The Demon Princess' Forbidden Love

Welcome To Hell

"DUSK!" I heard a loud thumping bang near my head which had thus, shot up from the desk.

"If you think that sleeping through your history lesson is going to help you as future queen, You are sorely mistaken young lady." Haven my mother, scolded as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and mumbled a low and grated "Sorry" as I straightened up in my seat and made the effort to pay attention.

As my mother prattled on and on about the Great Rulers of the past and all there contributions to our society, I couldn't help but let my mind wander off. To the problems we still had at hand. Our kingdom may be mighty, but we still have enemies, The werewolf clans, The rouge vampires that left our coven, the ones that apposed the new ways that my ancestors had set into motion through out the years. Those who would take the first opportunity they get to destroy the kingdom that we have worked so hard to build to what it has become today.
The years of always being afraid of invasion, coupes, even natural disasters, such as droughts and earth quakes. Living in Hell is much more dangerous than many want to believe. It is always hot in this party of hell where in other parts it is frozen. Think of it like Hawaii and Antarctica. Both extreme in there temperature climates, but still habitable.

There are also other problems much more closer to home. My Coming Out party, A party were i will be announced as the next ruler of the Kingdom. A Ball held in my Honor, and a chance at finding what could one day be my mate, It's not promised that I will find him there, but there is always a chance, and that in itself is a scary thought. The thought I could one day be chained to a man for the rest of my life is almost too much to think about, so I Turn my focus back to what my mother was saying to me as she wrote things on the chalk board in front of her, completely oblivious to the fact that I had not really been paying attention this whole time.

"And that is how The kingdom you know today, came to be. Any Questions?" She asked me as she turned to face me in my chair.

"No, Mom, I think I get it now. Can we please be finished with the lessons for today. I think if i sit through one more lesson I am literally going to die of boredom. " I say throwing my head back over the top of my chair. I could hear papers rustling and then my mother sighing.

"I guess you can be finished for today, but, I am going to give you homework and I expect it done by the end of the week." She says handing my a small stack of papers. I grab them from her give her a quick peck on the cheek and I rush past her towards the door, not wanting to be given more work or worse, another lesson.

I rush through the door and down the halls. Given the time my best friend should be out in the stables at this moment tending to the horses and cattle. I run down the corridor and through the halls passing the guards who paid me no mind at all. Soon I was rushing out of the castle doors and across the green to the barn and stables. The dirt under my feet was puffing up in clouds behind me as I ran. Soon the stable doors were just within reach, Yanking the door open my dear friend Lipa was brushing down the horses with a coarse brush. Upon my entrance she sat the brush down on a stool beside her and stepped away from the horse she was grooming.
"Dusk, you get out of studies early, again? Your mother must not realize just how much you ignore her teachings, but, i will admit that I am happy to see you. Did you happen to pass by my brothers on your way here? " She asks dusting her skirts off and making her way to my side.

"Lets see, I did not see Leo anywhere , but I am pretty sure Jasper is in the courtyard tending to the flower beds. Would you like to visit him there on our way through?" I ask her picking a piece of hay out of her beautiful golden hair.

"Of course any reason to pester him is a good enough reason for me." She response to me through little giggling fits. It has always been this way between us. She technically is my ladies maid, but we have been together since we were both very small, we know each others deepest most personal secrets, we talk about anything and everything, and we find great joy teasing and pranking her older brothers. Leo and Jasper, both of which are also good friends of mine, though they will never be on the same level as Lipa.

"So Has there been any word from you father recently?" she asks as we stroll away from the stables and towards the courtyards.
I kicked a rock down the path we we walked."No, no news yet, but no news is good news. Right?" I ask her not really paying attention to anything,

"I suppose you are right in that. We know for sure if something happened to the king at least we would be sent word. What about you Coming Out Party? You must be excited about that though." She says trying to lighten the conversation.

"What is to be excited about, Lipa? A bunch of peoples eyes on me all night? The creepy men that will try to gain my favor for there own personal gain. Heavy Itchy gowns that I would rather rip to shreds than wear. And the possibility of my mate being there. I am not ready to be chained down and unable to live my own life." I say pushing my long hair back over my shoulder were it belonged.

Lipa was silent for a moment trying to find the words she thought best for my little rant. Luckily for her she was saved as we approached Jasper, who was hard at work in the gardens tending to already existing flowers and planting new ones as well. "Hey Jasper!" Lipa yells close to his head, startling him and causing him to fall backwards onto the ground. Dirt and flowers went flying as he did so.

"LIPA, how many times do you have to tell you not to sneak up on me and -oh, Sorry I hadn't noticed you there, Highness. " He says quickly rising to his feet to bow.
"And how many times have I told you to not call me that, Dusk is fine, Jasper. " I chastise him. His cheeks flame a bright red as he blushed. "Sorry, Dusk, Formality and all, you get it I'm sure." He says rubbing the back of his neck.

"That is very true, but do try to remember. The gardens look amazing by the way. Keep up the good work out here. " I say admiring the stargazers and lilies that were expertly placed in the bed. Admittedly they were the perfect complement to each other.

"Thank you , Dusk, I work very hard on these beds to make sure they are as beautiful as our queen to be." It was my turn to blush now. He always had to go and tease me like that. All in good fun of course.

"Brother, we will let you get back to your work and I will see you later for dinner." Lipa says as she and I make our way down the path again. He gives us a small wave and goes back to tending the flowers.
"You know, you have perfect timing, as always. " I say to Lipa who was more than use to our playful banter, by this point she no longer had to remind us we were Royalty and Servant, not equals. It was just how we were. Although Leo was more uptight than the rest of his siblings. He had his moments too.

"Of course I do, you forget, I have been by your side since we were very little. If I didn't, how could I preform my duties as your Ladies Maid?" She says giggling. "But back to the original conversation. I am sure the dress wont be that bad and even if you have to be oogled at by creepy men. This is the event that announces you as the next queen. Soon you will be ruler of the kingdom and I couldn't imagine not being excited about that. " She says ushering me back into the castle walls. and up to the parlor were we tend to spend many hours together as we talked and laughed and had fun. Taking a seat on the lounge, I stretched and relaxed back on the cushions.

"Lipa, we have been over this already, I dont know if I want to be Queen, I dont want to be tethered to this castle when I still have my whole life infront of me. I want to travel and see the rest of the lands. See new things and meet new people. I have only ever known this castle and the people within its walls. Its like I am living in my own personal Hell."