Delectum

Chapter 1-Capti

Every girl dreams of being a princess.
Especially my sister Nona - when the news about the selection came, it was all she talked about, all week prince Leighton this, Prince Jameson that. I have to admit, I am a bit excited. Not for the chance to live at the royal palace, but to help my family regain their pride which was stripped away when they enforced the Capti. We fell from 4th province to 7th, meaning we lived in a old run down shack, cleaning the Rich's homes for our food. Many of my old friends are now my superiors, it is demeaning and humiliating. I fell asleep that night, my eyes blotchy and sore.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

Nona's screechy wail of excitement woke me up with a tired groan and a stretch of the limbs. I walked out into the kitchen, desperate to attack the siren, but the joy upon her face made me regret wanting to harm her. Nona is my twin sister, and yes we do have our fights and disagreements, but we do still have the twin bond holding us together. Yet we aren't identical, that would just be creepy. I was about to question what she woke me up for, but the calendar's date informed me with one glance; I couldn't help but join her in the wail of excitement.

Mum and dad walked in five minutes later, bags under their eyes and a pissed off expression. Me and Nona exchanged glances, both equally worried. Mum began her rant about it being before curfew, and how the pax could give us a fine. I felt like bursting into tears. How could i be so stupid? I tilted my head in shame and apologised to mum and dad. I walked into my room sending a death glare at Nona. She just burst into tears. I felt bad, but we did deserve it - we don't want anymore bad rumours if the pax came here.

I laid down in bed unable to fall asleep and thought about all the bad things King Lorcan placed upon us, the capti;the system set up after the great uprise, the people who supported the king in the higher ranks 1,2,3 and 4, and the people who either couldn't or didn't help in the lower ranks 5,6,7 and 8. Each rank has its own province surrounding the Dux province where the Royal Palace is. I don't know what caused the Capti. All I know is that we didn't do something and now we have to fight for our lives. The 1st province is part of the Dux where the extended royal family lives. The 2nd is where high officials, the famous and past selection girls live. The 3rd is doctors, soldiers, palace maids. The 4th is teachers, factory workers and musicians. The 5th is the child carers, bakers, butchers and grocers. The 6th is coal miners, lumber jacks and fishermen and a few artists. The 6th is hair dressers, blacksmiths and tailors. The 7th is maids, farmers and unemployed. The 8th is the homeless, the most populated province. I blink back tears as i think of the boundaries choosing our lives for us, and how a single slip of the foot will land us as an 8. We will be evicted from our home and dumped into the grasp of poverty.

I wake up some time midday as the sun is burning through the windows, intent on disturbing me. I grumpily stomp into the kitchen where mum is sorting out Nona's hair. She notices me, gasps, then giggles. "Lorelei, we have to be at the Officium in an hour!!"

I smiled and shrugged, eager too get back to bed. I was almost there. I could feel the warmth pulling me in. When Mum's cold hand grabbed my arm, her stern face pleading with me, as I had been injected with coffee, i quickly nodded and got dressed in lightning speed.

I was dressed in a knee length black lace dress; I had being saving up for it for over 2 years. Unfortunately, I had no shoes to go with it. So I had my white flats on my feet. I huffed and went to step out into the kitchen, ready to have my face moulded, my hair pulled and my dignity abused.

I pushed the door open, the sight before me sent a spine curdling scream out of me!

(Edited by evieA1237 )