Vision

The two young royals were lying on Alyssa's bed.

"I won't hide anything from you again, I promise." Kiva arms and legs were wrapped around Alyssa like a Koala clinging on a branch of tree for her dear life.

Alyssa stared at her best friend accusingly. "Tell me everything you know before I change my mind."

"That's all I know Ali. All I know is that we eat…brains." Alyssa gave her a cold glance and Kiva cleared her throat. "hu-hu-human brains." She added. "I remember that was the first thing I craved after my ceremony…I don't know I just wanted it so badly. I did not tell you because you might avoid me because…because I can eat you too…if I'm not careful." Kiva tightened her embrace. "But don't worry! As if that will ever happen." She immediately dismissed the idea.

"Are you sure?" Alyssa's brow lifted, teasing Kiva.

"Yes! Of course!" Kiva trying to prove her point, tightened her embrace. "I will never…never!" 

"I know you won't eat me, Kiv. But…" Alyssa was trying to squeeze herself out of Kiva's embrace. "can you move a few inches?"

Alyssa's bed was a king size that can fit three people.

"Oh," Kiva loosened her embrace. "I'm sorry." She was rubbing her cheeks on Alyssa's arm. 

"Is that it?" Alyssa asked her best friend, not shrugging off Kiva's affection. "Your deepest darkest secret?"

Kiva nodded profusely.

There was a second of silence.

"Okay." Alyssa finally replied.

"Really?" Kiva said with her high-pitched voice, suddenly sitting on the bed. "You're not disgusted? Or afraid?"

"Why would I?" Alyssa smiled. "It won't change that fact that you're my best friend."

"Waaaaaah!" Kiva buried her face on Alyssa's chest. "I should have told you sooner, but I don't have the courage."

"It's okay," Alyssa caressed Kiva's hair, comforting her. "you just did what you had to do to survive."

"Waaaaah!" Kiva cried out. "You're really my best friend and besides," Kiva's voice was muffled on Alyssa's chest. "You don't have to worry much longer, three weeks from now you will be like us…like a family!" She looked at Alyssa on arm's length, beaming with excitement.

Alyssa hesitated to answer. "Right, I don't have much time left." Alyssa was starting to feel the weight of the day, she was starting to feel tired. "Uhm, Kiv?" Alyssa yawned. "You know it's already a late night, right?"

"Can't I sleep over?" Kiva pleaded with her puppy eyes. "Even Ziloh slept in here." She pouted.

Alyssa cannot deny that fact, she had no valid excuse to say no. "Okay," Alyssa sighted, guess she had to give up her personal space for tonight. "You can stay."

"Yehey!" Kiva bolted up, jumping on the bed. "Yehey!"

Alyssa yawned. 

Kiva quickly ran to the switch to turn off the light and went back to Alyssa's side. "Good night, Ali." She rested her chin on her palm and settled to stare at the sleeping princess.

Feeling the weight of Kiva's glare, Alyssa stared awkwardly at the ceiling, uncomfortable from the maniac smile---at least that was what it looked like to Alyssa--- at her side.

They used to share the same bed as children some nights, but it had always been a one-sided thing, Alyssa had no desire to share her bed with anyone even as a child--- it was due to Kiva being clingy. But Kiva did not sleep over again after her ceremony. Alyssa thought it was because Kiva, unlike her, did not need to sleep anymore. But Alyssa was wrong, it was because Kiva was afraid to lose control and eat her in her sleep.

Upon discovering the royal's secret, more than feeling betrayed, Alyssa surprisingly found herself feeling sorry for her best friend. Imagine the constant fear that Kiva felt. That she might not just kill but eat someone important to her out of impulse.

'How could something so natural to her be a danger to me?' There was sadness hidden in Alyssa's eyes.

Kiva bobbed her head enthusiastically. "Go on, close your eyes." She encouraged Alyssa. "I'll just be here." She smiled, showing her lower teeth.

'But I don't think I have to worry about her.'

Alyssa forgave her, and it all that mattered to Kiva.

Alyssa exhaled. "Good night, Kiv." She turned to the other side of the bed, facing the wall.

Kiva pouted, disappointed that she would not be able to observe the sleeping princess. "You'll probably taste like broccoli anyways." She mumbled to herself. "Night." She grumbled.

***

Alyssa looked at the floor to ceiling window.

A star fell under the sky. 

