Royal's Way

Chapter 1

The blade hung inches from her neck, the light of the surrounding torches that illuminated the room glinting off it's steel. The woman on the other end tapped the girl's chin with the point of the sword, forcing her eyes to meet her gaze. "You enter my city bearing titles of Andromeda soldiers with no confirmation and permission?"

No reply. The woman scowled, her sword slowly swinging away from her prisoner's neck.
The girl exhaled softly, looking over to the boy who was subdued beside her, a boy she knew so well, a boy she knew was secretly terrified. But her mind was racing with ideas of escape already.

"I won't ask politely again," the woman demanded, her grip on her sword tightening. "Why are you here, and how did you find us?"

Silence. The boy swallowed heavily, his lip trembling as he desperately tried to keep silent.
The woman noticed. She suddenly stabbed the wooden table in front of her with the end of her sword, making the boy flinch. But the girl stayed frozen.

The woman's narrowed eyes darted between them both. "You two have the audacity to enter my city and hide under cowardly silence once you're caught and found out?" She stood straight, jerking the sword out of the table that had evidence of multiple stabs from previous prisoners. "Your closed lips only tell me that you're here for crimes against my people. Andromeda will be disappointed when they learn of your capture." Her gaze turned to the girl. "Especially you, Lily." Her expression turned grim, but Lily's was hard, her words not affecting her. "What a disappointment."

She turned to the large guards behind her, her voice quiet as she spoke. But Lily could hear. "Prepare a portal to Earth."

Lily's eyes widened slightly. She turned her gaze to the boy beside her, who was looking at her, as well, with the same expression of satisfaction.

==

I watched the kids run from the field towards the school, the rain intensifying quickly above us and hitting the ground like bullets.

The first thing I worried about was the homework in my backpack. The other kids hadn't come to pick it up yet.

I held my jacket over my head as I ran along with my fellow classmates to the school, cursing my inability to invest in any sports whatsoever, including running a few feet.

I entered the school hallway, the commotion of the outside work transitioning into commotion of a large group of kids.

I sighed, lowering my jacket and pulling my backpack further up my shoulder as I searched the lockers for my own.

As soon as I stopped by it, I felt a hand clap on my shoulder. "Hey."

I turned, and there was Will, one of the kids who hadn't come for his homework. "You got it?"

I narrowed my eyes, slight irritation rising in my gut. "You didn't come during break, like I expected. I thought you weren't coming today, so I stalled it. I'll have it done tonight." "It's due tomorrow." I shrugged. "Yeah? And? I'll give it to you before school starts. It's not that big of a deal." "How many questions did you get done, though?" I blinked, stuffing my wet jacket into my locker as I responded, "Around 30, I think. I'll have it done tomorrow, I swear. Don't get in a knot about it." "I better get it tomorrow, or--" "Or you won't give me my money and beat me to a pulp, I get it. Chill; I'll have it done."

He scowled at me. He was the least intimidating thing in the world once you got to know him, but it's hard to get out of the "squishable bug" section on his list when you forgot how to speak and breath the first time you meet him. After a while, I kind of just got used to him, like everyone. But I'll never stop jumping at him grabbing my shoulder like that. I do that when anyone does it.