~ The Unworthy Title ~

~ Chapter 8 ~

The words cut like little knives through my body. I knew someday I would have to do something like a sacrifice, a favor, something that I wouldn't be able to decline for my kingdom. For my father. But I didn't expect this day to come so soon. Even then when my life's clock had started ticking. I had two fates ahead of me. If I had my powers by the time I turned eighteen, I'd have to marry Alarick. The golden heir to the throne of Keith, in order for our kingdoms to unite. If I turned eighteen and I hadn't got my powers yet, I would die in a fire in front of everyone in Vesta. I didn't have to worry about the marriage. It wouldn't happen. Alarick could not marry a corpse.

   "Crystal? Won't you say anything ?" I looked at Keir. There was nothing to say. The marriage wouldn't happen. I stood up and looked at the mirror in Keir's room. The mirror I looked at my reflection when I woke up from the night my father... My eyes met Keir's. Brown eyes, like our father's.
His eyes might looked like his but he would never be him.

   "There's nothing to say. I'm leaving." I told him and turned my back.

   "Where are you going ?"

   "To Keith. I have an academy to attend, don't I?" I asked him, waiting for an answer, waiting for him to tell me to stay. But if he knew me well, he wouldn't waste his breath trying. I heard him standing up behind me. I turned to see what was he going to do. He went to his library and took a brown box. When he opened it, I saw jewels and some notes inside it. He took out a small ring and held his hand for me to take it. I took the small ring from his hand and carefully looked at its design. A simple golden ring with a sun in its center. I raised my head to face him.

   "What is this?"

   "I was six when you and Aiden were born. I didn't like your mother at first. I thought she was trying to take mine's place and you would replace me as well. But your mother took me for a walk in the city a week after your birth. And she bought me a gift, this ring. She told me that no matter what would happen, I would always be my father's heir and as bright as the sun."
I didn't know any of this. Keir didn't like talking about the past. He liked keeping his feelings hidden about it.

   "I don't understand, it's yours. She bought it for you. You should be the one wearing this."

   "Crystal, I might be our father's heir. The one who stays by his side when he's talking to the other kings but you will always be the one who brightens the most. Day and night." I wore the ring on my right hand and hugged him as tight as I could.

   "Thanks." I gave him a smile before turning my back and leaving his room.

~~~~~~~~~~

I rushed to Bryce's room. I opened the door and found a room full of darkness.

   "Bryce?" I asked, waiting for an answer. She gave me none. She must be sleeping, I thought. I went around the room trying to find her bed. When I felt her blanket with my hand I tried to find her hair. When I found them I started pulling them hard waiting for her to wake up. Suddenly, a strong light came from her hair and I took a step back quickly. She opened her eyes and gave me an angry look. That was twice in a week that I woke her up.


   "What??? What is it?" She asked me with an angry voice.

   "Stand up, pack your things, we're leaving." I told her and rushed to the door.

   "But I thought we were leaving tomorrow!" I turned to see her figure trying to stand up.

   "Change of plans." I closed the door harder than I wished to after telling her this.

~~~~~~~~~~

I rushed to my and Aiden's room. Aiden was clearly surprised. I quickly went to my closet and took out a big bag. Then I started pulling out clothes from my closet like simple shirts and pants.

   "What are you doing?" Aiden asked me while coming to me. When he was next to me I took out a big bag for him too and looked him in the eyes.

   "Pack your things we're leaving." I told him and went back to my clothes.

   "Oh- and yeah right now. Not tomorrow." I told him when I remembered my dialogue with Bryce. Aiden just sighed and started packing his things. If my father wanted me to marry that egoist then let it be. But I would not spend any more minutes in that place.
I closed my bag and looked at Aiden. He closed his too and gave me a nod.

   "Ready." I nodded and took my bag. When I went to the door to leave the room Aiden reminded me something important.

   "You can't leave in your dress." I looked down at my dress and sighed. I turned back to Aiden and went to the closet next to him.

   "Go help Bryce get ready and I'll come."

   "Alright and after we leave you will tell me why the rush." He told me and left the room within a second. I pulled the dress up to my head quickly, leaving me with my underwear. I looked in my closet and found a black long-sleeved shirt and a pair of black pants. I looked around the room for my black coat and found it on my desk chair with my black boots next to the chair, covered in black like the dark night sky. As I wore it I looked around the room. I was leaving, I was done with that room, that castle, that...behavior of his. I was just done. I took my bag and closed the door behind me.