The Alpha’s Phoenix

Chapter Three

Chapter 3

​I shook my head to get rid of my memories, “memories do me no good,” I muttered. I looked down at my feet where I had died ten years ago, so much has changed since then; the scorch mark barely visible. Over the years, I had died many times to test my boundaries and how much I could alter my appearance. I still haven’t found any boundaries, only lost count of the number of deaths that grew more painful the closer they were to each other. I raised my head to view the land. My ancestral home regained the life it lost in the blight; the new King had taken my home and raised his family in the palace I was raised in. I glanced back at the white palace before turning my back to it, time to get lost in the crowd.

​In the past ten years I had trained myself in archery and swordsmanship to survive roaming barbarians and to hunt game for my livelihood. Every few years I returned to my homeland to kill a soldier or lord that stole everything from me, I memorized their faces before I died that second time.

Today my appearance was plain with a slim build, pale skin, and my brown hair pulled into a bun covered under a worn cloak. Golden eyes as always, those I could never change so I kept my eyes downcast. I had a bow and arrows strapped to my back as I strode into town, but had left my sword hidden in my apple tree.

The festivities were well underway to celebrate the Prince’s twenty-sixth birthday and today I wanted to avoid any attention or trouble to enjoy myself for once; to get lost in the celebration and forget my broken life. Coincidentally today was my birthday, I would be twenty-four if my body cared to notice…not that it did.

​I stopped when I reached the town center and waited with the excited crowd. I haven’t seen the prince since him and his mother arrived after the invasion. He had been sixteen and I had barely returned to the apple tree after my second death. The young prince and I had locked eyes before I turned and left; the healthy prince had replaced the lands dying princess. Now he would come join in the celebration the village brought together in his honor and I would kill him.

​I shook my head again; this place is messing with my mind. The crowd doubled in size while I had been lost in my thoughts. I was bumped into a woman by the town baker. “Sorry,” he grunted. Though I ignored him and watched the approaching prince and his court. He rode a white stallion flanked with his six guards, they would be easy to take care of; I raised my eyes to take in his detail.

​The Prince sat tall and straight. While he was tan and muscular, he carried himself with regal grace with his dark hair falling into his green eyes and threw the crowd a winning smile. I hated him even more. His guards kept the crowd at bay while he raised his hands and gave the crowd his gratitude for the festivities held in honor of his birthday. The crowd yelled and jostled me as they started chanting the prince’s name. Erik! Erik! Erik! Erik! The baker bumped me again as he yelled to the prince. I ignored the i***t as I started pushing through the crowd to get a better view.

​I realized my mistake after it happened. You would think I would learn after all I’ve been through. I glanced up and locked eyes with Prince Erik; his smile fell from his face and I froze. My heart beat picked up as he dismounted and started towards me. I was still frozen, this wasn’t supposed to happen. This wasn’t the plan! I had to move Now. I turned and ran back the way I came, back to my tree. My skin was tingling as my adrenaline pushed me forward.

“Stop her!” Prince Erik yelled behind me. He had barely reached the crowd when I was nearly out. My arm was grabbed by a strong callused hand and it swung me around. It was the baker. “I’ve got her!” the baker yelled to the prince.

“Like hell you do,” I growled at the baker. His eyes flicked from the Prince then back to my eyes. I had much satisfaction to his blanched face before I slammed the butt of my knife to his nose. He screamed in pain and let go of my arm to hold his nose. As I ran away from the crowd and the prince pursuing me, I had bittersweet enjoyment that people still feared the stories they were told of the golden eyed princess that burst into flames the day this land was “conquered”. Well that story as well as the others I added on over the years, which is when I renamed myself, Calamity.

I finally reached the apple tree and dug out my sword from its trunk. I turned to gather my horse from the blind side of the hill when I heard the sound of hooves pounding the earth behind me, too close.

I swung my head around to pinpoint the sound and my mouth dropped open. It was Prince Erik riding his white stallion up the hill towards me…by himself. He was either an i***t, arrogant, or had no idea I wanted to kill him. Probably all three.

​I turned to face him and held up my sword. That’s when he slowed down and eyed me with curiosity. He stopped several yards away and I had the flashback of the general standing there in the same spot. I glanced at my feet; I was in the same spot too. Maybe things don’t change as much as I thought they did. Prince Erik and I watched each other for several moments before he spoke, “I’m not going to hurt you”. His voice was kinder and gentler than I heard back in town, it added to his attraction now that I have a better look at his face. He had a strong jawbone and high cheekbones that went well with his slender nose. I was startled from my detailing when he moved and dismounted, I crouched into a fighting stance that made him freeze and hold his hands up. “I’m not going to hurt you,” he repeated.

​Should I respond? What could I say? He still hadn’t moved. This was my chance to kill him and I was blowing it. Didn’t I just notice how much more I hated him not even twenty minutes ago? Yet here he stood before me. “Then why are you here?” My reply shocked us both. People here had learned to hate any of the golden eyed appearances I had worn as I caused my chaos. Surely that was why the prince pursued me?

I watched him look me up and down. “I thought you were the girl I saw as a child when I first moved here, but I see that I was mistaken.” He had doubt in his voice; he wasn’t sure what to believe.

I leveled my gaze at him, “Yes, you must be mistaken.” No need for me to point out that the girl he saw as a child was in fact standing right before him with brown instead of gold hair and very worn clothes. I raised my chin to muster what little dignity I had left. I was no longer a princess to these people, but I still was to this land.

Something flashed in his face before I could catch it. I looked over his shoulder to see his guards racing their horses up the hill towards us. He had delayed me long enough for his guards to come. I now realized what I saw in his face, it was relief. “Are you afraid of me? Well done, you delayed me long enough for your guards to get their arses over here.” I was livid.

“No, I meant what I said. I thought I knew you and I still believe I do, you are only slightly different from what I remember even though it has been ten years.” Prince Erik replied. He seemed sincere, but trust is only for fools. I turned and ran to my horse.