The sound of swords clashing in a clearing surrounded by trees could be heard
"Getting tired already?" I taunted
"You wish" Theodora Hani Romania replied panting.
I do a back flip narrowly missing Theodora's blade.
"Is that all you got?" I let out a breathy laugh as I continue to do flips and jumps, dodging her sword just to annoy her. It works.
She swings her sword relentlessly trying to at least land a hit on me which in turn proves to be difficult as it has been for the past two hours.
"Would it kill you to fight like a normal person" she growls. Beads of sweat were gathering on her forehead and I can see her getting very tired while I haven't broken a single sweat.
"But I'm not normal" I tilted my head in faux confusion as my eyes glow a kaleidoscope of colors.
It's true I'm not. My senses became heightened and I felt very aware of my surrounding from the moment I unlocked my magic and tapped into my mana reserve. The familiar tingling at my fingertips and the feel of my power coursing through my veins awakened a newfound energy and rush.
Every fiber in my body screams for me to let out the power. So I did just that.
I made the wind around us to move faster and faster, ruffling the dried leaves of autumn.
"Arianna seriously?" Yes, Princess Arianna Isabella Grey is my name: Daughter of Princess Selene Bea Romania and Duke Norman Alexander Grey.
"Oops, sorry" I muttered apologetically. "I might have gotten a little distracted" I looked at my cousin Dora's hair which at the moment resembles a hornet's nest.
" A little?" She glared as she tries to make her hair look presentable.
"You can just have the maids do it when we get back later" I waved my hand dismissively in the air but stop once I caught the dark look she directed at me.
It was not exactly what you call scary; as a matter of fact she looks very cute. Her cheeks puff up and her lips pout while her green eyes were wide open in a way that made her resemble a flurry-a creature with very soft hair, big doe eyes and pouty lips. Well except the hair part, her hair still looked like a hornet's nest with it sticking in different directions and all.
"That's what you always say but I always end up doing it myself because someone ends up dismissing all the maids before they actually get it done" she grumbled under her breath.
"I get distracted by Dante every time. But I think I can fix it" I envisioned what I wanted her hair to be like as my hand hovered over her head. There was a moment of silence before a shimmer of light appeared to revolve around my fingers and spread over her hair in shining dust and which made her hair change into an elegant updo with flowers and gems as decoration.
"Wow..h-how did you do that?"Dora stared at me in shock, mouth agape and eyes wide.
I shrugged the epitome of insouciance"It's just something I learned how to do recently"
"You have to teach me, please" she begged, dragging the last notr.
"Sure" I grinned mischievously "but on one condition"
" I should have known it would not be that easy" she responded dryly, eying me warily.
"Hey what's with the expression? I'm not going to make you do something bad" I placed a hand on my chest feigning hurt "it really opens my eyes" I cast my gaze downcast with a forlorn expression.
"Oh enough of the theatrics" she playfully hit my arm while rolling her eyes at my antics. "Will you teach me or not?"
"Only if you give me your portion of aunt Grace's famous chocolate tart for a week" I said my eyes shining in delight.
Aunt Grace is a short a d slightly plump woman with graying brown hair, a button nose and brown orbs. She was a very famous baker who makes the most delicious chocolate tarts. I and Dora were her regular costumers and get special treatment which includes that we could buy up to two servings of chocolate tarts each. Aunt Grace's tarts were so famous tht one can only buy a serving every day.
'Now just to get Dora to agree'
"What no" she whined "that's not fair, one week is too much. Three days, take it or leave it" she bargained.
"Deal" I replied. "Okay, all you have to do is to bring your hands over what you want to change while tapping into your mana reserve. Try to envision what you want it to be at the same time allowing your mana to flow out" I instructed her while demonstrating it on a leaf.
I picked a reddish orange leaf and bring my hand near it, putting all my concentration into changing the leaf to a shimmering purple color. After a few seconds the leaf changes from reddish orange to a shimmering purple.
"See, easy" I held up the glittering leaf grinning like an idiot.
"Wow" she breaths "that is so cool"
"Now you try" I urged.
Dora picked up a yellow leaf and brought her hand close to it. She scrunched up her face in concentration and focused her mana to her fingertips. A few minutes passed but the leaf showed no visible change.
"Ugh this is impossible" she grumbled throwing the leaf away before sitting cross-legged on the ground.
