The Deal

Turns out my maids are actually pretty nice. They introduced themselves to me as Hani, Yuri, and Tsuki.

Hani was a blonde with eyes just like mine, she had naturally curly hair that was in a french braided bun and she had a skinny figure just like the other two. She had family outside the kingdom. Yuri had purple hair that was fashioned into a chin length bob and her eyes were purple. She was the chatty one of the group. Tsuki was a beautiful girl about my age with wavy red hair that fell down to the base of her spine. She was required to pull it up into a braid because it was really long. She was the most alive one of the three.

The bathroom was a blur of white and silver and shiny tile. They already had a warm bath running and started undressing me. I blushed bright red but Tsuki smiled.

" You have nothing to be ashamed of your body is perfect. Though you really should get more food in you. I can see your ribs, how were they feeding you back where you came from? " Tsuki asked.

" As good as they could with what they had. " I said as they dunked me into the bath.

It had been so long since I had a hot bath that I sighed in content which made my maids burst into laughter.

I smiled and let them wash me clean but as they dunked my head fully under the water, the water turned into a solid white. My maids gasped out loud in what. I was scared that my hair was brown again and that my maids were looking at ugly dirty brown.

" Is my hair brown? " I asked.

" Why would you ask such a question your hair is still white. Its still white but now it shines like a pearl. It's lovely. " Yuri said running her fingers through my hair.

Hani swatted Yuri's hand and she walked away out of the room with a mock pout.

All I could do was chuckle as they finished cleaning me.

They finished bathing me they wrapped me in a bath robe and led me into my bedroom and told me to sit on the bed.

I did as I was told and sat as they disappeared into the walk in closet. I heard them rustling around and the sound of sliding hangers echoed through the room.

Finally they walked out and my breath caught at the short simple but extravagant gown they held.

The lilac colored dress featured a pretty, lace embellished bodice with cap sleeves and V neckline. The fixed band at the waist was embellished with sparkling, crystal style beading. There were soft padded inner cups at the bust. It had a V back with adjustable ribbon and a lace up back. The best part of the gown was that it flowed out beautifully to the hemline. They brought out lilac colored high heels and pulled out a pair of underwear that had made my face turn red. I put them on despite my constant protests. They proceeded to slip the dress on and then the heels. Then I was ushered to my mirror that was attached to one of my dressers.

Tsuki worked on my makeup and Yuri began working on my hair. Tsuki added light lilac colored eye shadow that faded into white. Then blush, a coat of clear lip oil and mascara. Yuri worked on my hair to where it was half up and half down and she weaved a diamond hair pin to connect two braids that connected together in the back.

Before I knew It I was already finished and the girls were ushering me to the door.

" Good Luck. " Yuri chirped.

" Hey, word of advice, you may not like the royal family but some of them aren't so bad, they're just under bad influence. The Queen is an ally, so is the Princess. Show them respect and they will become fond of you. " Hani urged.

" I will, thanks, Hani " I said.

" Don't forget to bow. " Tsuki added in a whisper.

I nodded and walked into the hall where my guards patiently waited. I held my head down as they walked me down the rest of the royal living quarters and into yet another hall just like the other. This hall was wider and taller and windows made of sparkling glass were scattered along the walls. I caught a wisp of my hair and to my shock my hair glittered different colors in the light filtering from the windows. My maids were right my hair did look like a pearl.

I gently tucked the wisp away and continued walking. We finally reached two grand doors that looked like solid gold. We reached the door and I paused in fear. What lay beyond? Will my death be here? Will they make me beg for life?

" May I give you my unsolicited advice miss Angel? " Bor asked.

Shocked, I turned around to face him.

" Yeah, sure. " I mumbled.

" If you're scared, then swallow it. From what I hear you are not being given a death order, so knowing that you can at least walk in there confident with your head high. Bow when you reach the dais, say your highness, look them in the eye, and most of all do NOT say anything against them or what they say to you. " Bor explained.

I swallowed and nodded then with all the confidence I could muster, I threw the doors open and walked in with as much grace as I could manage. I walked with my head held high, eyes forward and a neutral expression.

