The Aphrodite War

Chapter One

                Seventeen years before today, the king of Sapphire and his wife, Minda, welcomed a newborn child into the world. The people of Sapphire cried tears of excitement, and close friends congratulated them with gemstones, all different shades of different colors, sparkling in the rays of the sun. The newborn was named Symphony, for the way music calmed her cries.

                Seventeen years later, that girl is me. My name is Symphony Forest. I still live in the land of Sapphire with my father, the king. He reigns over the land as far as the eye can see. We also live with my mother, the queen.

                I’ve read numerous stories about evil stepmothers, but in my case, everything seems backwards. My father never saved me as a little girl, nor did he hush my screams as a child. He merely pushed me aside and left me for my mother, as he went off and lived his life as king. Today, he’s learned to accept me as his second daughter, but our relationship is nothing close to fairytale.

                He adores my sister, Annabelle, who we tend to call Bella. Bella is two years older than I am, but Father treats her as if she’s a thousand years wiser. However, she happens to be extremely wise, so I hardly can get upset at her. Father is the one I feel such anger toward.

                Father and I fight on a regular basis, usually about silly things with no meaning behind them. His royalty constantly gets in the way of my adolescent years. Most girls my age are running freely, frolicking through fields of happiness and glee. I, on the other hand, have been taught to be proper and polite, never speaking out of turn (as if I followed that rule), and always being who I’m supposed to be – a royal princess of Sapphire.

                I’ve felt for seventeen years of my life as if I’m being locked up in a tower. Of course, it’s actually a palace, and my bedroom window curtains are silk, while my blankets are made of pure luxurious material. It really doesn’t resemble the tower of Rapunzel in any way, but I’ve felt as if I’ve been restricted in the same sort of fashion.

                I by no means am being held by a witch, though. My mother is kindhearted and loving, considerate and honest. Her heart is so pure. When tears fall from my eyes, I run away to my bedroom, as it’s the only place I truly feel safe. Mother will always come to comfort me, rubbing my back gently or twirling my hair around her fingers. Sure, the tears will continue to flow. However, they change from such dreadful tears to tears of comfort and recovery.

                Bella is another who will come to comfort me. If, perhaps, Mother isn’t quite aware of the situation, or some other incident has occurred, oftentimes Bella will come and care for me the same way Mother would.

                Also, if something is happening that I’m not exactly comfortable telling Mother about, I turn to Bella. She always listens to my pain and sorrow, and she always gives the greatest advice. Whether it be something simple like an issue with a boy, or something rather dramatic, such as an issue with Father, she always gives the best words to make anything better.

                Here in Sapphire, the royalty system works a bit differently. The king will remain king until he passes, and the same is with the queen. This is almost always the case… unless they give up their power to their married offspring. Of course, if their child is not married or even interested in marriage, this can’t happen.

                Lucky for her, Bella isn’t interested in a marriage mate. She’s never had a boyfriend, and she doesn’t plan on it for the next multiple years of her life. I on the other hand would love to get married, love to have children of my own someday. I would love to be called a wife or a mother, anything more than “Princess Symphony”, anything besides “the daughter of the king.” Also, Father decided with Mother that they will step down, because they’ve been reigning for over twenty years, and wanted to relax and enjoy life without having to please everyone else. Although Father loves being king, he knows it would be better for his wife if they stepped down. So, they’re practically begging either Bella or I to get married.

                There’s a mild problem though. I’m very close friends with a boy named Noah, Noah Swan. We never considered being anything more than friends, and I never believe we will be. It doesn’t appeal to me the way everyone expects it to. What’s worse is when everyone believes I’m lying if I say it to them. Father especially believes I’m bluffing.

                That’s the problem. Father hates Noah more than anything, for no reason at all. He despises his very presence, hates the sound of his footsteps, and holds back anger whenever he sees his face. See, Father also believes I’m in love with him. There’s nothing he hates more than that thought.

                Father has even threatened me with the idea of finding a husband for me, so he and Mother can step down, and I can reign with whoever I must marry. I doubt he’ll do it, though, since he’s constantly so caught up in his world of royalty.

                Seventeen years was too short of a lifetime to be ready for marriage, anyway. Father couldn’t do it.

                …. Father would never do it.