Isle of the Damned

Getting ready

Today I turn 22, the youngest queen in the whole continent. I still haven't been able to comprehend it. I am the one and only royal left in Kamaria, or as most people know it 'the Isle of the Damned'. The isle was given this nickname after our ancestors were sent here as a punishment for not fighting in the ruinous black war. The war was awful and annihilated millions, including numerous children and elderly, all in an attempt to gain power.     

Now, hundreds of years later the destruction brought on by the black war still lingers and we, the people of this isle, are cursed with the misfortune of being seen as animals and laughing stock. I, however, in my parent's memory intend to change this to the best of my ability. Sadly, just like my parents, this may just lead to my death.

As I stand staring out the window of the castle I know that soon I'll have to face my fears and meet with the royals that reside on the mainland. Their people are very different from the ones I govern. They are often pretentious, stuck in their ways and cruel. Although I know there are good people out there, the majority are detestable. I'm aware that their behaviour may be down to fear and habit but it is absolutley no excuse for how we have been treated. 

My people, on the other hand, although bold, strong and opinionated do have a sense of justice and mercy. As time has passed, they have trained themselves in combat and have grown into a strong, tight-knit community that one should fear if encountered alone. I am proud to be their ruler, even if it's at such a young age.

My parents, King Ryker and Queen Kamala died when trying to negotiate better terms for our small but strong kingdom. A hostile King heard they were trying to integrate our people together with the mainland and decided to assassinate them before anything like that could happen. King Seth was certainly powerful and stuck in his prejudice ways. He will never change and so if I am to do this, I must avoid him at all costs. 

"Queen Arabella," I heard the voice of my most trusted advisor call me, breaking me out of my thoughts, "You have to come down. The court has been waiting forever for you to come down to the party. Their starting to worry that you won't show up."

With reluctance, I took my eyes of the stunning ocean filled view and turned to look at Ava. "I hadn't realised so much time had passed. I'll be down soon. I just need to get changed. Will you keep them entertained for me please?"

"I will but be quick, they've been down there a while. I must be back soon, see you there your highness," she said nodding her head once at me before turning to go back downstairs. She flashed me a quick smile before disappearing. 

I headed for my room, conveniently placed opposite to the window I'd been staring out of for a little too long. As soon as I headed in I reached into my cupboard to put on my party-suitable clothes. A black two-piece outfit is what I pulled out and so I quickly changed into it. It had a long black slim skirt with a slit riding all the way up to my upper thigh and a cropped top with sheer lace detailing around the bottom and top. 

I promptly styled my long, wavy, black hair into a messy bun and placed my personalised crown on top of it. The crowns base was gold and circled around my head. In strands parts of the gold stretched upwards in a 2D pattern, intertwining with each other like the roots of a tree. Within the spaces created in the gold  a few well-crafted raven birds adorned the crown as well as a few precious stones. It was designed for me by my parents as a gift for my 18th, knowing that one day I'd rule with it placed upon my head. Not that anyone could've expected this to happen so soon. 

Lastly, I placed my feet into some heels and slipped on a necklace that matched the crown and I knew that I was ready to face the party. To make sure I peered into the mirror to see the complete look and I knew I looked like the queen I wanted to be. Regal, strong and mighty. Now I just had to live up to that image.

So knowing I looked the part I headed out of my room and headed for the gathering downstairs, with a strange sixth sense that this wasn't going to be as simple as I'd like.