"Hey don't give up that easily. You don't expect to get it on the first try" I pattaed her shoulder encouragingly and join her on the ground.
"How many tries did it take you?" She suddenly asked.
"One" I replied hesitantly.
She sighed sadly "I still want my tarts".
"No fair. We made a deal—" I was interrupted by a maid running towards us.
"Your highnesses it is time to start preparing for the ball" she said panting.
I stood up from the ground and dusted myself before reaching an arm to help Dora up
We made our way back to the palace.
The moment we arrived, we were ushered in for intense pampering bwhich lasted for four hours. By the time we were done, I was very much exhausted.
The maids finished dressing me up I an off the shoulder blue long gown made with silk which was covered with shiny lace. It had an intricate design that weaved from the neckline to the waist in a trail of tiny sapphire gems to a large bow at the waist. The train of the dress was adorned with glittering gems that shimmered when I moved.
The heels were made of white gold and studded with blue colored diamonds.
I was wearing a sapphire teardrop shaped set of jewelry.
My make up was done lightly which enhanced my natural beauty.
I heard a knock before my brother Dante walked in.
"It is time we leave or we will be late" was all he said.
I just stared at his figure in disbelief. Even animals know how to complement a person.
"I don't even get a 'you look beautiful'" I grumbled and followed him out.
"I would have but you look like you just walked out of a sand storm" he replied.
I smacked him on the arm causing him to break out in laughter.
"Just kidding, you look absolutely stunning tonight" he brought the back of my hand to his lips and placed gentle kiss.
"You've cleaned up quite nicely yourself" I replied. Dante Emiliano Grey aka my brother was wearing a blue suit and white pants with a cape which was held by a silver brooch with our family's crest on it; two wolves standing against each side of a sword with a serpent twisted around the sword and resting it's head on the handle.
We made our way to the ball was currently taking place.
"Introducing his highness prince Dante Emiliano Grey and princess Arianna Isabella Grey from the Grey duchy have arrived" a loud voice boomed as we made our way through the double doors and down the stairs.
I roamed around in search of Theodora and shortly after it was time for the dance.
I danced with the son of a marquis of whom I forgot his name. He was a pompous ass who kept talking about himself to the point that I was so bored I prayed the dance would end as soon as possible.
While I was making my way back I bumped into someone and fell hitting my head hard in the process.
"Oh my" I heard gasps all around me as people gathered.
Someone helped me up to my feet which made the world spin around me. It took me a while to gather my bearings but I felt the throbbing pain at the back of my head.
I looked up to see who I bumped into but only caught a mask before the figure was blocked from my view by the crowd of ladies that flocked all around me.
"Your highness, are you alright?" Lady Lisa Harriet Lorenzo asked with concern lacing her tone as she guided me to the sitting area.
"I'm fine" I replied once I was sitting.
"Shall I call the physician to examine your head for any injury?" She inquired.
"No, I am fine" I said.
We fell into an awkward silence after that.
Tick tock
"Did you hear that?" I asked lady Lisa.
"Hear what your highness?" She looked at me confused.
"The sound of a clock" I replied.
She paused for a moment trying to listen then turned to me and shook her head.
Tick tock tick tock
"Are you sure you don't hear anything?" I tried again.
"I really don't hear anything. Are you sure you didn't hit your head too hard your highness" she asked cautiously, "you did fall very hard".
"But I..." I trailed off unsure.
"Maybe the ringing is in your ear your highness. Shall I call the physician to come and examine you?" She tried again slowly.
"Nevermind. Perhaps I'm just imagining things. Excuse me Lady Lisa" I got up and made my way to the balcony planning to get some fresh air.
Tick tock tick tock
There it is again. That sound. It sounded closer now as I reached the balcony.
I looked down below at the garden trying to find the source of the sound.
Tick tock tick tock
I looked up at the sky and gasped at the sight that befell me. The moon—no a clock in the sky where the moon should have been—was responsible for the sound. The clock showed four minutes till midnight.
Suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my head and my mind becomes foggy. A series of event starts flashing behind my lids as it starts to overlap with tonight.
Then I felt it, fear. It was so potent like I've never felt before that I thought my legs were about to give out beneath me.
I turned to look at the hall when an image appeared before me.
Red. There was red every where. On the walls and the floor. And there were bodies unmoving and unattached bodies and parts littered the floor.
And then it all went dark.