Crown On My Head

chapter 36

Kingdom of Tareeya Lacey

My dress is itchy. I think I'm allergic to its colour.

I stand here in front of his court, like an item on auction. A shiny new token of appreciation from the royal court.

Standing here and smiling for four hours is easier said than done. His court looked like a wave as people danced to the music, as they walked around talking. They are memorising to watch.

Their dancing is elaborate and majestic. coordination is phenomenal but at the same time it is turbulent and merciless if you were pulled in you wouldn't be swallowed whole. They would stomp and stomp, I bet they wouldn't even hear you scream.

"Hello Birdy." his hands curl around my waist holding me.

"Don't call me that." I stared at the people, like a giant fist, the waves rose up and slammed into each other savage and anger and ready for blood. people woven in my debts and blood. A hard bond to break. But in every well woven bond there is a loose thread. And I was going to pull until it all came undone.

"What are you going to do to become queen." he hisses on my throat, kissing on it. His grip hardened as I tried to get out of his grip.

The music dies down and he makes a speech. He finally lets go of me, walking towards his people and giving a toast. My eyes lay on Beth's advice. And his eyes on mine. Then I realise that everyone is staring at me. Why?

"Sorry she's a little shy." he beckons me to come like his pet. Angry bubbles in me rising and rising trying to race for the top.

"Now princess blue birdy has been sending letters to another.'' How does he know?

Guards come up behind me, pushing me on my knees. While soren burns the content of the letter.

"Now this is what happens to those who step out of line. That breaks the rules."

A hand strikes me. Murmurs of uneasiness and screams of horror . a falter of delight and wickedness spread through his room like a rushing tide. The crowd applauded his act of abuse. I take the time to scan the room, looking for a loose thread.

Faces of anger, betrayal and victory laced most people's faces. Then behind the front row of beliefs I find the faces that I could use. The faces of fear, the faces of unseen sanger towards him, the faces of pain.

I am beaten blue and bruised by the end of his show of power. Practically the colour of his court.

I stare at him as I am pulled up from the pain, thrown on the chair near his tower throne.

"Welcome to the game Birdy." I stare, bubbles nearing to the top.

"How am I supposed to play if I don't know the rules?" I spit on him.

"See that's the fun part, there are no rules!" he shrugged. Sipping on some wine.

I get up and leave, "where do you think you are going"

"There are no rules, " I look him in the eyes.

"No rules for those who rule but you simply do not so you can't play." his words stung in a complex form.

"Yet I'm in your game" the bubble overflowed.

"Yet you are." he repeated like a mantra.

I walk into the crowd and mingle with what they think is going to be the new queen of the ports, not the ruler of the silly kingdom that he would rule.

After talking and hearing about his brilliance and ruthlessness, finlay made my way to the loose strings.

They give me a custie the most I was given by the others, "your majesty."

"What is growing in the court like." Unlike everyone I have talked to, this group is the same age as me. Probably new to court events like this. Unbroken by the lord.

A few who have witnessed the brutality give me a curt smile and walk away but a young girl doesn't.

"I am not sure, this is one of my first visits. I have just been trying to learn the gossip. You know, who not to mention who." I smiled at her, because that was alway the first thing on my list to do when meeting another royal court.

"Well then you must fill me in." I took her arm. "Wouldn't want to start a fight now would i."

She laughs, we make laps around the room as she points people out.

A lady who dresses in a sea green dress, who has a crooked nose is Madam Lou. She runs the schools and whispers into General Reword. They are to put into Darcy's words, "gossip central."

Before I could ask her about Soren, he interrupts us, pulling him toward him, and telling Dacry to flee. I try to pull away for his grasp. He wouldn't let go. He drags me to the throne.

"What do you think you are doing?" he demands.

I look at the crown much more bothered in what they are doing. Watching how Madam Lou walks around eavesdropping in conversations and then telling her to be close to be friends with General.

He takes my chin, holding it tight. "I am talking to you!" He scoffs when I don't answer. "Your father would be disappointed or maybe you're just as good as him."

I stare at his eyes, no longer the calming sea they used to be; they are a dark storm that lays wreck to ships, drowning the men. The water was suffocating but I refused to drown in them. The motion of my father was too far, saying he would be disappointed I could live with that, but call him weak.

Draw first blood.