Demons Heart

The white clouds break as the darkened sky is just beyond the horizon. "Is it night time already?" King Armont asks as he looks through the window of the plane, to see the blue sky gone. The seat buckle sign flashes on as the pilot tells everyone that there will be turbulence up ahead. The plane starts to shake as King Armont, his wife Sasha and their daughters look at each other. The turbulence doesn't let up as thunder shakes the skies. A flash of light is seen through all the windows before the lights turn off and oxygen masks come out. The royal family all put it over their face as they submerge into the water as everything goes dark. They die on impact as lightning has struck the plane down. The plane sinking further and further into the ocean. The plane crash is broad casted all over the country, meanwhile I'm alone in the north end of the castle, in my garden. My bare feet in the grass as I dig through the weeds that are taking up room for my vegetables to flourish. The Cleyan nation is in devastation as the rumbling of footsteps is heard through out the Cleyan palace. The royal guards and the family that is left of the Cronan's make their way to the north part of the castle, in search of Emory Cronan. They burst into her room as they look for her, until they see the door to the garden open as they walk inside and see her tending to the vegetables in the raised garden beds. "Princess Emory." One of the royal guards greets her as her awful cousin scoffs. "We really couldn't get worse then her." Benjamin now scowls as he eyes me up and down. I know he's judging my multicolored blonde hair, dull blue eyes and wide figure. My chest is too small, yet my hips are wide is the biggest remarks I'd hear whispered about. It's not the ideal body shape for a princess, is it? I did however once hear a woman say I have a nice hourglass figure, for a fat woman. I've heard the rumors, how could I not now that I've been shunned in the north side of the castle all my life. My family had made it clear that I don't fit into the royal picture and thus should pretend I don't exist, yet now people have come to visit, while usually it's only the odd servant to tend to cleaning and to stock my kitchen. "What brings you here?" I ask Benjamin, yet the guards take off their hats as they bow their heads. "The family has perished in a plane crash and now you're the next to lead us to our doom." "Isn't that peachy?" The moment freezes in time for me as I take in the news. I had never been close to my family but for them to be gone... it didn't feel real. "Don't get too excited there." "You can't take the crown without a husband and I've taken it upon myself to choose your suitors." "You've what?' "You heard me dear cousin." Benjamin taunts as I clench my teeth in both anger and pain. I've just been told my family is dead and yet Benjamin is already planning my wedding and coronation. "I've picked the worst of the worst." He leans in and whispers into my ear before pulling away. "I do hope one can sweep you off your feet though, or else the crown will fall to me." "It's best if you start getting ready now, they'll be here tomorrow." He says as he flicks one of the green beans hanging from it's stem. "You must choose a king by the end of the day." This is all too much and too fast. My usual radiant smile is wiped off my face as Benjamin starts walking away with the guards. I have to think of something, anything to stall this from happening and that's when it hit me. "The royal suitor games." I say as Benjamin halts in his footsteps. "You've heard me my dear cousin." I taunt as I take a few steps towards him. "A true king will be able to pass the games and you know the rules." "Once a crowned prince or princess declares the games, their suitors must be brought forth to prove their worth to the thrown." " You dare speak of worth." I hear Benjamin spit out as he leaves angrily. I turn back towards my garden as I finish weeding. My tomatoes are now almost ripe and my hot peppers are also coming along. I then walk towards my array of flowers and spritz them with some water. They are glowing under the sunlight as I open the window and feel the breeze on my skin. "Your highness." I hear as I see one of the new maids with in the palace. "Jenny?" I ask her as she usually doesn't talk with me, yet her hair looks disheveled, her eyes wide and her whole body is shaking. "What's going on?" I ask her as she sticks out her hand, with an envelope in it. "What's this?" I walk forward and take it from her. I open it up and see a name written on a card. Vornan is printed in bold letters. "Who is this?" "He must attend tomorrow." Her voice quivers in fear. "My families life depends on it." "What?" I ask her as she backs away, running off as I call for the guards. They chase after her as I reach the end of the hallway, the end of the north side of the palace. No one dared to let me go further. It was a rule for many years but if what Benjamin said is true, then it no longer applies. I'm now next in line to be queen of Cleyan. I close my eyes and step over the invisible line. I open my eyes once I hear no protests and to my right I see Benjamin. He smiles menacingly at me. "The princess is free from her tower, not for long though." He laughs as he walks away and I run down the grand staircase that I only vaguely remember as a child. It was only when I was a child that I was considered the princess of Cleyan. When I was beautiful and perfect in my parents image. Once I blossomed into the ugliness they see now, well I had a separate entrance and a separate quarters for the remainder of what they said would be my life. That has all changed now as I race through the foyer and out the door, still bare foot as I look around for Jenny. "Where is she?" I ask the guards as they shake their heads. "We apologize your highness." "She ran off, we couldn't catch her." A few of the guards that ran afyer her say as they breathe heavily. "We sent a few men to keep chasing after her." "Find her... also make sure this