<P> Before you read this story, I just want you to know this is my first story. Also if any of you have any Ideas for a different title please tell me and also please comment :D thank you xxxx</P>
<P> "Hey Maddie, Happy Birthday!" Annie shouted over the blaring rock music pounding through the house, making the rooms in close proximity shudder and shake to the rhythm. "What's it like being fifteen?" </P>
<P>Annie's voice was so vibrant and full of life that Maddie couldn't help feeling a little bit more enthusiastic despite the news that had poisoned her ears moments before. To be honest she had even forgotten it was her birthday. Her mind had been filled with thoughts of how the information had been kept a secret this whole time, fifteen years to be exact.</P>
<P> "Hey babe," Maddie answered with as much enthusiasm as she could muster. "Can we talk later? I was just going out to the garden, to get some fresh air" she lied. Annie's expression flickered for a split second, revealing a quizzical look and at once changing back to her happy bouncy over the top self, smiling like she was high on life itself . It was like she was thinking, <I>it's her birthday, I shouldn't question her on her one special day of the year</I>, which really made Maddie feel like she was lying to her best friend which, to be honest, was just what she was doing. She bulldozed her way through the masses of happy partying crowds, hearing the odd cry of "Happy Birthday" and "Hey Maddie, where are you going."</P>
<P>But none of this really registered in Madeline's mind because all she could think of, was the fact she had just been told she was a princess. Yes, a princess, as in - a female heir to a throne! And it wasn't even like it was a normal throne; I mean she would have noticed if her parents were ruling a country on earth, but an alternate world, that was a bit harder.</P>
<P><I>Perain, </I>Maddie thought. <I>I am in line to the throne of a place I have never even heard of, or that any of her friends would even believe existed. </I>The conversation with her parents replayed itself in her head.</P>
<P>"Maddie, I'm going to say this once and you probably won't believe me at first, but the truth is, this world, well - isn't the only one. There are others, fairly similar and, well - your father and I are the rulers of one of the," Looking back on the moment, Maddie's reaction was pretty much the worst possible any parent could imagine; she burst into hysterical laughter. But then she had seen the look on her Mother and Fathers face, and realised, this was no joke.</P>
<P>"Oh, come on! You can't be serious?" She quizzed them, her voice shaking with shock."But that would make you King and Queen. I think I would know if the two of you were royalty."</P>
<P>"But you blatantly wouldn't, because we are." My dad stated in his matter-of-fact tone. "Mads, let you Mum finish." </P>
<P>"There's more than that?" She was shocked that there could be more than she was the heir to a throne.</P>
<P>"Well, you see it's different in this world, but in Perain, that's the name of the other world, and there are people who control elements..."</P>
<P>"Like wind and stone and stuff like that?"</P>
<P>"Yes, stuff like that," Her mother replied, irritated. "But as I was saying, there are people who can control these elements and, well, we think you have that power."</P>
<P>And now, sitting in her back garden, Madison Smith knew her life would never be the same, and she was so right.</P>
<P>"Madison? You out here?" She recognised the soft, calm voice of Mason, her boyfriend. He rushed to sit beside her when he saw her. "There you are! Maddie, have you been out here all night? You are missing your own party!" </P>
<P>Madison was confused; she swore she had only been there a couple of minutes, if that. But when she looked at her watch she was horrified to learn she had been sitting for two and a half hours in the cold, dark garden on the hard seat, staring at the stars</P>
<P><I>Mum and Dad knew I was here, </I>she thought. <I>But they just let me sit here and freeze. </I>Mason pulled her in close. She loved the feeling of hugging him, he was warm and embracing, and he always smelled of the sea; she loved the smell of salty water. When she hugged him it felt like she was walking bare foot down a beach, with the tide washing and swirling around her feet every time it swirled upon the sandy shore.</P>
<P>"What's wrong? Has somebody said something?" He looked genuinely concerned, he piercing green eyes burrowing into hers, as if he was looking deep down into her soul. </P>
<P>"Oh, um... No, its just wanted a bit of time to myself, you know?" SHe could tell he knew this was a lie, but he said nothing. He wasz aware that if Maddie was not telling you something, you wouldnt get anything out of her until she wanted to tell you. </P>
<P>She decided that she couldnt tell anyone about this. They wouldnt believe her. They would think she was phsyco searching for attention. No-one could ever learn of this. No-one ....</P>
