The Southern Castle

CHAPTER 1 "You're right again, young princess." "Aren't I always, Charles?" "Oh, yes. Of course you are, my apologies." Charles then bowed he's head before exiting my garden, to attend other matters, with shaky feet I might add. A smirk grew on my lips as I know the effect I have on people. To love people is for wasting time, but to intimidate them, well that's something else. My name is Isabella, the name was a gift given to me by my mother. She passed when I was just a newborn. Grieving for her would be stupid, seeing I never knew her. So what is there to really miss? Nothing, that's what. To cry for her is only to wish of the experience I lacked with a mother. And I, well, I don't wish. "Bella!?" I tilted my gaze to the castle behind me. It was one of my father's concubine's running around looking for me. Great. Ever since those trashy women found out that I was my father's daughter, they started trying to win my favour. And I do not favour. "There you are." I let out a groan, one that the concubine heard. If I wasn't a royal blood she would of scolded me for bad manners, but luckily my hatred for her could be known because of my blood. "Well, what are you doing here all alone." Her voice was irritably high, which made me cringe as I turned to face her. "A young beautiful girl like you shouldn't be here all alone, you never-" "Know who's around the corner?" I cut her off as I stepped dangerously close. "Well, actually I do. You see when my back was turned I knew exactly who it was, because of that big mouth of yours." I then pulled out my small dagger as I placed it near her face, making her eyes widen. "Next time I'll cut that tongue out of yours if you disturb me, again" "Yeah-yeah, I mean. Yes, of course your highness." She then bowed as she hurried off. I only smiled widely as I knew she was scared of me. "That was rude." "Yeah, well go tell someone who cares." I replied to the familiar voice. I then looked upwards, and there sitting in the tree was Elliot. "I wish I could but you scared her off." He smirked as he jumped down. "Be like the fly you are, and go chase after that miserable shit." He only laughed as he followed me from behind as I started to walk out of my garden. "I was actually saying it's rude to not notice your future mate." I only turned on my heel and faced him. "You shall pray to the moon goddess that we aren't destined, because I, Isabella Feral soon to be Queen of the South shall break all ties with my mate. Very Brutally, I must add." He only smiled as if ignoring my words. "Well, I Elliot soon to be scolded for being late for dinner by my mom, will do everything in he's power to make you love me, if we are destined that is." He then walked in front of me, bumping my shoulder in the process. I only rolled my eyes. If anyone else were to do that then I would of punished them, but Elliot was like a brother. An annoying brother. "Yeah, well we'll see when the times comes, mutt-ling." I smirked as I bumped he's shoulder back, walking shoulder to shoulder back to the village where he lived in. "You know." He then leaned he's arm over my shoulder. "That's only 6 years away." He was right, we were both 12. But 12 years in wolf years is quiet mature then human years. We were more advance and stronger. "Good, it will give you enough time to get over this crush you have." I said jokingly as I shoved him off. He only laughed and I smiled. "Maybe, maybe not." That's when we stopped in front of the village, this is how it always was. How we was. He then turned before entering. That's when the loud bells started going off. It was time. Curfew. "I guess this is where I leave." He said with a smile, one that didn't reach he's eyes. That's when I pulled him in a hug, as I wrapped my small arms around he's neck. "You know we'll meet again soon, Elliot." "Yeah, but in secret." That's when I playfully punched he's shoulder, he then looked at me confused. "What was that for?" He whined "You're my brother that is not born to my family, that means you are all mine. Aren't you satisfied with that?" He then smiled widely. "Go on, before the last bells ring." He nodded as he ran into the village. But as he ran he turned back waving. I only waved back before I turned and started returning to the castle. On my way there I got a feeling someone was watching me. That's when I picked up my pace. I turned swiftly around the corner, once I did that I started running for it. But soon stopped when I saw my father's concubines blocking my way, and when I looked behind I saw them blocking my pathway from behind me as well. Something was going on. "Oh, Bella. What are you doing here all alone? Didn't you hear the bells?" One of the concubine's sickening voice spoke up. "I was on my way back, not that I need to explain myself to you 5." I replied back with an attitude, as always. As I was going to walk past them, one of the concubines, Willow. Grabbed my foreman, making it hard for me to continue to walk. "Where do you think you're going?" Willow smirked, with a sinister look in her eyes. "You know." Amber, the main concubine and the one I saw earlier in the garden spoke up. "Your father will never claim one of us as a bride as long as you live." My eyes went wide as I tried to pull free from Willow's death grip. "My father will never claim you, it will throw shame directly to he's name." That earned me a slap from Amber as she then gripped my chin forcefully. "Do you want to know what I think?" Amber asked as she then muffled my mouth with cloth, that smelt of chemicals. I tried to scream, to struggle. But it was all in vein. "As long as their is an heir to the throne, the King will never cherish us to the fullest. But we can make that all change." I then heard the other 4 concubines laughing sadistically to Amber's reply. Which made my stomach form into a knot. That's when my eyes went droopy as the struggling stopped, and the 5 women's figures turned blurry.