Hidden for her own protection

Chapter 10: The Truth Behind Arlia's Hatred

Chapter 10: The Truth Behind Arlia's Hatred

It's been a few hours since Azure and I arrived at Sounder Palace and the girls now have me cornered in Sylver's room well Jermaya keeps Azure busy. Apparently tonight is going to be a girls night in, and since Calica and I are Sylver's guards I have no way to argue with this sleepover.

"Ok Arlia spill who is Azure really and how did you meet?" Sylver said.

"He's no one," I tried to bluff my way out of it.

"Really Arlia because the way he was looking at you isn't the way no one would look at someone?" Calica replied raising her eyebrows.

"Fine. If you want to know I'll tell you, but the story is very long and could take all night to tell you.

"I was only about 3 when the story begins," I drifted off back into my memory.

"Ok Arlia this is going to be our home for a while sweetie," mommy told me putting me down.

There were a lot of pretty people here. There were little children who had little rainbow wings shaped like a butterflies, and they had a tail. Some had tails like a fox or a wolf, others fish tails, some had birds tails, or even dragon tails. I guess these are what my mommy calls a sprite she told me that their type of tail depends on if they are an Earth, Air, Water, or Fire Sprite. Looking around I notice a little boy my age who had wings like a Faltrean or a Fae, he also didn't seem to have a tail and all the other children were avoiding him. I decided he was awesome, and ran over to him.

"Hi I'm Arlia do you want to play with me," I asked giggling.

"Why do you want to play with me I'm different. None of the other children want me here," he said sadly.

"I'm different to. You see that lady over there she's my adoptive mommy I don't know my real mommy or daddy, or what race I belong to. Mommys a sorceress though and really powerful," I replied.

"Ok then Lia I'll play with you I'm Azure," he smiled at me.

"Okay Zur let's play," I couldn't really pronounce his name right so I shortened it.

We spent all day playing tag. Zur even retracted his wings and once he did I noticed that he sprouted a little wolf tail that seemed to be wagging happily. We played tag, hide and seek, I spy, we even played in the river. It was a lot of fun Zur and I are going to be best friends forever.

Every day passed like that Zur and I got even closer. We were best friends and did everything together it came to the point that you wouldn't see one of us without the other. If one of us was sick we both were at the same time. It seemed like we were connected. Zur was like my big brother.

Everything was fine between us until the night of Zur's sixth birthday exactly a month after I turned 4. The whole time I had been led to believe that Zur had no family at all in the village. It only proved how wrong I was once I heard the announcement. At Zur's birthday party.

"As you all know today is Azure Flame's 6th birthday. You also know that once a royal male sprite turns 6 he is engaged to his guardians choice of bride. Since I have no heir I now announce Azure Flame as my Heir the next heir of the throne of Sprites. Now I'm pleased to announce that my nephew Azure will be engaged to Arlia Aurora daughter of the Sorceress," the King of the Sprites announced.

I was in shock Zur had lied to me this whole time. Zur wasn't like me he knew who his parents were. He knew where he belonged and he was destined to be a king. I wouldn't do it I refused to do it.

"I object," I yelled not noticing the breaking things around me.

"Arlia you can not object your mother has agreed to the engagement," the king said trying at the same time to stop my magic, but it was too strong for him.