Her head snapped up as her eyes flew open and she drew in a sharp breath. What just happened? She thought.

  “Dear?” asked Alan

  She looked at him in a daze.

  “Are you alright? I have been trying to wake you for hours” he said

  “Hours?” she asked, shaking her head. “It couldn't have been hours I just sat down”

  “Adeleina, it's been 5 hours since you started your visions” he stated, concerned for his wife.

  “5 hours… but I…” her words faded as her thoughts went back to the visions she had witnessed.

  “What did you see?” Alan asked.

  “There were so many of the same disasters, but on a larger scale. A sinkhole so wide it could have consumed an entire city. Volcanoes erupting all over the world. A tsunami wave so gigantic in size it blocked the sun. All of it correlates with the pieces of sight I had recently. The strange part was the end… it was like someone was there.” she said in a daze.

  “What do you mean someone was there?” he asked

  “Well after all of the visions of destruction I found myself floating above the world. Like I was standing on a cloud, and I could see everything. The world was on fire.” she said her brows furrowed. “I don't know how to explain this part though. I felt as if someone was around me. Watching me, but as I looked around I was only surrounded by clouds. Then there was a voice, but I didn't hear it with my ears, it was in my mind. It said I didn't belong there. Before I could respond it was like the clouds were ripped away from under me and I was falling from the sky. Then I was here.”

  “Do you have any sense of who it could have been?” he asked. He had a gift of helping interpret her visions and provoking her into further insights of the events.

  “No, it was so different. They weren't just in my vision, it’s like they were in my mind.” she said. “My visions are given to me from the Earth, Like your ability to move the Earth. This intruder was not just in my mind but controlled what I saw and felt.”

  Before Alan could respond Kelile knocked at their door.

  “Enter,” he said, still looking at his wife.

  “Your Majesties,” Kelile said as he walked in the room. “The Teams are ready for the voyage topside. I spoke with Grace and the cars will be ready for us once there.”

  “Alright, then let's grab these bags and head to the departure area.” Alan said

  Kelile nodded and grabbed the bags by the door. Adelina, still on the floor, stood up on shaky legs. Alan walked to pick up Alex from the bed. Together they filed out of the room and headed to the travel area.

  “Here we are,” said Kelile as the car stopped. Before them was a huge domed building with huge double glass doors. On the top of the dome was a tube that extended so high the end could not be seen.

  “Welcome to the Travel Center,” said a pleasant voice over the intercom as they entered the building.

  “I’m going to meet with the team,” said Kelile as he walked off towards them.

  “Let me take those for you, your highness” said a melodic voice.

  “Grace, thank you,” said Adelina, adjusting Alex in her arms so that she could hand her the bag from her shoulder.

  “Of course your highness,” Grace said with a small bow.

  “Grace, you know you don't need to be so formal with us,” admonished Alan.

  “I know what you have said to me, but I will always show respect in public, your highness,” she said, bowing again in his direction. She loaded their bags onto a trolley cart and started walking towards an entry that had ‘Staging Area’ above it.

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  “Follow me,” she said.

  Adelina, holding Alex, followed behind with Alan at her side. They entered the doors and walked down the corridor to another set of doors. As they approached the doors swung open revealing a waiting room area filled with chairs and couches. No one was in there except for Kelile and his two teams for the escort.

  “Your majesties,” he said with a bow, both teams echoing his greeting.

  “Kelile, I wanted to thank all of you and your team for coming together so quickly for this emergency visit to the surface. I know we are not abiding by proper protocol doing things this way and that it could endanger us all. The Earth is crying out for help and we all must do our part to try and stop it.” Alan said to the group of men and women before him.

  “Of course your majesty, it’s what we do,” said Kelile.

  Alan turned and joined his wife and child on a couch as they waited for Grace to come back to them. Fifteen minutes passed and Grace came back into the room and headed towards them.

  “We are ready, your Highnesses,” she said with a smile.

  They all gathered and walked over to an enormous metal gateway. Grace went to the panel and entered a series of keys. A loud “CLINK” rang through the room as the gate rolled to the side revealing a huge room with a giant platform in the middle encased by a glass tube. Surrounding that were four smaller platforms with a person standing on each one.

  They all walked into the room, the gate rolling closed behind them. Climbing the stairs Adelina, still holding Alex, and Alan headed to the center of the platform. Kelile then followed and arranged the teams in a circle around the Royal family.

  Grace spoke over the intercom, “Everyone, Ground your stance. Pushers on green begin transport.” The lights in the room dimmed. The room then glowed yellow and after 30 secs changed to green. The platform began to shake as the ceiling opened up. A barrier formed around the platform as it started to move upwards. It took no more than 5 mins to reach the top side platform area. The Barrier slowly came down as the platform settled.

  “You are now free to unground yourselves,” said Grace’s voice over the intercom system. “Thank you and as always enjoy your top side adventures!”

  Everyone on the platform released and headed to the stairs.

  “Alpha, head out and secure the area. Bravo, check the cars and secure them.” Kelile instructed the men and women in front of him.

  “Sir yes sir,” they exclaimed in unison and hurried off to complete the tasks assigned.

  “I will take your bags and load them in the cars. I will come back for you once the area is secure.” He said to Alan and Adelina. With that he turned and headed out with the bags in hand.

  “What time is Charles expecting us?” asked Adelina.

  “Whenever we show up. I just told him we would be there today.” he replied, making a face at Alex.

  “Murglgul beda dayee,” Alex replied then giggled.

  “I think he just said Daddy!” Alan exclaimed.

  “I think he did too. What about mama?” she cooed at him.

  “Buzrle gak yugrl,” Alex said followed by a screeching giggle.

  “Well, I don't know what you said but ok,” she said to him rubbing her nose to his.

  “Your majesty’s Kelile sent me to get you. We are ready to move out.” said a tall young man.

  “Shall we?” asked Alan, extending his arm to his wife.

  “We shall,” said Adelina, accepting it as they walked towards the double doors.

  As they emerged from the building hand in hand they walked towards the third car in a line of six. A woman with hardened features opened the door and they climbed in.

  “There is no seat for Alex.” Adelina said.

  “Oh, let me find out where it is, your highness,” said the woman. There was a melodic cadence to her voice and a slight buzz filled the vehicle.

  “It’s a short ride. I'm sure you can hold him love,” said Alan.

  “I suppose you’re right. Plus the sooner we are there the better,” she answered “ I have an uneasy feeling.”

  “Your Majesty’s,” said a gruff voice outside the car window. “You are supposed to be in car number four in the convoy. The car seat is there for the little one.”

  “We are going to stay here , the ride is short.” said Alan

  “Your Highness, Safety protocol dictates..” he started

  “That will be all Myles,” Kelile said sternly as he walked up behind him.

  “We can change cars, Kelile if that is easier. I just want to get going.” Adelina said as she bounced Alex on her lap.

  “It’s fine, your grace, it only requires that I change which vehicle I am in.” He then clicked his radio, “Let’s move out.”