This is a novel that I am currently working on. This is probably the only chapter on will put on this site and it IS a work in progress and I am aware of mistakes but I would love it if they could be pointed out so that way I can catch any I missed.
Thanks


Chapter 4
The hover car reached the stone steps then the door opened as silently as a slight breeze. I stepped out onto the stone steps, and then the vehicle door closed and joined the hustle and bustle of the ongoing traffic. Then I proceeded up the steps, the clicking of my heels against the stone almost nonexistent among the swooshing and noises of the traffic that pasted by.
  When I reached the top of the steps the double doors swung open to show the vast hallway that disappeared into the shadows. I stepped inside and when I cleared the doors they swung shut with a quiet click. Torches on the wall burst into bright blue flames as I passed and then went out as I got further along.
  The silence of the hallway was broken only by the clicking of my heels, my breathing and the occasional opening of the doors as someone else entered into the castle. At the end of the hallway I turned into a room that was brightly lit and the faint sound of voices could be heard. The room I entered was grand with deep rich colors.
  Stepping into this room out of the hallway was like the waking of a dream. The warm light was coming from the five chandeliers on the ceiling. The four chandeliers in the corners had different color flames coming from them. One had bright orange flames of a natural fire.
  The corner that was to the left of me had a muddy brown flame that cast a strange earthly light. The one to my right was an icy blue like the ones in the hallways but seemed to give off more warmth than the ones I had just past. The last of the corners, the one on the upper right, was neon green, looking like a sea green.
  The last chandelier was higher than the other four and was a lot bigger and majestic looking than the others. Great jewels of white and azulets (diamond like jewels) hung in strands from it, the strands looping like a lazy breeze was blowing it. The flames on this chandelier were massive and a soft white.
The color of the flames was like clouds after a storm. Along the walls were tapestries of different times and of different stories. The door on the far side of the room was closed and the crowd of the room was getting ever closer until the doors opened.
  I waited on the other side of the room still studying the room. Several suits of armor stood about the room and I noticed that all the weapons, generally associated with suits of armor, were all missing. I smirked. Typical fears of political leaders.
  Still chuckling over the fact that the barbarian Prince worried over the safety of his head, I walked over to the door. As soon as I reached the double doors, I heard a great majestic medley of horns and instruments sound and a voice ringing through the air with enthusiasm say
"Now entering, the Great Princess of Sparks, Astarael."
  The doors opened and applause erupted from the tables below. I kept my gaze downward even as I descended the twisting stairs. When I reached the bottom I walked over to the table in which Mother and Father were sitting.
"Darling," Mother said. "Why don't you go sit next to the Prince?" she asked. "He's expecting you to," my eyes flashed up and looked at her. No one else was looking.
"Why?" I asked.
"As I said, he's expecting you to, and remember what I said about eye contact," she said, scornfully.
"Yes, Mother," I said with a sullen tone.
  I changed my direction and started walking towards the front of the table. A pair of hands appeared in front of me and a rough voice said
"Sit."
  I obeyed and set my hands on the table. I heard the chair next to me being pulled out and felt someone brush against me as they sat down. I slowly raised my eyes to find the Prince of Belanina staring at me.
  The eyes of the Prince were not filled with surprise, shock or any other emotions of dislike. He was staring at me like I was the most delicious thing he had ever seen. His eyes were a muddy brown and the whites were a tanish cream instead of the regular black. His skin was dark and rough. His hair was black, long and hung in thick strands. His face was round yet thin and pointed. He was wearing an outfit that resembled a robe that was made of fur. His whole appearance remained me of a dog. His teeth flashed a darkish yellow as he smiled at me.
  His staring continued as our eyes were locked and neither one of us moved. Then his eyes slowly scanned my outfit and rested on my chest for a few seconds longer than the others areas. He licked his lips the way a dog would. He was actually not that bad looking besides the fact he resembled a dog.
  "So," he said quietly. "You are the famous beauty, Astarael," he finished, scanning me again.
"Yes, I am," I said looking into his eyes again.
"Your eyes are quiet beautiful and enchanting," he said even quieter, his voice a soft rasp. "When I asked about you, people said that you were quiet terrifying," he said licking his lips again. "But I find you as terrifying as a flower, and just as beautiful."
  I nodded my head at the comment to show I understood and took it as a comment rather than an insult. I looked where Mother and Father were sitting and found Mothers gaze to be approving and relieved
  The Prince's hand slid over to mine and slightly brushed my fingers before I withdrew mine from the table. His fingers were hot and felt like fire. He stood up suddenly and cleared his throat. The room fell silent.
  "Welcome, Ladies and Gentlemen to my ever open doors of this castle. Some of you might be thinking why someone like me would want to live in a civilized society when I already have a society that I rule and was raised in. Well, the answer to that is the fact that I want to look for a truce between my people and your own, I wish to learn your ways, and faiths, to be able to live alongside each and every one of you. I also hope to find something more but that's for another day," he said with what sounded like laughter in his voice. His sparkling eyes flashed toward me for an instant before scanning the room again.
