Chapter 1
Gracelyn looked down at her nightgown that she has worn repeatedly since returning a year ago under the stance of her father. He has made it clear that she must rule though she is doubting due to adoption because it is in the handbook of ruling that you must be blood and it is directly in the court of rules too. Gracelyn has reminded her father over and over that it is impossible to bypass this standing in his own kingdom that her adopted great, great, great, great grandparents established that it has to be a bloodline or someone else rules.
“Gracelyn, dear, it is bedtime. We have a big day for your coronation tomorrow to celebrate and you must be rested.” Mom says through the doorway.
“Mom, do I really have to take over? I don’t belong on that throne. We need Tessa back to take over, I’m not allowed.” Gracelyn replied with a bit of tears falling down her face.
“You are the only one left to take over. We don’t have any other heirs. Your sister has chosen her life in which we forbid but she isn’t allowed to take over with her wife. You understand?” Mom responded by brushing Gracelyn’s hair from her face and leaving a kiss on her temple.
“Rules don’t work in this Kingdom? I have to stand up there and be Queen while you and Dad retire to wherever.” Gracelyn replied letting out a heavy sigh.
“Tessa tried to rule before but she ruined our lives in the process and I couldn’t ask another Prince or Princess from another Kingdom to take what is rightfully ours. Me and your Dad will be right here just giving our positions to you.” Mom responded, stepping back giving Gracelyn some space.
Gracelyn wanted nothing more than to run away again and find her own solace in this world but she tried that with losing someone close to her in the process. As she stood looking out the window with her Mom leaving with a quiet shut of her door, she saw red glaring eyes at her with a devilish smile. She wasn’t afraid of who was behind her window that had been with her many nights.
“Hello Laila.” Gracelyn said to the figure in front of her.
“Hello Princess, may I come in and sit with you?” Laila asked with roughness in her voice.
“Please do.” Gracelyn opened her window to feel the cold air and then the slight woosh of Laila coming inside.
“I know you are going to be a great Queen with me by your side.” Laila replied with a gentle smile that she could obtain looking like a demon.
“You can’t be at my side. As much as I love you, it is impossible.” Gracelyn admitted as she took her hands to wipe her eyes.
Laila guided Gracelyn into her with gentle ease even with claws and sharp wings to place a hug to the heartbroken Princess. Laila wished she could fix this. In that moment, Gracelyn’s bedroom door slams open with King Xavier seeing the demon in his daughter’s bedroom.
“What are you doing here, demon? You don’t belong no where near my daughter.” Xavier says with a loud boom in his voice.
“Dad it’s Laila, the angel from before, she got turned into a demon because of Princess Hildegard when she was captured.” Gracelyn said standing before him with her tears finally stopping.
“Laila? The sweet angel that has carried over to my daughters protection.” Xavier questioned with a stroke of his chin.
“That is her, Dad. I promise you.” Gracelyn replied.
“Sir, it is I, Laila Kingston. I was transformed into this hideous creature because of Hildegard. I am still willing to protect Gracelyn if I can be by her side tomorrow as she becomes Queen.” Laila said in her most sincere voice.
“You may be by her side but don’t hurt her. You are to stand in the foreground with Julian and the rest of the guards behind her.” Xavier replied with his most fatherly voice.
“Thank you, sir. I will respect your wishes.” Laila responded with as much of a bow as possible with how big she is in this rather ridiculous demon body.
Gracelyn and Laila watched the King exit the room with a fit of giggles that would make anyone question then that is when Gracelyn knew that nothing would stop her from changing her world.
“I wish I wasn’t so hideous and I could touch you, love you, and make you feel special like before but I’m not sure how to reverse back.” Laila said in a sadness of her rough ragged voice.
“You were never hideous to me before and after. I still don’t know where my heart lies. I miss Hildegard, I have feelings for this new guard Julian that wasn’t supposed to happen, and Korin, oh my Pirate.” Gracelyn replied, going into a deep daydream.
“Korin? That Pirate you set sail with a while back. Gracelyn, he has moved on and found life after you. You didn’t know?” Laila responded hoping the lie works before he does return to this ungrateful princess just like her sister.
“What? Not my Korin, no, he wouldn’t have. He...”Gracelyn’s words fell through as she choked on her words.
Laila lowered her head down then looked at Gracelyn with a sly smile as the girl wept over the stupid idiotic man that wouldn’t come to save her even if it meant preventing him from showing up at this girl’s coronation tomorrow evening. Laila turned her face upside down again then stood up with ease.
“I’m going to leave here and head home. I will see you tomorrow, Princess. Get some rest for your big day of becoming Queen.” Laila said as she stood on the windowsill and then flew off with a rush of wind.
Gracelyn went to her window to close it and then sat on her bed waiting for someone else to come tell her more bad news. It wasn’t the night she was hoping for.
