III. June 12th, 1989

My head is pounding.

"How much did you drink?" Gwen asked.

With the sunglasses on my face, I responded: "Three glasses...at least that's how much I counted."

The sound of squeaky shoes and loud voices pressed into my ears. I covered it, "Was life always this loud?"

Asena exhaled and shook her head, "Why did you drink that much?"

"Because my friends left me."

"You were in section A," Gwen retorted.

It was stupid of the flight attendant to not allow me to switch seats, especially when section A was basically empty. There was no one except me, the sexy voice man next to me, and a strange old man in the back.

That's it!

It was just us three!

And I didn't even get to see the sexy voice man's face when we landed. I fell asleep for the rest of the flight.

When we got outside, I stretched my arms and grunted when my neck cracked. Finally, I opened my eyes and the first thing I noticed was the thick layer of clouds.

I think I packed the wrong clothes for vacation.

A questionable black car rolled up to us, and an even more questionable old man came out of the driver's seat. His eyes went to each one of us before they finally stopped at Asena, "You must be Miss Asena."

Asena nods slightly, "H-Hello."

"My name is Bennet, and I'll be serving you this evening." He opens the door.

Asena, Gwen, and I exchange looks. I pushed Asena, "Hey," she said in a low voice.

"He said he's here to service you."

Gwen gives me a sharp glare.

"Sorry."

Asena got into the car, then Gwen, and finally me. I hold firmly onto Gwen's hand and once in a while, I pat the pepper stray inside my pants. I've never had to use it, but you never know.

When the city came into view, we rolled down the window. It was a city of wide avenues and small places to sit and eat.

I tilt my head out and stare up. There were the sky towers in the center. My mouth gaped when I saw the river that flowed through the center, crossing the bridges.

When we passed the city, I rested my head against the edge of the window. The field of flowers comes into view, and in the distance lays a large castle. That must be where the royal family lives.

I grabbed the melted chocolate bar in my pants and munch away. Alcohol really makes me hungry, and if I don't eat I get hangry.

"Mira," Gwen says.

"Oh, sorry. You guys want some?"

Gwen palm face, but Asena accepted the chocolate.

Down the freeway, and near what seemed to be the edge of the city we stopped at a large modern mansion.

Bennett opened the door and escorted Asena out. "Oh, I'm so sorry." The chocolate I gave her earlier soaked into Bennett's white glove.

"A minor issue Miss Asena," he responded. "Pardon my rudeness." He removed his glove and extended a hand to Gwen.

Him taking off his glove is rude?

Do we live on the same planet?

Now, it's my turn to be escorted out. I placed my hand on top of his, and he grabbed it. My eyes widened at the sudden action, and so did he. "My apologies," he said before he released me.

I gave him an awkward smile before I rushed to Gwen's side. When I looked back, Bennet was still giving me a weird look.

The wide door spread open, and on top of the dangerous-looking steps stood a man. When I say man, I mean a man.

Gwen squeezes my arm and I bit my tongue to hold back the scream.

I guess I'm not the only one who finds the man attractive.

One step after another, the tall man stepped down the stairs. The white shirt that's wrapped around his body barely manages to hide the deliciousness underneath. I swallowed firmly as my eyes traveled from his chest to the black pants.

I'm horny.

Quickly, I forced my sight to go back to the man. "Asena." He stood in front of her; his hands hovered over her face but he didn't invade her space. "You look just like your mother."

That's a suspicious line.

"May I?"

Asena looked at us as if we had any control over this situation. He's her long-lost uncle, not ours.

"Y-Yes."

Her uncle places his hands on her cheeks, and he smiles, "I'm sorry," he says. "I should've found you sooner."

Gwen and I stood in our awkward place as Asena and her uncle exchanged conversations. My eyes went around the clean mansion. Even in the doom and gloom weather, you can tell it's a beautiful building.

A flight of black birds flew over us and towards the city. Somehow, this feels ominous.

"And they are?"

"Emmett, these are my friends - Gwen and Mira."

Emmett's eyes travel from Gwen to me and then back at Gwen, "Pleasure."

"I know we agreed that I bring only one person, but they're my best friends."

Emmett smiles, "Asena," he says. "From now onward, this is your home. Feel free to do what you please."

