From Princess to Queen

Ava P.O.V   Staring at the application form that could possibly change my life forever. As the princess of Luna Island that people rarely get to see, some people call me the Mystery Princess.   Others don’t even believe that I even exist. My parents are so overprotective, it feels like I have no control of my own life. My dad has me and my brother, Noah, training everyday as if we are going to war.   He says that can never be too prepared, not with the dark mages out there destroying villages and out to take over the island. I do understand this, but that doesn’t make it any less difficult. Well, soon things are going to change when I turn eighteen next week. I will finally be old enough to go to Luna Academy, the ancient school for supernatural people.   There is only one problem with that my parents would never let me apply. So, I’m going to do it behind their backs and pray to the gods that they don’t kill me.    My only childhood friend, Grace sneaked the magical application form in for me. She is applying too. Sitting with her on my bed, she pokes me in the ribs with her bony finger and whispers.   “Hey where are we supposed to put our blood to magic these forms to the academy? You would think they would write it down somewhere; you know. For the dumb people like me who have no idea.” She moans.   I Roll my eyes “Ugh,, I don’t know I’m just going to wing it. We need to be quick filling these out I can’t risk anyone knowing I’m applying just yet.” I say.   I quickly finish filling in the form take the small silver dagger from my bedside table. It was a gift from my dad and is decorated with beautiful vines and small roses swirling around the cross guard.   My name is engraved on the handle, with a giant bright red ruby stone in the centre. Taking a deep breath, I run the edge of the dagger over my palm.   Hissing as the stinging comes, I turn my palm over to hover just above the paper. A few drops of my blood fall and… poof.   “s**t!,,Grace did you see that? It literally went up in a puff of smoke!” I turn to her and offer my dagger, though she is still filling the form in. She pulls such a weird face when she concentrates it looks like she’s constipated or something.    A giggle escapes my lips, causing her to snap her head in my direction and give me the evil eye. Her long straight red hair flows to just past her shoulders, and she has Pale porcelain skin and, bright green eyes. High cheekbones and thin lips fill her diamond-shaped face.   As far as the look is concerned, we are complete opposites. I have long, wavy, white, blonde hair that frames my heart-shaped face, stopping halfway down my back. Bright blue eyes, full, plump lips and tanned skin. While she is five feet and six inches tall, with a slim athletic body, I am a short five feet two inches with curves in all the right places, at least I can be thankful for that.    Even though I might have a nice round ass, she is gifted with the biggest boob’s I’d seen on such a slim body, which makes them seem even bigger. Mine is a decent handful though, so I can’t complain.    Grace finishes her form then slices her palm.    “b***h! That stings!”    Giggling, I grab her hand and hold it palm down over the paper. “I know it does. Now keep still, I don’t want blood all over my bed” I groan.    Another puff of dark smoke later and it is gone. Grace turns to me, eyes wide with the biggest smile. “Thank the gods that’s done! I’m so nervous, I can’t take it.” She says throwing herself on my bed with her arms splayed out.    This girl is such a drama queen. Sighing, I turn to face her “you’re lucky you’re already eighteen. You can find out any day now if you get accepted. I still have a week til I’m eighteen to find out.” With heavy footsteps, I walk over to the large window in my room.   Plopping myself down on my window seat and looked out over the castle grounds. I see my dad and brother still training. They have been out there all day. I breathe out heavily through my nose.    Grace sits up on the bed, looking at me with a stupid grin on her face. “Ava, don’t stress. I’m sure it will be fine. I’m only two weeks older than you. I’m sure I’m going to have to wait to hear back” she explained. “So, stop getting pissy” she added, in a stop being a royal brat tone.   I Roll my eyes and she starts laughing. “Stop, I could practically hear that eye roll,” she says in a playful tone.   Making a “pft” sound, I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes again. This girl drives me crazy.   Grace climbs off the bed and slowly walks over to me.   Once there, she practically smashes her face into the window. “Is that your brother still training? Gods he’s hot! Look at those muscles! And that ass! Give me the strength to look away,” she says in a teasing tone. My mouth pops open, as I turn to punch her in the arm.    “So gross! Don’t ever say that about him again! He’s an asshole and my brother,”. I gag the words out, physically shaking the thought away.    “An unbelievably delicious asshole, one that has to be admired. Be rude not too,” she laughs as she rubs her arm.    I can’t not help myself this time. I have to roll my eyes and puff out a breath.    “You know, one day, you’re going to roll your eyes, Ava and they’re gonna get stuck in the back of your head!” she says with a sassy attitude, waving her index finger around.   I Bark out a laugh. “Yeah, okay babe, whatever you say.” I shoot back her.    She takes out her phone, her eyebrows raising to her hairline. “I gotta go babe, it’s getting late. You will be called for dinner soon.” Grace turns from the window and walks across the room to my door. She grabs the handle and before she can open it a knock sounds.    knock, knock, knock    A male voice can be heard from the other side of my door. “Princess Ava, dinner will be served in ten minutes. Can you make your way to the dining room please?”    Grace turns to me then wiggles her eyebrows. “Called it! I think I might be psychic.” She says happily.   I release an annoyed breath and reply “Grace you know we have dinner the same time every day. Come on, get out. I don’t want to be late.” I wave her off as I leave my room and turn down the hallway, running my fingers over the wall as I go. Come on Ava Another awkward family dinner awaits.   I walk down the grand, white, marble staircase, holding onto the gold railing I used to try to slide down when I was younger. Jumping from the last step, I walk down another long hallway, considering the large paintings as I pass, and through the dark, wooden double wood doors.    