Monarchy

Chapter 1: Zack's Secret

My father was the third generation of his family's wealth. My mother was a poor girl born into a family that never mattered. She caught his eye, and for the first time in who knows how long, she was the first woman not to be bought for marriage. I cupped the cool water in my hands and splashed it over my face. The water was getting colder by the second, of course that's what I get for bathing after Zack. It wouldn't be long before he came to get me.

I lowered myself into the water, making sure to get all of my dark auburn hair. Bang! There was Zack, I stepped out of the tub and wrapped myself in a towel. Another bang sounded on the door, after followed Zack's footsteps. I quickly ran to my small room and put on a semi-formal outfit. Dinner was following closely after cleanup. The only people who knew about my existence were my parents, brother, and the few servants we kept.

"Abrianna you look almost as beautiful as your mother did in that outfit." That was probably the closest thing I would ever get to a compliment from my father. I nodded my thank you and took my seat next to my mother. Zack was staring, I shifted uncomfortable in my chair. "Are you ready for tomorrow's debate Zack?"

"Of course, the position as student body president is practically mine." He was cocky as ever. "My only opponent is Lexi and he's just as girly as his name sounds. Half of the schools already told me that I have their vote." My father didn't seem too impressed with his outburst.

"Modesty Zack. A man is nothing if he boasts about everything. Besides, you haven't won yet. You said only half of the school promised you their vote the other half is either voting for Lexi or is undecided, neither sounds good on your part." Zack looked down ashamed. This is how dinner went every night. Zack looked up at me, more than likely trying to see if I was smiling. He would kill me if I were, so I stared at my bowl of soup.

"Abrianna." My heart jumped into my throat, my father was addressing me. There's no way he could actually be asking me about my day is there? "Are Zack's clothes ready for his debate tomorrow?" I sighed, of course Zack couldn't ask me himself, I was below his standards. I nodded and told them they were laying across Zack's bed, which I made this morning. Zack only grunted in response. The rest of dinner was silent, my mother being the only one to speak about the nothingness that went on during her day at the house.

I retired to my room, the only space that belonged to me and me alone. I didn't have many personal belongings, I didn't have any pictures of myself and the only mirror I was allowed to use was in the bathroom. All of my clothes were handed down to me from my mother. I supposed it's a good thing I'm not any bigger than I am.

Five generations ago the first female ruler in the States was elected; regretfully for every female in the world after that, she declared war. My mother used to tell me the history and from time to time I would think of it again as I sat in my room and wondered what this would be like if she hadn't been elected. A woman with the last name of Morano was elected President. On impulse she fired against India, nuclear warfare erupted after that. No one knows the real reason why she declared war, the men who teach the history say she was simply insane. Women all around the world were disgraced, outcast, and initially became property and in charge of breeding. My grandfather bought his wife from a poor family in the lower ranks. Eventually she gave him two children, one boy and one girl. My father never talks about his sister. Every now and again he would tell me to be grateful that he and my mother decided to keep me, unlike his parents.

I couldn't sleep that night, I hardly ever could. I sat next to my window and listened to the noises outside. All my life I dreamed of escaping the world I was in. I imagined buy my own clothes, making my own money, earning my own trust and not having to rely on a man. I've never been allowed to make friends, or even go off the grounds. I sighed, more than anything I wanted to be free.