Night Roamers

Chapter 1

    I was lying in my room, all by myself. The balcony doors are wide open, and the smell of woodsy pine flows in. Wind blowing the sapphire blue canopy from my bed. I rest on my bed. The softness of the comforters brushes upon my skin. Until I hear a knock on the door.

    "Hello? Miss Amastor? I have a written message from your mother and father," the servant explained. He sounded quite annoying, his voice was all high-pitched and squeaky.

    "Just slide it under the door, please," I responded. 

    The servant complied, and I dreadfully got up from my bed. I slugged myself to the door and picked up an envelope from the floor. Every step I made on the dark oak wood floor caused a faint creaking noise.

    "I'm sorry to say, I am late. I got caught up in the main castle," the servant said from the other side of my door.

    "No, no you're fine. I understand how busy it can get," I answered.

    "Well I'll be on my way," he claimed as he left.

    The envelope was a silver color and had the Amastor sigil on the wax seal. I ran my fingers along the wax before opening the envelope. I nudged my finger in between the wax and the paper. Then spread it to see an invite.

    The invite had read "Were pleased to invite you, Hermione, to an Amastor family meeting. Please meet at 6:30.p.m, today, on the dot, in common room #13. Don't be late this is of very much importance, Thank you,"

    I sighed after reading it. Do they always have to be so formal? It's getting annoying. I glance at the clock in my room. It reads 5:58.p.m. I jolted up in shock. I had only 32 minutes left! Damn it! That boy wasn't kidding when he said he was late.

    I quickly threw something together. Digging through my closet to find something I liked. It felt like an eternity till I discovered an acceptable dress. It worked... I guess. It wasn't life-changing. It was a plain sundress, white with a blue azure aster pattern. The dress smelt like flowers as well. Then slipped on my white flats.

    I scurried out of my room. Once at the door, I glanced back at the clock. It read 6:19.p.m. With almost no time to spare I ran out of the room. I dashed down the corridor, passing a cluster of servants. They all glimpsed back at me. I overheard a few phrases as I passed by.

    "Was that the princess?" one of them whispered

    "Princess? Hermione, no way," another servant snorted. "She is unsuitable for that title,"

    I hung my head as I ran. They always make me feel as if I was the scum of the earth. I'm never good enough. Corridor to corridor I made my way to one of five main halls. Images of nicely decorated walls pass me by as I run. The velvet purple drapery on the long windows. The clapping of my flats on the tile floor. Not far long after I made it to the courtyard. That servant wasn't kidding! The courtyard was packed with people. I sighed and pushed through the crowd. As I shoved my way through, someone had grasped my hand. It was a woman, I didn't get a good look at her face but she had black hair tied in a tight braid and deep green eyes. She didn't look much older than me, at least from what I saw. Her hand was strangely cold.

    "Be careful, princess," she whispered, then let go of my hand.

    I gave her an odd look. I didn't think much of what she said, as I was too busy thinking about how my stepmother would react if I was late. I glanced back to see the woman disappear into the crowd. Rushing to get to the common room, I push through the people. I made it to the center court, the doors to the center wing were in front. I had almost paused to look when the realization hit. It hit me like a rock to the forehead. I was late. I opened the doors and was ready for punishment once I had gotten there. I had slowed down, I walked up the spiral staircase. Then hall by hall, I felt more nervous with every step closer to her. The dread sunk in, and I heard her voice. The faint yelling between stone walls.

    "Where is your dam child?!" She practically screamed.

    My breathing got heavy. I opened the door, I expected to be scolded but instead, I was greeted by a hug from my half-brother, Oliver. My stepmother shot me an angered and annoyed look.