man is let in tomorrow." I give him the card as I stare into the distance, down the road where Jenny disappeared. I wasn't sure whether to believe it to be true but I won't risk her families life over my doubts. I walk back inside as Benjamin walks to the kitchen and I too feel my stomach growl in hunger. I walk towards him as he scowls. "This isn't your kitchen." He says as I open the fridge and shut it as I turn around, wanting to play his game. "You're right." "This is my house, my kingdom and my title." "Shouldn't you be leaving?" I see his nostrils flare as he mumbles something about how it won't be mine, not until I get a husband. "By the way, another suitor has been added to the list." "You can't do that." He says to me as I laugh. "Why can't I?" His mouth opens and closes as he can't refute it. "I already picked out 14 suitors." "What's one more to be added?" He wants to tell me I can't. I can see it on his face but I won't be handed off to the men he picked, that will most likely follow his rules and will treat me like the outcast I've been for years, though my only other option now is a man who may have threatened one of our staffs family. I would throw out his list all together but there's only so many suitors in the surrounding nations. I wouldn't have any better options then the ones he chose, if only I could have gotten to them before he brainwashed them. The most brainwashed I know of since gossip does spread around is Aiden Woolen, the most prominent suitor, with connections to our nation. He'll be the most confident man in the bunch as I assume Benjamin has already filled him in on who I am, yet I know my dear cousin has no clue on how to woo me in any form. A title of king isn't going to win my heart, not by a long shot. I look around in case anyone is lurking around the kitchen and decide to head back to my suite. I want to appear powerful and in control, yet all I want to do is go back to my suite and eat the pie I had made today. I do exactly that as I see the guards stand straighter as I walk by them. They never used to act this way. I remember the days when I was ten years old, trying to squeeze through the barrier they'd create for when I wanted to see my parents. That was before I learnt the truth but as a little girl who suddenly was all alone and had no idea why, it became an exciting mystery that I had to solve. I was thirteen when I learnt the truth, when one night I had finally snuck past a guard as he fell asleep and entered my fathers office. He was looking over his papers when I smiled brightly at him and cheerfully called him father. His face lit up until he raised his head and looked at me. He realized I was the daughter he hasn't seen in three years, that I had escaped. His face morphed into disgust, especially when looking at the weight I had gained but who can blame me when I had gotten rather sad over the departure of my family. I shove another piece of apple pie into my mouth as I recall such memories. It's all changed now and yet why do I still feel like a prisoner? "What is this!?" I squeeze my eyes shut as the tone echoes inside the memory. My mother finds me with my father and she too looks at me with distaste. "She must have gotten past the guards." My smile disappeared as I looked between my parents, the last time I saw my parents, except the odd time I'd see them hang a new family portrait on the walls. The last day I saw them, they had sat me down and explained everything to me, like a good girl who should listen to the words of her elders, yet even then I knew what they were doing was wrong. That this mustn't be the way a family treats each other. "Why?" I asked as my mother sighed. "Sit down." My mother told me as I feel a tear slip from my eye as I eat more pie. I wish I had walked out and never looked back, yet I wanted to hear it, to know the mystery, to know why I was alone. "You must first understand that we as royals must uphold the perfect image for the people." "We mustn't dress a certain way, talk a certain way and beyond anything look a certain way." I feel her eyes on me as if I'm back in that office as I recall her words. "What do you mean?" I asked as a naive young girl and my mother shook er head as she looked to my father for help. "You're neither skinny nor pretty and beyond anything you aren't elegant, not like your sisters." "I'm not?" I remember looking down at my body as if my skin carried boils, my rolls were grotesque and my hair was made of straw. It was the first time I was made to feel ugly. My parents continued to explain how I'd ruin the families image if I were to ever attend events, to take pictures with them and that it would only harm the family in the end. I remember telling them I understood, that I'd work hard at becoming a proper lady and they encouraged me, saying one day I'd be apart of the family once I fit the royal image. I then recall the few years after that as I had severely starved myself, exercised and even got them to bring in people to take care of my skin, yet at sixteen I was sent a letter. My mother handwriting is vivid in my mind as I remember her words. Dear Emory I've seen your progress and while it may be late to say, I do think you're beautiful now, only you can't be apart of this family any longer. The years have now passed and we've told the press that you have died. They had asked about you when you were a young child and now I'm afraid we can't reveal what has happened. I know you'll feel great sorrow but think of the family. We can't let them know we've locked you away, so I promise you this. One day you'll get to marry a man of your choosing. You'll get to fall in love and leave this place if you choose it. Sincerely your mother I take out the letter from an old box I have, filled with memories of my happy child hood, as I place the rest of the pie back in the fridge. The letter is still there as is the memories of me as I cried for days. I remember sending out all the beauticians and finally I started doing things to make me happy. I built my indoor/outdoor