Rikan

Chapter 1

I don't want to be here, Prince Rikan thought. He was standing in The New Beijing Palace, watching as couples danced on the ballroom floor. It was very boring watching these couples, dancing for what seemed like an eternity. Rikan would rather be practicing his archery skills with Michelle, his best friend. Instead, his parents insisted that he should be here for the ball.

If Rikan and Michelle were together right now, he imagined that Michelle and him would be in the woods. She would be teaching him how to shoot arrows, while riding a horse. Then after a few hours of practice, they would sit down by a pond that they had found a few days ago, and have a small picnic. After their meal, they would talk and laugh together, and maybe even fall asleep together under the shade of the tree.

Rikan sighed with pleasure, at the thought of leaving this stupid castle.

A recording of trumpets echoed in the room, pulling Rikan out of his daydream. "I now present to you, Princess Peony Linh!" The couples stopped dancing and turned their attention to the entrance of the ballroom. Rikan politely looked up to see his sister, who was descending the grand staircase. Peony was wearing a one shouldered, long white flowing gown. She wore it with a silver necklace and matching earrings. Her hair was pulled up into a bun, with a tiara on top of her head.

This ball was being held in her honour. Today Peony Linh was turning 16 years old. Beside her appeared her boyfriend, Evret Clay. The announcer introduced him as they linked arms and walked down to the ballroom floor. They began to dance, and other couples began to dance around them too.

Kai nudged his son and whispered in his ear. "Why don't you ever treat Invidia like that?" Rikan looked up at his father, to see him smirking. Invidia was Rikans girlfriend. They had started dating on November 8th in 134 T.E. Rikan was in love with her when they started dating, but lately he didn't feel that way. Besides, she was too clingy. "Go and dance with her." His dad suggested.

Rikan groaned and walked away from his parents. I don't want to be around Invidia. She's too controlling. But I have to go or else there will be rumours on the net, he thought as he forced himself to walk to her.

She was chatting with other guests when Rikan arrived. He tapped her on the shoulder, and she spun around with a angry look on her face. She then saw that it was her boyfriend. "I'm sorry. I thought you were some peasant." She smiled sweetly at him, meanwhile Rikan was frowning. "What's wrong? I really didn't mean to wear such an angry look on my face. Please don't be sad. If you're sad, then I'll be sad." She sniffled, and pulled off a puppy dog pout, as she slowly turned away.

Rikan rolled his eyes, but he took Invidia's hand and spun her around to face him. She looked at him with tears in her eyes, a shocked look on her face. Rikan closed his eyes as he thought about what he was going to say, without being harsh. "Please don't cry in public." He muttered under his breath. When he opened his eyes he saw Invidia wiping away the few tears that had escaped, and silently nodding her head. "Now that you've calmed down, would you like to dance?"

His girlfriend look up at him, surprised. Rikan never asks Invidia to dance. It's usually her asking him. A small smile grew on her lips. "I'd be delighted." The prince led her to the middle of the ballroom floor where they began to waltz.

Everyone was staring at Peony and Evret, but now Invidia was pulling the attention away and onto her. It was because of her dramatic dress that she was wearing. It was a bright red dress that was tight to her torso, and then it spread out at her knees. At the back of her hips, she had something like a peacock tail coming out of her dress. Except it was a shiny silver, instead of all of the extravagant colours.

"We're pulling the attention away from my sister." Rikan mumbled. Invidia also noticed this and she smirked.

"So? It's not our fault that we are hot together." Rikan frowned as he dipped Invidia. "Don't you agree?"

"No." He sternly replied. "Today is Peony's birthday and we should give her lots of attention and be tending to her needs, not stea-"

Invidia angrily cut him off with a kiss on the lips. She pressed her face against his and deepened the kiss. Rikan was in shock and just stood there. Eventually she pulled back, pleased with the expression that she had earned from him. "Shh... Don't get angry while you're dancing with me. You're going to create rumours."

I prefer rumours over being with you, Rikan mentally said to himself. Instead he said aloud, "I'm going to go get a drink." He said as he began walking away, but Invidia grabbed his arm.

"Get me a drink too. And not just that gross fruit punch. But one of those fruit cocktails." Invidia freed his arm and he began walking to the buffet table.

When he arrived her noticed that Peony and Evret were also there. He took this moment to say sorry to the birthday girl.

"Peony." Rikan began. The couple turned around and glared at him. A stab of pain shot through his chest.

"Don't." Evret warned.

"I... I just want to apologize." Rikan stammered at the sight of his sister. Her face was tear stained, her eyes were puffy, and her nose was red. "I'm sorry for ruining your birthday. I didn't mean too, it's just Invidia is a attention seeker. She wants all the atten-"

"Stop!" Peony raised her voice. "Stop blaming Invidia. You know that she's my best friend. She would never do this to me." She took a shuddering breath. "You on the other hand... You have always wanted to be better than me and you've always been rebellious. You don't have the nickname 'Rebel Rikan' for nothing."

"Well I'm not going to fight the fact that I'm rebellious, but I'm not the one stealing the attention this time! Please Peony. I'm your blood brother! Trust me!"

"Sometimes I wonder if I really am your biological sister." She stated.

"Peony..."

"No Rikan. It hardly feels like we are siblings. You might as well just be a stranger from the woods."

"You know what? You're right. If you feel that way then... Then I will be a stranger from the woods!" Rikan said with a tear rolling down his face.

"Wait! Rikan I didn't mea-" That's all Rikan heard as he ran out of the ball, out of the palace, out of the city.

He ran to the only person he knew that felt like home.

Michelle.

~

That was the first chapter! I know, it's short. I'll try to make the upcoming chapters longer, but there are no promises.

Just so you know, Michelle is the offspring of Scarlet and Wolf.

Comment your theories below. If you liked this chapter, then please vote and share!

Next update will be on Wednesday.