The Dark Princess(on hold)

The Dark Princess

A special thank you to thetruthaboutforever for my awesome new cover :)

 Also a special thank you to NannerBananer for editing this for me :)

Once upon a time—

Wait, did you really think that would be how the story started? If only my life were that simple. My name is Annabelle Christina Thompson. I am your typical 16 year old girl—or at least that’s what I like to think. My parents are the King and Queen of their multimillion dollar company. What they sell or manufacture, I have no clue.

Many consider me to be their princess. Well, at least that’s what they call me. Instead of that, I would prefer to be called something else. My birth name was too cute for me, and so I’d rather be called Cadence.

            My parents adopted me when they offed the maid. Yes, and by off I do mean killed. They won’t tell me why they killed her, they just say she died during childbirth and willed my body over to them. Ha! Like that makes up for it.

Anyways, I don’t belong in this stuck up family. My mother is a tall, slender, and a blonde hair, blue eyed beauty queen. My father has the build of a quarterback with the frat boy looks to go with, his perfectly tousled light brown hair and green eyes that make you melt.

            Then there’s me—me, with my shoulder-length, straight-as-a-board black and blue hair. Yes, I said blue. I dyed the tips of my hair a deep blue. At the time I really wanted red but my mother would have blown a gasket if I had come home with cherry red hair. It was bad enough that she grounded me in this huge house for a month for putting in the blue. I don’t see why she even cares what color my hair is, it’s not like she is ever home to see it. If she only knew what I really wear to school. Today I have on my favorite black skirt that barely covers my ass, my ripped black tights, a black and dark blue striped tank, and black patent pumps with bows in the back.

            Well, it’s summer vacation now, so I rarely see my parents at all. I figure I could at least see them today since it is my birthday. Yep! Yesterday I was fifteen and today I can drive. I plan on spending the whole day doing whatever I want, no matter what trouble I may cause.

I glance in the mirror to make sure my eyeliner is dark enough. Satisfied with how I look, I trudge downstairs to grab a bowl of cereal and head out the door. When I walk into the kitchen I notice a card lying on the bar with my name on it and a small box beside it. I open it to find a note from Dad.

                                           Sorry we were unable to see you this morning.

                                                              Happy Birthday Princess!

                                               Your present is outside and the small box

                                                        will give you a hint as to what it is

                                                                            Love,

                                                                     Mom and Dad

            I open the box to find a set of keys. I squeal with excitement, hoping it’s the car I’ve been wanting for forever. I run down to the foyer and out the front door to see a navy blue Range Rover. Sweet. At least Dad didn’t get me some girly princess convertible. In my book, Dad’s awesome—or for the moment, anyways.

I run my fingers along the side of the truck as I circle it, squealing with excitement. I know where my first stop will be today. I have to show this bad boy to Derek. I run back inside to grab my mp3 player and my purse.

            I put the truck in drive then head down the highway towards Derek’s hideaway at the beach. The window’s down and my music’s blaring. I’m in heaven. A few minutes later I pull into Derek’s drive. He’s outside working on his bike. He looks up when I turn the truck off and step out.

            “Wow some present,” he says.

            I casually walked over to where he is tearing apart some piece of his motorcycle. I lean against that Mustang that sits in the grass, another project of his. “What are your plans today, besides tinkering with your man toys here?” I ask.

            “You’re looking at it. I have to get this bike back up and running for a friend.”

            “Oooh, do I know this friend?” I ask, smiling.

            “Nope. He’s just in town for a few days.” Derek’s dark hair falls into his face. His hands are almost black from the oil, and he has a few smudges on his chiseled jaw. Of course he is shirtless and in a pair of old dirty ripped jeans that make him look incredibly sexy. If he wasn’t like a brother to me I would definitely tap that.

“So, do you think I can meet this friend…since, you know, it’s my birthday and all?”

            “Oh, right, happy birthday Cadence.” He continued working on the bike.

            “I guess I will leave you alone. I just wanted to show you my new ride,” I say, pointing over my shoulder. I push myself off the car and walk back towards my truck. Derek doesn’t even look up to watch me walk away like he usually does, which is frustrating. I climb back in my truck and whip out of the drive, heading towards downtown.