Fireblood

Chapter 1

 Gold blood soaks Sloane Demeres' sleeve and the wound on her arm aches. The dagger still lays on the floor, glistening in the sun. She hears the heavy footsteps before the leather boots appear. Sloane stops scrubbing long enough to glance up.

"Get it done Stag," the silver-blooded Prince yells.

She holds in her groan at the familiar name. Stags. That is what they call her kind, the gold-blooded. She will never understand why the fact that her blood runs gold is a bad thing.

Sloane bites back a retort and bows her head. Prince Roland studies her for a moment before turning on his heel and walking away. She stares after him and gives his back a vulgar gesture. Without turning around or breaking his stride, the Prince returns it.

Once the Prince turns the corner, Reese comes walking out from behind a pillar, blonde hair falling from her braid, and a scowl on her face. Sloane drops her rag and stands up, greeting her cousin.

"Don't think I didn't see that, Sloane," Reese scolds. "Seriously, are you trying to lose your job?"

Sloane rolls her eyes, "I won't lose my job, not after ten years."

Reese's eyes drift to her arm and she groans.

"What the hell happened?"

Sloane smirks, "Lady Lielle was still not happy with my words from yesterday."

Unlike Reese, Sloane has never learned to keep her mouth shut. She's gotten used to the consequences that come along with it and doesn't really mind.

Reese sighs and shakes her head, "What was her excuse this time?"

Sloane stands up straighter and twirls her brown hair, "Oops, my dagger slipped out of my pocket," she says in a high pitched voice.

Despite herself, Reese huffs out a laugh.

"C'mon, your shift is over. Let's get you cleaned up."

They walk in silence through the grand hallways of the castle. The beautiful marble pillars seem to shine as the sun streams in through the wall of glass. The familiar path to her room seems longer after her shift. Sloane trails after Reese as she opens the door with a creak.

The room is small, barely big enough to hold two people. The mattress lays on the floor in the middle of the room and a small desk in the corner. Stacked on the desk, piles and piles of books.

Sloane sighs as she sits the mattress and takes off her apron and shirt. Reese crouches down beside her and begins cleaning her wound. The stinging has become a familiar feeling, but Sloane still winces. Reese gives a half-assed apology and continues wrapping a bandage around her arm.

"It's not deep enough to need stitches, but it will definitely scar," Reese sighs.

"Perfect, another to add to my collection."

Reese shakes her head, "That mouth is going to get you killed one day, Cousin. And when it does, I will look over your dead body and say 'I told you so.'"

Sloane laughs as Reese gathers her things and walks out the door. After it clicks shut, Sloane quickly puts on her shirt and grabs her book from the top of the pile before slipping out of the room.

She makes her way to the glass doors, weaving in and out of servants and maids. When Sloane finally makes it, she throws open the doors and walks into the courtyard. The fresh air and small breeze greets her. Sloane's lips curl into a small smile.

The courtyard is the only good place in this damned castle. The only place where Sloane can feel... free. Where she can forget her parents are dead. Forget that she's a low class servant.