Behind the Masquerade

Delinquency

The night air was cool, yet had a clammy feel to it. There was a slight breeze blowing through the thick, moist desert air and there wasn't a cloud in the sky, showing all the millions of blinking stars. The landscape was silent and the only light was from the moon, glaring down its moonlight upon the face of the earth.

The trees rustled every once in a while and a squirrel or whatever nocturnal animal it would be, would every so often scuttle across the path. The night was as peaceful as a normal night should be…well…that is…until…

"OW. I stubbed my foot, Caroline!"

"SSH! Sophia! Be quiet! We'll get caught!"

Sophia glared daggers at the offending rock and kicked it off into the distance, willing it to burst in mid air for the pain it had caused her. She didn't like that particular rock…

Sophia continued grumbling under her breath about Satan under the disguise of a rock, but quickly shambled up next to Caroline and looked around like her cousin was doing. The coast was clear!

They quickly scampered off to the next tree and poked their head from the trunk, looking around the grounds. It didn't seem like the guards were on patrol tonight, and the gates didn't have anyone watching over it. Nodding at each other from under their black masks, the two girls dashed towards the open gates, careful as to not make too much noise.

They swiftly kept on running even after they cleared the gates, and Sophia really did have to question herself. Was it right to leave without any forms of goodbye to her parents? Then the image of them lecturing her formed into her mind and she sweat dropped. Maybe sneaking out was the best thing…yes, she could go the comfortable way and get there in a carriage, but who wanted to do anything normal? Life only exists once and she was going to make the best out of it.

She looked over to her cousin running next to her and then her eyes strayed to the huge boomerang swung over the older girl's back. Blinking her eyes owlishly, she wondered why Caroline would be carrying such a heavy looking thing around with her, but this was Caroline, so she didn't think further onto the subject…

…She decided to stop pondering and straight-out ask.

"Caroline…how come you're carrying a sword around?"

Caroline stopped running as she looked back at the castle behind her and then at her best friend next to her. The town was just a few more steps away and she decided that this was a safe enough distance from the evil coach man. Turning back to Sophia, she answered, "Well, you know how my parents want me to learn how to defend myself from stray wolves?"

Sophia nodded.

"Well, when I was small, they made me take 'wolf exterminating lessons'. I guess I just like to exterminate evil wolves whenever I go traveling around the lands nowadays. Plus it acts as a disguise for me so that no one finds out I'm a princess. Since we're traveling to the Andersons' castle, I thought that carrying my sword around would be a good idea in case we meet bandits or wolves." Caroline smiled and gave Sophia a thumbs-up. "Plus it keeps me in shape and it works as a shield against perverted men too."

Sophia nodded slowly…Caroline's logic made sense enough. She didn't know where the perverted man comment came from though.

Strolling casually into the small town, Sophia looked into the dark interiors of the shops and eyed the shadows sleeping on the ground. Peasants were such simple people…sleeping whenever they wanted…working all day…a normal life.

She wished she could live a simple life…

Sophia sighed as she continued to walk through the quiet town, the soft "tap tap"'s from Caroline's shoes was the only noise she could hear. It was as dull as castle life, except if she could live a peasant life, then she wouldn't need to worry about the obligations of being a princess…