Asena, despite feeling uncomfortable, smiles.

Emmett turned his attention back to us; he placed out a hand, "Welcome."

Gwen practically pushed me aside and grabbed his hand. "Hi, I'm Gwen."

Emmett tilted his head before he nodded, "It's a pleasure to have you here."

When he turned to me, I forced out a smile.

"Since she's Gwen. You must be-"

"Mira."

He positions out a hand, and I stare at it for what feels like a long time. I reach for Emmett's hand.

"Master Emmett," Bennett says. "There is a call for you." He places the phone in the air.

Emmett retracted his hand and grabbed it, "A moment." He stepped to the other side.

I stare at my hand that's still in the air. When I assume no one is looking, I withdraw it and hide it behind my back. That's embarrassing.

"He's hot," Gwen said.

"He's my uncle," Asena responded.

"Sweet, I'm going to be your aunt," I said.

"No," Asena said. "He could be like several hundred years old."

"Did I ever mention, I'm into older dudes?" I laughed.

"No," Gwen butt in, "But you did mention you counted up to three drinks on the plane."

"I'm sober now." I think.

Soon, Emmett returned and offered us a tour around the mansion. I know there are people who are doing much better than my family, but reality didn't hit until I stepped foot inside the room that's bigger than my house.

The room I'm in is what I assume is the entrance of the house with a giant staircase spiraling down to connect the first floor to the second, and a huge chandelier in the middle of the room.

Throughout the tour, my jaw physically dropped to the ground and now, it hurts from the constant detachment. There aren't many rules except a few. I forgot what it is.

Finally, Emmett showed us to our rooms. Each of us got a separate room, and soon, he left us to make ourselves comfortable.

Out of the three of us, Asena got the biggest room. It makes sense considering how she is the relative while we're guests.

While Asena and Gwen explored more of the mansion, I fell asleep in the guest room. Of course, I set an alarm to make sure I woke up for dinner. I'm a guest, and guests can't be rude even if the host tells them to 'make yourself at home'.

When the alarm rang, groggily, I sat up and nearly had a heart attack when I saw Bennett at the end of the bed. "Oh my God. Am I dead?"

After some time, I woke up - well, half awake - "What are you doing here Bennett?"

"I'm here to escort you to the diner."

"It's dinner time?"

"Yes."

I threw off the blanket and crawled out of bed, "I'm sorry. I know I'm a guest, but can you knock next time?"

"I did."

"You did?"

"For twenty minutes."

"What?"

"I assumed you were in danger so forgive me for intruding."

I grabbed the phone. It went off three times. "I'm late, aren't I?"

"A tad. Shall we?"

On our way to the dining room, I fixed my hair. My legs stopped at the sight of the castle past the large glass window, "Bennett?"

"Yes, Miss Mira?"

"Is that where the royal family lives?"

Bennett looks out the window, "Yes."

"Are we going to go there?"

Bennet looked at me, "I'm not certain."

"Isn't there a ball or something, you know, like the movies."

Bennett stared at me.

"I'm sorry," I said. "I'm still half asleep."

Bennet chuckled, "Perhaps, there will be a ball."

When he resumed his walk I did too. "Ooh, fancy." I've always seen those royal balls on TV, and now that I know someone important, I guess this is my opportunity to attend one. I hope they have good food.

But, before I think about the potential royal ball food, let's focus on the food in front of me tonight. In front of me was a festive meal with a fully cooked chicken in the middle of the table. There was a soft classic song in the background, and when I looked up, a giant chandelier above me. It feels like I stepped into one of those old movies.

"How is your stay so far?" Emmett asked Asena.

"It's good," she responded. "It's unexpected."

"What makes it...unexpected?"

Asena shrugged, "Just didn't think Mom lived this kind of life."

Emmett exhaled before he started the story of Asena's mother. It turns out Asena's mother is a hybrid - that's the name for those who are born between a human and an Immortal. Asena's mother was promised to another man, but then she met Asena's father. They fell in love, forbidden love.

Guess what?

He grabbed her hand and off they went.

I mean, in a way Asena's mother did cheat on her fiance, but I'll overlook it since the story is so romantic.

"Are you crying?" Gwen asked me.

