Chapter 14 - The Capture and Initiation of Nephrite's Daughter

            Grace went to Tampa over Spring Break, and what she did was the same as the other people: get drunk, get horny and get stupid. She was on the beach in St. Petersburg with her two best friends when this cute and sexy guy stepped up between them. He had long, dark hair and eyes, and was dressed in swim trunks, a boat vest and flip flops.

            "Hi, I'm Gnarly. Would you like to go out on a boat with my friends?"

            A couple of other men were standing out on a decked boat, drinks in hand.

            Grace was happy to see all these cute guys and great fun.

            Grace's friend Trina was not too enthusiastic about going out on the boat, especially when they seemed drunk. She wanted to hold back a little, but Grace and Charity encouraged her it would be harmless fun. Besides, there were ways to keep everyone safe, and they probably had it under control.

            Eventually, all three girls went out on the boat.

            There was a lot of drinking and boating, then a lot of skinny dipping, more drinking, more boating, then one thing led to another, and then there came great pleasure from Gnarly, and then Grace blacked out.

*****

            When Grace came to, she was inside a crystal glass cage, with the strangest woman staring at her. She had red hair and a large boomerang crown.

            "I was wondering how long you would sleep."

            Grace's head hurt badly. She was clearly in a hangover.

            "I knew this would happen. I was never fond of Gnarly's inebriation strategy."

            The woman tapped the cage, and it disappeared. Another woman, this time one with red skin and a purple bikini, came to deliver a fizzy drink.

            "Take it. Take it well, my dear. It will cure you."

            The fizzy drink tickled Grace's nose, but it tasted like orange and went down smoothly. In an instant, Grace was well again. She looked around, and she was in a large throne room. There were many hordes of men and women, all of them intent on what was happening on the raised platform where Grace and the red-haired woman stood. At least Grace wore a blue slip dress and kitten heels.

            "Where am I?"

            "You are inside the Golden Kingdom. I am Queen Beryl."

            "What did you do with my friends?"

            "Don't worry. They left the boat well and fine. You have been explained nicely."

            Queen Beryl showed her an image of somebody looking like her partying with her friends.

            "Who is that? Let me go!"

            Grace ran down the steps, but the nobles surrounded her at every turn.

            "Do not worry. Your classes and tests will be taken care of in the proper time."

            "I need a drink."

            "That's the last thing you need. You need to be shown to your quarters. Starya, take her away."

            A woman came forward. She had hair piled high on her head, with a floating ring around it, and a robe with stars on it.

            "I will be contacting you in the morning. You must show up in your best dress."

            She bade Grace Goodbye, and Starya led her to a horse-drawn carriage.

            The carriage led her down through the courtyards and just outside the gate, where a young woman with white hair looked and waved at her. Another woman led her away.

            "Who was that woman that waved to me?"

            "That is Emily of the Kunzite clan, the Commander of the Middle East and Supreme Commander. You will be Commander of North America."

            "I have no idea what you are talking about."

            "You will learn in your training, after your Initiation and the Inaugural Ball."

            "Initiation?"

            "Yes. Metallia will purify you and bind you to the proper stone. It will all make sense tomorrow."

            The carriage pulled up to a castle with four towers.

            "I will show you to your tower."

            Starya led Grace to the tower in the west and into a room with red and gold bedding, and gilded furniture. Everything was perfect-even a series of astronomy books, and a golden telescope.                        "Is there anything I could get for you?"

            "Yeah. Could you get me a pepperoni pizza and hot wings?"

            "Coming up."

            Starya went away for a minute, and then came back with a pepperoni pizza and hot wings, with a frosty glass of diet soda.

            "The glass is ever-filling, so you can drink all you need."

            Grace began eating, and was finished with the personal pizza, wings and soda when she went and bathed. She then went to her bed, put on the pajamas and found a little toy for herself to play with - who was a little embarrassing, but somewhat nice.

            She was busy playing with the toy in bed and fell asleep.

*****

            Starya woke her up, and gave her a breakfast biscuit with an egg and bacon, plus a cup of coffee. She then had Grace pick out a golden strapless dress, with red high heels and a dark green nephrite jade pendant and earrings.

            Starya then took Grace to the carriage, where Grace was nervous about her initiation.

            "It won't hurt much. You'll be restored and made new."

            That made Grace scared.

            Queen Beryl Starya and Grace down a long dark staircase to the dwelling of Metallia - a large orange flame, which responded by voice.

            "Great Metallia, I have a child of the Nephrite clan."

            "Bring her forward."

            Grace stepped up to the fire.

            "Come, my girl, don't be shy. Step into me and I will make you immortal."

            Grace held her nose, tucked her head down and walked in. The fire burned her immediately (and painfully), and then she was suddenly new, with no sign of fire on her!"

            Metallia said, "I have consumed and restored you. You are forever bound to the stone Nephrite, as your father was."

            Queen Beryl then replied, "That is good, young lady. It proves you are one of us by blood. I shall now present you to the court."

            Beryl led Grace back to the Great Hall. She then proclaimed, "This young woman is known as the Supreme Commander of North America. Her title, and all its privileges, is hereby given to be used at her disposal. You shall respect and obey her as thus."

            All the court bowed down to Grace, who blushed.

            "What is your first decree?" Beryl asked.

            "My first duty as the Supreme Commander of North America is this: We shall have a ball to celebrate."

            Queen Beryl smiled and said, "Let's be ready by 8 p.m. and we'll have a very good time." She then handed Grace a mask and said, "Put this on your face. You will be unmasked as part of the ball."

            Grace took the mask and went back to her quarters. Suddenly, the books of astronomy and the telescope began to become interesting. There was also a chart beside it of various planetary positions. Grace studied it carefully over the next month.