THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER

Chapter 10

Beverly's POV::

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It has been two days since the incident and I have not gone to meet them. I doubt they have been going to the spot either. Asher seemed upset about my view of the Royal family. Was he related to them somehow? No, that's not possible. He is a commoner, I could feel it. And if he really was a Royal, I do not think he would be allowed to roam the kingdom and meet a commoner like he has been doing. Maybe he knows the Royal family. That seems to be my only conclusion. But I can not ask him if I am right or not. To be honest, I am scared. The way he had snapped at me had caused fear to arise in me. I do not think I have ever been that afraid. Afraid enough to reveal my secret.

    My secret. That was the other reason I have refused to go back to our meeting spot. I am worried about their reaction. I am worried they will pull away from me. Commoners are not supposed to have such powers. It is just not possible and it had never happened before. So me having such powers is dangerous. I am also worried they would tell someone about it, possibly the Royal family. If they do, it could prove disastrous for me and my family. I could be jailed or banished, simply because they would take me having powers as a sign of black magic. Black magic is not permitted in this kingdom that is why black/dark witches, wizards, sorcerers and those that practice black magic are part of the night creatures. They only come out at night to practice their black magic because if they are seen doing it during the go daytime, they would be killed. 

    The reason for this harsh punishment is that a few years ago there was an invasion of our kingdom from another kingdom. They were a very weak kingdom so imagine the surprise everyone was feeling when they suddenly attacked with power. They wanted to kill the king and overtake the kingdom. During the fight, the Prince was attacked and nearly killed. The King grew furious and killed them all with vengeance. It was during that time he realized a dark witch was helping the other kingdom using black magic. He became angry and killed the witch. After that incident, black magic was banned from the kingdom. If that incident had not happened, black magic would not have been fully banned.

    I keep wondering what they think of me. I keep hoping and praying they would not tell anyone. In my heart, I know I can trust them, but my head is thinking otherwise concerning the situation in which they found out. James, Mike and Ashley are beginning to notice more changes in me after the situation. I have become more cautious around them because I am worried I might expose myself to them as I exposed myself to Asher and his friends. I know it sounds crazy that I am hiding my greatest secret from my best friends, yet I had exposed it to people I barely know, even if it was not intentionally. But I am worried. I might have been friends with Mike and James for years and become close with Ashley during the past few months, but people change. Those you think are friends might be the ones to betray you. I am worried if I tell them my secrets, they will run away from me.

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    I was cleaning up my room after a long day at work. I have a lot of customers than usual coming to get stuff from me, though I am not complaining. I do need the money I make. Unicorn and Dragon kingdom might be a very wealthy kingdom, but it does not just hand money over to its people. I got back from work about an hour ago. It was currently 10 PM. When I looked at the clock, I began to think that normally, by this time I should at the Blue river meeting Asher and his friends. I sighed. I turned around to drop my clothes when I saw Star.

"Good grief, Star. Don't do that", I said as I stumbled back in fright.

"Sorry to startle you", she apologized.

"It's alright. But what are you doing here?", I asked as I petted her.

"Go and see him", she answered instead. I knew who she was talking about but I asked anyway.

"See who?"

"Don't play dumb. You know who I am talking about", she responded 

"Sorry Star, but I am a little busy", I said as I got back to cleaning.

"You do not have to be scared of them. You can trust them,  Beverly. They would never tell anyone", She said.

"I don't know if that's a good idea, Star", I said as I chewed my lips.

"Just go and meet them. They always wait at the same spot even though they are not sure you would come, she said as she teleported away.

    I thought about what she said. I looked at the time again, contemplating whether I should go or not. I do miss them and I would actually like to know if they had told anyone. But what I was most worried about was how they would treat me  Would they treat me with disgust? Will they treat me with fear? Will they still want to be friends with me? Are they alone? What if they brought someone along with them to show them what had happened?

     I sighed and made up my mind: I would go. I quickly got dressed in a dark blue plain and simple dress, then I put on my black cloak and slipped out of the house going to our meeting spot. As I got closer to the Blue River, I could sense them. They were all present and they seemed agitated. I guess they are probably scared of me. I would be scared of myself too if I had been in their place. Before I showed myself to them, I began to think of what to say to protect myself. I was thinking of many excuses to give to explain what had happened. I could tell them, it's not what it looks like. I could lie and say one of my parents was a fire Noble. But how would I explain my other powers? or I could tell them a Royal had blessed me with the powers. But, what if they want to meet the said Royal?

"Calm down, Beverly. Everything will be fine", I said to myself.

    I took a deep breath and went into the clearing.