The Assassin Princess (On Hold)

Chapter 3: Cassandra

As I walked away, my heart was pounding in my chest.  Prince Magnus.  Prince of Wrenwen.  My betrothed.  Despite my shock and fear, I kept a calm complexion was I sunk back into the palace, unnoticed, and went into my room.  Within a minute, I had changed back to my regal nightwear.  All around me, an unnatural wind was roaring.

And, deep down, I knew that it wasn't natural.  At all.  It was my magic.

Calm down.  Contain your powers, I warned myself as I slid down along my bed.  Just then, I heard approaching footsteps and my heartbeat raced up to a mile an hour.  Shakily, I sat there as knocks was heard from the door.

"Come in," I forced the words out and snuffed out the wind.

"Cassandra, dear," my mother cooed as she walked in, her expression tight as she seated herself besides me.

"Mom," I muttered bitterly.  So not the person I wanted to see right now.  Princess or not, I really didn't like how my mom was forcing me to marry a prince of this kingdom I've never even seen.

She met my gaze, her expression commanding and authoritative.  But I wasn't some weakling, I was the princess.  So I glared right back, looking straight into her dark eyes.  Besides me, I felt my fists clenched as I prayed to whatever gods there were to help me keep my magic contained.

Then my mother lifted her hand, and I flinched when I saw static crackled along them.  Sure, my powers did allow me to snuff them out, but doing so came at a cost higher than I was willing to pay.  So, instead, I smiled.  "Your highness, what news did you come to bring?"

A smirk danced on my mother's lips as she wrapped her figures around mine.  Her grip was firm and tense, her slender figures cold, but I didn't think about them.  Didn't think about how I had a knife a few feet away that could easily cut them off.

"Prince Magnus will arrive soon, and I want you to make a grand and royal welcome tomorrow morning," she instructed.

Why should I care about what you want me to do? my mind snapped.  But a princess smiles in the face of anger or doubt.  A princess doesn't let emotions overrun her logical mind.  A princess doesn't let others know how  she feels.  A princess fakes a smile everywhere she goes.

  A princess doesn't question the queen. 

And I was a princess, so I nodded gently.  "Your wish is my command."

"Excellent," my mother purred, though the sinister look in her eyes told me that it was anything but that.  Still, I didn't question her.  I didn't dare to. I kept my expression blank, I kept that smile on my lips, until she closed the door.  Then shards of frozen ice swung out of my hand and slammed into the door.  Which was built from ancient stone, so they clattered uselessly along the floor.

Sometimes being a princess sucks.

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Morning came way sooner than I had anticipated, and I knew that I wasn't emotionally or physically ready to meet her betrothed.

At least the physical aspect was easy to deal with, so I handled that first. Staring at myself awkwardly in the mirror for at least an hour, I watched as my "tormentors" applied layers of make-up, curled my hair, and fitted me into a royal gown. Of course, I hand to thank them like a lady, though, in all honestly, I really didn't appreciate their help. Not that I could never admit that truth.

Sighing, I slipped a dagger up my sleeve and headed out, trapped between emotions of hate and sadness. Trapped with no way out.

That's the thing, I could probably kill ten men or burn an entire city to the ground without being noticed, but I couldn't even escape my mother's wrath.