The Dark Prince

The Beginning

I ran through the halls, ducking and swerving around the servants that passed. I giggled as I kept looking behind me.

"I'm gonna get you!" Ally called playfully as she chased me

I squealed in excitement at her words. I ran though the Grand Palace that I knew as my home. The light colors and intricate pillars passed by me in a blur as I ran into the Grand Hall.

I jogged up the velvet steps towards the golden throne's which my mother and father sat, trying not to trip on the skirt of my dress. I hid behind the chair as Ally came up and crossed her arms.

"Hmmmm now where did Natalia go?" she pretended to think.

I giggled and immediately covered my mouth afterwards. "I hear laughing" Ally cooed as she stepped behind the thrown.

"Gotcha" Ally said as she jumped out. I screamed and ran towards the steps.

Just as I was about to hit the bottom, my foot slipped and I fell face forward. I yelped and brought out my hands just in time to brace myself as I hit the floor.

"Natalia!" Ally exclaimed as she ran towards me.

I sat up and felt a burning sensation on my knee. I lifted up the hem of my dress to see a scrape beginning to turn red.

I felt tears prick my eyes as Ally knelt beside me. "Don't worry, I'll fix it" she said.

She hovered her hand over my injury. Her hand started to glow a faint white and in seconds, my pain started to subdue.

She removed her hand and my knee was left spotless, not even a scratch.

"See, all better" Ally said, wiping away my tears gently.

All of a sudden, I headed heavy pounds getting closer. I turned just in time to see the massive golden retriever gallop towards us.

He ran up to me and started licking my face all over.

"Ahhh Max stop it" I giggled as I pushed up off the ground and wiped the slobber off my face.

"You wanna play Max?" Ally said as she scratched behind his ear.

Then a thought came into me head. "Watch this" I said to Ally.

I bent down and touched my fingers to his temples. I thought of what I wanted him to do and felt the pulling sensation I was familiar with.

When I took my hands away, Max's ears pricked up. He dropped down to the ground and laid on his back, his tongue drooping out of his mouth.

Ally and I both laughed as he played dead. "Ooh ooh make him roll over" Ally said.

I touched his forehead again. "Roll over" I said out loud.

He instantly became alert again and started to roll around the floor. We burst into a fit of giggles as he twisted and turned.

"Girls" I heard my father say sternly as he entered the room. He was wearing his usual tunic with gold-work thread and a surcoat over that. A golden crown lay on his brow, entwined to look like branches.

"What did I tell you about playing in here? And mind controlling the dog again, which I told you strictly not to do" he scorned us.

"Oh Eric come on now" my mother chided as she came up beside him. "They were only having a little fun."

I walked over to Max and touched his forehead. I dropped my hand and he went back to normal, standing up and trotting away.

My mother ushered me forward and I came to her, hugging the soft plush of her dress.