Twisted

The Reason Why I Wear it so Well

Chapter 1:

"We are all gathered here today to celebrate your highness, my son, your future king, Roman Allen Rodriguez the third, twenty-first birthday and has required he must dance with all the females here. Hoping one of them may be his future wife and queen." As soon as King Alexander finished the grand doors opened, showing the devil himself dressed nicely in a black silk suit with a blood-red mask and tie, Prince Roman.

THREE WEEK'S BEFORE

Anastasia, mother's favorite, was always the face of the family. If Mother needed someone to go to a party or a social event it was Anastasia the almighty. Due to her looks and the way she's treated, she believes she can get whatever she wants, whoever she wants, and do whatever she likes and our dear old mother is fine with her actions, even if it may be illegal. Athena is the family member who lives on the dance floor. The one who can simply capture your attention and hold until you fall in love with her with every graceful step. She tells a story with every step, it could either be sad and emotional or happy and dramatic. Mother always praises her about her dancing and how she got it from her side of the family. Brooklyn is the family member who wears all black and still looks like a supermodel. She may have some negative comments or thoughts, but she's still beautiful and unique. Mother doesn't really like her though because she's different from the rest of us and she speaks her mind, which causes a little trouble. But that's what makes Brooklyn, Brooklyn, and that's probably one of my favorite things I love about her.

Ruby is never home, she's always out and about. I asked her one time why she leaves so often and  she told me "I don't like feeling like a caged bird, I would rather soar far away then stay here in this little cage." Ruby did something stupid though a few years ago, she made a deal with a pirate. He wanted her and she wanted to be free, so when she comes of age she'll leave with him on the sea to explore all over and travel far with Captain Jones. Mother doesn't know and if she did, she will probably lock Ruby away in a tower, making her a caged bird for the rest of her life. Lily is the lover and giver of the family. She loves going out to the barn and taking care of the animals. One time on our way home from the market, Lily saw a homeless man and she handed him our groceries. We had to go back and get more, but she didn't think twice about giving it to the man. Mother got mad at Lily because she just wasted two times the money we didn't have. Lily didn't care because she did what's right and there's nothing more to it. 

Jasmine is the tomboy of the family, she never liked mother since the day she was born, she was a daddy's girl  She refused to wear dresses and skirts, it was either overalls or nothing. She always loved to work in the fields, in the barn, in the stable, chopping the trees, and working with Dad and Hades, our Neapolitan Mastiff. Jasmine isn't like Anastasia, Anthea, or mother, who relayed on men for their money. Jasmine loved working for the money she owed all by herself, earn it with her own sweat and blood. I'm the unlucky one in the family, leave it up to me to ruin everything. Octavia Rose, the sixth one born yet the number one hated by mother. My dream isn't as big as my sisters, I just want to leave this place, this town, far from my mother's hands. She did try her best to groom me into the perfect woman but I wasn't going to be another Anastasia, I was going to be me, Octavia Rose. 

"LADIES!!! COME HERE NOW!!!!" Mother's home, you can hear everyone come out from wherever they are and come speeding towards her. "What is it mother, is something the matter?" Lily asked almost tripping down the stairs.

"The King just announced that there will be a masquerade ball held for the Prince's twenty-first birthday in a few weeks, and every girl in the kingdom must go and dance with the prince."

"What does this have to do with us, we already know that Anastasia must look the best to win the Prince's heart, the crown, and the kingdom. If not Anastasia Then it's Anthea. Just in case the Prince wants someone a little more real. So what's the point of Ruby, Lily, Jasmine, Octavia Rose, or I attending this ball, Mother?" Brooklyn question giving Mother her best smile so could conjure up on her face.

"Oh Brooklyn darling, you're mistaken like always, I just want all of you girls to go and have a splendid time dancing and meeting boys and girls. And yes I would like Anastasia or Athena or maybe even Lily end up with the Prince at the end of the night, but if that doesn't happen then at least you all had a lovely night, nothing more darling." A creepy smile crept it's way on Mother's face as she finished her sentence. "Where's your father?" 

"He's with Hades and Jasmine in the field, plowing this year's crops." Ruby started walking towards the living room to sit in front of the fire.

"Go fetch him, Octavia Rose, I must tell him this delightful news and when you get out there keep your mouth shut. Don't you even think about sharing the news with Jasmine, she needs to work for the money, for the dresses you girls need in a few weeks, so leave her be. Understand?"

"Of course Mother, why must Jasmine have a wonderful night meeting boys, girls, or even the Prince.  When she can spend an even better night in the field with Hades and father."

"Just go fetch him and keep your mouth shut."

The walk to the field from the house isn't very long, maybe roughly a fifteen minutes. The walk was quite peaceful, it gave me time to think about what mother said. The royal family Rodriguez, have been ruling for three decades after forcing the royal family Lytton-Cobbold out of the country. The crown has been passed down from father to son until King Alexander came to rule, he was the nephew of the previous king, King Zalman. King Zalman had no kids or wives, just mistresses, and bastards; kids of the mistresses, yet none were born for the crown. Without any kids, he had to choose between his five nephews, James, Henry, Casper, Alroy, and Alexander. They say King Zalman told the boys it was a competition and whoever survived will get the crown. 

Alexander wanted to make his father proud of him for once, so he killed one of his cousins every night of the competition until only Alroy was left. He tried to convince Alroy, that Alexander was always Zalman's favorite and that's why everyone else ran back home. Alroy didn't fall for Alexander's trick and continued to go about in the competition. The last event was a fight between the two, it was just a normal sword fight and whoever got disarmed first lost the crown. Alexander disarmed Alroy rather quickly. Alexander believed if he killed Alroy, then Zalman will see how fit he was to be King. Zalman didn't believe what he saw, the one he thought would lose the competition in the very first round actually won the competition. He also showed no mercy, when killing his cousin who was begging for his life. The look in his eyes was thirst and need for power, he saw himself in the young boy, he saw a King.

"Rosie why did you come out here? Is something wrong?" My father questioned, taking me out of my thoughts. "Mother has something important to tell and she needs you now," I tell him facing towards Jasmine. "Does she need me too?" Jasmine asked not even bothering to stop plowing the area she was working on. "No, she just needs Father, she just has some questions for him."

We made our way back towards the house in silence. "You shouldn't look so sad it doesn't suit your face, Rosie."

"If only you knew why I was sad Father, then you'll understand why I wear this frown". I tell him turning towards the woods instead of the house. "I'm going to wonder for a bit, tell Mother I'm playing with Hades or something."

"I'll try my best to convince her on that." father replied.

"See you Father, I hope you don't get a heart attack with the news mother is going to tell you."