the fallen prince

chapter 1.

Aeneas.

I was alone in a field of flowers, alone in the royal garden.

The field covers a good amount of space outside the castle. The format was shaped as the sun, with the sun Ray's showing different breeds of flowers. If anyone wanted to find every flower in alynthi, they would be here.
As the winds blew, the flowers follow bending from side to side, sometimes I could hear little whispers floating through the air. Different kinds of scents filled the air, so deep I could taste it.

I sat quietly on the bench in the middle of the garden. I always came here for peace of mind. This was my happy place. And suddenly I noticed something I had never seen in the garden. A different flower. I had studied every flower in this garden and I knew for sure that the flower was new.

I stood up quietly and stepped closer to it, anyone would have walked past it without noticing it, for it was surrounded by Rose's and lilies. The stem was black, as black as the night sky with petals golden and bright as the sun. They had this strange eerie glow to them.

I was tempted to pluck it.

"Do not touch that, you'll be burnt alive". A stern voice said from behind me. I turned immediately to see nefret, my supposed sister.

And suddenly the peaceful environment was gone. I pulled my hand back and walked back to the bench. Maybe if I ignored her she would go away.

"Aeneas". She Called out to me. I only starred at the beautiful flowers in front of me.
"I know you can hear me". She said as she took a seat beside me.

No.

She should not be here.

This was my happy place, and my happy place didn't involve her or any of  them. I was already irritated due to the fact she was here I stood up abruptly, ready  to leave. But she held my arm preventing me from moving. I ripped my arm from her. "Do not touch me". I spat at her.

I was shaken on the inside, why would she touch me?. Even though I was fully clothed, no skin exposed well except for my face, I was still terrified of anyone touching me.

Nefret looked at me, I could tell she noticed the little turmoil she has created in me. "Would you just listen to me?". She said in a pleading tone. I was tempted to stay and listen.

"No." I said in a dead pan tone.

"Oh for goodness sake, stop acting like a child and here me out." I continued to walk away, but she ran past me and blocked my path.

"Alright then, I guess I'll just have to inform our other siblings of your little hideout". She smirked at me. I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration. No one knew I came here, especially with my gift. This was the last place anyone would ever expect me to stay.

I walked back silently to the bench. Nefret only smiled in victory as she took a seat. "As you know, today will mark the hundredth annual vita ball-".

"Why are you telling me this?". I cut her off. I had never attended any royal function, I didn't like any of it, so why on alynthi would I attend this one.

"Today is the day Caspian receives the throne." She whispered.

I tensed up immediately, Caspian?, Really?. So the king finally realized he was old enough to step down. And to give it to someone like him. Well I knew this kingdom was bound to end.

"And why should I be needed?".

She smiled at me." Because were family, and we support each other. I scoffed immediately at her words.

I looked at her, we had no resemblance,  her light brown eyes were in contrast to my silver gray eyes. She had straight blond hair cascading down to her back, where as mine was black, cropped short and curled. We looked nothing alike, if anyone saw us, they would think we were friends or enemies. I looked nothing like the rest of my siblings. We weren't family. Not now, not ever.

I stood up dusting my trousers. "Well then if this is all you have to say, goodbye".

"Please just show up". She said one last time.

I left the garden, walking past the hallways heading to my room, most of the maids scurried away from me, some screeched in terror, fear alive in their eyes. Just how bad had this rumors gotten?. I never really took this way to my room, mainly because it was filled with alot of people but of course I lost track and went this way.

I knew I was a walking epitome of death, but seriously I didn't need to be reminded every time I left my chambers. I rolled my eyes at them as the quickly stayed away from my way. I was almost close to my room till I met another pair of brown eyes.

Claudius. My other brother.

I looked up to the heavens. Seriously?
Another one?.

He grinned at me. "You hear about the news?". I tried walking past him, but he only took steps backwards blocking my way. "Oh come on don't be like that, you should be happy for your brother". I noticed that he made sure to keep space between both us. Typical. He still wasn't sure of my powers. " you know, you don't always have to be jealous".he taunted. Now I was really pissed.

Jealous?.

How insulting.

I was soon loosing control of my powers. The walls  beside us started to darken as I let it creep out from my system. They started peeling of, breaking. Claudius looked at me in fright.

"Exactly why you would never be king, you're a monster". He asserted walking away. I sighed frustratedly as I headed towards my room. I laid down on my bed and shut my eyes tightly. There was no way I was attending this ball. I couldn't even handle two of my siblings and they were six of them.

I felt something move within my skin and knew immediately it was occassus, he was a my little secret, another string attached to my gift, he was like the dark side of me, well a darker side and a dash of humor. If all my powers were a person it would be him. But he always took the shape of an animal. Black smoke clouded my vision as he appeared, this time in the form of a cat. A black cat to be precise, with dark grey eyes.

"Oh stop being a wuss and attend the ball". He said lazily. As he sat on my head board.

"You saw how claudius affected me, what if I get pissed of there and actually kill someone".

"We would apologise". He continued. "Look, you're a prince, not a coward, atleast this time you're needed, so stop acting like a child and go".

"No".

He rolled his eyes at me, "why do you always have to be so stubborn, you might even find a lovely girl". He said as he winked at me. "And you don't have to stay till the end, or show up early".

He climbed on top of my lap. "C'mon neas, I'm tired of you're room, let's do this". I rolled my eyes at him.

"Give me one good reason why I should go." Occassus scrunched up his face in concentration. "You're a prince, this is what princes do". He pointed out.
"Its settled then, I'm not going". Occassus looked taken back from my answer, he placed his little paws at his chest as he fell back on the bed, he was always the dramatic one.

"Fine then, I guess I go by myself, I'm sure everyone would love to see me". He said pouting as he stood, flipping his tail at me. "You wouldn't dare".
"Try me." He warned. I'm sure if occassus attended that ball without me, he would cause more trouble than I ever would in a minute, and some how they would trace him back to me.

I could feel it. Today was going to be a bad day.

"Fine. I'll go". I grumbled. Immediately occassus returned to me, whenever he came back he appeared as a tattoo on my skin. A black Phoenix animated on my skin. This was his true form. But he would never show me. His dark wings were sprawled at the sides of my chest, with his neck and head creeping up to my own neck.

I sighed tiredly as I thought of the troubles that laid ahead towards the end of today.