The Shadow

The Shoe

*BANG -BANG-BANG*

"KALYPSO ALEXANDRIA GET YOUR ASS OUT NOW!" Screams my father. I open my eyes to see a moving mass of black and red fur. Opening my mouth to shout back I'm quickly cut off by my dog stepping on my stomach, I lurch forward trying not to vomit. I run up to the door and swing it open.

"What did I do now?" I say still groggy from sleep.

"Get out of that dirty ass uniform and meet me at the dining room." He says with a clipped sort of tone.

Well, I'm fucked. I sigh as various different things that I have done flit across my memory. Changing into my favorite dress I make myself presentable. At least until I realize my left shoe has been stolen.

"You have got to be kidding..." I say exasperated. I search for any sign if shoelaces. None. So Trouble took my shoe... I think I keep looking for a solid five minutes before I give up.

"You know what screw it!" I walk out of my room pissed off and getting ready to yell at Trouble when I see him. I don't spot him anywhere or my shoe as I walk down the halls towards the dinning room. Silvia, my mother gives me a odd sort of look when I push the door open. My father looks as though he swallowed something sour.

"So, a little bird told me that you were harassing that preacher again." He says stiffly.

"Alaric told you." I say back.

"It doesn't matter who. All that does matter is that you stop this nonsense!" He exclaims.

"And what if I don't?" I say with a challenging voice. He looks at me as if I've gone insane. My mother calmly clears her throat. Silvia, she is a legend. Known as the only one who scares the Devil himself and, she has a innate sense of when someone is telling the truth. She will see it as well. My mother is just over five feet tall.

I meet her eyes. I get the feeling that she can see my soul.

"Do as he says Kalypso." Her voice doesn't need to be raised to spark fear into my heart. I swear it's the constant composure that freaks everyone (including myself) out. Feeling intimidated and out of my element I relent.

"Fine. I'll harass someone else then!" I get up and storm out. As I walk out I hear my father mutter something under his breath.

"That girl is more trouble than her two hounds put together."

Walking in my room I put on my 'war' out fit. It is solid red with thick strips of fabric over the shoulders and straps across the chest. The strips and straps are all black with golden buttons and trimming. There's a golden crown embroidered into the chest of my shirt. It signifies that I'm the crown princess. My pants are all black with a red stripe on each leg with thinner golden embroidery outlining the red. I put on my crown which is gold, embedded with Rubies and Melanite. Walking over to my shoe rack I see one of the servants has replaced my shoes. Chuckling slightly I put my new pair on and head out to do my rounds.

As odd as it would seem that I'm wearing my war outfit for my daily rounds I plan on doing some training with the new recruits. And practice fighting on a horse.

..........

As I make my way to the stables I do something so stupidly hilarious that I'm glad that I'm alone. I fall into the horses water trough. Don't know how or why... But I fall backwards into it. The water is submerging me almost completely. My legs are sticking straight up and I flail like an octopus having a damn seizure. I grab the sides of the trough and pull myself into a sitting position. And I swear if horses could laugh, they would be cracking up.

"FUCKING FUCK! FUCK SHIT! FUCK LIFE! DAMN IT!" I scream. I feel something pull the back of my shirt and when I look down what I see paralyzes me with fear.....