Whither and Decay

Chapter three: Atticus

I've never liked being a prince. Women want to stare. My father expects me to get crowned the king when he steps down. My brother would love to be king, but he's not fit to be king. He's too soft, he'll let people walk right over him.

    That girl. Arden something. She had some nerve talking to me like I'm a part of their common folk. We can duel sometime. Yeah right she thinks she can duel. She probably doesn't even know how to wield a sword, let alone know how to read. Those common folk have no education.

    Callen caves. He saw a pretty girl, fit to be his wife, and he pulled me off her. I would've liked to plunge that dagger into her chest or her throat. During the day my father has me train with the royal guards that one day I can protect my wife and family. Although I don't want a family neither do I want a wife.

    The worst part about being a prince is that the women often use us for money. I've read newspapers of scandals happening in Greece, a King got stabbed and robbed from his wife. His "beloved" wife. I'm not afraid of women, but I want something real. I don't want someone who kisses my boot and says they love me. No. I want hate. I want the angst of other men stealing my beloved. And I want a love I can kill for.

    Callen is the favorite in the family. He always does what people tell him too. He wants people to like him. Although I was born first he still thinks he has a chance of ruling.

    I want to find this common girl. I want to talk to her. She needs to know she can't talk to me the way she did. I heard them from the hall. They said the library. I put my dagger back in it's sheath, in the inner pocket of my waistcoat.

    When I get to the library, I throw open the doors. She is standing in the middle of the room. "Finally come to join huh prince." She says

    I stalk over to her full force. I kick her legs out from under her, keeping my hand at the base of her head so she doesn't hit it. I unsheathe my dagger, and hold it at the base of her stomach right where I can puncture through her corset.

    "So you think you can beat me at a sword fight huh? Let's do it then common girl." I bring my face to her ear and whisper. "I'd like to see you try and beat me."

    She lifts her body. My dagger gets pushed slightly into her skin. "I can, and I will. Don't think just because you're a prince that I will bow down to you. You can hate me all you want. It's cute. I just want you to know I'm not afraid of a little blood." She releases herself from my grip. She knees my stomach, kicks my dagger to the side, and has me on my back. "You see the thing about you and me. We both don't want to lose. I will not lose to an arrogant prince. And you won't lose to, what did you call me. Oh right. Common girl."

    Arden lifts herself off me. And grabs a book off the shelf. "Oh and thanks for the books." She winks at me one more time before leaving.

    "Hey. Where'd she go?" Callen calls from the opposite side of the library.

    "Oh she left. Had to find her father." I lied. I can't have my brother know I was pinned by a common girl.

    "I would like to find her address. I want to write to her. She seems like a nice girl. Don't you think."

    "I don't care. Do whatever you want. Don't let it involve me." But of course I want to know her address. I need to know when we can fight.