The Princess of Darkness

Chapter 8: The Elimination

Chapter 8

The silver dress felt small and constricting as I walked down the hall to the first elimination ceremony. Jennifer had told me that I should make friends in this competition if I wanted to win. I didn't really want to win, but I didn't want to let my little sister Abby down. Amelia walked me to the huge doors that lead to the ceremony's location. Isabelle had said that the elimination was taking place outside, and she made sure that my dress wasn't long enough that it would drag on the ground. I tried to look confident but my palms were sweating and my heart was racing.

"I have to leave you now, but no matter what happens I 'll be there for you." Amelia said to me kindly.

I nodded and smiled at her. "Thank you so much Amelia. You're a great friend." I gave her a quick hug and then walked over to the doors where a guard was waiting for me. It was Michael, the same guard as before.

"Hello Michael." I nudged him on the shoulder.

"Good afternoon princess." He said flatly.

Michael opened the large wooden doors and we stepped into a large room decorated with paintings and intricate tapestries. I gaped at the wonderful artwork. Each color bright enough to make me forget where I was going. I tripped over a fold in the rug and toppled over onto the floor.

"Are you alright?" Michael asked. He held out his hand and I took it. He helped me up, and I stared at his face for the first time. He looked so familiar. His eyes were hazel, but in the very center they were bright green. He had some freckles on his nose, and his slightly messy brown hair covered his forehead,

"Yes, I'm fine." My cheeks were crimson, and I turned away from Michael. We walked quickly down the hall of paintings, and I made sure to not stare directly at the art. When we reached the end of the hall he opened the doors and gestured for me to walk through them.

I took a deep breath and walked into the fresh afternoon air.

I was the first time that I had set foot outside since I had been taken to the castle. It felt nice to have a gentle breeze, and the sunlight touch my skin. I studied my surroundings.

I seemed to be standing at the entrance to a courtyard of sorts. The ground was neatly paved with cobblestones, and there were elegant flowers everywhere. I took a deep breath and breathed in the fresh air again. How sweet the air tasted.

"Princess, we mustn't be late again." Michael said. I was pretty sure he had smiled but I coudn't be sure.

"Right, of course." I replied formaly. We walked down a smooth stone path (I had not worn high-heeled shoes today) until we eventually came agross an iron gate. Michael turned to me.

"You are the third princess to arrive." He said. "I will tell that guard," He pointed to a man holding a large metal trumpet. "that you have arrived, and the gates will open. Just stand still and smile for the crowd." He finished.

Wait what crowd? I thought. Then I heard it. There were hundreds of voices speaking quietly behind the gates. I watched as Michael told the guard with the trumpet that I had arrived and the gates slowly opened.

I did as I had been told. I stood still and smiled at the hundreds, maybe thousands of people that were now coming into view. The people went wild. They cheered and waved at me. Then the guard blew his trumpet and a loud piercing string of notes silenced the audience.

"Please welcome the arrival of pincess Elizabeth Marie Mason." The guard shouted. All of the townspeople cheered. I stepped onto the stage and I gasped. There were so many people. As I made my way to where the two other princesses stood I felt lightheaded. I watched as the world around me spun like a top. I dizzily found where I was supposed to stand, but I still felt off-balance. 

The princess standing to my left glared at me. The princess standing to my right also glared at me. I tried to not make eye-contact with either of them. I didn't know any of the other princesses' names but they were all anounced during the ceremony. (Here's a list I wrote)

1.) Miranda Alvan (a.k.a girl glaring at me on the left side): Tall, ivory skin, mousy brown hair, green eyes, and she wore an ugly orange dress that reminded me of a pumpkin.

2.) Allison Weathersby (a.k.a girl glaring at me on the right side): About two inches shorter than I am, red frizzy hair, hazel eyes, and she wore a black dress that wasn't ugly but was terribly boring.

3.) Myrtle Berkleson (what an awful name): She was very short and skinny, had very tan skill, almost black hair,  and she wore a beautiful short green dress that was covered in sequins.

4.) Belle Laurelson: Very short and slightly chubby, short black hair, and tiny squinty eyes that made her look permanently angry. She wore a tight yellow tea dress that made her look slightly like a lemon.

5.) Morgan Amora: A very pretty girl with blue eyes, blonde hair, and a pretty smile. She wore a pretty pink dress tgat fell just above her knees.

6.) Olivia Shwartz: She was average height, she had boring brown hair, and green eyes. Her dress was floor lenth and it was a nice periwinkle color.

7.) Martha Burke: (Another ugly name) She was prettier than her name implied. Her eyes were blue and her caramel hair was really really long. Her dress was indigo with a crazy green swirl design all over it.

8.) Delia Greavey: Her dress was a pumpkin orange color, she was tall and plain looking. Not really that worth describing.

9.) Anya Bluew: She wore a pretty grey dress that made her tan skin look really nice. She had pretty brown eyes and a HUGE nose.

10.) Jorda Devers: Mean looking, that's the only word I can use to describe her. The girl's eyes stared into my soul and made me turn away and look at a random crowd member.

11.) Heather East (Elena's Twin): Tall and pretty with blue eyes and blonde hair, she wore a short green dress that ruffled at the bottom. She looked nice enough.

12.) Elena East (Heather's twin): Like her sister Elena was tall and pretty with blue eyes and blonde hair. She wore a blue dress that had sequins on the top.

13.) Millie Norhany: Really tall and very clumsy (she fell on her way to the stage) she had red hair and green eyes. She wore a grey dress that was way too short on her because of her height. 

14.) Janet Halston: She had brown hair and green eyes. She wore a gorgeous purple dress that had ruffles at the bottom and was really shimmery.

After all of the princesses were standing in a line on the stage, a man wearing a bright red suit walked to the microphone. 

"Welcome citizens of Mortalius!" The man in the red suit said. The crowd cheered. "These are the princesses from the Savage Lands!" 

What are the Savage Lands? I thought, but I continued to listen intently.

"So today we will be eliminating two of our lovely princesses, and they will be sent back to their village." The man yelled. I crossed my fingers. 

"The two princesses going home today are..." Someone in the crowd squealed. "Belle Laurelson and Jorda Devers!"

I let out the breath that I had been holding. I was safe. At least for today.