Journal 1: The Beginning

NAIROBI

3:00 am the clock on my dresser read. I always wake up around this time. Me and sleep have a very weird relationship. I sit up throwing my covers off me, getting my mind off the dream I had. A black figure rising from Mount Ebony. Of all the dreams I had, this one gives me an unsettling feeling. I shook my head, removing the thought from my head.

Walking to my ensuite I rinsed my face, the moonlight light was guiding me. It was a quiet night eerily quiet. I shook it off.

I'm from Upper Grove, a neighborhood in St. Clare. It's a decent area, I grew up here my whole life. The city was always bustling with people, the skyline was riddled with impressive skyscrapers. The buildings are strategically placed together, even though they aren't. Countless businesses nestled inside. Not a thing out of place. My parents have a house right outside of the city (Upper Grove), Not too close and not too far. It's fairly quiet out here, away from the city noise.

I look back at my clock on my nightstand, it's 4:15 am.

'Shit!' I was up for an hour. I might as well get up and get ready for the day. I have to help my mom with work today. My mom and Dad, pretty much everyone in this neighborhood works closely with Empress Zenovia. My mom is her right hand. While my Dad is Head of Defense. This would be my first job.

When someone turns 19 they have to be trained on their parents job. Children take over their parents' jobs at the age of 21. I just turned 19, 2 days ago on the 18th.

Work usually starts at the crack of dawn, 7:30 am, which I dread because I haven't gotten any sleep. I go to my closet trying to find something to wear for today.

'Hmm...what am I going to wear?' I thought to myself

'Black?'

'No'

'Purple? Definitely no.'

'Gray... I can go with that.'

I went through my closet and found my long gray skirt and sweater. I head to my bathroom to get ready by the time I'm done with my shower and getting dressed it should be time for work. Since this is my first day I wouldn't say I'm nervous. I've been preparing for this since I was 16. My mom made sure of that. I know what is expected of me, but it's just a nagging feeling like today might be one of those days. After I'm done getting ready it's about time for work. Leaving my room I can already hear my parents and little sister in the kitchen.

"Good Morning" I kiss my parents on the cheek while sitting at the breakfast bar.

"Morning." my little sister Janora said with a mouth full of food.

"Ready for work? We have to leave in 10 minutes Bee." My mom's big brown eyes bore into mine sternly.

We lived 15 minutes away from St Clare. The main castle. St. Clare is broken off into 5 sections. East, West, North, South and Center, Lambridge Castle is on the East, HighBorne Palace is on the West, Rose Castle is up North, Sella Palace is down South and St. Clare is Center. Built on the side of an inactive volcano; Mount Ebony. They took a leap of faith building on a volcano but it works. Living in St.Clare or anywhere else for that matter is anything but perfect. Living in a perfect world has nothing but pros. You can leave your car unlocked or unattended and no one would dare to steal it. A world of no murder, no war, no starvation. Everyone has their role to play in this world. Clean streets, air, water, food, everything is perfect. There has never been an act of unjust/evil in this world. No one has dared to try anything or go against Empress Zenovia or St. Clare. I can admit she is terrifying, but I can say she has her moments. Empress Zenovia has been ruling over St.Clare since she was 21 years old. This has been in her family for generations. I know working with Empress Zenovia would get me all the inside details about what really goes on behind these walls.