yelped and began to run, my feet slapping against the concrete. Then I came out into a rather bustling atmosphere. Lots of colors…women and men… buying and selling… stalls, bookshops, clothing stores… tall buildings…
It was exactly like New York, but no…
This… was Mysia.
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Now the journey begins, dear readers.