No Perfect Royalty (Editing)

Chapter Twenty-Two

No more was she weak and childish. She was growing into a strong, powerful woman.

A few days after her dispute with Hugo, she was ready to fight.

She no longer stayed in the library. Her time locked in there, alone, gave her a great amount to read. Study the arts of how the guns works. Learn the tactics on a sword mans training. She soon was engulfed in the knowledge of healing, letting the spells of a killers magic course through her mind.

Fine dresses no longer lined her vast wardrobe. She had sewn the fabric she ripped into new clothes. A long velvet blouse. One easy enough to fight in if need be. Charcoal black pants to move swiftly in. Heels no longer threaten her feet. Instead a thick pair of combat boots lined her toes and heels.

Her image showed others she was a fighter. Her words told you she was the Princess. Her eyes told you she was Luna Durgrell. The girl whom was no longer a Princess, but the girl who was a fine leader.

She was ready to fight with her many people. To slay the Guards, the filthy Council. Ready for the crimson to dress her silk like skin. No more was she afraid.

Desire had known about all of Luna's changes. Like any good maid would. Although she never spoke of them. Not until Luna started practicing with her dagger. Watching the fabric of a dummy fall to the floor as she cut it.

"Luna, this is not. . . Lady like." Desire had spoke one day. Luna was practicing her shooting with a gun a Guard had given her when she was around the age of fourteen.

"Don't try me Desire. I'm no longer the lady you wished of me. I am a strong and capable person." Luna spoke as a bullet spiraled over to the target. Dead in the middle. The boom cursing the air.

The words stung the maid a little bit, along with the boom of the bullet. Much like the night Luna left after the ball, but a little worse, even more so with a gun. "I understand you Luna. But. . you still need to act like one at times. And you have not done that my dear child."

Her laugh crackled the air for a split second, then she spun around. Facing Desire. "What do you not understand? This is not a time to act like a lady. This is a war Desire! These are my people, and I am helping them!" She exclaimed. Hoping Desire would understand.

"So you kill people?" She shot back at her.

"I do not kill. I injure people. I'll kill them if I have to." Anger was starting to arise in the both of them. Filling them up to the brim. Begging to fall over, to explode.

"Injury leads to death child! What has become of you?! You were never like this." Desire wanted the little girl she knew back. She knew she was far from receiving it.

"I've become a proper person. One whom is brave. I don't wish to be a Queen right now. I wish to be a warrior." Her teeth were clench as she spoke. Her voice changing tone, from her light words, to a harsher kind.

"A warrior? You'll get yourself killed!" She was nearly screaming now.

Luna quickly grabbed the dagger that was closest to her. Holding the wood end with a tight grasp. Her feet scattered as she found her way to Desire. Holding the metal up to her neck. Pinning her to the door behind them. "I will fight in this war. This place will be a monarchy. And I will rule it. For I will die for my people to change our sick world." Her words like venom.

Her memory shot to the day she left. When that boy had cut her. She dropped the knife. Placing her hands in her mouth. "Desire. . . I'm sorry I didn't, I didn't mean to. I was. Angry."

Fear was still in Desires brown eyes. Tears stung her eyes. "Luna, I'll go now. I get it." With that the maid left.

I almost killed her. My own maid. I nearly killed her. She thought as she went back to her gun. Starting again with her aim.
* * * * *
Collin and Gavin had also started some well deserved practice.

"Gavin, you have to actually hit the target." Collin told him as they threw knifes. Collin hitting every target before them, while Gavin barely skimmed the edge of it.

"Not my fault I can't hit the stupid thing!" He called. The knife he threw clattered to the ground. He winced a bit at the high pitch of the clank.

"Didn't Guards teach you combat here?" He asked the blonde, the metal spinning until it fell into the dummies heart.

"Yes. But I was never very good at. Luna learned much more then I did." He said under his breath. "Only thing I'm good at is swords." He threw another.

"Why didn't you say that in first place?!" Collin called out, dropping the knifes onto the wood floor. "Come on! To the swords!" He called. Hands brushing against the fine metal.

Gavin grabbed his. One embedded with his name. End of it still sharp and deadly, even after years and years of practice.

Collin on the other hand grabbed a duller one. Metal slowly eroding away at the top.

"Ready?" Gavin asked Collin as he got into his stance. Feet steady of the ground, rolling on the balls of feet.

"Whenever you are." A smile played his upon Collins lips.

Gavin returned his playful look with a cocky one, taking a step forward, sword following. Barely missing Collin as he moved back. In a swift movement he bend down, skimming the end if his trousers, cutting it in the slightest. Collin jumped to late. A trickle of blood fell.

"How's that even fair?! You just cut me!" He hollered, trying to skim a bit of the blonde. He missed as the boy before him hit his side.

"You can heal yourself! It's completely fair." A laugh hinted the end of his words. He took another swing. This time aiming for the head. Collin ducked.

"You're lucky I'm not Luny. She'd have killed you by now." This time he swung. He was lucky, hitting Gavin's ankle in the slightest.

Collins movement were ragged, predictable. The sword wobbled in his hand. Not hitting anything in particular. All while Gavin held to the metal tightly. Gripping like it was his soul. Hitting the target that he wished to hit.

"Hit me!" He yelled at the ginger, taking another got. Skimming the fabric that cover his lower stomach.

"You move to fast!" His breath was suddenly heaving. Arms growing weak. Knees wobbly like his sword. He couldn't hit the stupid boy!

Gavin laughed, moving to the other side of Collin. Soon he hit his feet. The red head stumbled before he fell off balance.

"Ha! Beat you!" Gavin said, helping him up a bit.

"I would have beaten you in knife throwing." He mumbled, healing himself as he walked away.
* * * * *
For the next few days, that was all they did. Spar. Practice. Chant. Study.

On the seventh day of practice, all three meet saw one another again.

The two boys had gone to the room Luna practiced combat. Once the wood door opened, they watched her. Mesmerized by her movement.

She moved swiftly across the floor as she fought with a Guard who had turned to their side. Hitting him quickly with a dagger she held. Moving around him silently. Swinging at him aimlessly until he fell. A quick smirked played on her lips. Triumph filled her eyes.

"Looks like you're ready to go out there Luny." Collin said walking over to her. Blush crept upon her face.

"Yes. I think I am. Are you ready?" She asked walking out.

"Yeah. I'm ready. Gavin is to. So let's kick some Council ass!"

They left.