The Journals of Candece Sinclair

January 16th, 1780

Prince Ares did not visit today. That was a blessing. However, I had training.

Father was still in a pissy mood, and he definitely was not holding back at this point. He moved faster than I had ever seen him move. He was almost like a shadow; a quick, menacing shadow.

I quickly jumped up and wrapped my legs around his neck, bending backwards and throwing him away with my thighs, but he landed on his feet quickly, not phased.

I quickly reached for one of my daggers, but soon remembering that he wanted to train me to protect myself better without weapons.

I rushed towards him, he reached to grab my hair, but I slid under him and kicked him in the back. He winced, but reached around to grab my leg and threw me into a wall, the stone breaking as I slammed into it. My vision began to blur.

"Get up." He barked as he walked towards me.

I couldn't... My head had hit the wall too hard.

"Get up. Dying is for weaklings. You are not weak!" He shouted; grabbing me by the neck and slamming me onto the cement floor.

I could feel the warm blood begin to cover my head. All of the strength leaving my body....

"Get. Up." I heard him whisper in my ear before he picked me up by my neck and began choking me.

I couldn't move. I had lost too much blood. Perhaps I really was weak...

But why wasn't Father stopping? He'd stop before he killed me right?

His grip only tightened. I went numb, yet I could feel my lungs begging for air.

"WILLIAM!" I heard a voice shout from the doorway of the training room.

I felt his grip loosen before he finally dropped me. I didn't even feel myself hitting the floor. All I needed was the sweet relief of air rushing to my lungs again.

"Arachne?! You are out of bed?" I heard Father ask.

My mother?!

"I do not appreciate you almost killing our child. She may be improving, but she cannot handle your full strength yet, William!" I heard her shout.

I heard Father growl.

"Delilah, please go clean her up." I heard him order our family maid.

"Yes, your highness." She said as she picked me up and took me to the bathing room.

She washed my wounds and wrapped them, and she left me to sit there with my feet in the water.

I'm weak. I was no match for Father... Am I improving at all?

I was so upset. I barely landed one hit on him! Then again.... Has anyone actually fought him and lived?

I sat there for a while. Alone with my thoughts, until my mother came in.

She came in quietly, and sat next to me gracefully.

"Are you alright, Candece?" She asked and looked at me with pure worry in her eyes.

I took this moment to look at her. She looked awful.

Her right eye had a bruise, and her neck had finger marks. Her arms had several tiny scars. I was glad I couldn't see her thigh, since that's where she was stabbed.

"I'm fine." I said simply.

"It takes many centuries to fight as good as your father, Candece. Do not fret." She said cheerfully.

"Can you... Fight him?" I asked out of curiosity.

"I can, but I do not wish to. I love him, and I would never hurt him..... Even if he gets out of hand and does so to me...." She smiled sadly.

"You shouldn't let your abilities go to waste, Mother. That is simply dumb. If you can fight him, do so when he attacks you." I growled.

Mother gave the most depressed laugh I think I've ever heard.

"Your father must've really messed up your head. You're being encouraging towards me."

My eyes widened, and I suddenly had an awful feeling in my stomach.

"Rest up, honey. I'll call you when dinner is ready." She smiled as she stood up and walked off.

I was amazed. Only a week and a few days after her injuries and she was making dinner?! Was she actually insane?!

Whatever the case, I am now in my room resting. It's awful to not be doing something. Perhaps this is how Mother felt.