Untamable

Chapter 1

I close my eyes, listening to the sound of the wind. A bird sings not too far from me; the sun beats softly on my skin. I sigh. The world seems perfect, but it is off balance.

Crouching down, I bury my hand in the grass. The blades of green were softer than I was used to, but all seems well here.

I stand. What had my world so off balance that made me so restless? I wipe my hands on my thighs and look backward at the sun rising higher. Then, in the distance, I hear a horn.

I turn quickly, only to see a dozen men on horseback chasing a stag across my meadow. Anger surges in me. Balance must be restored. The words ring in my ears.

Time seems to stand still as I throw myself in front of the stag, in between him and the horses. I cross my forearms and shove them forwards, and violet light explodes from them, creating a shield between me and the oncoming men.

The horses shy away from my energy. I lower my arms; the shield remains. The stag comes to me, nuzzling my chest. I stroke his neck before he bounds away.

"Who are you?" The voices comes from the young man directly in front of me. I ignore his question and raise one of my own.

"Why are you putting my world off balance by chasing this stag?" I ask coolly, folding my arms.

"We're hunting, it's traditional?" He cocks his head quizzically at me.

"Traditions are made to be broken," I say before I turn on my heel and stride away, the shield falling with each passing footfall.

I can feel his eyes burning a hole in the back of my body. Slowly, my steps begin to speed up. In moments, I am flooded with the energy I draw from the air around me, and I run. Fast as lightning, I sprint my way across the plain. 

I hear horses' hooves behind me, and I push myself to run faster. But even stolen energy cannot outrun an animal built for running. 

"Stop in the name of the King!" The voice rings out strong and clear, and I am forced to stop, despite the dread in my gut. I turn. How could I have been so blind as to not have seen the royal insignia on the horses' tack?

I keep my face calm as I look up into the eyes of the man I had spoken with before.

 His voice is hard as steel, and his eyes even more so. "I will not ask again, Manipulator. What is your name?" I shiver, the title he has placed upon me is one I wish I did not bear. I lower my gaze and keep my voice silent.

"Your name, girl! What is your name?!" The guard to his left roars at me. I take a minuscule step backward. "Wretched girl, answer, for your Prince commands it!"

My head snaps up in defiance. "I am tied to no kingdom, no village, and no royalty, sir! No one commands me!" I step forward, my hands gathering a wicked red energy around my fingers.

The prince dismounts and stops in front of me. I interlock my index fingers, ready to attack if necessary. 

"Tell me your name, Manipulator, for that name does not suit one as beautiful as you." The flattery falls on deaf ears, but his point comes across. He does not like addressing me as Manipulator any more than I like being called so.

Hesitantly, I answer him. "My name is Sirena, your highness." My body dips in a curtsey as properly as I may.

He bows his head once. "Please, Sirena, Prince Linden will do." He holds a hand out to me, and I avoid it entirely. His disappointment is evident, and he covers it quickly. "Come back to the palace with me, fair Sirena, I have a proposition for you."

I know it before he even brings it up. "I will not become your weapon, Prince Linden. It would do you well to avoid my plain again, and never hunt its creatures, for they are under my protection." With that, I turn on my heel once more and walk off. I glance back and catch sight of the prince mounting his charger and giving the order to retreat.