A large rectangular table with high back silver chairs is in the center of the room. A white tablecloth is draped over it, with silver cutlery set out. As I enter, mum smiles at me, her heart-shaped face with deep, blue eyes. Her blonde hair is pulled back into a tight bun, and she is wearing one of those overly tight dresses she loves that leaves little to the imagination, this one being a deep red with a low neckline and stopping just above the knee. Julius, her white owl, perches, on her shoulder, his wide eyes watching me.    “Ava, how are you? You didn’t join your father and brother for training today,” she says in butter wouldn’t melt voice. I sigh as I take my seat across from Noah, narrowing my eyes at him. His wavy, dark blonde hair is swept across his forehead, the back and sides of his hair are shaved short. Dark blue eyes reflect mischief. My brother thinks he is a god to the ladies with his tanned skin and v-shaped-jawline, and because he is well built due to all the training he does. It may be true that he was handsome, but he's still a total asshole.   “I’m fine, Mum. I just wanted a day off. Noah nearly broke my arm yesterday,”    I answer in a low, moody voice.   “Noah!” she gasps, snapping her head in my brother’s direction. “Be careful with your sister, she’s younger than you are.” Mum says her face is furious; she looks ready to scorn him when she is cut off.   As Noah barks out a laugh. “Are you serious? She broke my nose with her elbow, split my lip, then kicked me in the ball’s!”. Noah replies his face flush with anger as his grip on the cutlery in his hands tighten.    Mum’s hand flies to her mouth to cover the look of shock on her face, while a smug grin pulls at my lips. “The violence in this house is getting ridiculous,” she spits turning to my father and letting out an annoyed breath.    “We are supposed to be raising the future rulers of this island, not violent criminals!” She slams her hand down on the table, making the glasses shake.   Dad places his hand over hers. He has dark blonde hair, tied in a bun on top of his head. His eyes are bright blue, like mine, and his tanned skin is the opposite of Mum’s flawless pale complexion. Dad is a massive man, a warrior, and can seem very intimidating to people who do not know him personally.    “Breathe, Lilly, he says soothingly. We agreed the children should be well trained so they can always protect themselves. You know what it’s like out there, the dark mage attacks are getting more frequent. They have even taken up a small part of the island and no one now dares to go there.”    She sighs and turns to look at both me and Noah with worry in her eyes. “I know, Rowan I just never thought it would be like this. Light mages selling their souls and going dark to have a little extra power. Trying to take over the island. It’s getting out of hand!”   The doors to the dining room open. I turn my head to see the waiters come walking through with our meals. I keep my head down for the rest of dinner, just wanting to go to bed already.    Ugh! My birthday cannot come quickly enough. After a painful forty-minute family dinner, I say goodnight to my family and leave to slowly walk back to my room. I hum the Ed Sheeran song, Thinking Out Loud, which I heard on the radio the other day whilst training. As I walk past the kitchens, someone grabs my hand, seemingly out of nowhere, and starts pulling me. I let out a squeak before a hand flies to my mouth.    Green eyes stare back at me. ‘Grace! WTF?’   ‘Shhh,” she hisses. “Come on, let’s get back to your room. I have news!’ she says excitedly, practically pulling me the whole way to my door. I open it as she pushes me through into my room, then she slams the door shut after me.    “What the hell is wrong with you, Grace? You’re acting like a crazy person! More so then usual.” I say as I watch her.    Jumping up and down then making some weird noises she is acting as if I spider just crawled in her top.    “I got it! I got it! She pulls out a black envelope she had stuffed in her pocket. “It’s a letter from the Academy”    My eyes bug out as I lean against my door.   “Already? It’s only been two hours since we sent the forms off!” I whisper to myself, not believing how quickly this is happening.   She rips it open, her eyes frantically scanning the paper. I hold my breath. How could she get it this quick? Grace lets out a high-pitched squeak. “I got in! I got in! Ahhh! I can’t believe it!”   I release the breath I was holding “Oh, s**t. That’s great babe.” I try to sound excited, but my voice falls flat.   Grabbing my hands, she looks me in the eyes. ‘   ” Hey, you will find out soon enough, Ava. Don’t worry, we will start this new journey together. You’re like a sister to me.” She says sweetly and I couldn’t help the small smile that arrears on my face.    It’s true, we are like sisters. Grace was an only child, and her parents were murdered by the dark mage’s when we were sixteen. Luckily for her, she was staying at my house the night it happened. Even though she blames herself for their death there was nothing she could have done to stop it and I was always there to remind her of that. When the pain of what happened bubbles to the surface, I’m the one there holding her while she cries, and helping her put the broken pieces of herself back together.    So, now she stays in the castle with us, just not in the royal wing. My parents didn’t want people talking about a non-royal person staying in our wing, so, she stays in the same wing as the staff.   “Grace, I am so happy for you, I really am. But, it is getting late, and I need to get some sleep. I have training with my dad in the morning.” I say as a yawn escapes me.    My shoulders feel heavy with the stress of waiting to find out. I give Grace a weak smile, she sighs and smiles back “ok night Ava, I will see you tomorrow.”    She leaves my room and softly closes the door.    I walk to my en-suite bathroom. The dark grey tiled floor feeling cold on my feet, I turn the shower on, strip off my clothes and get in. Hot water runs down my skin. I can feel my muscles instantly relax as I lather up the shampoo in my hair.   I wash my body with soap then, have the chore of shaving my legs as those bad boys are starting to look like my brother’s!    I quickly rinse my hair off then step out. I dry off and get into my rose gold, silk, button-down, short pajama set. I brush my teeth before combing my hair and tying it up in a bun on top of my head. Then I crawl into my queen-sized bed, the silk sheets feeling amazing on my freshly shaved skin. Closing my eyes, sleep comes quickly.