Alyssa closed her eyes, to wish for something--- but she forgot what she wished for as soon as she uttered the words.

There was a long wooden table with the Kingdom's emblem engraved at the middle.

She was sitting at the tip of the long table, overviewing the wide window.

The room was empty except for her. She felt like she had been here before, but her memories were blurry, and she cannot remember when or why she visited the room before.

She just noticed that she was wearing the green dress that she wore when she drank the water of the gods. She felt lightheaded--- she felt odd that she was to be able to wear the gown, but she does not know why.

Suddenly, she was not alone.

The table was instantaneously filled with familiar faces--- her family, the royals.

Kiva was seating next to her, saying something excitedly, but Alyssa cannot hear her.

Queen Kathy was sitting at the far end, smiling at her.

Everybody was enthusiastic, happy, and excited.

Alyssa cannot help herself but be happy too, she smiled unknowingly, happy to be with her family.

Surely, there must be some kind of a celebration, for the royals to gather like this.

A bowl suddenly popped in front of her, it was a bowl of lemon and garlic broccoli.

Alyssa smiled at her best friend as they began to eat.

There was a grand piano at the corner of the room, a young man was playing a song gracefully.

'I did not know Ziloh could play.' Alyssa was swinging her head back and forth enjoying the serene melody. 

She had another bite of her meal, but the texture on her mouth was suddenly lumpy and soft. She looked at her plate, it was no longer filled with greens, two eyes were staring back at her instead---her plate had a severed head, with its head cut open.

Alyssa fell back on her chair. She spit the food in her mouth on the floor--- it was meat.

Kiva said something to her, but she cannot understand it.

Kiva began to eat from Alyssa's plate. 

Kiva gave up her utensils and dived into Alyssa's plate, with the intention to devour.

Other royals stood up too, fighting their way into Alyssa's plate, wanting to have a bite--- even her queen mother joined the party.

Alyssa slid away from the table, as far as she can go. She sat at the corner, hugging her knees as she saw the royals swarming at her plate.

She shouted for a name she thought that would save her. "Ziloh!" She cannot hear herself. "Ziloh!" She repeated, but no voice came out of her mouth.

Ziloh continued to play the piano, not aware---or maybe, did not care---of what was happening.

Someone unexpected came to her side.

"Princess!" Eli was shouting her name--- Alyssa could hear him clearly. "Princess." He was shaking her shoulder.

"Run!" Alyssa was trying to warn him, but she cannot hear her own voice. "Run! They will serve you next." She shoved Eli away, pointing at the door. "Run!" She glanced at the royals, thankfully still occupied on her plate.

"Princess!" Eli shouted, alarmed.

Alyssa opened her eyes, Eli was hovering above her, shaking her awake.

"Princess, open your eyes."

"I'm awake." Alyssa said, her throat hoarse. "I'm okay."

"Thank goodness," Kiva, who loomed above Alyssa, clapped her hands. "She's awake!" Her face etched with concern. "Did you have a bad dream?"

"I don't know." Alyssa sat on her bed, her lips flushed out of color, her whole body clammed with sweat. "I don't remember."

"Oh, okay." Kiva placed a hand on Alyssa's chest, pondering for a moment. "As long as its beating, all is fine." She beamed. "So… are you ready to get dressed?"

They prepared for the day. They bathe together, they dressed up together--- Yes, Alyssa lost her personal space in the morning too.

Kiva skidded as they walked towards the mess patio together, Elion a few steps behind them.

Elion cannot help but steal side glances at the princess, wondering if she was really fine.

'She was having a nightmare.' Elion knew for he would have them too.

It was a dream---a nightmare---that is bound to come into reality three weeks from now.

***

Kiva ate twice her normal meal--- that says a lot. She skipped snack and dinner for Alyssa yesterday, and she was famished.

Alyssa, as usual, stuck to her leafy greens. She cannot imagine herself eating fleshy meats--- especially the wrinkly ones.

Alyssa was sitting facing her mother, determination was on her face.

'Find out the truth yourself.'

Alyssa took Ziloh's words into heart. To be able to know more about the royals, she would need more freedom.

"Mother," Alyssa said in a loud voice. "since I already know everything, can I ask a favor?"

The other royals' eyes where elsewhere but their ears where listening.

"Yes, my love. Anything."

"I was thinking, since the 'secret' is no longer hidden from me, can my curfew be lifted?"

