Princes & I

A princess sits on a throne of glass. A prince stands on a tower of sand. *** "I was never close to my family, but I don't really like them or dislike them either. Not in the whole, "they beat me, they yell at me, they kick me out" sort of scenario. It's just that... Rather than a family, we live like housemates. I've never referred to my parents as "mum" or "dad", they've never referred to me as "my daughter" or "my girl". As soon as I hit 13, I was cooking my own meals and studying by myself. At 16 I was paying my share of the rent. Yes, it may be a little weird, but to me it's practical. As they paid for my primary education and my meals during my early childhood, it's only fair. I can't say that I haven't wished for more loving parents before, but then again there are some kids out there with no parents at all." *** Arriving at the Lloyd mansion could be compared to arriving at Buckingham palace- minus the soldiers in the fluffy hats. As I gaze at the garden's pristine marble walkways and well-kept shrubbery, the maid-who had been picking up one of my suitcases- accidentally drops it onto the gravel. "Can you not even carry a suitcase correctly!? God, the impracticality of hiring people like you." I spit at the woman, who returns my spite with big, brown, watery eyes. Ah crap, I did it again. I have a nasty habit. A habit of being nasty. I don't know what comes over me, it seems like hostility and hatred just come out of my mouth like toothpaste out of a tube. Immediately afterwards, i feel like rolling on the floor and crying with the shame and regret of my quick temper. The maid, probably only a bit older than twenty, looks as though she's about to burst into tears. Sighing, I grab the bag from her. "I can... carry this bag. If you get the other one you would be of great help." I look away from her sheepishly. Apologise, damn it! "That's not necessary, Miss! Please- let me carry them!" She shakes her head profusely, moving towards me to take the bag back, but I take a step away. "My name is Leighton." She looks up at me in a manner of surprise. Then looks down. Then back up. I click my tongue in annoyance. "Yes it's a boy's name, you i***t, now stop slobbering." "I-I didn't mean it like that-" "You can call me Leigh." I pick my second suitcase out of the car and hand it to her, nervously avoiding her imperative gaze yet again. "You could at least tell me your name in return." She gratefully takes the bag from me, a kind but tentative smile spreading across her face. "My name's Kenna." Relaxing my shoulders, I return her smile. "It's... nice to meet you, Kenna." *** Okay, scratch what I said about arriving at the Lloyd mansion, walking into it is twice as... confronting. Kenna, noticing my taken aback expression, takes my empty arm in hers. "It's alright to be a bit scared, Miss Leigh. I was the same when it was my first day on the job here." She pats my arm reassuringly. "Did I ask for your life story?" "No, but I thought you'd like the distraction." She happily starts leading me through the house once again while I burn in self pity, attempting to ignore the truth in her words. Kenna drags me through four rooms, each decorated with modern taste, before sitting me down in a parlour room that looks like it was modelled straight out of an IKEA catalogue. "So... Mr. Lloyd must be in a pretty high position at his job right? I mean, who could afford...?" A pool table with an aquarium underneath in the first room? Two paintings by Madame Valentine which I know for sure cost at least over a million each in the second room? Crystal chandeliers that would be more useful in a battle than looking pretty, hanging from the ceiling of the third room? "Well," Kenna starts explaining while pouring what looks like alcohol into a glass pitcher. "Mr Lloyd used to run a successful car company, Lloyd Autos, which he sold for over 49 million dollars." She shrugs as if it's just play money, while my mouth drops to the floor. "Although, with careful investing and such, he's on the way to doubling that amount." I knew about Lloyd Autos, I mean- who didn't? It was an Australian-exclusive car brand for people who could actually afford property in Sydney. "What does he work in now?" I question as Kenna turns to me. "Mr Lloyd informed me that his wife and your mother were very close, hasn't your mother told you anything about Mr Lloyd?" 'Were'...? Clenching my fists, I restrain myself from leaping up in defence. "No... Addison doesn't tell me much." After calling my... mother by her first name, Kenna looks confused but brushes it off. "Doesn't Mr Lloyd have sons?" I ponder out loud. "I feel sorta bad, adding to the amount of kids he has in his way." "Oh, don't worry about that." Kenna sniffs, brushing her auburn hair to the side. "Most of his kids don't enjoy staying under the same roof as Mr. Lloyd anyway. You'll be like a breath of fresh air to him." "They don't?" Who wouldn't want to stay in this house? "Not a bit, they're all quite spoilt if you ask me." Kenna tsks as she mixes the contents within the jug around. "They're basically Princes. Some of the maids even have nicknames for them, makes it easier to