IMPRESS.

Chapter Four: The Arrival

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[NEXT DAY: 6:00 am]

"My lady," a voice that belonged to Roger echoed in my ears, but I whined and waved my hand at him. I didn't want to wake up.

"Lady Ascelyn, I don't mean to wake you but we have arrived." Roger informed and my eyes shot open in excitement as he continued, "we are in Aeralin and have just entered through the castle gates."

The bright smile that had stretched across my face morphed into a grin as I clasped my hands together and started squealing. "Oh my God, this is just magnificent isn't it Roger..."

Roger smiled back just as the carriage came to a complete stop.

My eyes widened instantly and I enthusiastically drew the maroon carriage curtain open to be met by the beaming morning sunshine and a stone pathway that was surrounded by glistening grass once I peeked my head out.

Stepping out the carriage before Roger, my eyes roamed over the gorgeous landscape filled with blossoming yellow, purple, red, blue, white, orange flowers covering the very green bushes and trees.

When I finished admiring the fact that everything was well, perfect. My life nearly flashed before my eyes when I saw the building within walking distance from us.

I almost screamed. I had to compose myself for a moment as I took in everyone that was happening right now.

The building was tremendous and somehow managed to leave enough space around it for the beautiful landscape of trees, plants and activities such as tennis and archery. 

My eyes scanned over the stone grey castle which had arched windows spaced out evenly and dark sewage green vines growing over the solid stone.

The way the castle was perfectly structured resembled the kind of place I always daydreamed to live in, I could almost imagine and picture how heavenly divine it must be inside.

Everyone time I had fantasies of one day ever becoming Queen when I was around sixteen, I would have something like this in mind when picturing the perfect castle for royalty.

"Lady Ascelyn-" I heard Roger call attempting to pull me out of my amazement. However, I had already rushed towards the stone of the building and began to trail my fingers across it, carefully feeling the flawlessly built building.

The hard, dark brown and large wooden double doors were the only barriers to me entering the castle since Roger had managed to get me through the secured castle gates and the many men guarding the castle whilst I was sleeping.

At that exact moment of me eyeing the doors that were engraved with a serpent-like pattern which started from the bottom corners of both doors and made its way up, the doors started to shake when the sound of many locks and chains rung in the air.

I jumped back in surprised and luckily Roger was behind me in an instant to stop me from falling. "Thank you, Roger."

"No problem my lady, no need to worry, someone is opening the doors as we speak. Every man and woman, lady and lord, in the castle are aware that you are arriving. And everyone in Aeralin is just as aware that if they lay their hands on you, the prince will personally rip them apart limb by limb." Roger said and I tried my best not to widen my eyes at the graphic image of a dark vampire tearing someone apart.

I grimaced as I had instant flashbacks of watching loved ones in my village being hurt every day by wicked and evil vampires, some even sent from the castle to make sure no one was disobeying any laws made by the royals.

Whenever these cruel vampires laid even one finger on me or managed to injure me, my mother would cry for a long time before healing me with her ability. My father always had to calm her. 

But, Harrison always did try his best to keep me from danger.

On the mention of Harrison, I already miss him.

Looking down at my fingers unhappily, I heard the doors to the castle that I had been stood in front of for a good ten minutes, opened slowly.

Glancing back up I furrowed my brows in confusion as ten men rushed outside in a flash and kneeled immediately in a row in front of me. Roger gave me a reassuring smile when I stared back at him before he too got onto one knee.

"Your highness." My eyebrows went from furrowed to raised as I got the sudden realisation that someone royal had appeared behind me. I turned around cautiously.

When I had made an 180 turn, my eyes met feminine eyes that were originally hazel but decorated with a dark lining that frightened me and made my fingers tremble due to sudden nervousness.

The young woman that resembled a princess wore a refreshingly white, spontaneous silk and tight-fitting dress that clung to her figure and appeared young with gorgeous layers of burgundy coloured waves falling from her head.

The smirk plastered on her face made me even more envious of her looks.

Do I curtsy? Is that what she is waiting for?

Confusedly, I place my right foot behind my left heel and bent my knees slightly

"Your highness," I spoke in a failed posh accent as I curtsied embarrassingly crookedly.

I need to stop with the accent.

The young woman who I guessed was the princess threw her head back and laughed out loud, really loud that all the birds which had been pecking in the castle bushes flew away in a herd.

I turned to Roger unsurely whilst the princess continued to laugh at me, and he shrugged before I spun back around on my heel.

I was too scared to speak.

"He was right, for a human, you are stunning. You smell ridiculously good but as I know your brother will make my life hell if I even hurt you the slightest." The princess extended her arm out and ran her finger through my hair. "I do fear for you, this isn't the safest place for a human with fresh blood to be lurking around... My brother, the prince, he has his mood swings."

I must've had a look of fright on my face because the princess lightly laughed after one glance at my face, "however I am sure your brother and I can protect you from all kinds of harm. I am in need of a lady friend that I actually may find a liking in and gossip with. We are going to be the best of friends."

I don't know if this a fake facade that the princess is putting on because the stories I have heard of her don't end well. They don't start well either. 