The table grew silent, the royals' attention was now fully on the princess and the queen.

"And can I go to places where I'm currently forbidden to enter?" Alyssa continued.

"I don't---" Queen Kathy said.

"I don't find any reason to continue these rules anymore. Won't everybody agree with me?" Alyssa hovered towards the table.

Alyssa was the only one who would dare to interrupt the Queen while she was talking.

Murmurs were forming at the table, there were nods from the other royals, agreeing with Alyssa.

Kiva was the one nodding the most. 

But others---those that are conservative---shook their head side to side, expressing their disapproval.

"I'm afraid it's written in our law, my love." Queen Kathy calmly replied. "We have to follow the rules."

"My Queen, if I may." Duke Emil lifted his hand in the air. "I believe Princess Alyssa is right. Our law should be amended in this changing time."

The other royals on the table nodded in agreement. But still, no everybody was happy with the suggestion.

Nobody noticed but Queen Kathy glared at Duke Emil for announcing his opinion.

As immortal beings, majority are not interested with change—including the Queen.

"Okay," Queen Kathy nodded to her daughter. "Allow me and Duke Emil to study the law first, the royal council's opinion is also needed."

"Thank you, mother." Alyssa beamed at the Queen.

Kiva looked around the area, observing that there were plenty attendants serving each table. "You have to be careful around the attendants," Kiva reminded Alyssa. "Most of them don't know. Even your personal attendant doesn't know." Kiva whispered. "So be careful around Wily."

"Eli." Alyssa corrected Kiva. "It's Eli."

***

Elion can now confirm that something had changed with the princess, she looked more serious, determined even.

Elion was following the princess closely behind. He was shocked to see Alyssa turning the opposite way from her room.

The princess sat in the gazebo, pondering something. "Eli," She patted at the seat next to her. 

Elion blinked.

"Come, sit." 

Elion walked and sat next to the princess.

"Is your mother around?" Alyssa asked him.

Elion was silent.

"Is she alive?"

Elion shook his head.

"Your father?"

Elion paused for a moment, but then shook his head no, Brian was not his biological father after all. 

"Sister?" 

Elion shook his head.

"Brother?"

Elion nodded.

"I'm just wondering," She stared at the distance. "What if you found out your brother killed somebody… Not just an ordinary killer… The serial killer kind, the sociopath kind...can you still accept him? Love him as who he is?"

Elion considered the question seriously before answering. He imagined his brother, Luppy face stained with blood, he was holding a knife stained with blood, an evil smile on his face. It was an image that felt wrong.

'Impossible.' Is what Elion wanted to say. 

If there was a crime that his brother would likely commit, it would be gambling. Yes, Elion could picture his brother laughing wickedly with Rigs raining down on Luppy. This image was the closest to reality. If Luppy were to become a gambler, it would not change the fact that he is still his brother.

But if ever his brother was a sociopath…

"Yes." Elion answered.

Alyssa looked up, admiring the sky. "It's not wrong right? To love them is not wrong."

"No." Elion replied.

"But what if…" Alyssa bit her lower lip. "I followed them and became a serial killer too. Is that okay?"

Elion's face furrowed, pondering. "No."

"Then what should I do? If that's all I ever wanted to be. If that what I was born to become." 

Alyssa defended the royals in her mind, this cannot be true, they are not monsters, for all the years that she spent growing up inside the palace, they may have differences but the royals were not bad--- the palace is after all is the only home she ever knew.

While there was a battle going on inside Alyssa's mind, Elion was scanning the garden. When they came here to find Kiva, he discovered that it was a good place to hide in case they were chased, the trees were good to cover them. Elion was thinking that he could do his mission now. He could gag and drag the princess into the secret hole Maya had told him about. But in doing so, Maya would be left alone inside the palace. And if the royal would find out her connection with him, Maya would get killed.

Elion's head jerked to the side upon hearing a noise. He saw two guards patrolling near the area. All his impulsive idea was gone in an instant, it would be better for him to stick with their plan, to kidnap the princess on her upcoming birthday.

Elion was snapped away from his thoughts at the sound of the bell ringing, signaling the curfew.

"Princess," Elion stood up, their conversation forgotten. "we should head back." He walked towards the hallway to go straight to his dormitory.

"Be prepared Eli," Alyssa chased Elion and walked beside him. "You might have to work overtime soon."