Isle of the Damned

Analia

Loud eloquent music echoed through the hall. Couples danced in the middle of the room and ornate round tables filled up the sides. Arrangements of deserts piled high on the centre of the tables and little bunches of flowers surrounded them. A table filled with savoury snacks and drinks laid in the corner of the room. Candelabras decorated the outside of the room creating a fire lit, romantic atmosphere.  It seemed carefully and intricately decorated.

"It's very fancy in here," ava quietly spoke. 

"Certainly, not what we're used to," Alvaro commented.

"Maybe we can change that, one day," James added.

"We will change that one day. Though, our parties are much livelier and fun," I said with certainty. 

"What's are your parties like?" Tyson quizzed. 

"Well, there's certainly a lot more drunks for a start," Evander laughed.

"There tends to be livelier music. Also less ballroom dancing and more... freestyle dancing. I'm not sure how to describe it but it's definitely less formal than this," I said looking up at him. 

"You'll have to teach me some time," he flirted. It was drastic how quickly his attitude changed. I think that he's actually a good person, just with a bad father. I was glad Seth's prejudice and discriminatory tendencies hadn't passed onto him. My guess is that even in King Seth's castle there was still good influences. 

"Definitely," I said, searching his eyes, trying to see what lay underneath. I had a strange urge to get to know him better. 

"Our parties are definitely less expensive-looking," James stated as he continued to look around. 

"Hmm, it's not like we need it to have fun anyway," Ava said giving James a smile.

"Shall we go see if we can find the princess? It'll be rude of us not to," I asked my group. 

A large number of begrudging agreements arrived from them. I wasn't exactly happy to go see her myself. She was supposed to hate us but surely she wouldn't try anything. Especially since her parents wanted to help us. 

We walked through the middle of the party in search of Analia. We all seemed to fit in rather well. All of us had appropriate clothing and if I say so myself, we looked remarkable. I had the dusty pink dress. Ava had an emerald green ball dress than sinched in at the waist and had a golden pattern lining the neck and the end of the sleeves. James had a black waistcoat on whereas Alvaro had a deep blue one; both were worn on top of a white shirt. We all scrubbed up well but I did miss the casual way we'd dress on the isle. 

I suddenly saw King Teo and Queen Braelynn with a girl who could only be their daughter. She adorned a small crown and a brightly coloured dress that had a long train. As I got closer I noticed she had the same fierce eyes as her mother. 

Her eyes suddenly snapped up to look at us. For a brief moment, I could've sworn they narrowed but as I blinked a large smile appeared on her face. 

"This must be Queen Arabella?" she asked looking up at her parents. 

"It is," her father responded looking down at his precious daughter with a smile.

"My mother described you so well. Beautiful black hair that travels down to your waist and gorgeous clear skin. Grey eyes like a stormy sea," she said addressing me.

"You recognised me straight away so she must have," I laughed, "Happy birthday, Princess Analia. I hope it's a good one." 

"Thank you so much. Wait, Prince Tyson is with you? I thought your father would never allow it," she said with clear interest as she turned her head to look at him.

"He doesn't know yet," he replied a bit sheepishly, "I'm going to talk to him soon".

"Things are just a bit complicated now," James explained. 

"I hope everything turns out okay. I have to go greet everyone else at the party now but it was really nice meeting you," she sweetly said. 

"It was nice meeting you too."

"I hope you have fun," Evander added as she walked off with a quick wave.

I was surprised by how amiable she was. From the way she was described I thought she was going to be horrific to deal with. I guess not all descriptions are truly accurate of a person. She gave the impression of innocence and naiveness that could only come from being young. 

"I'm was hoping to grab some food to take to Evander and Myla. Is that okay?" Evander asked looking to Teo and Braelynn. 

"Of course it is. Take as much as you want," King Teo answered. 

"We've also got to go greet some people but it's so nice to see you here," Braelynn said with a smile. 

"See you later, thank you for inviting us," I said. 

James had suddenly picked up the courage to ask Ava to dance with him. It was adorable. He asked if the most beautiful girl in his eyes would dance with him. Ava, of course, said yes and I was left alone with the Prince of Pethryn. 

"It seems it's just us again," he said with a laugh. 

"It seems it is," I said with amusement. It was like fate was really trying to push us closer together. 

"Dance with me then?" he asked, with what I can only describe as fake confidence. His smile seemed shy although his words steady.

"Of course, what else is there to do at a party?" 

We spent a few hours twirling around the dance floor. Unfortunately, he was just as clumsy as me. We both had two left feet. It didn't matter though because it was so much fun. We couldn't stop laughing and honestly, I couldn't stop staring into his gorgeous brown eyes that seemed to be the window to his soul. I loved the very small flecks of blue that surrounded the outside of the iris and the way they changed colour in the flicker of candlelight, They truly were marvellous. 

At some point, we stopped for food and drinks. He told me about his best friend Kace and how life was growing up in Pethryn. I told him about life on the isle and how it differed from here. He told me about his love of games and food. When he wasn't trying he was kind of adorable. Maybe he did actually hold quite a bit of charm. 

Eventually, as the hours passed by I got tired and so headed off in search of my room. A large smile adorned my face. I felt giddy in a way I hadn't in a while. He had stayed at the party to talk over things with Teo and Braelynn but promised to visit me tomorrow. 

Suddenly, I felt a hand tap my shoulder. Dejavu hit me and I turned around with a smile. However, instead of Tyson, it was Analia. Did she follow me? 

"You may have my parents fooled but I know the truth about you're... lot. I've sent a letter to King Seth explaining this whole situation and he'll come for you. I hope you all die, you're scum," she spat at me. I guess she was as bad as we'd been told then. 

I pusher her to the side so that she was pressed up against the wall. Why did this keep happening? 

"You can't do anything to me. My parents would be furious if you hurt their precious daughter."

"Why are you telling me about this then? " I asked with suspicion

"Because I want to watch as you run in fear before you're slaughtered like the animals you are," she laughed.

What an evil b***h. She was truly s******c. From the party, you'd never have guessed. I swallowed my anger, pushed her to the floor and turned around in search of my party so that I could alert them of the information I'd just gained.