Roses in Her Blood, Vengeance in His Veins

To Dance In The Hands Of Stars

Dawn babbled on and on about current gossip revolving around court while I listened with one ear. When we arrived at the palace, she happily, and gracefully, hopped out of the carriage, almost skipping up the steps. Adam, of course, was less enthusiastic and causally strolled out and up the stairs. The footmen stiffly held his hand out for me. I gently took hold and step out of the carriage. I dropped my hand and slowly walked up the stairs into the palace.

The first thing I saw when I entered the ballroom was light. Light shining through glittering chandeliers of crystal, a sea of colour underneath its light. I pushed a strand of hair behind my ear as I watched the those in high society dance and talk amongst themselves. A group of ladies approached us, unopened fans each held in their hands.

Dawn let out a small cry of happiness and enveloped the noblewomen in a group hug. I watched for moment before letting my eyes drift over to the people dancing. A noble lady spun under the arm of a lord, her dark blue dress fanning out around her. She laughed as her brown hair flew behind her.

I looked over at where I had last seen Dawn. Only to find, shockingly, that she had left. I exchanged glances with my brother, who just shrugged his shoulders and walked into the sea of blue bloods. Adam quickly disappeared from my vision and I found myself sighing. I caught sight of a servant carrying drinks and quickly walked over.

"A drink, My Lady?" He asked when he caught sight of me. Ignoring the use of address, I nodded and took the drink.

"Thank you." I took a sip before turning. I started towards the only place that actually was nice and not full of conspiring and judgmental nobles; the balcony. Some of the nobles noticed me and walked out of the way, their eyes glued to my head, or rather what grew from it. I grabbed a piece of my hair and twisted it around my finger.

The sound of fans snapping open had to be the most obvious sign that some of them had started talking about me. The other being the hands over their mouths as they stared at me. I quicken my pace and basically lunged for the handle of the door.

I quickly pushed it open and stepped onto the stone balcony. Fire had been lit, lighting up the small area. I walked over to the railing and lean on it. The sun had fully set, but it almost looked as if it hadn't, with the torches lit and all. I lifted my drink to my lips and the alcoholic liquid ran into my mouth.

I stared up at the night sky, the numerous sparks of light dotting it seemed extra bright tonight. I took another sip. Loud giggling sounded from the ballroom. I scowled. Even if they weren't talking about me, did they always have to act this way?

It wasn't like I was a stranger to court, with all the parties Dawn dragged me to. I don't understand why they acted as if I were an alien just because of one or two of my features. They would never act this way towards the king. Or any other chosen monarch.

Maybe that was it. I wasn't royalty. Divine Gods, I wasn't even nobility. They could accept my brother, with his hunting skills, and my sister, with her beauty, but not me. All because I was born with different features than them. Part of me blamed my mother. And that part hated her.

I clenched my drink in one hand and fisted the other. What made aristocrats so special anyway? What gave them the right to mock me when I've probably lived a far more honest life than any of them. Many of them wouldn't even touch something that isn't shining or gold.

Absorbed in my rant, I didn't notice someone else had joined me until a voice startled me. "They're lovely, aren't they?" I gripped my cup tighter, part of me was worried that it might break. Another wanted it to break so that high society would be down one glass. A reasonable side said that I might have to pay for it. I didn't want that. Even if I could afford it.