   "So, for tonight I want all of you to eat, and enjoy the music these musicians can supply you with."
At his words a dozen or so musicians filed out onto the small stage and started to play a little melodious tune that was joyful and upbeat. The empty bowls and plates in the middle of the table suddenly filled with food of various kinds.
Different kinds of bread were scattered on the tables, soups of varying colors occupied the large bowls in the centers of the tables. Pieces of sweet fruits were arranged in ways that represented different creatures. A cluster of haspacker fruit that is purple and quite bitter arranged itself in the form of a dragon. It nipped at people's hands, claws or paws whenever they tried to pluck a piece from it. It is needless to say few succeeded for not only did it bite but it squirted the sharp smelling nectar at unsuspecting sleeves. Other food items juggled themselves; the sweets stacked themselves up to forms similar to elves and partnered themselves with each other as dance partners. The bowls of soup varied greatly from plain meat stews to a rather putrid black liquid that bubbled and belched much like a drunkard and spat out green smoke.
  The Prince sat back down and immediately turned his gazed back to me. He licked his lips again and smiled, revealing teeth which now I noticed were not only yellow but pointed. I shuddered.
   "Perhaps if the Princess is cold" said the Prince "then why don't you accompany me somewhere where it would be warmer." I nodded not wanting to do anything that would earn me a scornful glance from Mother.
We stood and with him leading me, we went through a door that was behind a tapestry next to where stairs where I had entered. Behind the door was a stair case which we ascended, the torches lighting themselves in different colors, causing the staircase to become a rainbow of stones. At the top was another door and behind that was a balcony. Stepping outside it was a lot warmer and looking over the edge made me draw my breath in. Below me was the city with its lights and vehicles and creatures flying all around. Though not as high as the palace it was pretty close. I stared awestruck at the sight and how beautiful it all was, at the beauty of my city.
  I felt the hairs on the back of my neck go up and I turned my head toward the Prince I had forgotten was there. I almost flinched for he was but a foot away staring at me as if he was an over starved dog and I was the meat.
  "You have no idea how beautiful you are. Do you?" He murmured edging closer in the same way a wolf stalks its prey.
  "I have no idea what you're talking about." I stammered trying not to lean back away from him. I turned back to the view and felt him slip in behind me and him wrapping his arms around my midsection. Dog or no dog this was the first time I had ever had someone of the opposite gender touch me anywhere beside my hand. I blushed and tried not to show my embarrassment and wished that my dress was not so revealing.
  "You have no idea what your beauty can do to someone." He took a deep breath as a dog does when trying to remember someone's scent. When he spoke it was in a whisper next to my ear and made me what to shiver. "Beauty is often a double edged sword and can attract the wrong attention. But you don't get that wrong attention now do you?" He said his voice getting softer. "It's because of those eyes of yours, those eyes that can allegedly see into a creature's mind. Can they?" He said this while running his hand up and down my back. I stood frozen and not knowing what to do.   His left arm wrapped around my midsection again and his right hand wrapped around my throat loosely and turned my head towards him. We stood there like this for several minutes with him staring into my eyes and me trying not to shake. He finally let go and I turned around. If I thought he would take a step back after that strange encounter, I was wrong he was there closer this time and then his hands took my face and he kissed me. I stood still and then relaxed. Given to all his appearances one would expect his mouth to be foul and him revolting but yet it was tolerable. I allowed him this and he stepped back finally allowing me my personal space again. We stood there with me leaning on the balcony railing for support and him staring at me as if he was struggling with something within. I barely noticed him come closer because my head was swirling a thousand miles a minute. It wasn't until he grabbed my midsection and brought us close together that I snapped back to reality. He pinned me to him and I wanted to squirm out of his grasp but I forced myself to be still. His left arm slide down my back and rested on my behind. He lifted his right arm and lifted my chin rather forcefully and the suddenness of the movement combining with my tension made it hurt and I cried a small cry of pain before I could stop myself. He grinned and now the mere tamed dog in which he had been had been replaced with a wild wolf.
  "You bring out the worst in me." He said grinning even wider and then he leaned down and kissed me again but this time it wasn't the gentle kiss, it was savage, harsh and painful; his arms pinning me tightly to his body. When his mouth allowed me to breath I gasped and he stopped, shook his head and then let go stepping away from me. I stood there shaking and not knowing what to think. I knew two things one, I could not be left alone in his presence ever again and two, he was crazy, no doubt about it. I had to get away.
  "Pardon me Princess for my behavior," he said his tamed grin on his face "but with the agreement finally reached this afternoon I could hardly contain myself." After a few moments I spoke finally, finding my nerves and grateful that my voice didn't shake like the rest of me did.
  "What agreement?"
His face eyes lit up with joy as if having this information was pure pleasure and it could be used to torture.
  "Why Princess," he said in mock surprise "the news of our marriage." With the ending of that statement the wolf came back over him making him grin even wider.