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Chapter One- Destiny

Samira jumped out of the way of a speeding unicorn, and looked around at the world into which she’d stepped. “How strange,” she murmured, “that they allow such creatures to roam free.”
“O’ course they be free!” exclaimed a hoarse voice behind her. Samira turned to face the old woman who had spoken. “Le’ me guess, ye hail from a slave world,” the woman continued, glaring up at Samira through her thin, greasy gray hair.
“No, not really,” replied Samira, staring around herself in awe at all the brilliant colors.
“Found her!” came a shout from not too far away. Turning sharply toward the sound, Samira saw three burly men trudging toward her. In front of them ran a young girl, her golden curls flying haphazardly behind her. Samira had just prepared to flee when the young woman, Samira saw her curves as she got closer, ran up and captured her hands, preventing her from moving.
“You must be the envoy,” the young woman exclaimed, “we’ve been expecting your arrival! Please, follow me to the palace.”
The blonde pulled at Samira’s arm till she started moving, chattering the whole time about visions, premonitions and other things that Samira didn’t understand. ‘I’ll never get used to this world,’ Samira thought, sighing as she surveyed the landscape, and watched the people laughing as they worked in the fields.
As they neared the palace, another unicorn whisked by, and Samira quickly jumped out of its way. The young blonde laughed good-naturedly.
“Don’t worry,” she giggled, “they won’t run over you.”
“Oh,” replied Samira, “I didn’t know.”
“My goodness!” exclaimed the blonde. “How rude of me! I forgot to introduce myself! Well, better late than never. My name is Princess Seraphima Iliana Acalda, but you can call me Sera. My parents are the current rulers here.”
“I am Princess Samira Angeliequa of Bepsalmn,” responded Samira, “the vampire realm.”
“I already knew who you were,” giggled Seraphima, dragging Samira through heavily wrought pearl doors, “weren’t you listening at all?”
Before Samira could utter an apology, the small group entered a huge receiving room, and Seraphima ran up to join her parents, who were seated in simple wooden thrones on a slightly raised dais.
“Mother! Father!” exclaimed Seraphima breathlessly. “It is my great pleasure to introduce Princess Samira of the vampire dimension, Bepsalmn.”
“King Moradin. Queen Crystella.” Samira bowed low to the seated sovereigns. “I have been sent here to request safe haven from those who have invaded my home world.”
“No need to be so formal, my dear,” admonished Queen Crystella with a wave of her regal hand, “I’m sure our daughter has informed you that we were expecting you.”
“You were?” questioned Samira warily.
“Yes,” replied King Moradin, “we have been having visions of a time when you will save our daughter from Death.”
“You have?” Samira couldn‘t begin to imagine what look she must have on her face.
“Sera, sweetheart,” chimed Queen Crystella, turning in her chair so she could face her daughter, “why don’t you show Samira to her rooms.”
“Yes, Mother,” replied Seraphima, curtsying low to her mother before bouncing over to Samira, “come on, Sami! Afterwards, I’ll introduce you to the others!”
“The others?” gasped Samira as she was yanked from the room. The last thing she saw was the pleased smiles adorning the royal couple’s faces. Dashing down the white marble floors, through ornate halls, Seraphima finally came to a stop before two, carved dark-cherry wood doors.
“Your rooms first, milady,” teased Seraphima, laughing as she dramatically bowed low.
“Oh, stop it,” huffed Samira indignantly. She shoved open one of the doors and walked into a gleaming golden room. White chiffon curtains billowed as a gentle breeze blew in through the open windows.
“Oh, my,” breathed Samira, her eyes going wide as she backed away from the heavenly room, “don’t you have anything simpler? At home, my room consisted of a mattress on the floor and a wash stand and basin.”
“Well, here you shall live like the princess you are,” promised Seraphima, looking upset about how Samira had lived previously.
“That’s very kind of you,” remarked Samira, quickly high-tailing it back down the hall, “but I really would be more comfortable in something a little simpler.”
“Oh, no you don’t!” shrieked Seraphima, finally realizing that Samira was leaving her and sprinting to catch up. “I chose these rooms myself! If you don’t take them then I’ll take that as an insult!”
“Oh, really!” Samira yelled back, looking over her shoulder to make sure she was heard. “Then you should have picked- OOOF!”
Looking up from where she’d landed on the floor, Samira saw the most gorgeous man she’d ever seen. Long, golden hair pulled back at the nape of his neck; mischief sparkling in his sky blue eyes; and a killer smile playing about his classically shaped lips.
“Are you alright?” he asked in a deep baritone voice, reaching down to help Samira to her feet.
“Uh, yeah,” breathed Samira, staring into his eyes.
“I’m sorry I knocked you down,” he said, glancing over Samira’s shoulder, “but I was looking for Sera.”
“Oh,” sighed Samira, stepping away from him, “she was right behind me.”
“And I still am!” exclaimed Seraphima latching onto Samira’s arm. “Ha! I got you!”
“Sera,” interrupted the impossibly handsome man, “we need you in the conference room. You know we can’t start without you.”
“Oh!” gasped Seraphima. “Is it that late already? Ok, Damien, I’ll be right there.”
Samira watched jealously as the man named Damien drew Seraphima gently into his arms and kissed her. Sighing, Samira started to walk toward what she hoped was the front of the palace.
“Hold it right there!” Seraphima yelled, racing down the hall to latch onto Samira’s arm again. “I want you to meet the others.”
“Alright, I’ll go,” sighed Samira, defeated, allowing Seraphima to drag her back down the hall and through a giant archway into a meeting room where a group of people sat, waiting and watching.
“Samira,” announced Seraphima, turning so Samira could face the group directly, “welcome to your destiny: the Circle of Seven.”

*~*~*~*~* Remember: all comments, suggestions, and critiques are highly appreciated!!*~*~*~*~*