I nod, "I'm sorry." I grabbed the napkin and blew my nose.

"Mira loves, love story," Gwen explained.

"A fan of romance, I see." Emmett grabbed the red glass.

I nod, "I am."

After dinner, Emmett requested to talk to Asena alone, so that left Gwen and me. Bennett escorted us to our rooms since the mansion was too big. Unlike Asena who is unsure how long she'll stay, Gwen and I are staying for a month and a half. It's vacation and we don't want to overstay our welcome. Plus, Gwen has a new job and I have to get ready for medical school.

Before Bennett left the room, he reminded us of the rules.

One, we may not leave the mansion without an escort - primarily because the city is crowded with Immortals.

Two, we may not leave the mansion after dark - that's not a rule only for us, but for all the humans who visit Bulteria.

Three, we may not attempt to open any locked room - I thought the last rule was stupid because who would try to open a locked room?

When he finished going over the rules, he left us to attend to ourselves and a bell if we needed any help. Inside the shower, I let all my thoughts sink away. I think I took a 45-minute shower.

I left the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my head. Without another word, I leap onto Gwen's bed. After Bennett entered my room without a single sound, I kind of got afraid to sleep alone. Plus, what he did reminded me of something and it creeped me out even more.

"Do you think Asena is okay?" Gwen asked.

"Why wouldn't she?" I grabbed a book.

"Because she's with a man we barely know."

"At least he's a rich man."

"Mira."

"Sorry," I said. "We can go check up on her?"

"Better." She got off the bed.

I huffed a breath before I rolled off the bed with her. With the towel wrapped around my head, I followed Gwen down the dimly lit hallway. When I feel something grabbed my hand, I leap back only to find out it's Gwen. "What's wrong?" I asked.

"It's kind of dark."

"He's trying to save on electricity?"

"Mira!"

"I make jokes when I'm nervous! You know that!" I responded. We're walking down a dimly lit hallway inside an Immortal's mansion, surrounded by Immortals outside of the mansion.

The beating inside my chest only increases with each step we take. Our slippers slap against the floor tiles. I grabbed Gwen's sweaty palm and swallowed profoundly. The towel on my head slipped off and I jumped back with a scream which caused Gwen to scream too.

Then, another scream.

But, not from either of us - Asena.

She was at the corner of the hallway when we screamed which caused her to scream along.

"What are you two doing?" Asena asked.

"I thought the towel was a ghost," I cried.

Why do I do this to myself?

Gwen exhaled sharply, before she asked Asena, "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah," Asena exhaled, "Everything is okay."

"You don't look okay," I said. Actually, I think she's doing better than me. I thought the towel was a ghost.

Asena shrugged her shoulders and her lips twisted into a comedic look, "It was a lot."

Asena updated us on what her uncle told her. It turned out her uncle's last name was - Celeste. Celeste is one of the five foundational families who oversee Immortals. Unfortunately, Celeste is also the weakest family of the five and Emmett asked her to return to help him bring back the glory of the family name.

Now, isn't this a set-up typical storyline from a fantasy book?

"What are you going to do?" I asked.

Asena shrugged, "I'm not sure. He told me to take my time and think about it."

I mean it is hard to decide.

Go back home and live in a tiny single-bedroom apartment with a girl who has a very dry sense of humor while working two jobs and attempting to finish college or move in with a very rich uncle and live each day like a princess.

Goddamn.

Why are we even thinking about this?

I squint my eyes and move closer to her face, "So you're a quarter Immortal huh." I pinch her cheeks and pry her mouth open. My eyes investigate for anything abnormal. "Do you have a desire for blood?"

"What the heck are you doing?" Gwen asked.

Asena slapped my hand away, "No!"

"What about-" I grabbed the lamp and put it close to her face, "sunlight!"

"That's a lamp."

I put the lamp down, "You guys are boring."

"This is serious," Gwen says.

I exhaled, "Look, I know. You have to choose between your life at home, where you know it's safe, and your rich questionable uncle. You're kind of wondering, why does my uncle want me now? Why? What use is me? After all these years, with all this money, he could've found me sooner, but why now? Why?"

"Actually, I wasn't thinking of that," Asena said. "But, now I am."

"You're welcome?"