differentiate the five. Like Cold Prince, Cute Prince, Weird Prince, names like that." I nod understandingly, turning my attention back to the room around me. "Are all the rooms... like this?" "Like what, Miss Leigh?" "Of great taste and architecture? It's good to know we have someone is this house who appreciates it. Lovely as ever, Leighton dear." A voice cuts through the comfortable atmosphere of our conversation. I cautiously look towards the owner of the voice to see a man in his early 60s moving towards one of the room's velvet lounges. White streaks his otherwise clean and tidy dark brown hair, and deep bags accompany his brown eyes. It's him- there's no other that could be as intimidating as the man standing before me. "Theodore... I mean," I clear my throat while straightening my posture, attempting to keep a lady-like figure. "Mr. Lloyd. It's good to see you again, my parents-" Sniffing, I hurriedly cover my mistake. "David and Addison send their regards." He maintains his cold stare. "You still refer to them as so." "I will refer to them as I like." I snap back harshly. An applause cuts the tension. "Bravo, Princess, bravo." Like a rose which grows out of a bed of thorns, a boy appears from beyond the shelter of a gleaming oak door. Surveying me up and down, I return the favour. His platinum blonde hair passes his ears, one side tied and tucked away behind his ear to reveal a number of silver piercings. Icy blue eyes stare daggers towards me, making it clear that I am the outsider. 20...? 21...? This guy couldn't be younger than 18... Theodore breaks his gaze to look at the man. "Leighton, this is Elliot, my middle son. He's 17, your age." I stand corrected... I fold my arms and lean my back against the plush sofa, subtly averting my attention from Theodore's rundown of room curfews to watch Elliot's actions. He flops down onto one of the couches set up against the wall nearest to the door, lazily playing with his earrings. Lazy, pretentious, cold. Definitely an Ice Prince. "Leighton." A demanding voice snaps me out of my thoughts. "Y-Yes, Mr Lloyd?" The man gives me a long sigh. "Please, as we're living together, just call me Theo." I nod. "Okay, Theo." A content but worried smile spreads across his face. "Look, about your parents-" "We're here~!" A shout that that surely the whole neighbourhood could hear interrupts Theo's concerns. "I brought Axel! But in return he said he doesn't wanna attend any work gatherings for the next five days." Two boys appear from behind the same oak door the Ice Prince appeared from. A bouncing kid comes jumping along, greeting Theo with the cheeriest smile imaginable. "Dad! Dad! It's not everyday you call all of us here! What are we-" The bouncing little boy goes crashing to the floor. As the brother accompanying him rushes to the rescue, I observe the mess. Similar brownish eyes and brown hair, much resembling Theo's complexion except softer on both faces. The younger boy's face is innocent, his eyes big and round with pinched cheeks and small lips. The older boy's eyes are caring, compassionate, loving, his face complimented with dimples and a beauty spot beneath his left eye. When the younger boy is back up on his feet, the Ice Prince manoeuvres his position on the couch so he's lying on his side. "You should be more careful, Zeke. You can barely walk without turning the environment around you into a disaster zone." Theo crosses one of his legs over the other, clearly weary in the presence of his sons. "This is Ezekiel," He motions towards the young boy who fell over. "my youngest, my fifth son. He just started 5th grade." Clumsy Prince. "And this is my second eldest, Axel. He's very reliable, mind his... distorted attitude." At Theo's statement, the helpful and cheery brunette suddenly goes cold, shooting the man a hateful glare. Temperamental Prince. Expectantly, the weary man looks towards the oak door. "They're not coming, Theodore. The fourth is probably sleeping, the first is probably partying or some shit." The Temperamental Prince states. The Ice Prince sits up. "Speaking of parties..." "You are still grounded, Elliot." The old man slouches. Kenna hurriedly pours the alcoholic beverage into a glass, and serves it respectfully to Theodore, producing a well trained curtesy at his approval. Taking a sip, he returns his attention back to me. "What I was saying before, about your parents." Here we go. "I know it must be hard for you to-" "I've simply moved from once place to another due to convenience and cost, there's nothing else to it." I snap, suddenly defensive. "You offered me a better deal to live here. It costs $2500 a month to live with David and Addison, you're offering $500 less as well as a form of transportation." Unfolding my arms, I straighten my back. "May I ask... why?" The man lazily leans to the side so he can rest his left cheek in his palm. "Your mother Addison was my wife's best friend. You know how much Lily cared for you, even if she was only a bystander. She'd be heartbroken from beyond the grave, rest her soul, to see that your mother-" "Don't you dare refer to her as my mother." Raising my voice, I stand up in a rush causing the