Maria Rose

Prologue

"Maria! Wake up!" Maria looked up at her older sister who had pulled the bed covers away from her. Luciana had ashy brown hair and dark hazel eyes. Her skin was a dark cream color that made the rest of her features stand out.

"Just one more minute, Luciana," Maria muttered as she plunged her face into her pillow. Maria's voice was soft like a song even when she was just waking up.

"Do you really want to miss your quinceañera?" Luciana asked.

"It's my birthday, I should be allowed to sleep in!" Maria protested.

"There's going to be fajitas!"

"Fine." Maria sat up lazily.

"Ma wants to see you downstairs wearing the dress she picked out for you in ten minutes!" said Luciana, as she held up ten fingers and walked out of the room.

"Okay. Goodbye, Luciana."

Maria climbed out of her bed and stepped onto the cold floor. She walked over to her wardrobe and pulled out a beautiful dress.

The dress was pink and had beautiful frills from the waist down. Green and aquamarine jewels were sewed into the light pink fabric.

Maria walked over to a large mirror leaning up against the wall of her large bedroom next to the wardrobe. She saw a beautiful girl looking back at her. Her crystal-like eyes matched the aquamarine jewels that were sewn into the pink fabric. Her skin was a light mocha color, which had made her even more beautiful. Her hair was a natural ombre starting from a soft brown and turning into a beautiful golden brown. Her hair was long and smooth, and the dress would make her even more beautiful.

"Maria! My beautiful daughter! Happy birthday!" Maria walked gracefully down the steps into the golden ballroom. She was wearing the dress that her mother had requested.

"Thank you, Ma. Since I'm now fifteen -" Maria started.

"No! One more year! I am sorry Maria, but you have to live by the rules. Never leave the castle, never talk to anyone who's not your family, and never-"

"fall in love. I know Ma. I just wish I could see the world." Maria rolled her eyes.

"You can see the world. Just look out the window and there it is! Maria, you can not underestimate your beauty, Mi Amor."

Maria turned away. She didn't dare speak to her mother. She walked to the sunroom where the morning light had filled it with warmth. Maria went and sat down on the window seat that looked out at the garden.

She watched as the bright trees swayed in the spring wind, and birds flew in the crystal blue sky. She looked into the forests beyond the garden. The forest looked as if it was enchanted by the way the sun rays shined through the trees.

Maria's eyes fixed upon a strange man who was sitting on a stump in the beautiful forest. He seemed to not notice the castle. He watched a bird nesting in a tree and was writing something in a small notebook that sat on his lap. His dark hair blended in with the natural color of the forest.

"Maria! I've been looking for you everywhere!" Maria was awoken from her daydream and turned to see her oldest sister standing before her. She looked much like Maria except her face was more gaunt and her eyes were a dark shade of hazel.

"Andrea. Good to see you again." Maria said nervously. It had been years since she had seen her sister. Andrea had left the castle after a harsh argument with their parents and was never seen in the kingdom after that. She would have normally been the next heir to the throne, but she had done many unspeakable things.

Maria was quite surprised at Andrea's appearance, and when she looked back out the window the strange man was gone.