My family and I were the wealthiest kingdoms of the land. We held fame, grace, power, and projected a perfect image, but some things aren't as perfect as they seem. In public, perfection existed: no worries, only smiles and photographs. But in private, dark, twisted, and haunted destruction lived. My family was distant, clinging to secrets so dark and dangerous that if they were revealed, hell would break loose. I understood the need for privacy and secrecy sometimes, but what was so terrible about our secrets that they severed ties with everyone around them?
I gazed out the window, observing the world outside. The wind blew, causing the trees to sway as I watched the guards and maids perform their duties.
My life was… complicated. My parents loved me, but they fought constantly, especially when my brothers were around. I never understood why. Every time my brothers visited, my parents argued, but when they left, everything went back to normal, as if nothing had happened. I never really understood my brothers and parents' relationship. Now that I think about it, I wasn't really around my brothers much as a kid. I always felt alone and lost, like there was no one else. I had four older brothers: James, Jacob, Mason, and Ace. Ace and Jacob were the oldest, and James and Mason were twins. They left home a few years ago when I turned sixteen to find their own kingdoms and rule.
I never knew why my brothers left; nothing made sense. My parents never treated them badly and were always kind. I groaned in frustration as I delved deeper into my thoughts. "I really miss them…" I mumbled as I got up to get ready for the day. I had to go out for my dress fitting today. My coronation was in a week, and there was still so much to do. The food needed to be ordered, the cake selected, invitations sent, and a hundred other things that needed to be done before the upcoming week. I sighed as I finally finished getting ready and made my way to the boutique with my two bodyguards, Wilson and Isaac.
Wilson was an older gentleman with a sturdy build, a kind face framed by a peppered beard, and eyes the color of aged ivory. Isaac, on the other hand, was younger, his blonde hair and blue eyes lending him a charming air. If I didn't know them both so well, I might have fallen for them too. Thankfully, I took the time to get to know them and realized that they weren't my type. Don't get me wrong, they were good guys, but they just weren't for me. I never really had a type, nor had I been interested in anyone long enough to have a relationship. I found love to be a waste of time, to be honest. I knew others begged to differ, but love just wasn't for me. The thought of being tied down with someone forever made my skin crawl. I knew it sounded bad, but who wanted to spend the rest of their life with someone? I surely didn't.
We made it to the boutique, and I started trying on dresses, getting Wilson and Isaac's opinions. "I think that one is nice," Wilson said, pointing to a golden and white dress displayed in the window. I looked over at the window and saw the dress he pointed at. "Woah," I said in a whisper. I smiled and walked over, feeling the material, observing it. "I love i-" I began to say, but something else caught my eye. It was dark and… foreboding.
I couldn't really see it, but I sensed it… A dark, shadowy figure walked past the boutique, glancing at me as it went by. What was that? Better question: who was that? Why did it stare at me? Did they catch me staring back? Thoughts swarmed my mind as I fixated on the shadowy figure. Tall and shrouded in darkness beneath his hood, he looked terrifying, but… also attractive? I started to question my sanity, wondering if I was losing it by finding a stranger attractive.
What is wrong with me?... I asked myself in my head. Wilson touched my shoulder firmly but softly, making me snap back to reality. "Princess, are you alright?" Wilson asked, a hint of concern in his voice. I nodded, trying to collect my thoughts. What was that… why was it here… and why did I stare back… Did it know me or want something? I couldn't figure out anything from the shadowy figure. Maybe I was just imagining things. Maybe it wasn't real, and I was just overthinking it. Yes, that's what it was… right?...
A chill ran down my spine despite the warmth of the sun streaming through the boutique's windows. I couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that I was being watched, that the darkness I had glimpsed wasn't a figment of my imagination, but something real, something… dangerous.