The last dance

I yawned and then sneaked a glance at my parents as the prince of whichever country bowed low before them.

I wasn’t paying attention, sue me. These galas were not my scene.

The ballroom was crowded.

And I dreaded what was going to come next.

“The princess will now have her dance with the princes and delegates “

The first gentleman stepped forward as I descended the throne, tall with raven hair and breathtaking eyes.

In a flash his hand was around my waist and oh gosh I wanted to cringe so bad.

After what seemed like an eternity of his theatrics and showboating , his waltz slowed down and I internally got ready to sprint from his arms back to my adorable little throne next to the King and Queen, also known to me as : sweet mum and dad.

"

Are you different from the others?" he asked suddenly .

I looked up sharply.

What did he mean?

I didn’t say a word.

"Listen to me. You're in grave danger " he whispered.

His lips barely moved

Of course I was in

grave danger; from almost losing my lunch all over his polished shoes.

I wasn't brought to

this earth for extensive dancing, it ended at polite waving and demure smiles.

 " Your life will end in a few minutes if you don't stop daydreaming about how handsome I am and listen to me."

"EXCUSE ME!?"

He smiled

slightly .

"So you do have a

voice."

I rolled

my eyes.

Wait , did he say die?

As in, the process of exchanging one's life for death ?

That dying?!

"Are you threatening me?!”

His hands tightened around me as he smiled

“As a matter of fact, I am.”

How did I get here, put straight in the arms of a potential killer. My stomach churned.

The aforementioned man

gave me a little twirl and the crowd went wild.

Were these people even

serious at all? Their crown princess was about to

lose her head!

I didn’t know whether to beg, to signal the guards or to start saying my prayers to whichever God my mother was convinced would smile upon me tonight.

“ Any sudden movements and your dress will become as red as the life flowing liquid in your body.”

He pulled me close as I felt the sharp edge of a knife in my side.

I shouldn’t have worn white today. If I got out of this alive, my silly sister would weep for sure.

I didn’t want to tremble but I felt my courage leave me. “What do you want from me ?”

He sighed, and I relaxed a little as I felt the knife leaving my side .

“shock value”

He turned abruptly , still keeping a firm grip on my midsection.

A hush went throw the crowd as they saw the knife he suddenly put at my neck. I gulped

My Mother screamed and her lady in waiting tried in vain to calm her down.

My captive yelled suddenly, all form of poise and class gone from his voice.

“ Don’t you remember me, King Caspian!!!!!!!!!”

My father , if he knew this man, said nothing but “ let my daughter go “

“Father..” I tried to speak .

The mad man turned on me “ NO NO NO, little princess. You don’t get to speak !”

He laughed to himself, his tie undone, his eyes bloodshot .

One of the guards suddenly tried to rush at him but before he could even get to us , he fell to the ground, an arrow protruding from his back.

Gasps went all around as the guests panicked.

There were archers all around us, dressed in tattered clothes, some dressed in fancy clothes and some wearing a mix of both.

My captor grabbed me by the upper arm and dragged me to the stage, crowing all the while . “ We are the revolution. We are the people who have been left to die of poverty while you monsters wine and dine on the blood that our parents shed while helping this corrupt king establish his parasitic kingdom. “

From my spot on the dais, I now saw, that most of these archers were my age, some younger, some older. Their eyes were filled with pain, hatred, tears.

I turned to look at my Father. My hero

“ Father…”

He turned from me “ This is not the time for questions Aurelia….”

The handsomely dressed killer mimicked “blah blah, this is not the time for questions Aurelia. How sweet. Trying to shelter your innocent daughter from your crimes.”

The nameless man shouted out “vipers, step forward”

2 young people stepped forward . They positioned their bows

“Say goodbye, little princess.”

The arrows flew before I could react and I watched as they lodged into my parents chests.

Pandemonium erupted.

I was knocked to the ground amidst shouting.

“Take her to the dungeons!” Someone yelled and I was lifted, my mind in a daze.

What just happened?

The burly man holding me kept making crude jokes and my mind felt violated as we were sent to the belly of the castle. The smell assaulted me. Is this where my father was keeping the prisoners? This is inhumane

“ Best be gettin’ used to the stench little princess. This here’s gonna be your new home “ He laughed, and snorted and snorted and laughed some more.

I was shoved into the prison and I stood shakily on my feet.

My jailer left , laughing to himself about whatever silly joke was on his mind.

My white dress was brown .

My parents were dead.

The kingdom was in Chaos,

I was in prison.

Oh gosh, I’m in prison.

I sank to the ground in a heap.

Tears rushing down my face in disturbing amounts.

Where were my sisters and brothers ?

Were they safe?

Who was that man?!

That arrogant man!

The more I thought about him, the more anger built within me.

He should have killed me when he had the chance.

Turned this white dress red with blood.

But he didn’t

And he would regret leaving me alive.

They all would.