*Under Editing* 

A name hidden in the dark. A child's eyes clouded with tears. One word, spoken softly in a light, tinkling voice. Like bells.
"Daddy?" 

Chap. 1

A man, large and strong, lifted me from some sort of playpen made from fine pieces of white wood. Carved into a basket fit for a princess. He tapped a quick finger to my nose, causing me to erupt in smiles and giggles.

"My sweet girl," he says, "Such a precious little thing you are." His voice was deep with feeling. A feeling of great sorrow.

The gems and gold that circled his neck clinked and clanked in small noises. I reached up to pull them but the man gently grabbed my hand away.

"My child, you are my life. I could never let anything happen to you." He shed a small tear which he hastily wiped away. "Your mother is gone, sweetheart. We lost her this morning."

I tilted my small head to the side confused of what he was saying.
"Mommy?"

He nodded solemnly, "Yes. Mommy."

"Bye-bye?" I asked. The big man nodded again as I felt tears pour down my face. "Mommy!" I wailed. "Mommy!"

I was rocked and hushed until my cries were silent and my eyes were drooping. Carefully I was carried to the center of the room where a cradle, made in the safe soft white wood and draped in a pink canopy that hung from the ceiling. I was placed down and wrapped in a soft blanket of silk. Just like the man's clothes. A kiss was placed on my head before the man silently walked out of the room.

Still slightly awake I watched the man. Shortly after he left voices from the hallway came to me. They were hushed whispers, but still loud enough for me to hear.

"She is a child no older than one!" One growled softly. 

"Her mother is now gone." I heard a sob coming from the man. "I told her this would happen! She promised to be careful. She discovered my secret and betrayed me. She rushed towards enemy land to tell them, but not before the guards got to her." Another sob. "Because of my blood, because of that damned secret, my beloved is now gone. I am left to raise our baby girl all on my own now, I'm scared for her safety."

A different voice, slightly deeper and huskier, spoke. "I warned you this would happen. Your so-called wife was not trustworthy. But no, you didn't listen to me. Now you head over heels for a dead traitor and left a single father and a child. You have other responsibilities that you have to deal with now because of your wife. The entire kingdom is scared. You need to step up and take your place."

Scared of this man, I screamed and burst into tears. The man from earlier returned into the room with great speed and scooped me up in his arms, cradling me to his chest. "Hush," He whispered. "I'm here. I'll always be here dear ---"

When I woke up, I tried to shake the dream from my head. I hated that cliche reoccurring nightmare crap, and it's always the same. 

In two days I'll turn sixteen, though I don't feel the least bit excited. Instead, I feel on edge, worried maybe. As if I know something will happen, and it scares me because I don't know if anything is going to happen. Nothing is supposed too. Well, nothing besides me ageing and celebrating it with my friends of course. But I feel like there is something else special on that day and that I know about it, but forgot.

But what did I forget?

Maybe I'm worried I'll make a fool of myself, or that Poppy Thomas is planning to ruin my big day. That had to be it. She's always trying to wreck everything good for me.

In the fifth grade I made the foolish decision to fall asleep in class. Poppy, with a mischievous grin and a marker, drew ridiculous drawings all over my face. Luckily, my friends, Lexie and Amelia, found out before anyone else and told the teacher before dragging me off to the bathroom and attempting to wash it off. When that failed, they brought out the makeup they had just started to use that year and covered it all up.

Then, once in middle school there was a dance. Our school rarely held dances so, we were all very excited. I had gotten my parents to buy me a beautiful blue waterfall dress that matched my icy eyes perfectly. A jealous Poppy dressed in a short, ugly yellow snuck up behind me and 'accidently' stepped on my dress, causing the backside to completely tear in half. I was so embarrassed. My partner, and date, Chase, spun me around so my back was pressed up against him hiding the view from everyone. Then he motioned my friends to come over and they whisked me away to fix my outfit. Which they did perfectly. For that, I was eternally grateful.

Mother yelled my name from down the hall, signifying me that it was time to get up and get with the day. 

School uniforms sucked, and this year they changed them yet again. I was stuck with my red, white and black patterned skirt and my white button up. I think it might've been a little better without the heavy red blazer and tie, but it seems no one shares my opinions. 

My tights slipped on easily along with my combat boots and my hair laid down in it's curly black glory that ended at my shoulder blades. My makeup was light , not too wild. 

In the kitchen my mom shook her head at me. "Why must everything you choose wear be so dark?"

We laughed and talked for a little while before Lexie and Amelia showed up at the front door in Lexie's new car. "Bye, Mum," I yelled out as I got into the backseat, "See you in a few months,"

"Aren't you happy?" Lexie cried, "You're turning sixteen in two days! Our baby girl is growing up." I nodded and laughed before turning the volume up on the radio. It was one of our favorite songs. Together with the girls we all belted out the lyrics as loud as we could. Then we did the same to another song and another until we pulled up in the parking lot of the school. It was a boarding school, a private one, and it was one of England's finest. A thousand times better than a public school in my opinion. It was pricey, but when your parents are psychologists and doctors, you have a nice cash roll coming in. And now winter break was finally over.

Me and the girls flew out the car. Sure we loved our families and such, but it felt so good to be back. We all went to the girls dorms to dump our stuff before we left for our classes. Amelia waved at us before she peeled away to go to her room that she shared with Olivia. Lexie and I waved back and went to the room we both shared. I emptied my bag before refilling it with my textbooks, laptop and phone. Lexie did the same. Then we locked up and went out.

"Hey Lex," I said, "How about we go to the cafe for lunch today? I'm really in the mood for a latte." Lexie turned to me and frowned.

"Sorry Clara, I can't. Me and Amelia are going on a double date today at the new restaurant downtown. Maybe tomorrow." I waved it off and told her it was fine as we continued down the hallway. Lexie has a boyfriend named Toby, and she is always trying to get Amelia to go on double dates with her because she was too shy to go on one by herself. This is probably the eighth date Lex has forced upon her. She'd make me go on blind dates and use her 'matchmaking' skills on me, but she says I'm already so pretty that I have every boy in school drooling over me. If I wanted I could have anyone and everyone. I don't think that way though.

Besides that, no one seemed to be of my liking. Sure they were good people and some are pretty attractive, but I just don't feel any sparks. I don't need a boyfriend. I'm good on my own.

Suddenly my elbow was taken away from Lexie's and I was gently nudged to the side. Toby slid over and picked Lexie up and twirled her around while she squealed. Then he leaned in for a long kiss.

"Hey!" I complained, "Get a room!" But I was smiling as I spoke. Lexie, now on her feet, reached over and punched me in the arm.
Toby cupped her face and gazed into her eyes. "I missed you." Lexie smiled and repeated his sentence. I kept walking to avoid disrupting the lovebirds, but they soon caught up to me. Toby, with his arm still locked around Lexie, shoulder bumped me. "What's up sis?"

I laughed, "The sky biatch, and I'm not your sis."

He laughed too, "Whatever you say, smartass. " I liked Toby, he was like an older brother I never had, and Lexie was basically my sister. They were my family.

Together we walked into math class and got into our desks. After I got out my pencil and my papers I looked at the board. I nearly died.
Pop quiz.