Mystery inn

The ride to the city was not long. We arrived at the sunshine city before the sun was at its highest peak. Zaba informed me that the city is the biggest in the whole kingdom of Arcadia. From him, I got to learn a lot of things.

The people of Arcadia worship the moon and the sun as their gods. There are creatures of the nights such as werewolves and werejaguars. Who can transform during the day but they are mostly known as children of the night. They are the ones who worship the moon while the children of the day like the were-cheetahs that worship the sun.

The kingdom is ruled by the Sasodia family. They are considered to be the strongest were creatures in the whole kingdom. No one truly knows what kind of creatures the royal family is but for centuries their anger and wrath have destroyed kingdoms and taken them under Arcadia that no one dares to defy them. They never reveal themselves to others in their beastly form and use rings that create illusions about their appearance when in public.

The kingdom is ruled by the queen's mother since the king had passed away. But her son has come of age and will inherit the throne and become king. He is going to be crowned once he selects a wife at the princess selection. The selection would take place in the palace in a few days.

I am not a believer in coincidences but the princess selection being held at the moment that I have arrived here seemed too much of a stretch to me. I believe that when life gives you lemons they give a blender to make lemonade. I have somehow been brought into this world but no matter what I will survive this place.

I think that life has given me this chance to have a fighting chance. But how can I make use of this chance?

"We are here," Zaba said. "Is there a place that I can drop you?" he asked putting me in a tight spot yet again.

"I..I..I don't ha..have a place t..to stay. The tr..truth is th..that I ran away from my abusive mate. H..he," I say and bury my head in my hands and pretend to break down. My long hairs cover my face so he can't see that I am not crying.

"No, don't cry. Listen we will do one thing. I will get you into an inn and I will help you with some silver coins to help for a while. I am afraid this is all that I can do," he said.

I wiped my tears and pretend to calm down a bit. "That's fine," I said and took deep breaths.

"Okay. Stop crying now."

I wiped my fake tears and let him take me to the inn he mentioned. Lying to a nice beast like Zaba might be wrong but I don't have any other choice. I have to survive and everything is fair in love and war and this is war. War of survival of the fittest and I will win it.

We arrive at the inn and he helps me down the cart. I act shy like I have seen girls do on the television to appear believable as a girl. I look down and don't meet his eyes as part of the act. He lets go of my hand and leads the way into the inn. "Mystery inn," I read the sign at the door. It is such a weird name but this planet is also weird and so is me being here so I can't judge.

I follow behind Zaba keeping him at a meter's distance. I had watched on the television that in ancient times of kingdoms girls should keep their distance from men. So I don't get too close to Zaba or the innkeeper and let him handle him.

Who knew being a girl could be so hard? So many restrictions.

He pays the innkeeper for an entire week and gives me the key to the room. He hands me a small bag of coins as he promised. "Thank you," I say in a soft almost none existing voice. The things I do to survive, I am sure that one day I will look back at this moment and laugh but only when my life is no longer in danger.

I have hidden my tears in my hair so they can't see that it is not pointed. The robe wipes the floor as I woke so my feet are hidden but even for a lady my skin is still too soft for a beast. I have to find a way to become or have a powerful backing so no one can raise the question of my identity or I might not survive this world.

"You are welcome. I am afraid that we have to part ways here. Until we meet again lady Lara," he said and bid me farewell. The housekeeper is instructed by the innkeeper to help me reach my room.

"Follow me," she says and I follow her. Up the stairs to the second floor, we head to the room at the end of the corridor. "Here you are."

I enter the room and lock the door behind me. I take a seat on the bed and think of the way forward. The things that I am going to need to execute my plans.

The first thing that I am going to need are clothes, food because I can't starve. I am going to need to find a way to get the prince to marry me. As his wife, no one would dare raise questions about me and my origin. However, if I don't succeed in my plans then I am afraid the crown will be the one to question me.

I remove the bag of coins from my robe and pour the coins on the bed to count them. They are one hundred silver coins in the bag. Zaba explained to me how the currency works here and I think I can buy at least five sets of elegant clothes and food with this. I will be able to manage for a few days until the princess selection begins. Then I will live in luxury forever.