garden, I ate what I wanted but in moderation and I focused on my drawings. I became that happy girl again, only after years did I become the strong, playful and happy woman I am now. I now wonder if I would have been the same person if my parents had taken care of me in the way most parents do. Would I have built my garden, perfected my technique in drawing and would I be smiling as much as I have? I won't get an answer to my questions now that they're gone, with no way to rewrite the past, my only hope is that the plans my dear cousin has doesn't come to fruition. That my mother can keep her one promise to me, that I'll marry a man of my choosing even if it now means I'll need to stay in the kingdom, especially since Benjamin is next in line after me and he'd ruin the kingdom and the nation. It's then that I hear a knock on my door as I see a new maid, one that must be replacing Jenny. "Your highness, I have dresses for you to choose for tomorrow." I watch her bring in a rack of very fancy dresses, yet I take one close look at them and know that Benjamin has sent them. "They're all too small." I clench my teeth as the maid looks surprised as a blush is set on her cheeks out of embarrassment. "I'm deeply sorry, i'll fix it." "I'll get new ones that are in the right size." She continues to babble. "Your name?" I interrupt her as she blushes harder, realizing she didn't introduce herself. "Dina." "Dina, this is a cruel joke my cousin is making." "It's of no fault of yours." "You didn't do anything wrong." "Really?" "Really." "I do however need some fabric as I'll be making a dress tonight." "I can't let you do that." Dina says as I shake my head. "All the stores are closed and besides, I have a sewing machine and can easily pull one together." "You can?" "You haven't heard the stories yet but I'm sure you will, I've been locked in this side of the palace for many years and thus grew accustomed to do everything myself." "It used to be out of necessity but I quite enjoy learning new things." "It keeps me busy." "Well I'll get you that fabric." Dina leaves as I think about Benjamin. He must be getting me back for the kitchen incident. He knew the stores would be closed and that my only option is to make it myself. I told Dina how it isn't a hassle, yet I'll be up all night making this dress. "You didn't tell me which ones." I hear as Dina strides back into my room with floral, textured and regular fabrics. "This is a lot." I mention as she smiles. "I hope it's enough." "It is." I then tell her to head home for the night as I look over my choices. The only fabric she didn't get was lace, which I would have appreciated and instead go with silk. It isn't the most flattering on me but if I put layers on it, while outlining my curves, then it should work. I trace out my dimensions as I take needles and pin the dress in places where I'll stitch. I then hop over to the sewing machine as I set it up and run the fabric through it. The stitching is very good, yet I'll now how to figure out the layers and if I'll add any sort of beading to it, which I think I will, around the neck and straps. It's tedious work and I swear at one point I hear Benjamin's laughter echoing through the palace. He can't be up though, can he? I ask myself this as I look at the clock and see that it's two in the morning. All I have to do is finish up the bottom part as well as the laced up back. I work through it even as the needle continuously poke my fingers. They're sore and red as I hold up the dress and look at the finished product. It's now three in the morning as I change my clothes and look in the mirror. The dress is snug around my curves, while hiding some of the fat I have. It's very flattering on me as I stick my tongue out at my door, pretending Benjamin is behind it. He may have wanted to ruin tomorrow for me but I ended up making a dress that will easily lure the man I desire. I'm surprised by my confidence but it's true. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. I love myself and the man I marry will love me as well. "Your highness." Dina is back even though I told her to go home. "I knew it would take you all night, my mother was a seamstress." "I didn't want you to worry, plus my cousin and I play all the time." "That's a lie." Dina says, yet seems surprised by her own words. "I didn't mean to say that." "It's alright but may I ask why you said it?" "The gossip is that you're a sweet child that was locked away for not looking like the other royals, while your cousin is a dictator." "I assume any game of his isn't a game at all." "Our staff really know how to talk." I laugh as she smiles, while handing me a hair clip, that's beaded eloquently. "Where did you get this?" "My mother taught me a thing or two and I wanted to make you an accessory to go with your dress." "It's beautiful but it's too much." "You must have stayed up all night to make this." "The same as you." She jokes as I smile, while yawning. "You should really get your rest now your highness." "I should, especially after the show I'll have to put on." Dina questions me, yet I don't elaborate further. "It's just a royals duty." I tell her instead as I too tell her to get some rest. She leaves as I take off the dress and hang it up in my closet, with the beaded hair clip, clipped to it. I slide under my blankets as I get into bed and think about tomorrow. Will I meet a man whom I'll love? Will he be marrying me or marrying the crown. There's a lot to consider and since Benjamin has rigged the guest list, well I assume whoever he may be, he will marry the crown first. I'll play second fiddle to the legacy my family left behind. I suppose the best I can hope for is to find a man who will treat me with kindness and respect as I'm holding the key to his kingdom, army, wealth and power. The man who marries me will have to prove himself to me, the people and to the crown. I think this may just weed out some of the weaker men that truly do only want the crown since each of the games will increase with much difficulty.