Arsen
A masked ball and a pretty girl could only hold me back for so long. This moment was one in my wildest of dreams- freedom, and reconnection with my sister, my twin. I spent many nights wondering what it would be like and it was finally here. Growing up basically imprisoned I dreamt of grabbing Astrid's hand and running away- it's shocking that we are both here now, free, and we didn't even have to escape to do it. We are just meeting up in the same place as any pair of siblings would. The anxious jitters of excitement caused bumps to raise on my arms. My heart was beating out of my chest. I'm sure the whole room could hear it. It made the thought of Lana finally escape my mind.
Astrid's mask will be green for obvious reasons, I know that. She is the queen so identifying her shouldn't be too hard. I spot a mask with leaves and vines wrapping around and up the sides of it accompanied by brown curls, her hair a bit darker brown than my own since mine has been lightened from working out in the sun. Her smile is painted pink, unlike the last I saw it when it was painted red for Valdus. She looks so much older. Her body changed a bit, but of course it did since she has children. I can't wait to meet them. I'll actually be an uncle. I take a deep breath before approaching her. As soon as she sees me her smile fades to nothing which causes an ache in my chest and the thought of turning around to save myself the rejection, but no- she's my sister, this is my kingdom. I will put up a fight for this. My dream.
"Astrid, it's been so long." Not quite charming enough, but it'll do since I can barely form sentences.
"Arsen," she replies breathlessly. "Did you come here to steal the crown on top of my head?"
"No. I've come to claim the throne that is mine and finally return home." The words come out slowly and fall to the floor with my heart. Is all she cares about the crown?
She rubs her hands on her dress. "Any future with you as the king is a bad future," she takes a few steps toward me. "Trust my visions, your destiny is not here."
"So you've been having visions about me?" This catches me off-guard. Maybe what Astrid said is the truth, but it doesn't make any sense to me. "I don't think they're right. You're probably being manipulated. If you won't let me take my place as the king because you think I would be so terrible then why don't you let me stay here and prove to you that, that won't happen?" I will take my place here. I know this is where I'm meant to be.
"I haven't had any visions since the day I thought you died. They were all horrible. I've had nightmares about you since then and I thought them to be just nightmares, but now that you're here in front of me, they must have been visions." Astrid places her hand on my shoulder. "Brother, how I have missed you. I want you to stay but...since your return, you have only hurt my friends."
"I have hurt no one." I can feel my face scrunching up. "The day I died was the day our ties died. Look." I hold out my hands to expose the coverings all over them the dirty blue vines. "Who's to say your dreams weren't a product of this?"
She looks away, her eyes filling with tears. She blinks a few droplets spill down her cheeks. "Arsen," she meets my gaze. "Things have changed and I have to think of my family first, I will not let you claim the throne that is mine." Finally, she takes my hands after avoiding them. "What did he do to you?" She whispers.
"Astrid, I am your family." I shake my head in aggravation and pain blooming in my chest. "Don't you see? If I were to take over you could be with your family, unburdened from the weight of the throne completely. I would take care of you and your family so you would never worry. I don't understand why you are shunning me like this? Do you not remember me from before the past four years? I was the only blood you had. We protected each other, we looked out for one another always." I turn my face to the side. I can't stand to look at her right now.