The princess was known to be capable of hurting a person without having to physically touch them and that petrified everyone, including me.

She must've been very close with my brother to be acting this friendly towards me. 

Speaking of my brother, I wonder where he was?

"Er-" I try to speak and fail completely.

But, when the princess begins to smile welcomingly at me and her eyes don't dim as dark as they had before, I try again.

"Excuse me, your grace, I don't know-" Before I could utter another word one of the guards knelt in the row behind the princess spoke up, guard number 4 to be precise. "My lady please forgive us, this is Princess Cathryn of Asten, daughter of King Creon the 2nd and Queen Melisandre."

Cathryn rolls her eyes when I look back at her, "Lady Ascelyn, your brother begged me to be the one to take care of you before he comes back from his trip with my father and brother. So, follow me."

"Call me Natalya, your highness," I said and she hummed thoughtfully with a smile.

"And you can call me Cathryn, only people I dislike address me with your highness. No offence guards." She responded and stuck her hand out for me to take, and I did before she dragged me past the guards and through the doors of the castle.

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My first step into the eerie castle foyer echoed. I looked down at the beige and marbled flooring, each tile was chosen with a particular taste and pattern in mind. Glancing back up from the marble, my eyes caught sight of some beautiful paintings scattered all around the castle walls.

The distant hallways were illuminated with light from the single fire-lit torches which were evenly spread on the walls every six steps.

Wow.

For a second my gaze took in the set of double staircases in the foyer, one on the left, one on the right. The railing of the staircases exquisitely engraved with beautiful flower and vine patterns. 

There were four large grey stone pillars evenly spaced, to keep the front of castle standing. Each pillar elegantly carved to accent the renaissance feel of the castle.

The castle was dark and nightmarish despite the beige colour of the marble and I swear if you wandered these halls alone at night you would definitely be left on edge.

"Striking, isn't it?" Cathryn questioned and still holding onto my hand she looked back at my mesmerised face whilst we walked the halls.

I mindlessly replied with an agreeing hum, my attention still focused on the ancient art on the walls.

Princess Cathryn giggled and continued to pull me along with her.

We passed a moderately sized fountain which showered water gracefully back to where it started. 

The walls of the castle were blanketed in a bloody dark red and to match the railings of every staircase in the castle the walls were embellished with golden embroidery.

I hadn't even realised that we had gone up a floor and passed so many guards, servants and some more important people on the way until we stopped outside a closed white door.

Beside the door stood a guard. He was wearing a silver helmet over his face so all I could make out were his pitch black vampire eyes. The rest of his body was covered in shiny armour, although I could see that his trousers were black.

The guard was wearing a short grey cape that reached above his waist over the back of his metal.

He was a very muscular guard, a bit like Roger but much taller.

I felt like a shrimp stood near him and when the guard's eyes travelled down to me and sparked red. I stepped back in an instant. 

Straight after I saw Cathryn's eyes grow black as she sneered at the guard with her fangs lengthening out her mouth, creating a silver in her eyes that made the guard clutch his throat and begin to gasp for air.

She was using her ability on the guard and my mouth dropped open as I looked at the scene in front of me. That is so cool!

"This is Alaric's sister you unintelligent swine! This is the girl my brother, your master, wants you and everyone else to take care of. So I suggest you don't scare her Thomas or either me, the king, queen or worse, my brother will have your head. Got it?" Cathryn glared at the guard with squinted eyes and I closed my mouth, nervously swallowing.

Thomas nodded vigorously when Cathryn stopped twisting his throat. He was clearly frightened by Cathryn, her threat and ability. 

Cathryn simply smiled spitefully when gesturing for Thomas to unlock the closed door for us.

Timidly smiling whilst glancing at Cathryn, she grinned victoriously obviously proud of her power and effect she had on the guard and me.

Once the door was unlocked I followed Cathryn as she walked into the large room. The room we had walked into was, first of all, a massive bedroom with a queen sized bed covered in white and pink flowery sheets, cushions and pillows.

The bedroom was visually beautiful, it had a lilac colour covering the wall adorned with framed art and a furry, white polar bear shaped rug placed in the centre of the room.

There were luxurious vintage-looking sofas creating a sitting area around the white rug. 

Metres away were two white French double doors which led to a balcony and were wide open, thus allowing the cold air to enter the room and blow the white lace curtains like leaves from a tree.

I hadn't realised that I had stopped breathing for a second as I was completely overwhelmed by this dream-like bedroom that was also attached to its very own bathroom.

Exhaling I was taken out of my trance by Cathryn when she clapped her hands and yelled: "ladies get into formation!"

Suddenly three girls emerged from nowhere and were in front of me in a minute, "Natalya this is where you'll be staying and these are your servants, for your safety they are all human and you may command them to do anything you wish and treat them any way you like. They belong to you."

Although I wanted to squeal from being over the moon about this room belonging to me, I was too busy worrying about the safety of my serv- let's just say, handmaidens.

Cathryn didn't even dare hide her disgust for the three human girls wearing similar pale peach servant dresses. "Are you going to curtsy or shall I just break each of your legs?" Cathryn's eyes glow a fiery red as she threatens 'my servants'.

