I stared at the rose for a long moment. It was the only thing that kept my sanity while I lived inside of these depressing walls. Then, Krimla and I walked down the hall and towards the kitchen. The holograms of the walls were lit and they usually changed in form. I looked at them and felt homesick. It was unavoidable when everything here was so different and alien. It was all beautiful, I admit, but it was not natural to me. I just wanted to see green leaves and blue skies. I wanted to eat a real apple and maybe even see an annoying chicken for a change. Yes, I was most definitely homesick.

We arrived at the front of the kitchen. Krimla opened the door for me. I stared into her dark eyes and wondered about the conversation she had in this same kitchen and why was it such a secret? She smiled at me. All I could do was smile back at the moment. I realized who cared what she was talking about with some guy I hardly knew as long as it didn't affect me. I wasn't going to stay in this place anyway. I was tired of all of the drama. I didn't understand why I was a guest in this castle or a captive or whatever I was. I was tired of it. I just wanted to find a way to go back to my planet even if my family was gone. It was still terrible for me, but at least on Earth I could somehow start over.

I walked in as the colorful creatures swam around the walls of the kitchen. Most of them had squid or octopus' characteristics or were lizard like. None of them looked like true fish and although they were very beautiful I just wanted to see a fish for a change.

"Good morning," the prince said. I looked at him awed. He seemed different today.

"Good morning," I replied.

"I hope you like your breakfast," he said. I nodded senseless and walked towards the table. My eyes popped wide open when I saw the table I could hardly believe it. My jaw dropped and I smiled.

"But how?" I asked surprised.

"It wasn't my idea, it was Rox," the prince said. In front of me I had scrambled eggs with green peppers, tomatoes and onions, sausages, toast and slices of apples on another plate. Instead of the strange silverware I saw a true authentic fork and in a glass beside it there was an orange liquid that looked like orange juice. I was so shocked that I had to actually go to the cup and smell it to see if it was true. Then I gulped a few and realized it was true. A bouquet of roses was in the center of the table. I could hardly believe it.

"Well, if you don't like it I can take it back," the prince said.

"No," I replied and I sat down. The took the first bite. My God I was in heaven. I never thought I'd eat any Earthly food ever again and this was just too amazing. I enjoyed every single moment of it.

"Mmm," I mumbled as I chewed and sniffed the food.

"I'm glad you like it," The prince said.

"Thank you," I replied with my mouth half full. The prince walked towards a chair that was next to me and he sat down. He stared at me as I ate and suddenly I felt guilty.

"Would you like to taste it?" I asked. He shook his head.

"No," he replied.

"Are you sure? Really?"

"No thank you. I already ate," he said and then he put his hands together and placed them under his chin. I tried to eat slowly, but I was too excited and I sincerely forgot about my manners.

"You look very beautiful today Anabella," the prince said. I swallowed some of the tomato and onion I had in my mouth.

"Thank you," I said.

"Anabella, what would you do if I told you that I cleared my schedule today?" He asked. At first the question shocked me and I really had to think hard about an answer before I gave it to him. I wasn't really certain of his intentions with me.

"Why would you clear your schedule today?" I asked.

"I'm tired of doing the same thing over and over again. I've been doing it since I was nine years old. I know that I have a duty and responsibility to my planet and fellow Sha, but I need a distraction," he said.

"A distraction before you..."

"Yes?" The prince asked. I shook my head.

"Say it," he insisted. I gulped the piece of sausage before I could say anything.

"Oh, you know..."

"No. I don't," he replied. Did I really have to say it out loud? Why was he so cold, even with his own person? I didn't understand.

"Yes?" He persisted.

"Your death sentence," I finally said.

"I had a feeling about you. I knew you were uncommon," he said. I placed my eyes down for a moment. I knew he meant to say that I was different from the rest of my kind, something that wasn't quite true. I shook my head.

"No. You're mistaken. I'm not uncommon. I'm more common than what you may actually think. I'm not different or special. I'm just like everybody else and I'm sorry if I gave you that impression. If you think that I'm different from my fellow humans you're wrong."

"So, you are not special. You are just like all the others?"

"You're wrong, we are special and yes I'm as special as the rest of them," I replied. The prince studied me and for the first time he genuinely smiled.

"You are all special? I doubt that, but I will give you the benefit of the doubt if it makes you happy."

"Yes, it would," I answered with a frown. I was no longer as excited about breakfast as I had been before. The prince certainly knew how to destroy a good time in five seconds.

"Certainly, you protect your species. That is something I can respect. But now let's talk about other matters if you would allow it," the prince said. I nodded and he talked on.

"Anabella, I would like to show you around my gardens today if you don't mind. I know for a fact that you love roses. I was thinking that if you'd like to have a section filled with roses I would gladly build it for you."

"That's okay. You don't have to do that."

"I want to do it for you."

"Why?"

"Because I want to make you happy."

"If you wanted to make me happy, you wouldn't have kidnapped me in the first place."

"And if you wouldn't have taken your father's place you wouldn't have been happy with that choice either."

"Why did you capture him in the first place?"

"Because your species is dangerous!"

"Dangerous? This coming from a being without empathy?"

"You know nothing of me!" He roared and banged the table. I jerked. Then he stood up, grabbed the chair and launched it at the wall of glass. There was a huge bang noise, but the glass didn't crack or shatter. The chair however was split in two.

"Get out! Get out of my sight!" He roared and I ran away from the kitchen. I couldn't take it anymore. I had enough. I ran until I reached the huge front doors. There I touched the door, but nothing happened.

"Right, the holograms," I thought to myself and I touched the walls.

"I want these doors to open, right now!" I ordered.

"Request denied."

"I can't stay in here forever," I said.

Then the doors suddenly opened and Rox was in front of me.

"Hello," Rox said. I didn't waste my time with him. If I was leaving this castle, it had to be today, it had to be right now so I ran passed by him. I didn't feel Rox follow me, but just to make sure I tilted my head from time to time to look back. He just stood there with his long white robe just watching me so I didn't hesitate for one second to look back. I just continued forward without knowing where I was heading or how to leave this place and go where exactly. My legs just spread wide open and continued to run until I couldn't run anymore, until my feet were killing me. Although I wore flat shoes, they weren't as comfortable as sneakers. I took one of them off and rubbed the calluses that had already formed on them. They were red and itched so I scratched, but I knew I couldn't stay here for long. I put on my shoe again and ran on. The logs of the trees and the dirt was red. The sky was brilliant purple and reptilian looking birds flew above and nested in the strange looking trees. I was so tired of this world and its alien form that I just wanted to go back to Earth regardless of my personal situation, but as I ran I made a sudden stop. A few feet across me were kimbrucks. The kimbrucks had black horse shaped bodies, lion heads with black and white manes on their heads, huge tails with sphere shaped points on them and huge flat feet. My first reaction was to be completely still. I could hardly move anyway and my heart was faster than my entire body. Breathing wasn't the hard part. The hard part was to keep my breath as silent as I could. The kimbrucks hadn't seen me yet. Their tails and backs faced me and they seemed to be distracted by something. Slowly and with trembling legs I paced backwards. I never looked back though. My full attention was directed towards the kimbrucks. They growled having their heads on the ground. At first it wasn't clear to me, but then I realized that they were having a snack. I didn't know what they were eating, but a living creature, now dead was being devoured. I stepped on a branch. Crack!

The kimbrucks tilted their huge mane heads immediately. Shit. Red irises with blue cat like eyes stared directly at me. Enormous, blazer like teeth sneered at me with dripping green blood. I was going to die.