“Hurry, Nikki! We cannot be late to this or father will have us hung.” Hilly hissed at me as we raced for the castle.
“Father would never.” I muttered, opening the gigantic wood doors.
“Girls! Why are you late?” father yelled from his throne.
“Sorry, father. We were hunting.” I leaned down to kiss his cheek then waved off the maid holding out a cup of blood for me.
“Girls, you know you should not do that. I might have to assign a guard to watch you at all times. The forest is a dangerous place. I can’t have my princesses wandering around out there.” He reached out to stroke both our cheeks, smiling.
“Yeah we know. But I was thirsty.” I lied, shrugging.
“Nikita.”
“I was! I am not allowed to get hungry anymore?” I yelled, stepping away.
“Do not take that tone with me.” he snapped, standing up.
I glared up at him as I backed down the steps.
“Hilary, take your sister upstairs and help her get dressed.”
Hilly ushered me up the stairs, sighing as we went into my formal closet. Some of daddy’s possible heirs were coming today. One would marry into the family. Whoever father chose would get to pick if they wanted to marry me or Hilly. I silently hoped it was her. It was selfish but we both knew she would be a better queen.
“There. Fit for a princess.” She smoothed my straightened blond hair as I blinked into the mirror. I’d gotten my small waist from my mother. I had a very slender build in general. I was pale as snow but it was just a trait from both of my parents. My blond hair was again from my mother but I had my father’s pale blue eyes. I put on my necklace, lifting my hair so Hilly could fasten it. It was gold with one single ruby on it. I slowly released my hair, meeting her gaze in the mirror.
“You shall do fine. I promise. I will not let them hurt you.” She wrapped her strong arms around me as I turned and cried into her shoulder.
“I don’t want to do this.” I sobbed, shaking my head.
“It will be fine. I am not gonna let them do anything. You will be fine. It will all be fine.” she whispered, rubbing my back.
A knock on the door made us jump apart. “They have arrived.” The maid lifted her dark eyes up to me and she smiled sadly.
We all knew I would be picked. It was inevitable. My sister was gorgeous. She had long black hair and the same blue eyes and slender build but I was designed for this. Witches had charmed my necklace when I was just a baby. I was destined to marry the next king, they said. The necklace gave a shove to the heir so he would pick me. I’d tried destroying it but nothing worked. I begged them to remove the curse but they just repeated the same phrase.
