Surviving Sixteen {On Hold}

Surviving Sixteen

PROLOGUE

Anaeciia: 15 years ago

A woman looked down at her twin girls with loving, indigo eyes. The girls' eyes were still closed as their father stepped through the door. The mother looked up and smiled softly.

"Aren't they beautiful?" she whispered. The father nodded in agreement, placing a hand on his wife's shoulder.

"But you know their future," he reminded her. The woman blinked away tears, looking down at her new born daughters, and nodded.

"A twin to live, a twin to die, a twin to not live 'til  sixteen," she recited in a barely-audible whisper. The man nodded in agreement.

**Six years later**

Eleni laughed as her twin sister Ambrosine hiked up her skirts to run up the steps to their rooms.

"Ambrosine!" their mother scolded. Ambrosine immediately dropped her creamy white silk  skirts and stood bashfully in front of her mother. Eleni quickly stepped up next to her sister in her matching dress. Her pale blonde hair hung down her back in a braid, and her sister's dark red-amber hair was loose around her shoulders.

"Girls, you must behave as ladies. I know you are naught but six, but you are princesses," she reminded them. Ambrosine hung her head, while Eleni stood tall and proud.

"Yes, mother," Ambrosine responded dejectedly.

"Yes, mother," Eleni echoed. Their mother sighed and turned to go back to the girls' birthday party.

"Mother?" Eleni asked quickly. Their mother turned back to them and looked to Eleni expectantly.

"Will the party be over soon?" she asked eagerly. Their mother sighed again and shook her head, a few brunette curls escaping their bun. Eleni's face dropped into a pout, as did Ambrosine's.

"Why don't you go up to your room," their mother suggested. Both girls nodded and continued up the stairs. Their mother turned back to the party, a sad look on her face.

"A twin to live, a twin to die, a twin to not live 'til sixteen," she murmured to herself.

**The girls' fifteenth Birthday**

"Yes, mother," the twins said together. Eleni's blonde hair was braided and curled into a bun on her head. She wore a deep-indigo, full, ruffle-skirted dress with a tight bodice. Ambrosine's amber hair was up in a twisted bun, with tendrils hanging down. Her dress was the palest pink, with the same tight-fitting bodice, but un-ruffled, full skirts.

"Now, girls, remember to be polite, and remain ladies," their mother reminded them yet again.

"Yes, mother," the girls recited again.

"Good," their mother smiled, pleased. She turned and left the room elegantly, meeting her husband at the door. The girls glanced at each other, and burst out laughing. They continued laughing until their eyes were watering.

They finally composed themselves enough to stop, and they stood up from Ambrosine's bed.

"Ready?" Eleni asked her sister. Ambrosine nodded, and they linked arms, stepping out of their rooms.They descended the grand staircase that spiraled into the ball room. The room fell silent as they appeared at the top of the stairs, then broke into applause. Both curtsied to their subjects, and continued down the stairs.

"Good luck," Ambrosine whispered. Eleni nodded.

"You too," she whispered back. They seperated and were whisked away across the floor.

**

In a corner, a small woman with graying hair but an unlined face watched the princesses, murmuring

"A twin to live, a twin to die, a twin to not live 'til sixteen."