Shadows of Tomorrow

Shadows of Tomorrow Chapter 1

Kierra Pov

"Are you done in here sweetheart?" My father asked at the door. I looked at him with my tear drained face and just nodded. It was time to go.

I knew I would miss my family but I was a little more excited for my first day at college. I had been waiting for this day since I learnt that I made the cut off to my favorite college, the El Sueno College of broadcasting and mass communication. My father hated that I had chosen to pursue such a public career but he has always been supportive. He also agreed to let me go to a college far away from home, in a new country. This meant that I would only see them once a year, during the Christmas holidays. I had never been alone all my life. I always had people around me. At home I had nannies since I was a little girl, I had drivers to take me to school, pick me up, take me shopping and everywhere else. You could say I was royalty, you wouldn’t be wrong because I actually am.

My father, King Edward is the reigning king of La Casa Kingdom. A small kingdom at the heart of Bolivian, a traditional country in the age of modernization where the people are still ruled by kings. Our Kingdom, La Casa is at the middle surrounded by the Oscuro Kingom to the east, Caballero kingdom to the west, Fiesta kingdom in the south and the Fuerte Kingdom in the North. Although the smallest, La casa was the strongest kingdom in Bolivian. As the only child, I was bound to become queen someday and the thought scared me. Being the reigning queen was not what scared me as my life has been a lifelong lesson on how to be a queen. The restrictions that came with the title are what I was not looking forward to.

"You are day dreaming again Kierra," my mother said from beside me.

I smiled at her and looked back outside the car as we drove to the airport. I was happy to leave, be myself even if it was for a few years. I was happy to explore, find my place in the world, see what I am good at. It was scary but I was ready. As the driver pulled into the airport and I saw the La Casa Jet, my determination was renewed and I forgot all about the sorrow of leaving my family behind. I was out of the car before it completely came to a halt. I run up the stairs excited to start a new journey.

"Surprise," I was greeted by my friends Eileen and Tiffany.

What, what are they doing here. I had no idea they were coming with me, or maybe they just came to say goodbye.

"Hey Guys," I said as I hugged them. "What are you doing here?"

"well, your parents did not tell you?" Eileen asked with a smile on her face.

'Tell me what?"

"We are coming with you to El Sueno." They both exclaimed jumping up and down.

"What!!!" I could not believe what they were saying. I did not even know they had applied. As I stood there not sure what to make of the situation, my parents walked in.

"I see you have already met your surprise." It was my dad's voice. What was he talking about.

"We know we couldn’t be with you and we would only see you once a year. We did not want you to be alone and since your friends were also going away to college anyway, we pulled some strings and got them to the same college as you. We did not want you to be alone. We know you wanted to go on this adventure alone, we are sorry if we intruded. We just wanted you to have some familiar faces."

What, no, they were not intruding. I was so happy to have my friends with me. I tried to blink back the tears but I could not anymore.

'Tha..aan..k you, dad, mom," I said as I hugged them both.

My mom could also not hold back anymore, seeing me cry with happiness was the last straw. She hugged me tightly for so long, whispering encouraging words in my ear.

Finally, it was time to go. My dad and mom checked if we had everything for the hundredth time them descended the jet so we could take off. They were not coming with me all the way to school. It took so much convincing to get them to agree.

As the jet rolled out the runway preparing to take off, I looked out the window and waved my parents goodbye, as we took to the skies, I looked out the window and saw our small kingdom as it got smaller and smaller. It dawned on me, I was alone, not completely alone, but I was no longer royalty to the people around me. I had my friends with me on our way to a place where I will not be Kierra the Princess of La Casa but just Kierra the college student. The thought brought fear and worry with a hint of freedom, a hint of happiness. I was ready for this adventure, I was more ready because I had my two best friends with me. With these thoughts, I drifted off.

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"We are here, fasten your seat belts as we make our descent."

Mario's voice, our family pilot,woke me up from my sleep.

I looked out the window and admired the high rises, the traffic, the people. This was it, the start of the adventure of a lifetime. I had just one chance to make the best memories as when I am done and it is time to go back home, I will never get a chance like this ever again.

Once we got off the plane, there was a car waiting for me. It was a red convertible BMW. The flight attendants/royal servants were carrying our bags to the convertible. We did not have much luggage as my parents had already arranged for all the things we need to be bought and taken to our dorms. I expected to find a convoy of black SUVs with drivers and security to take us to the school compound. Instead, we were greeted by just one driver in a red convertible. Where is the escort, I wondered.

"Hello princess Kierra," the guy greeted us.

"My name is Tobias, I was directed by your father the king to bring you your car at the airport. I have already programmed your destination in the GPS, all you have to do is get in and drive."

What? My car?!!

I could not believe this. No drivers, no security, no nannies. This was perfect. I subconsciously jumped up and hugged Tobias.I took the keys and ran to the car, my car, as my friends followed and jumped in.

Our bags were already loaded, I waved Tobias, Mario and the servants goodbye. Started the car and drove off to my new life, for the next few years that is.

The girls were super excited as was I.

We had been driving for about thirty minutes when we saw the college gates at a distance. I tried to drive towards the gates but the GPS instructed me otherwise.

"Hey girls, I think the gps is busted, It is directing me to drive past the college and not into the college. Aren't the dorms inside campus?"

"Just follow the talking car directions, maybe there is another way in'" Tiffany advised.

We drove past the university and five minutes later, the GPS said we had reached our destination. However, we were not in the dorms. We were outside a flat just close to the university. It was poshy telling from the expensive cars we could see in the driveways. Suddenly, the gates opened and a uniformed man came towards us. He was carrying a red envelope and I knew from the seal it was from my parents.

"Hello ladies, I am Danny, the gate man. Welcome to La Belle apartments. I believe this is for you." He said as he handed me the envelope.

I did not know what was happening. I thought we were to stay in the dorms. I looked at the girls and they were as surprised as I was.

I drove past the gates towards the entrance. A valet met us at as I parked outside the apartments. His name was Mike, I read his tag.

Eileen and Tiffa tried to take our luggage out but Mike asked them not to.He took my car keys and told told us that he is taking the car to our designated underground parking and that someone will bring our luggage to out apartment. I dd not even know which room that would be. The envelope in my hands caught my attention. I tore the sea and a bunch with three keys fell to the ground. I picked up the keys and took out the note.

We know you insisted on staying in the dorms and we are sorry we went against your will on this one. We wanted you to be comfortable and to stay with your friends so we rented you an apartment. It is not much but we hope you like it. Again, we are sorry sweetheart.

love,

king and queen

"What!! they got us an apartment? Your mom and dad are the best." Eileen said. She took the keys from my hands and rushed in.

'The key reads room 789. I guess we are going to the seventh floor." Tiff said as she followed Elle to the elevators.