Final Decision

As time flew by, Ariel got only a day to make her final decision. It's because she would be getting married to the unknown King of Vallat the next day.

She was so stressed out not knowing what decision to make. The poor girl decided to take a nap.

Closing her eyes for a few seconds, she entered her world of fantasy. This time her dreams became more clear to her.

Lightning ripped open the sky violently with a fierce crash of thunder as Ariel felt a cold chill run down her back. The misty moonlight of the stormy skies lit up her silver wavy hair like silver petals. Twisted trees stood tall and majestic like skyscrapers in the damp, dreary night. Suddenly, a strong gale of wind pushed her deeper and deeper down the endless pathway. Her heart was racing faster than a speeding train, as her strides got longer and quicker. She was a colossal wreck!

She did not mean to come this far. What started as an aimless walk in the tenebrous forest had turned into a horrible nightmare. Trembling with fear, the rain wailed as it beat against the old, eerie tree trunks. The dense fog enclosed the rugged, forest clouding her vision ahead. Sobbing uncontrollably with silent tears streaming down her white cheeks, she tried to gain control of herself.

Her matte, wet, wavy hair stuck to her sweaty face.

The beast was vicious. He came out of the shadows to reveal his hideous face, demonic horns on his head. His snout looked like the one of a giant bull. His entire face was covered in thick black scales when he opened his mouth it revealed several rows of large pincer teeth; fangs and long claws. His body was bulbous and his horns stuck out randomly from his scaly skin. His devilish eyes pierced through Ariel's soul from the crack in her closet door. Ariel would often put her head under the cover hoping the monster would kindly disappear but the floor thumped loudly coming towards her with every step making the bed shake. Ariel's body was frozen but she screamed as loud as she could until her voice cracked.

Ariel couldn't take it anymore as she woke up from her nightmare. This dream of hers was real. She couldn't describe it as a dream anymore because she saw the creature face-to-face.

"When is this nightmare going to end?" She asked herself panting heavily as only her heartbeat could be heard I'm the room.

Ariel's room became cold all of a sudden, her skin started developing goosebumps. She felt someone's presence in her room. She was so scared that she thought the creature has come to visit her. Now she felt someone sitting on her bed and coming close to sit beside her.

"Don't move any further!" She warned with so much boldness although she was scared to death.

"No need to be frightened, Ariel. I won't bite, I only manipulate and possess people that's all." The woman smiled at her, revealing herself.

Ariel couldn't believe what she was seeing. Her mind immediately flashed back to the woman she saw in the book. She gasps realizing that the woman sitting beside her is the Prophetess.

"Yes, I'm the Prophetess." The woman claimed.

How did the Prophetess know what she was thinking? That's so weird!

"Hmm... The Prophetess?" Ariel was tongue-tied.

"Girl, I'm not here to exchange pleasantries with you."The Prophetess said with a serious tone.

"About my marriage tomorrow," Ariel said as she folds her palm into fists beside her.

"Yes, and I know about your nightmares. You can only be free from the nightmares if you get married to the man that was arranged for you. You might also know the reason behind your dreams once you've stayed long in your relationship with him; the King of Vallat." The Prophetess explained.

Ariel didn't know whether to be happy all sad, all of this seem to happen fast and she can't bear it any longer.

"You also need to save your people. I don't think you'd want to perish along with the people of Macbeth once the Kingdom has fallen. You can only save yourself and your people when you get married to the King of Vallat because Vallat is the most powerful Kingdom and the wealthiest of all the seven Kingdoms." The Prophetess said in a hypotonic tone.

Ariel was paying attention to her every word at the same time she was admiring the Prophetess' body. Her style of dressing was still the same as always but she adhered to King Lexi's words a little so she used golden scales to cover up her body.

"I just have today to think about it. I just want to save my people from distress and find out about my nightmares. Today's dream was beyond what I've ever imagined, it was as if the creature came to visit me. The fangs, the claws, they're way too scary." Ariel said hugging her legs.

The Prophetess understood what Ariel was saying. About the fangs and claws, she knew the King of Vallat had come to visit her. He was also curious about what his soon-to-be wife would look like. If Ariel discovered that her soon-to-be husband was the creature in her dreams she would be terrified. But why does he has to visit her in his monster-like form; the form of a vampire?

"I'd leave you to make your choice. Remember you have just today to make your final decision." The Prophetess said and disappeared.

Ariel was speechless, she was amazed. She just saw a woman disappearing from her sight. It was a rare scene. After thinking about what the Prophetess had told her. She finally made up her mind to stand up for her Kingdom and marry the King of Vallat at all costs.

Ariel prepared her spirit, soul, and body for the journey ahead of her. She hurriedly dressed up, she had plans of informing her parents about her final decision.