Brassman

Three

Ren groaned and kicked at the heavy gate guarding the large castle from the public. She couldn't believe they had locked her out, after only being a few minutes late. The Head Guards ran a tight ship, though.

Ren grimaced and pressed the button at the end of the gate. She ran a slender hand through her hair and spoke into the speakers. "Uhm...Renzellow Evelyn Brassman to, er, guard Princess Lithium."

The speakers emitted a deafening crackle and a harsh voice rang out. "Brassman. You're late," was all it said.

Ren rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I know, sorry. Can you let me in now?"

"You're late," the strict Head Guard repeated. "This is the third time in the past two months. Keep it up, and we'll have to let you go."

Ren opened her mouth to retort, but after another staticky crackle the speaker was cut off and the gate swiftly opened. Ren passed through, and as soon as her hair had swooshed through the gap the gate slammed itself closed again. She threw open the heavy castle doors easily and strutted with her normal sassy air into the extravagant hall.

Her leathery dark brown boots repetitively tip-tapping on the marble floor, Ren dashed up the staircases and through the hallways she knew incredibly well until she got to the east wing of the castle, facing the sparkling sea.

When she reached a pair of large oak double doors, Ren pushed against them and squeezed through the crack. She entered a huge room, with the walls painted light yellow. Beanbags were carelessly tossed throughout the space and shaggy rugs were strewn around. A monstrous bed weighed down with quilts and huge pillows sat in one corner. One wall was entirely glass, facing the ocean and the air vehicles passing by. The wall opposite the window held a bookcase that nearly stretched from floor to ceiling, packed tight with thick books. A large white wardrobe covered in marker doodles sat in the corner.

A girl with long, tangled blonde hair and glasses in front of sapphire blue eyes sat with socked feet dangling off the bed, reading one of the heavy books. Her long flowery skirt fluttered with the whirl of her ceiling fan and her overlarge sweater slipped off her shoulder often. "Renny!" Lithium cried when she saw who'd waltzed into her bedroom.

"No. No, don't-don't call me that."

Lithium glanced over the top of her glasses and smirked. "Where've you been?"

Ren picked at her nails. "Got held up," she lied.

A snort. "You mean you were being lazy," another girl lounging on one of the beanbags said. She was dark-skinned with bright red hair pulled up into a bun and wore a very short top. She had scars on her face from fights and training and was running the tip of her pinky finger along the blade of a long, dark sword.

Ren crossed her arms and flopped back onto the bed next to Lithium. "Shut up, Breeland." She turned to face Lithium. "Good morning, Princess."

"Ugh, please don't call me Princess," Lithium complained, still staring at her book. She flipped the page with a long, ringed finger.

"But you really are the Princess...Princess." Ren adopted a smug look as Lithium glared at her.

"Hey, if you continue to call me Princess, I'll keep calling you Re-" Lithium was interrupted by the sound of her doors being creaked open. She looked up from her book finally and her cheeks automatically flushed with color.

An extremely tall boy with white messy hair, pale skin and freckles pushed the door open. His arms were muscular and his green eyes were constantly darting here and there. He looked uncannily like Ren, aside from his height. His eyes fell immediately on Ren.

"There's my little sister. You finally got up?" His voice was light, but was deep.

Ren glared up and him. "You are literally four minutes older than me, Theo."

Theo smirked at his twin and his eyes slid to Lithium. "Lith...hey, I got a thing from the King and Queen that they need a potion for some reason-I think the Queen is sick-but they weren't in the throne room. Give it to one of them for me?"

Lithium blushed deeper. "Yeah, uh-of course, I..." She trailed off, vaguely promising to deliver the potion to her parents.

Theo cocked his eyebrow and tossed a glass vile of murky liquid to Lithium, whose fingertips skimmed it. The vile hit the tips of her fingers and flew straight into Breeland's outstretched hand.

Breeland chuckled at Lithium's feeble attempt to catch. "I'll give it to them. I'm going to see them later on today, for my payment."

Theo nodded once. "Thanks, Breeland. He swiveled on his feet and headed to the door. "I have to get back to the dungeons," he said over his shoulder. "Being an apprentice for the alchemist means he can push you around and I'd rather not give him a reason by taking too long." With that, Theo shut the door with a click and disappeared.

Ren offered a sideways glance to Lithium. "You got the hots for my brother?" She said, her voice dripping with smugness.

Lithium stared intently at her book. "I have no idea what you're talking about. Can you politely shove off?"

Ren wrinkled her nose. "Gladly," she said as she kicked up her feet and opened a magazine.