This Girl Will Be Queen

Flashbacks and Masks

Love.

Comfort.

Safety.

This was what Alexandria thought made a home. She thought it was simple, in her defense, everything was simple as a 6-year-old. She studied the room. The purple curtains hung by the oak windows, the purple and blue closet door sparkled with color yet with dullness and texture. As she looked at the old worn-out bookshelf beside it, she found her favorite book to read. Magic Instructions and why to use them by Mage Lanin. She looked at the beautiful curtains blocking out the morning light that would come soon. Without hesitation, she quietly jumped off her stool in her nightgown and peered out the window. As she gazed at the stars and the moon, her father came into the room. She pouted as he held her hand and nodded to her siblings. Her eyes shone a beautiful brown as she looked at her twins and her sister jumping in the wide and comforting bed, but she couldn't help but feel different from them but she didn't dwell on things that upset her. Her father said that's a trait that she got from him. Worry. Suspension. Curiosity. But as he put all four kids in the bed she couldn't help but dwell on the darkness that would lurk after the lights were turned off.

"Father," Alexandria whispered as he held her close to his chest. "Yes mi paramour?" he inquired hoping, no praying, that she didn't ask him about the war. He would enlist. They all knew it, even Mother. The only difference between Mother and all the kids was that she didn't care if he came back.

Or at least it's what she told herself.

" Are you going to be okay? In the battle?" she asks as her Father sets her down in the bed right between her twin brothers, Zach and Zean. Please say something, the two boys pleaded. Their father always told them that men should never plead but they felt this situation was an exception. All four children watched as their father chuckled. "I'll be careful."

" What if we come with you, you know to keep you safe?" Janis says making the other three children nod in agreement. She was Mother's favorite and everyone knew it but that didn't mean she didn't care for the family as they did for her. She watched as her Father shook his head and kissed them on their nose and forehead. As he pulled away from kissing Zean good dreams he says "King Damian wants soldiers, strong soldiers but I need strong soldiers at home. To watch over your Mother and to take care of each other. I need you to be strong for me. Can you do that?" He says watching them for a reaction. Alexandria wasn't one to be scared easily so when her Father said this she was surprised, he was serious and that scared her. The other children felt the same way.

Alexandria looked over to her sister and her brothers nodding as their eyes meet. When their gaze finally rests on their father's stone cold and serious eyes. They nod and say " We declare on our name and loyalty that we will always protect each other and protect Mother to the best of our abilities." As they speak their words turn from oxygen to smoke, visibly waving through the air like a banner. As soon as they stop reciting the words the smoke wraps around their wrist, resting on the top of their skin becoming a tattoo in the shape of a circle.

"Good, now that I know you're going to be safe. You all," he says pausing for effect making the children giggle. "go to sleep."

"NO!" the kids yelled wiggling out of the bed. As Janis jumped out the bed so did Zean. And at that moment Alexandria thought that they would be alright when Dad wasn't here. They would be okay. But to her detriment, they wouldn't. Maybe they would never be, but that is the reason why you picked up this book right? To see if she would make it. Well come on and find out.