contents of the coffee table in front of me to crash over. "We are roommates, we are acquaintances. The closest thing I've had to family is the postman, because I sure saw a lot more of him than I did my own father." Kenna is quick to start cleaning the mess, although a bit too vigourously. Scratching her arm on the sharp corners of a smashed vase, she flinches in pain. "Kenna, stop, you'll hurt yourself." I order her calmly, resting my hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, that was rude of me." I restrain myself from unleashing the waterworks behind my eyes. Never had someone expressed an interest in the relationship between David, Addison and I. It was both nice and irritating. "Miss Leigh, it's alright. Thank you." She beams at me, as if every bit of kindness I give her is a moment to be treasured. "Bloody maids... f*****g vultures honestly. Waiting for your next pay raise, huh?" The Ice Prince spits out, full of malice. "Don't talk to her that way, asshole." I walk towards him to confront him but maintain a safe distance. "At least she's capable of handling her job, unlike someone who's only good at handling themselves." I smirk at the d**k joke, regardless of its immaturity. "Is that so?" He stands up and walks towards me, slyly demonstrating the status between us. "Wouldn't you like to know what I'm handling." "Sorry, I don't handle situations that small." There's a burst of laughter behind me. I turn to face the noise, and see yet another un-introduced boy standing by the door I was led through. "Oh wow, I like her." "Could you not be such a condescending asshole, Jace? Help your big bro out a bit." Elliot welcomes the boy with open arms, but is only met with sarcastic rejection. "With what? Your 'handling'? I've gotta agree with the girl, it's not like there's much to help." I find myself smiling at his helpful comment. "This is Jace, my fourth son. He's the positive one in this family, lightens up the mood like an LED. Although, you may not be able to find him time to talk to him due to his... odd sleeping habits." Theo takes another sip from his glass and Jace stretches, releasing a loud yawn. Sleepy Prince. From afar Jace sports the same looks as Elliot, but under close inspection their appearance is clearly differently defined. Jace has a slightly rougher look to him, bruises lining his collar bones and a busted lip which seems to be on the way to recovery. "And the other?" I question, although Theo looks at me weirdly. "The first son, I haven't met him yet." "Pfff...." Axel chuckles, drawing my attention to his cold eyes. "You probably won't ever have to meet his dumb ass ever, he's out partying and wasting his life away most of the time." His eyes suddenly softening, he quickly turns to Ezekiel. "Do not repeat what I just said." Slacker Prince. "Anyways..." Returning wearily to my seat, I carefully avoid Kenna and another maid who are still cleaning up the mess I made. "Thank you for the invitation to stay here, it's really nice of you. I'll hand in the rent monthly if it's okay." Would it matter? $2000 probably wouldn't even cover the cost of the cushions on this couch. "That's fine." He pauses. "I'm assuming your education is in order?" It's my turn to pause. "Um... yes. Please don't worry about it." "It's no matter. What's your schedule? So I can inform a driver your pick up and drop off times." "No! No. It's completely fine." I gulp. At my hesitation, I'm suddenly aware of a pair of eyes carefully examining me. "My... school isn't that far away, it's just a hop, skip and jump, really." "I see... Well," Theodore stands up, straightening his tie. "I'll need details on your school later for safety purposes, but I'll leave you to it for now. Kenna," He turns to the rushing maid, who's busily sweeping glass off the floor. "Make sure Leighton is formally settled in, and is comfortable." Kenna nods hurriedly, basically dropping all she's doing to pick up my two suitcases. "Please follow me to your room, Miss Leigh!!" Kenna says excitedly as soon as Theo leaves the room. "I'll run you a bath! No, I'll give you fresh garments...! Or I could give you a tour of the garden before evening!" She bounces. "Oo!! Can I join!! I wanna come too-!" Ezekiel bounces just as excitedly, before... "AAA-!" The small boy and maid clash into each other, sending the belongings in my second suit case flying all over the floor. Shit. Dozens of text books, maybe even tens of dozens, scatter across the floor like marbles spilling out of a jar. I try to look casual, attempting to not seem awkward carrying around a suitcase filled solely with school books, although most people are quick to catch on. "So, tell me," Elliot bends over to pick up one of my history text books, slyly flipping over the pages even though not interested in the contents what so ever. "Why would you lie?" "Lie about what?" I bite my lip, knowing full well how this confrontation would go. "Lie about that fact that you...." He takes a deep breath, phrasing it like an important announcement. "Don't go to a school." Embarrassed, I look him in the eyes, and he returns my stare with frosty triumph. Ice Prince... more like Bastard Prince.