Bloody Roses

Chapter 1: Prim and Proper

"You MUST sit up straight at all times. You MUST not burp, fart, or sweat. You MUST get married by your birthday this upcoming Friday." I sneered, mimicking my annoying parents.

My sister Charlotte laughed along with me.

Oh, I'm Princess Aura of Thorne.

I'm a little different from most princesses.

In fact, I'm VERY different from most princesses.

I'm not a prim and proper lady.

I don't tolerate my parents telling me what to do with my life.

My sister Charlotte is the only one who understands me.

For the past few years, I feel like I've been going insane because of them.

I just can't take it anymore.

But, there's nothing I can do, is there?

"Aura! Come down here this instant, young lady!" My mother, Queen Alice yelled softly up the spiral stairway.

"Quick! Put on the dress!" Charlotte handed me a horribly ugly dress that my parents expected me to wear that my cousin had made. I changed out of my favorite black, lacy dress and slipped on the poorly made, ugly dress that my cousin had made me as an early birthday gift.

"Coming mother!" I called, trying to hide the annoyance behind my voice.

I came down the stairs, remembering to keep perfect posture, and to DARE not to talk back to my parents. The last time I did that.. You really don't want to know.

I was greeted formally by them, and I greeted them the same, trying not to fix the red roses that were falling out of  my shiny white hair that glistened in the sunlight shining down from the windows.

"Aura, you know that your 17th birthday is coming up very soon, correct?" My mother asked.

"Yes, mother." I replied.

"By your 17th birthday, you MUST marry someone, or else you will not be able to take over the kingdom, and your sister Charlotte will have to take your place. We will be choosing a selection of princes for you to marry. You may choose one of those princes ONLY." My father informed me.

My eyes grew wide.

There is no way that I am EVER getting married, EVER.

No.

NO!

"NO!" I yelled, covering my mouth afterwards in absolute regret.

"Aura! Young lady, you know that you must not scream at us! How disrfespectful!" My mother scolded.

I didn't listen to her scoldings. I was so done with her. I couldn't take it anymore.

"Y'know what?" I asked, smirking mischieveously. "No. I will NOT meet a prince, I will NOT marry one, and I certainly WILL NOT allow you to control my life anymore!"

My parents were taken aback at this sudden outburst of mine.

"Aura how dare yo-"

"No. Don't say a single word. I'm done. So very done with you two. Don't give me some crappy excuse as to why you must control my life. I'm in charge of my own life now." I noticed the slight language that I had slipped in there, and I certainly wanted them to notice it.

Oh, and they did.

The looks on their faces was enough for me.

I stormed back up into my room, Charlotte there waiting for me.

"How'd it go?" She asked.

I looked at her, with a slight hint of fear in my icy blue eyes.

"Looks like you've got your own kingdom to tend to, Queen Charlotte."