Chapter 12 - The unknown

A loud banging filled the room. I shot my eyes open and realized I really must have been dreaming. I sat up and looked around but there wasn't anything here I recognized! Where am I? Did I get abducted? No I couldn't have been. Not from these people. There was so many expensive things in this room. Beautiful paintings, Books I've never seen, and a bunch of one if a kind at works. It all looks so realistic. Loose figurines of beautifully crafted and soft corals that one would dream about. Everything was so bright and beautiful. Some were sharp and others glowed. There's was one I couldn't take my eyes off. It looked like an infinity symbol but much bigger. The infinity symbol was shining brightly and it shimmered. It's almost as if it's willing me to touch it, hold it, embrace it within my arms. The more I try to leave it the more curious I become and the stronger my need for it becomes. I cannot tell you how difficult it is to look away from it. It's a marvelous piece of artwork. Hmmm, someone's coming. I can hear the footsteps getting closer. I can't see anyone but I know they are around here somewhere. Silence follows as I look around for the person I heard. Although as I was focused on finding the person I managed to pick up the artwork I was looking at earlier. So quickly as could be I tried to put it back where I found it. Unaware of the person standing behind me. I brought the artwork up close to my heart and gave it a little hug. Tight enough to feel the curves but lose enough not to break it. I held it beside my heart. I felt a connection to it. I don't know why but I felt drawn to it like it belonged to me. Lost in thought as I was holding it. I closed my eyes and my parents came to mind. They were holding me and I think I saw this artwork behind me. That's impossible though because I've never been there before. I heard someone say hello and my eyes shot open. I turned around adjust completely embarrassed. I must look like a thief standing here holding this object that probably didn't even belong to me. The man standing in front of me was beautiful, flawless, handsome, glistening? Why was he all glittery? I really must have hit my head way to hard or maybe the water reached my brain. The beautiful man grabbed my hand and led me down the hall. It wasn't an actual hall like the ones humans created. It was crafted to look like it was made of coral, sand, rocks, pearls, seaweed and other underwater plants. As we entered the room which I think was a main hall. I looked around only to see that we were in some kind of underwater dome or something. Once everyone noticed our arrival the entire room fell silent. All of a sudden the lights went out and it was nothing but darkness. I pulled his hand closer in hopes he would come closer. As close as we got fear still struck me from head to toe. My stomach turned and I started feeling as of my heart was stuck in my throat. The lights came back on and to my surprise. I was surrounded by millions of creatures. Big and small. Each of them were radiant, flawless and we're staring at me. Feeling a bit self conscious I looked down at myself. I was dressed in clothes fit for royalty. Jewels on my head, neck and arms. I don't how I changed into this if I don't even remember changing at all. I definitely didn't have these clothes on when I woke. I woke wearing normal, uncomfortable teenaged clothes. I looked as enchanting as everyone here in the room. Everyone around me began to bow to me. So in response I tried to be as respectful as them and tried to bow in return. The beautiful man put his arm out to me to so me as he said you never bow. Your only job is to make sure contact and smile. They are here to see your my lady. They all have gone from far and wide to be here with us. I turned to look at him as he grabbed my hand. He led me to the dance floor. He twirled me over and over again, as if I was done delicate flower about to break. Gentle thrusts, twists, turns and spins. All so much I nearly fell over because I could no longer find a place to focus on order to not get dizzy. I tripped and nearly fell over but he caught me. Men all began to cut in and he just let them. I was going around and around, man after man. Finally after what felt like forever my escort was in eye shot. He never took his eyes off of me. He slowly started to make his way back to me when the man I was dancing with. He stepped on my dress. I was already dizzy and could barely breathe. My knees began to buckle and I felt as if I was falling. Next thing I knew my escort had me in his arms. I was so close to him I could feel the heat from his body. The sound of his heart beating in his chest. It has such a wonderful beating rhythm. It was like I opened a music box and got to dance with the figurine inside of it. Our eyes met and I couldn't help but offer a shy smile. If not for this man catching me I would've fell on my face. Yet my biggest concern was how warm he felt, how handsome he was. I wanted to run my fingers down his chest and all over his body. Imagining myself and the many things I want him to do to me and I to him. I felt my body shift and realized I was still in his arms. My face flushed as I'm sure he knew what I was thinking. He was smiling at me in such a mischievous way. He ensured my feet was on the ground . He never took his eyes off of me. We weren't even speaking. I was lost in his eyes. Until I felt a tap on my shoulder and just like that both of our smiles faded. Another man tried to cut in but my escort gave him