The Dragon Princess

Chapter One

"Evaline...darling wake up." A soft masculine voice echoed in my ears. I slowly let my eyes flutter open. The room was dark. Dimly lit by a singular candle that was held in the kings hand.

"Hmm, what time is it." I asked weakly. The darkness in the room messed with my sense of time. For all I knew it was midnight. It wouldn't be the first time he had woken me up at the time, and it sure wouldn't be the last.

"It is morning sweetheart. Come, I brought you breakfast." I slowly sat up rubbing my eyes. My ebony black hair dangled in my face. I used my hand to swipe it out of my face.

Darius had walked over to the window and opened the curtains. The sudden bright light had me covering my eyes as I voiced out a groan.

"What's on the menu today?" I asked after my eyes had adjusted. I was looking at the tray of food that lay by the door.

"It's eggs and bacon, and some orange juice. It isn't much but I figured you wouldn't want to eat much today. We have a long day ahead of us." I cocked my head to the side.

"What do we have going on today?" I mumbled as I took a bite of the eggs. I was looking down at my food, but when I got no answer I looked up.

"What? What is it?" I asked. He gave me a pitiful look.

"It is the anniversary of your mother's death today. It has been 14 years since she passed. But it is also your fifteenth birthday. So I thought today we would celebrate your life as you come of age, and celebrate your mother's life as well." He said offering me a small smile. I looked down at my food, no longer hungry at the mention of my mother. I could feel his smile fall.

"I know this is a hard day for you, but we can morn someone's death, or we can celebrate the life they had." He placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. "I want to make this day for you as special as I can." He said kneeling onto the ground. I looked up at him and gave him a weak smile.

"I'll try to make this a good day. For you and for her. I know she wouldn't want me to morn her. But I can't help how empty I feel." I spoke in calm collected words. I was trying to stop myself from crying, but instead I gave him a cheeky smile. I was trying to convince him I was alright, but mostly I was trying to convince myself that I was alright.

After I had finished my breakfast, King Darius walked out of the room to give me some privacy so that I could change. I wasn't sure where he went, but I didn't care. All I wanted to do as lay in bed all day. I didn't care if it was my birthday, or if it was my coming of age day. I just wanted to sleep.

Once I finished changing into a short sleeved black and white dress, I walked over to the window. There was a small deck a couple feet below with no windows or doors below. It was just an extended balcony. I started to climb down. I stuck my legs out first holding onto the window frame. Before I could go any further, my door opened. I shot my head up and saw Darius looking at me with shock. But then his face calmed.

"Where do you think you are going?" He asked walking more into the room. I stared at him, I wasn't sure if I was going to be in trouble, and normally I would if I tried sneaking out. I opened my mouth slightly trying to see if any words would come out.

"I um...I was just trying to get some fresh air." I spoke softly. His eyes narrowed at me.

"If you were thinking of going outside and flying you had better get that idea out of your head. You know you can't do that!" He scolded. I looked at my hands that were turning white from holding onto the window frame so tightly.

"I'm sorry sir. I just-"

"You just nothing! Get back inside." I didn't have an option. So I started to lift my right leg up to hoist myself over the window. Darius grabbed my arm and pulled me in the rest of the way. He never let go of my arm as he continued to glare down at me. I couldn't meet his gaze. He might have been my caregiver, but I was less than a servant compared to him.

"Look at me." He ordered. I hesitated at first but lifted my gaze to meet his silver blue eyes. They had seemed to darken the more he looked at me. It almost looked like he was lost in thought, but I knew better. He was testing me. Testing my strength to look up at him, and to follow his orders.

"You are to never to go flying. It is to dangerous. Do you understand?" I looked down at the floor again this time staring at my feet. A sudden burst of courage came over me. I wasn't that easy to control and he knew it.

"I wasn't going out there to fly." I said snapping my head up to meet his gaze again. His eyebrows crinkled together as he continued to stare at me.

"Oh? Then what were you trying to do?" He asked his grip on my arm tightening.

"I just wanted fresh a-" A sudden smacking sound filled the room, along with a sudden sting on my cheek. My hand instantly raised to my face as my mouth hung open when let out a soft gasp.

"Do not lie to me!" His voice boomed. My head was still tilted to the right. Tears started to fill the brim of my eyes, but I can't let him see my weakness. So. Did my best to suck back up the tears. I blinked a few times then turned to look at the floor with my hand still on my cheek.

"Look. At. Me." He gritted out through clenched teeth, "Now tell me the truth. What were you doing?" His voice was a littler softer. I couldn't let him know my motivations. If he knew he would change my rooms location into the basement where there were no windows, and I would be in pure darkness.

"I just wanted." I paused then continued, "I just wanted to get some fresh air." It was innocent enough, but as the words came out of my mouth I noticed the flaws. If I really had just anted fresh air I could have just stood by the window. My face paled as his reddened. The grip he had on my arm got tighter to the point it hurt. I tried to pull away but he just puled me closer.

"You do not lie to your king." He said, "And I hate to do this on your birthday, but you have to pay the price. You must learn to become more obedient." He started dragging me to the door.

"W-where are we going?" I stuttered out.

'The dungeon." He said plainly. There was no emotion on his face. I started to pull at his arm trying to get mine free. He only yanked me harder. I had tripped over my own two feet as we walked but he never stopped. He continued to drag me through out the halls. Everyone was staring at me. But I looked at the floor. It might have been the only thing to save me from the humility of it all.

As we continued making our way from the tallest part of the castle, to the lowest part of the basement we ran into Darius' second in command. Throq. He was a well built man in his late thirties. With light blonde hair that reached his shoulders.

"Throq!" Darius howled. Throq was instantly at his side following us.

"Set up a cell. Make sure there are chains that hang from the ceiling." My heart was now pounding in my chest. My mind was telling me to run, but I knew I wouldn't get that far. And besides where would I go?

Throq nodded without any words and started running to the cellar. Once we had gotten there Throq had just finished preparing the cell. I looked into it and my eyes widened. It was dirty and smelt like rotting flesh. The smell melted my nose. Darius threw me in, while Throq chained me up and pulled the chains so that my feet barely touched the ground.

"Darius!" called out pleadingly. He only shot me a glare.

"That is King Darius to you. Until you can learn some obedience you will address me as your king." He walked away to a corner and grabbed a whip. If my heart wasn't pounding before, it was pounding faster now.