Free Alien Invasion: A Warrior Prince Romance (The Tourin Legacy - Part 1) by Immortal Angel

2
Ande’ie
    Screams and a great rumbling shake the
castle walls, interrupting my slumber. It’s probably just a
ground shake.
    I feel as if my head just hit the pillow.
Dazed and disheveled, last night’s headache still pounding in my
brain, I force myself to cross the room to the armoire. Light from
the two moons beams in through the window, illuminating my clothing
options in shades of pink and gold.
    I want to wear something simple, but I know
better. Late at night, unknown situation outside. I heave a sigh
and reach for the black undershirt. Black skirt, metal-reinforced
leather corset, arm protectors, boots, belt, short swords.
    It sounds complicated, but this armor is
like a second skin. I’ve worn the same style since birth. It’s
fitted, perfect. I’m able to get in and out of it in under a
minute.
    I run for the turret stairs, hoping the
others will take the main steps. Unfortunately, we all had the same
idea. We shuffle downward far too slowly, packed like sardines into
the tiny spiral stairwell built for no more than two people walking
abreast. One of my sheathes clinks against another and I look up to
see the ambassador from Luthinia.
    I’m not surprised it’s another government
official. Most civilians don’t wear armor these days, especially if
they can’t afford metal reinforcements. Leather does nothing
against guns and bullets that are rapidly gaining popularity. Even
though most civilians don’t have them, swords are still going out
of fashion. But we don’t care about fashion, do we, girls? I
caress the hilts of my two short swords. They’ve saved my life many
times.
    The screaming has stopped briefly, but the
feeling of restrained hysteria is in the air. We don’t know yet
whether to panic or not. And it’s late and we’re all climbing down
ten flights of stairs.
    I can see the exit two flights below when
suddenly the sirens stop. Screams split the air, then cut off
suddenly. People turn and start pushing us back up the steps. I
feel my own sense of fear rise.
    You’re a trained warrior, Ande. Assess.
Gather equipment. Take action.
    But to do that, I’m going to need a better
view. I join the people beside me and try to push the people above
me back up.
    Regret floods me as I’m squashed between the
two opposing forces—those coming down and those going up. I should
have listened to my father and brought a contingent of guards with
me on this trip. But I’d stupidly thought I was safe, telling
myself, you’ve been to Pluria at least a hundred times
before.
    I finally succeed in getting to the third
floor and throw open the door to exit the stairwell. I sprint
toward the middle of the floor. I remember a balcony that overlooks
the entrance, the front wall of the first few floors of the front
of the castle made of glass. It will give me a good view of the
entrance and the courtyard just outside.
    The country is at peace, I think,
trying not to panic. No enemies, uprisings, not even a strong
political conflict in the ten years since the Great War.
    Reaching it, I look down. My heart sinks
into my stomach. The scene before my eyes is beyond belief. People
dead in the courtyard, more running past, screaming, as huge…metal
machines?...run behind them. The machines look almost like metal
people, but their legs are weirdly shaped. They run awkwardly,
hitting the people with some kind of blue light. Once struck by the
beam, the people fall down, twitching and screaming.
    This can’t be real. It can’t be.
    My heartbeat starts to pound in my ears. I
blink several times, but the image remains.
    So it’s not just a hallucination. Better get
a grip and start thinking before I end up dead, too.
    What are these shiny metal creatures? Where
did they come from?
    I see a small craft land in the courtyard
amidst the chaos.
    Landing? Did they come from… the sky? Or even worse … space?
    The thought makes me shudder. If these metal
people are from space they are a lot more advanced than us.