The entire room had gone quiet. The room was so much like the entry foyer except that the only furniture in the room was five small thrones that sat atop a grand dais. Both Axel and Tolen were there. The male that sat on a slightly larger throne was the one that intimidated me the most. He was extremely muscular and wore an outfit fit for a king. He wore the kingdoms crest on his shirt and there was no doubt that this was the king of Efryae. His hair was like Tolens but his lips were like Axels. His eyes were amber and he wore a brilliant crown atop his thick head. The queen was a sight to behold, her beauty and elegance was nothing to scoff at. Her eyes were like Tolens, a glittering purple. Her hair was black but not the same inky black as Tolens. Hers' managed to look like a ravens feather. Tolen and Axel both had their mothers soft face and almond shaped eyes.

The gown the queen wore was more grand than I have ever seen. She was a lady in red and so was the king. They both wore the color of the kingdom. She wore a ball gown with queen style sleeves, a red sparkling bodice with beading and red glitter tulle her skirt was wide and sweeping. She looked beautiful with or without the dress.

Then I studied the princess and I was shocked at what I found. Instead of wearing a red dress with her kingdom's insignia she wore royal blue with the Insignia of the Kingdom of Gin. Then I realized that I had heard of a young prince in Gin who was forced to take the throne. His father died unexpectedly and that made him the king and had to find a queen before he could go through with the coronation. I guess that this Princess was now married to that prince. She would leave here soon, to be crowned queen of Gin. I felt a sliver of pity for the young girl.

The princess wore the dark royal blue colored ball gown with a fully beaded bodice, vintage basque waistline, corset styled closure, and sweeping train. She was a splitting image of her mother, the only thing that let you know that the king was her father was the shape of her jaw.

I stopped as I reached the dais and bowed my head deeply

" Bow lower " The king's voice boomed.

I did as instructed all the while feeling like an idiot for letting him order me around.

I now bowed at the hips and when the king told me to rise I was holding back a blush.

" Clearly you need a good lesson on how to bow properly. " The king scoffed.

" Forgive me, your highness, but I am not royalty they never taught it in school. " I said softly.

" Well that is obvious. " He said his lips tightened in disgust.

" Don't be too hard on the lovely girl, my love. She wasn't born as we were, as sad as that is. " The queen chided.

" Yes, do forgive my ignorance. What is your full name miss Angel? " He asked a bit more kindly.

" Jūryoku Yūkei, your majesty, if you will please call me Angel. " I said bowing in respect.

" I plan on it. " He said briskly.

" Now, onto the task at hand. Why do you think you were dragged here, miss Angel? " The king asked, all business now.

" Because I killed your army and fled the kingdom and into hiding, your majesty. " I said frowning.

" That is part of it I suppose but that is not the main reason. The reason you stand before me is because you were born powerless and now you emerge with two powers that killed my men. " He said roughly.

" What are you going to do with me now that you have me where you want me? " I asked.

" I'll give you two choices. You can choose to marry my son Tolen or You will be escorted into the cage of thorns and executed for your crimes. " He said slightly amused.

" Why would you want a runaway slave as a future queen of this kingdom? " I asked blinded by white hot panic.

" You have two powers, tolen has one, your future heirs may have more than two powers which means your heirs will be even more powerful than it would be if Tolen would marry a regular girl. " The king said as if it was obvious.

" I can't do that. " I said blinking.

There had to be a way out of this. I can't marry a Tolen, I loved Tenki. I can't marry a man I don't love much less someone I can't bear to look at. But what would my death do to Tenki. All executions are recorded live and shown on all technological devices all over even in other kingdoms. Everyone was required to watch. It was mandatory which means even the other Rare bloods would be watching me being murdered. I knew that marrying Tolen would hurt Tenki, but it would kill Tenki if he had to watch my execution. There was only one option I could live with and that was to live and marry Tolen. If they were going to negotiate then I would too.

" I will marry Tolen, under one condition. " I said shoving the fear and tears back.

" What is your Condition, Angel? " The queen said softly.

" I want the rest of the rare bloods out of your cells and be trained by me. I want to be surrounded by my own kind. " I said firmly.

They went quiet and for a second I thought my request would be put down. To my relief they finally spoke.

" Deal, I will let you meet them now. Bor, tell the guards to release the Rarebloods from the cells and escort them to the training field and let them have half control of their powers. " He ordered.