Element Of Eternity

Chapter Two

   The main hall was decked out in bright colors that did not match with our beige walls. Many voices filled the heavy air. I never liked crowds, as a kid I was always surrounded by judgmental people with too much makeup caked on their face. People who thought they were better than me because I was a kid, when in reality I had more power in my pinky finger than they did in their whole body.

One command, one simple command could ruin a person's life. Being the older sister I will become the next Queen, I was reminded of this on a daily basis. My sister could go out and play with her friends, I was forced to learn how to act like a proper lady at age five. I didn't have any friends, the kids in town were afraid of me. I never knew why my Mother treated me differently than my sister. Father didn't, he always would sneak me out on small trips or adventures so I could get accustomed to the outside world. I remember him telling me as we would adventure in the woods.

"Demons live in these woods, they were banished from the kingdom a long time ago. When you get older, I'll have to tell you about them some more."

He did. He told me everything about the war, some things no one knows about. I just remember feeling amazed yet sad and upset. Why did they have to leave, what made them so different. I could never forget the guilty face he had.

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   Maiya and I both made our way to our parents, people moved as they saw us approach. I recognized most of the faces. A mix of business partners and townsfolk filled the ballroom. I'll have to do better to remember their faces, they all look the same.

My mother was wearing a beautiful blue dress with white accents, my Father in a white suit with blue accents.

"Ume, Maiya over here. I was wondering when you were going to show up." My Mothers grumbling caught the attention of my Father. "Sora calm down, they aren't late. Girls go walk around and converse with others before we all gather for dinner." I feel like he directed that more towards me than my sister. We both said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. Maiya found her way to her friends. I decided I would just wander around and avoid people.

I know I should be more social but I can't help it. I grew up isolated from outsiders, it's hard to break out of my shell.

"Excuse me, Princess Ume?" A voice pulled me from my thoughts. It belonged to a man, he looked to be about my age. Black curly hair framed his tan face which brought out his blue eyes. His face held a strong yet friendly expression.

"Oh um hello, can I help you with anything?" His lips formed into a smile.

"I thought it was you, I apologize if this was so sudden but do you have time to talk about some important matters? It pertains to you and your biological father." His presence felt familiar. Like I had seen him somewhere before, yet I could not recognize his face.

"My father? If it pertains to him as well then I should call him over. Please follow me to him." I backed up from the male but he stopped me.

"No, not the King. Your Father." My confused face seemed to confuse him as well. "Wait, has nobody told you?"

"What do you mean?" He opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by my Father's voice announcing that it was time for the banquet. "I apologize we will have to talk later." I bowed quickly and left before he could stop me. 'What an odd guy. What did he mean by biological father, and what was I not told?' I approached my Father at our table and sat down in my designated seat next to him.

"Ume are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost." His amused face dropped when I told him about the man.

"I ran into a strange man, he didn't look like he was from here. He was talking to me about how he needed to discuss something with me about my biological father, and when I was about to go get you, he was assured that you weren't my father." His eyes widened. "Ume tell me what he looked like."

"Hmm, he had tan skin, curly dark hair, and blue eyes. Why? You seem shocked, is everything ok?" His heavy sigh dismissed himself and he left the banquet room heading to the ballroom once again.

"What's he doing?" Maiya asked me, taking her seat next to me at the round table.

"I'm not too sure. Where is Mother?"

"She saw Father leave and said she had to take care of something." Before we could continue with our conversation someone burst into the room.

"Stop him! Don't let him escape!" The man from earlier was dodging the guards' grasp. I could see both of my parents at the door. The unnamed man ran towards my direction but didn't make it far as he was tackled by a guard and promptly tied at the wrist.

"No! Stop! I need to speak to Miss Ume!" Was all he could spit out before they dragged him away. The eyes of many turned to me, confused faces that looked just like my own. Father gestured for both of us to come to him. Not wanting all the attention on me, I swiftly stood up and rushed over to him, my sister in tow behind me.

"I'll take care of the guests, you two stay with your Father." Mother rushed off apologizing to the guests and asking for them to leave. "Are you two alright?"

"We're fine, just shaken up. What was that all about?" I asked the man next to me, watching as all the guests left. But no answer came. I looked up to my Father to find him lost in his own thoughts. Maiya dismissed herself to go help Mother.

"Not everything you've been told is true Ume." He said out of the blue.

"What are you talking about? What's going on here? Where are they taking him?" My Father gave me a look. It felt like he was trying to read my mind. Sighing he sat his hand on my head.

"He is being kept in the cells downstairs, tomorrow he will pay the price of his crime. You should go ahead up to your room for the night. I'll send a maid for you in the morning, but it's best if you stay in your room for now." With nothing left to say I did as I was told.

The walk back to my room felt longer than normal. I couldn't help but think of the stranger. 'Who was that man? What did he want with me? He sounded like he was in such a panic. He didn't seem like he wanted to harm me when we talked...'

My bedroom door was staring at me in my face, locking it behind me I unclipped my dress' skirt leaving me in my black shorts that were hidden under the dress. Throwing the skirt on the ground. 'I can pick it up later.' Laying my body down on my soft bed I started to doze off.