Ascending

Chapter One

One would like to think that being the princess; being heir to the throne of the most powerful in the Kingdom in the world would give me all the control I could ever need.

But it doesn't.

Shockingly, the amount of power I have when it comes to my life is next to none.

The only control I have is over my appearance. That I can control.

Unless we're making a public debut or going to an event with a dress code, or meeting powerful people.

But other than that I may look as I please.

I have seven piercings in my left ear lobe. One ruby, for my father. One sapphire, for my mother. One peridot jewel, for my eldest brother, Robert. One amethyst, for my younger sister Sloan. One crystal quartz, for my brother Marcus. One opal, for my brother David. Finally a pure diamond, for my youngest sister, Juliet.

I gifted myself the first five earrings when Marcus was born. Then I continued the tradition for both David and Juliet.

My right ear only has one piercing. A shiny emerald, for myself. I decided to save my right ear for my own family. Once I have married another stone will appear next to the emerald. My husband will pick out his stone. Then more will appear as I have my children.

I fiddle with the stones whilst I sit on the edge of my bed, trying to blink the sleep away from my eyes. It's ineffective and I've never found my marble quite as intriguing as I do now.

The sound of running water lifts me from my drowsy stupor. I pull on my white bathrobe and stroll into my ensuite bathroom. It's filled with warm steam. Kennedy somehow knew that I needed a bath this particular morning.

I rid myself of my robe and the nightgown underneath. Allowing myself to sink deeply into the wonderfully warm tub. Dried flowers float on the slightly pink water's surface. mixing with oils and salts that perfume the water creating a delicate aroma of citrus.

Kennedy is my personal servant. I cannot call them a butler or maid. All of the servants in the castle wear sleek black masks. Paired with a black draping over their heads.

My brother Bobby told me why they wore those masks. He said that the original saviors did not want us to see our servants as humans. So they wear black masks. It is firm, looks as if it is made of heavy glass. The mask barely contorts to the facial structure that all humans have. There are no eyeholes or spaces for them to breathe out of.

The masks have a special design.

All of the servants can still see and breathe normally. Although the complex functions of the mask remain a mystery to me. Their design is public knowledge, all I would have to do is hop on a public database and search.

But my time holds no room for such mundane tasks. I could ask David to look it up for me, but I am not with him often. When I am with my siblings we all have a far more important task at hand.

The surface of the black masks is incredibly shiny. So reflective I would be able to apply my makeup using it as a mirror. A thin white line runs vertically down the center of the mask. Again, I am unsure of its purpose, if it even has one at all.

"Tell the chefs I want french toast," I say from my waters. My eyes remain closed as I speak.

Kennedy does not respond. But I know that I was heard and my order is being silently relayed to the kitchens, somehow.

When I was younger the silence of the servants used to unnerve me. But once we closely studied the 'Rules of the Work' I found it to be law and not a habit. I will never simply have a conversation with Kennedy. They will only answer me I ask a direct question or give an order that requires them to speak.