Once again, we're gonna skip forward. This time, eight years. I'm a 13 by now, and Father remarried. My stepmothers nice, at least, by fairytale standards. She's not evil and doesn't hate me, so all ok.

Anyway, it was January 26th, the eve of my birthday. The weather was warm and looked like it was going to rain. I could smell it in the air. I was outside, in a tree. You heard right, I was in a tree. I had somehow managed to climb a tree while visually impaired. I was leaning on the trunk and was hidden from view when I heard felt the weight on the same branch that I was on.

"Hey, Echo," said a voice. I jumped when they spoke. "Guess who?"

"Well, the only one who would have me guess who they were, would be Romeo, so I'd assume that he's sitting in front of me" I answered.

"Dang. You're good, Echo. I'll get you one day though," he sighed, "Anyway, people are looking for you. They're saying the queen wants you."

I cocked my head, "Why?"

"Who knows. But you should probably go. Or she'll get mad"

"Fine," I sighed, "I'm coming. You'll need to help me down though" I felt his weight the branch, and I shifted my weight so that I could easily fall off.

"Jump Princess," he said in a playful voice. I pushed off the branch and fell into his arms.

"Thanks, Romeo" I smiled at him, and Id assume he smiled back, "I should go"

"Would you like to escort you?" he asked. I nodded, and he took my arm.

On the way, we chatted like friends do. He had to pull me sometimes, or I would have run into something. I could feel him shaking, and I didn't really know why. He was nervous about something.

Eventually, we arrived at my stepmother's room. Romeo knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" asked a voice.

"Romeo and Princess Echo" he replied.

"Send her in" replied the voice.

Romeo opens the door and leads me in. I heard the door close behind me.

"Hello, stepmother," I said. I felt vibrations on the floor, and soon enough, her cold touch took my arm. She touched my arms, my face, my neck. Her hands were so cold.

"Not here... no...not one sign of it" she muttered, "Echo, stip"

"Excuse me?" I asked. Did I hear her right?

"Strip. I need you to do this. Something is going around and the mark will be on your body if you have it" her voice sounded frantic, and rushed. I could feel her breath on my face.

"Wouldn't the doctor be doing this?" I asked, confused.

"Echo, please! Just do this!" I didn't understand. Stepmother never acted like this. She was always kind and patient with me. I didn't know what was happening, but I could feel pressure on the back of my dress. Her nails were sharp. I arched my back as they tore into the fabric, even going through my corset. She pulled them all away. I felt weird, just standing there, wearing nothing.

I could feel her steps around me before she exclaimed "Yes! Finally. I've been waiting for this for five years. Do you know how much of a handful you are Echo?"

Before I could even respond I heard her snap and suddenly felt cold straps around my arms, and my arms were forced above my head. Gravity was pulling me down.

I was on a podium. I didn't know what was happening. And not long after I figured out where I was, I hear my stepmothers voice, loud and seething with anger.

"People of Sirose! This is your princess! Look at her, unable to defend herself. Her Year of Marking is almost up, and she has no mark! What would she do against me!" I heard screams of people and one voice.

"Silhouette!" I don't know who it was, but it gave me the information I needed.

"If anyone objects to me, then you're princess will die at my hands," she laughed. It was wicked and twisted. I heard a snap and felt my feet touch the floor. It was cold, and stone and only one place of the castle was like this. The dungeon.

Meanwhile, in a different part of the castle, Silhouette, once again disguised as my stepmother, went to my father's chambers and knocked.

"Who is it?" he asked.

"It's Ariel," she replied.

"Come in," Father said.

Silhouette open the door with a sad look on her face.

"What's wrong darling?" Father asked.

"It's Echo....I'm afraid...She's run away" SIlhouette lied. The Look on her face was enough for Father to believe her.

"We must find her! Why would she run away?"

"I don't know. She said something to me yesterday about wanting a normal life...." she lied through her teeth.

"Send the scouts. We must find her" he demanded.

"Of course darling," Silhouette replied. She left the room, continuing the act. Silhouette went to the guard tower, and wrapped her magic around seven scouts, making them search for me, even though everyone knew where I was. It may be important to know that my father is bedridden. I didn't know it at that time, but Silhouette had poisoned him, just enough for him to be sick. So father was in his chambers, just hoping for news of finding me.

Anyway, it was getting dark. The dungeons were always pitch black by the time the sun started to set. I only knew this because of Romeo. He was sent her time to time for stealing some extra food. I was sitting on the floor, crying. I could hear my tears hit the ground, splattering on the cold rocks.

I had no idea what time it was when this happened, (it was before midnight, I knew that much), but I saw a bright light. It filled the room, I could hear a sizzle and felt a pain on my right hand. I closed my eyes, for it was too bright even for me. I clutched my hand and could feel something digging into my skin. It hurt so much, I didn't know this kind of pain was even possible.

When it was over-it took forever to actually be done-, I would see. I could see! Well, basically. I could see the silhouette, and aura of everything. Everything was blue and kinda glowing. Like it was on fire.

"What even?" I muttered to myself. I was still clutching my hand, and It didn't hurt anymore, so I let go. I looked down at it and saw a black spade symbol etched into my hand.

"This....this is a Mark," I said to myself. So that's what Silhouette meant when she said The Year of the Marking. 

Ok so for anyone confused, The Year of the Marking is the only year in a person's life when they can get a Mark. From the day you turn 13 to the day you turn 14, there is the possibility of getting the mark if one of your parents have it. So either Mother or Father would have to have had the mark. Silhouette must have known that, and that's why she married Father. I only know this know, as I'm writing this down. I was completely ignorant when this actually happened.

I looked at my surroundings, for the first time in my life, and could see. I looked for something, anything that might break the lock on the door. I walked around, crawled on the floor. Nothing. I didn't know what to do.  

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Wow! That took a long time to write.  And its the longest chapter I will ever(lies) write.  Anyway, if you find any editing problems then just tell me about it and ill fix it (once again, lies).  And now, I will warm my freezing hands.  See you fellow herds later.  Peace *poof*