a serious look that said back off. A few tried but got the same response. We were dancing but this time it didn't feel like we were dancing. I felt like I was floating on clouds and he was leading me there. Finally the music stopped and a man spoke. Everyone please enter the dining room and be seated. My escort and I continued to dance even without the music. A few minutes later a lady came to us and said that our places were set and everyone is waiting for us. He led me through these really huge doors. We walked through a really big, beautifully crafted hallway. Once we reached the dining room we sat at the head of the table. I was seated beside him at the very top of the table. I watched as everyone came in one by one and sat at their place seating. As it had little cards with names and symbols on them. The places were really beautiful. Gold trimmed, flower prints with names in the center beside different symbols. They all seemed so happy to see me. Like they knew something about me that I didn't know. This alone left me lost and confused. Here I am sitting at a table with a bunch of strangers. Beautiful miraculous creatures that looked stunningly amazing and I don't know a single one of them. I mean I'm pretty sure they are all just in costume and have really great artists doing their faces. All went silent as I heard the sound of a man's voice. He spoke words I recognized but I don't know what it meant. I tried to stand up but a lady who was behind me nudged me a bit. So I stopped trying to get up. She shocked me a bit and I decided I should wait. Moments later a plate was placed in front of me. I tried to politely decline but when I tried. The lady who brought my food looked heart broken. I tried to say it was because I was not hungry. As I said it though my stomach began to grumble because of it's emptiness. I smiled and looked down at my plate. This food looked weird! Are they trying to poison me? It reminded me of the paintings and artwork from the room I was in earlier. I'm terrified to even think of eating it. What if it tasted really bad and I can't contain myself. What if it was so bad I would spit it out and insult the people that cooked it. Well I am hungry and my parents always said to try something at least twice in one lifetime. You never know how much more or less you'll like something if you don't try it. So here goes nothing... I took a little bite of the purple thing. Which I must say tasted amazing. My taste buds were singing and dancing inside of my mouth. It was sweet, and had a very soft texture. So piece by piece I must admit. Each piece I tried was as good as the last. I ended up eating everything on my plate in a calm slow manner. I must admit weird as it looked. I have never tasted anything as good as what I just ate. Well I mean it wasn't anything compared to my parents cooking though. The only difference is my parents food was not this colorful ever. Now this might be because I am biased. I grew up with them as my cooks. Although I must admit. This food was much prettier to look at and it was filled with flavor. The woman came back almost instantly after I cleaned my plate. Smiling at me she placed a drink in front of me. I took a sip reminding myself just because it looks weird doesn't mean it'll be horrible. Besides you have to try everything at least once. I lifted the cup and to my surprise it tasted horrible. It was bitter and almost like it was rotten. Ugh yuck! I spat it back into the cup and everyone began to laugh at me. I looked up around me and realized everyone was using these cups to wash their fingers in it. The lady who brought my first cup quickly replaced the one I spat in with a fresh one. My ever so handsome escort cleared his throat and the room fell silent. She grabbed my hands and dipped my fingers into the bowl. Just my very tips, then grabbed a napkin and blotted my fingers. Then dipped the napkin corner into the cup and wiped the rest down. I felt like a baby being cleaned after a meal. Then more waiters came in bringing more food and more cups filled with different liquids. There was a bowl of soup as well. She handed me a fork, spoon and a squeezing thing. Everything smelled amazing yet again but I decided to wait and watch. I refuse to make a fool of myself one more time. As the meal was coming to an end I was beginning to feel full of energy all over again. Weirdly enough since I usually get super tired after eating this much. I did though enjoy seeing everyone here keeping up with the amount of food we were all eating. For the first time ever I did not feel overly full. I did not feel extremely tired. I did not feel as if my body was dragging in the slightest. We've all finished the meal and dessert was up next. Weirdly colored version of ice cream, sponge like cake, some sweet cold soft fruit like pieces. I could barely finish my dessert. Once I finished my final bite my waiter brought me another cup. I've similar to the one I spat out earlier. This time I knew exactly what I needed to do. Once I finished cleaning myself. We all sat in silence as the table was cleared of dishes. No more than five minutes after we sat there in silence. A very young man stood up and pulled out my chair. Another teacher his hand out to me and helped me to my feet. I assumed the evening was about to end. We walked silently through the hall they I walked in to get to the dining area. I heard clamoring at the end of the hall. The closer we got to the original room where the music and dancing was held. The louder the music became.