The Marks that Define Them

Chapter 1:

They arrived to see only the king there. They waited patiently for Astraea to come with the prince. They all sat in uncomfortable silence staring off into space. All busy thinking. One planning, one brooding, and on questioning. None of them aware that the prince had arrived.

"My Queen, I have brought you the prince per your request." Astraea sputtered tensing up as she released the words, her eyes glued to the floor. "

"Mother, why did you want me here?"

"I wanted you to me someone very special to me, someone you should get to know." The king scoffed at all the words she spoke.

"Please for the one and holy ten Diue Dea's sake stop lying, you will unbalance everyone in this room." His voiced echoed the room and commanded everyone's attention. He continued to shout but then proceed to mock her copying her words but with a different pitch. Aine drowned out his noise and prepared to pretend to be the hurt wife. Everything relied on this especially with Nestori.

"I agree with father. Mother you really need to st-"

"Of course you agree with him, everything I say you take as lies, lies, lies, lies, and more LIES.Why don't you both just believe in what I say?Just trust me," Her voice went from a screaming to a fake sadness, a tone that wanted someone to sympathise with her, to feel sorry for her. It was a trap she had designed so that people would look at their king differently. That was everything she needed. Nestori knew better than to fall into traps like this before he head seen it time and time again all over the world. But Astraea didn't know about the trap and fell right in. Aine had sensed it she sensed her sympathy and had plans forming in her head.

"The only reason that I always agree with father is because you never listen to me all you do is focus on Ammon like she is the missing puzzle piece in your sick game and she probably is but she doesn't know it all she knows is mommy's attention and that's all she needs. You could care less about me since the day I was born since the day that you found out her all and mighty had a boy since the day I introduced you to my partner. So don't sit there and act like the victim, like you actually give a damn about me. Because you never have and you never will. Aine sat her chair eyes wide and mouth open. There were no thoughts in her mind. Like a dream she saw right in front of her eyes she saw her plans unravel as the look she saw in Nestori's eye let her know that he was catching on. She had to do something about that something soon.

"I think it is time for you to leave." With defeat in her eyes it was clear to everyone that her admitting her faults were not something she was used to. Nothing was said as Eloy walked out of the room. His presence had disrupted her future. But it also had enlightened her that someone people were smarter than they look while others could be easily manipulated. Her face rose with a cunning sly smile. She would be waiting, preparing and always planning.

"Well I think it is time for everyone to retire for the day."

Astraea

Walking into the noisy dining room, the every seat full except for hers. The sight of Astraea's presence brought a wave of silence among the tables. Faces paled, mouths stopped moving, and eyes started looking. Astraea could see the whispers and rumors forming in everyone's head.

Taking the last remaining seat, Astraea tried her best to avert her eyes from the eyes one her. Her eyes were kept on her meal, the same thing we have every night, fish, Astraea's appetite was lost with everyone boring into her. When she looked over at Caitriona, wanting know her position on this. But, Astraea was left with only a nod that was not meant or her. The tilted up and down let the other Shotadi know it was okay to interrogate her.

"How was the royal family?"

"Is the Prince dreamy?" The girls hands came up in a near prayer motion. Her eyes going up, Astraea was sure that various scenarios about the prince and her were being made in the girl's mind.

"How was it?" The questions pounded on her, each one from another person demanding her answer as if their lives depended on it.They had nothing left in their lives, whispers of lies in the wind.

"Enough." The room was once again silent, with Caitriona's voice. Leaning in Caitriona asked,"So tell us Astraea, what did happen today?"

Astraea had her voice taken from her, words had escaped her. They usually weren't used much, no one bothering to use theirs often enough towards her, so she hers were rarely out.

Widened eyes stared back at them, overwhelmed, and cornered.

Astraea pushed her chair back, not saying a word. Sweat was running down, a constant stream of anxiety. She couldn't stand it there, everyone now wanting something to do with her. They wanted something from her and nothing else. Astraea was not a person in their eyes, only a source of information and gossip. No lense over their blind eyes wouldn't be able to open them.

They were a wind storm of questions in the wind. While, Astraea was a cloud in the sky that is masked by the other, bigger, clouds. Ready to storm but feeling like it can't.

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Hello, readers.

This is my first round of revisions that are going to be either every week, or every other week. This is the first set which will be while I am writing and the other sets of revisions will be after I have finished the book. So stay tuned for revisions. I will be adding more scenes and other things. 

Enjoy, Anastasia.