Bloodlines (ON HOLD)

Chapter One

Atira



I closed my baby blue eyes and took a deep breath of salty ocean air, letting it overwhelm my senses. Tossing my long, stick-straight,  brown hair out of my face, I opened my eyes and let the breath-taking sight amaze me for the millionth time. The clear turquoise water reflected the gorgeous blue sky, hanging over my humble grass cabin. I let my thoughts drift, my mind wander aimlessly.

I wondered if the guards were out looking for me yet, or if they had no idea that I might have left again. Even when they figured out I was gone, it would take them another couple hours to get a search party ready. By then I would be wandering the woods far away from my little hideout, as to not give away its location.

This was my hiding place, my sanctuary. The sacred place of getting away from my royal duties as a princess. It was a constant battle, hiding, wandering, and then back to the castle. I hated them. All of them. The giant frilly dresses, the lessons and hours of schoolwork that in the end, would do me no good. Although I would be queen, the king would make all the decisions for me, I would get no say in what goes on in my kingdom.

'I wish Nate could be here with me. . .' I thought solemnly. He has been my best friend since we were little. There weren't many children in the castle, but being the head guard's son, he was the exception. We were instant friends, from the first moment when he tugged at my skirts and told me I looked like a pastry. I had laughed and agreed with him. I still remember the days spent running in the fields, riding horses, and laying underneath the vast array of stars in the liquid black sky.

'Those were the better days' my thoughts whispered sadly 'The days before I had a care in the world, before I had to wake up at dawn to get prepared for the day. Before I had to spend hours learning the proper edict of eating, speaking, walking and a bunch of other stuff I didn't care to learn about. Before Nate had to leave for two years, training to be a castle guard.'

I sighed openly, and sat on the perfect white sand. Pushing my toes under a layer of its perfection, and letting it slip over my feet. If Nate was here, he would be comforting me and assuring me that I would be the best queen ever.

That I wouldn't be like the others, the cruel uncaring queens before me. The queens who only cared about the next ball or party, or what different jewelry they would show off the next day. That was all we had these days. Stupid queens, and lazy kings. I would control my husband and make sure he did what was right for the kingdom.

The wind whistled quietly, and I watched the waves push forward farther over the sand. I watched grains of sand get pulled into the wave and washed into the ocean. 'I am those bits of sand. Being pulled deeper and deeper into an ocean of formalities, unspoken rules, and controlled chaos. Will I ever make it back to shore?'

I pushed myself off the sand and stood up, wiping excess grains off my skirts. It was improper to wear nothing but your skirts and a bodice, but when I came here I liked to think I could do whatever I wanted without being ''improper''.

I allowed myself to think freely. 'Nate should be home soon, he wrote in his letter he would attend the annual Masquerade ball. I hope that he didn't run into any trouble traveling through the forest from Perne.' Perne was the school that men went to, to be trained as guards. It was far away from the castle, but Nate was smart and strong, I had faith in him.

The Masquerade Ball was the biggest event of the year, besides the King and Queen's birthdays. People from all over the kingdom came to dance and be merry for a night of dancing. Usually this was where young women met potential husbands, and this year, I would be old enough to start receiving suitors. I was dreading it more than you could ever imagine.