Monsters

Chapter 1

Present day; Addison, one day until her 21st birthday

I hear yelling coming from outside, near the garden. It's the day before my coronation so the gates have been opened for preparations. I peek around the corner and see a guard forcefully holding a zombie boy around my age by the arm that was twisted behind his back. The guard was screaming in his ear about stealing from the castle and being a traitor to his kingdom.

The zombie boy's dark green hair glistened in the sunlight; his clothes were the usual peasant coveralls, but customized with patches in zombie tongue. The sleeves were ripped off with his long sleeved shirt underneath making up for it. He's tall and lean, and he looks defeated.

"What's going on here?" I ask firmly as I walk out into the open. I'm poised and emotionless, my blonde wig styled in an fancy side braid and I'm dressed in my usual royal gown: pale pink, long skirted, corset dress with white lace trimming the whole garment and elegant designs woven throughout the fabric, along with my matching train-style cape meant for royalty. The guard immediately forced the boy to his knees and bows himself. I look down at him and he glances up from under his long dark lashes.

"Your Majesty! You have no need to deal with this thief! I was just about to take him to the dungeon for holding!" The guard assures me.

"Thief? What was he stealing?" I question. The guard stammers a bit before finally admitting.

"A rose, Your Highness." He says with his head lowered. I scoff.

"A rose? Oh please. You are dismissed." I say.

"But Your Highness—!" I raise a hand to silence him.

"I said, you are dismissed." I hiss out. The guard roughly throws the boy's arm down and stands to stomp away. Once he's gone, I turn back to the boy. He's rubbing his offended arm and still bowing before me.

"Thank you, Your Highness. Your kindness is greatly appreciated." he says, but his words almost don't sound sincere. Why does that hurt?

"Um, you're welcome. Is there, uh, anything I can do? You know, to make up for the stupid guard?" I offer, swaying nervously with my hands behind my back. He looks up in surprise and our eyes meet. His warm chocolate brown eyes fill my belly with butterflies as I stare into them. Then he smiled up at me.

"No! It's not your fault!" He says from his still kneeling position.

"You can stand!" I say a little too quickly. "Sorry, um, I mean we don't have to be so formal." I correct myself in embarrassment. He chuckles and stands.

"You're not at all what I expected, Princess. I mean, people are completely wrong when they talk about you." he says. My eyes fall to the ground.

"Actually, they're not. Everything they say is true." I assure in a sad tone. He steps closer so he's within arms reach and stares down into my eyes.

"I don't think you're cold and cruel at all," he says softly. If I hadn't known any better, I would think he meant it. We stand there for a few moments and I feel my body reacting to the emotions I suddenly have coursing through me and a wave of fear engulfs me. His brows furrow together from my shifted expression. I quickly turn away from him.

But I don't want our time to end. I take in a deep breathe to calm myself, then turn back to him."Do you want to, um, walk with me?" I offer, heading deeper into the garden, so it's a little more private.

"Y-yeah! That'd be great!" He enthused. I smile and walk deeper into the garden.

I walk with my hands folded in front of me resting on the skirt of my dress, chin held high, back perfectly straight—image of a perfect princess. This is how I present myself anytime I'm around my subjects. So, why does it feel so wrong walking this way with Zed?