A Choice

Chapter One

The cracks of sun were just making it through my window when I woke. My back ached from yesterdays work and my head hurt of the thought of todays. I quickly made my bed, knowing soon Vladmire will come soon with a long list of chores just waiting to get done. I got dressed and was just putting my hair up in its usual messy braid when a hand knocked on my door.
​"Come in!" I say excited to get the days work over with. Vladmire's skinny, white fingers appeared. Almost hidden by the dark hood, they crept my door open, wide enough for him to slip through.
"Good morning, my dear Evangeline," Vladmire's cool voice said, snaking its way across my little bedroom to my bed. His body followed the voice, covered with his signature dark coat. His long dark beard swayed back and fourth while his soulless eyes stayed transfixed on me. He was bald with a scar across the spot where the hair should be. He looked old for his age, though his age I did not know. When he sat beside me on my bed, he didn't pull a scroll from the insides of his cloak like he usually does, he just stared at me with those dark, dark eyes in an awkward silence.
​"Todays a very special day!" said Vladmire, breaking the silence.
​"Indeed it is," I said. Today was my 16th birthday. The day of freedom for most children my age, to me closer to the day I can escape. I've been planning for a while, but I can't get everything right.
​"I have a special task for you, my dear,"
​"If it's cleaning the toilets, I did that yesterday," I didn't have time to play his silly games. I needed the chore list to start doing chores to have time for myself on my "special day."
​"No, no," said Vladmire, clearly not seeing, or not caring, about the sarcasm I just gave him, "I need you to find someone for me. You see the spirits have informed me about the king's heir is still alive. I need you to find him for me, perhaps become friends with him, and tell me everything. I can't have him become king. The first thing he will do is avenge his fathers death and I have far better things to do than to die. He is your age today. Go to the bakery, that's where he is. Now hurry, go before sun down." With that Vladmire vanished from the room. Still in six years from living here, I was not used to it. This time it didn't bother me though. My thoughts were elsewhere, a chance to go outside? The chance was rare for me and only happened once a couple of years ago when we ran out of supplies. I quickly grabbed my coat and boots, for in winter here it is sure to be freezing, and headed up the long staircase to outside. The first thing I noticed was the cold. My nose was already turning red. My whole body shivered. Then I noticed the snow, white and delicate. They flowed gracefully around like skilled dancers. I reached out for one and only got a small sight of the pattern before it melted on my gloves. I then noticed the people, the houses, the noise. Children were running everywhere. Playing with the snow, with toys, with each other. There were boys fencing with sticks and girls playing with wooden dolls, hastily crafted. I wonder if my mother ever did that for me, but as usual, I couldn't remember anything but the feeling of love and being wanted. I made my way down the street to the market square, careful not to step on anything that would advert attention to me. I guess that's what made my focus waver because next thing I know I'm being yelled at.
​"Hey! I'm walking here!" said a voice. I looked around but everyone was still doing their activities. No one was paying any attention to me.
​"I'm down here honey," said the voice. I look down and see a black cat. I started to scream when the cat shushed me.
​"Yep, that's right a talking cat. Now don't make a big deal would you," said the cat.
"I'm so sorry. I was focused on other things and wasn't looking where I was going and I- I - I..." I stammered, I was very surprised by the cat and couldn't get over it. A talking cat! I didn't even know they existed! Although I shouldn't have been surprised. Living with a wizard, you see a lot of things.
"I'm Jasper by the way. I'm an alley cat looking for a partner. You seem pretty good,"
​"I'm Evangeline," I say, "And partner? I don't think I'll fit the requirements. I'm not exactly the friendly type."
​"Nah, I can see it now," said Jasper, pouncing in my arms, "Me and you kid, me and you"