Paladins

○ I Hate My Family ○

"The worst thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies."

~Oasis Fuego~

"Princess! Princess!" I hear. I sigh and cover my head with a towel. 'If I hide long enough, maybe I can escape the palace again today. Just gotta wait for the right moment,' I think to myself.

"PRINCESS FOR HEAVENS SAKES! GET OVER HERE!" The voice yells. I stay as still as possible as the servant enters my room. From the closet door, I see her inspect my bed sheets and under my bed. She leaves my room and closes the door. I wait a couple minutes before running out of the room. I run to my window and put a cape over my clothes. I adjust my black, short length skirt and carefully climb out the window into the garden. I pale when I see some guards walk by and hide in the daisy patches, waiting for them to pass. Once they do, I make a run for the gate. My heart sinks to realize it is locked. 'Are you kidding me?! Of course it is bloody locked!' I make sure my black ankle boots stay put as I climb the large dark gate. I am going as fast as I can, hoping to not be spotted. Eventually I get to the other side but pale when the guard spots me.

"I found the princess!" She yells.

"Crap!" I make a run for it into the city. I hear the sound of the gate opening and the horses coming. I use my hood to hide my face as I run, hoping that hiding my identity would draw less attention. I race between alleys, hearing soldiers run by foot or use horses to chase me down the road. I think I am cornered for a second down one of the alleys but notice a ladder. I start to climb up the old rusty ladder when I hear the soldiers coming closer.

"There she goes!"

"Get her!"

I get to the roof and start racing across many small buildings, hopping as far as I can from house to house. I can hear them come closer and need a plan to get rid of them. Suddenly, a light bulb starts to shine over my head. I stop at the last building on the block and put my hands up.

"You got me, you got me." I mutter.

"Good. You can't just keep doing this, princess." One guard says.

"Honestly, yes, I can." I mutter.

"Well, you must come home. You have a long day of work ahead of you." Another guard says.

"Mhm. One second. Gotta--" I start to run again. I slide down a ladder and run out of the alley into the most crowded area of the entire empire. Simple people are selling food and clothes in the bizarre. I go to a stand selling clothes and grab a green sweater. I throw my cloak to the side and get on my knees to look short. I tie my hair back and cover myself with a chadr. The old woman selling the clothes didn't mind. The guards go walking by. To my luck, I go unnoticed.

The old lady smiles at me. "Princess, you can't keep running from your duties. They are extremely important---"

"Aunt Cate is coming and needs my help with documents." I tell her.

She shudders. "Stay as long as you need. Shall I prepare you a bed?"

"Not today. She has to go tomorrow. So only today." I explain.

"Good." She tells me. She puts the clothes I borrowed back on her table.

This is a regular thing. I break out and run when there are things I don't want to put up with or things I really want to do in the empire. I am basically a prisoner to the foresaken castle.

My name is Oasis Fuego and I am the next victim of the castle. The next in line to rule the empire. The stakes are high, and I have no choice.

That sweet old lady is a close friend of mine. Her name us Noami. She has helped me run since I was ten which is about four to five years ago. Noami collects her things and closes her shop temporarily. She walks into her small home. I follow her in and close the door.