Shaking my head quickly at Cathryn and placing my hand on her arm, I stopped her from almost doing anything that would injure my handmaidens. "It's fine they don't have to do that."

Cathryn crossed her arms in annoyance and snapped her head at me, "your brother wouldn't approve of this and my brother would have already been sucking each of them dry. Now curtsy or else!"

As the handmaidens followed Cathryn's demand, I took the time to take in their appearances. 

The first one had extremely long straight, caramel coloured hair that reached just above her waist, she had grey eyes and a slim figure like the other two. The girl looked quite pale like she hadn't eaten for a long period of time, but I let that thought pass me for the moment.

The second handmaiden had her light ash blonde hair done up in a neat bun and left some loose strands down to fall in front of her sea blue eyes. The girl didn't look that much younger than me. She had very high cheekbones which defined her face and made me jealous as I knew that that feature would certainly be very irresistible to any male. She too had skin that was far too pale.

The last handmaiden had dark chocolate curly hair that reached her shoulders and shining hazel eyes which stuck out due to having brown bronzed skin. The girl had visible dimples that gave her the cute factor although I assumed she was slightly older than me by the level of maturity radiating from her.

"That's more like it, anyway, I am going to check on a few things. Thomas will alert you when it is breakfast time and hopefully, everyone should be present by then. If you need anything call my name, at least, three times, I have very good hearing and these walls have ears too." Cathryn clearly explained to me with a warm and mellow tone of voice.

I genuinely smiled at how considerate of my needs she was being, "thank you your hig- Cathryn." I smoothly corrected myself and earned a smile of approval from her just before she rushed out, leaving me alone with three girls who's lives were basically in my hands.

I wonder where they sleep. I wonder if they are fed and treated well.

"So, uh- what are your names?" I curiously asked the three ladies stood in my service in front of me.

The second one with the blonde hair and cheekbones timidly looked at me and answered, "the princ- master he prefers to be called, says that you shall name us."

Master? The prince prefers to be called 'master'? Wow. The prince sounds like an egotistical and homicidal dipstick. But I would never say that aloud. Just in case, anyone hears me.

I sigh disgustedly at the fact that the prince thinks he has the power to tell people that their names should be whatever a village girl like me wants them to be. I am appalled.

"No." I shake my head catching the attention of the three ladies and then faintly smile, "I want your real names. Starting with you." I point at the girl with straight and lengthy caramel hair.

She stands forward carefully making sure that she doesn't step too far towards me. "I'm Leia (Lay-ya), my lady."

I nod and turn my head next to the blonde girl who steps forward as the other girl steps back, "Kiera, my lady."

The final girl with the beautiful bronze skin and chocolate curly hair moves forward shyly, "and I am Claudia, my lady."

"Lovely names for beautiful girls, listen, you can call me Natalya and feel free to tell me when you need anything. You can speak to me as if I am a friend, I don't mind. Are you hungry or thirsty? You all look extremely drained. When was the last time you were fed?"

I questioned way too fast.

The three girls slightly lifted their heads up and stared at each other, like they were having a mental conversation whether to lie or tell me the truth.

"And you can be fully honest with me, I literally don't bite." I lightly laughed after flashing my perfectly straight, white human teeth to reassure them.

Leia gives a brief nod, "yes my lady, sorry, I mean Natalya. We haven't been fed since yesterday morning and are actually quite parched too."

"Well then. I command you to go feed yourselves. If anyone in the castle tries to stop you from eating, let them know that Alaric Ascelyn's sister has given you permission." I lifted my head up feeling all kinds of powerful like I had just made a very important decision.

Leia, Claudia and Kiera grew smiles that stretched across their faces and warmed my heart, "thank you, my lady, thank you." Claudia spoke for the three and waited for me to dismiss them.

"Remember, call me Natalya, now you are dismissed." I tilted my head towards the door to let them know they could actually leave and smiled in amusement at how they fast walked out of the room.

Once they left, my eyes immediately drifted off to the open wooden wardrobe next to a desk which was filled to the brim with many sleek and spontaneous dresses. There were so many dresses that I was certain I'd have a dress to wear every hour of every day I would stay in this castle.

Pursing my lips, I smiled when my fingers made contact with a beautiful black lacy, almost see through mermaid shaped dress. I had never seen anything like it before, it was surely custom made and one of a kind.

I was definitely putting this on right now, this is what I want to be wearing when I meet the royals for the first time and my brother for the first time in almost three years. This midnight blue dress I am wearing is gradually getting very uncomfortable the longer I have it on anyway.

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Image of Actress who plays Princess Cathryn is above. If you are not familiar with her, it is Lily Collins :)

Q: What do you think about Princess Cathryn? And how do you like Natalya so far?

I hope you enjoyed this filler chapter of Natalya arriving in Aeralin, to the castle and meeting Cathryn. Filler chapters of mine aren't meant to be that engaging but hopefully you still found it good. The next chapter should be up soon and trust me, it is a good one. You will not want to not read it. 

VOTE, COMMENT AND THANK YOU YOU LOVELY PERSON.

LOVE YOU!! - N1Dreamerx