Before I begin, let me provide you with some information about Stella Hill. The chosen one, the hero, the one who saved us all. You don’t know who she is? How can that be? She’s everywhere. Everyone is talking about her. Don’t get me wrong. I love her, maybe a little too much. Growing up, it’s been the two of us. Most people thought we were sisters, twins. We were always together. I was there when she learned about her powers, before the fame. I was never one for fame. But being by her side, I raised with her. Things were great in the beginning. But slowly it felt off. Our bond, once strong now nearly gone. I see it increasingly now. I’ve fallen into the background, forgotten. But I’ve had enough of that, enough of being left behind. I deserve to be seen. I was there for her before she was nothing, and now, she’s leaving me behind. 

“Don’t forget you have dinner with King Alexander,” Jean said as we sat outside in our spot. Stella wanted this spot. Right in the sun. She can see everyone and everything. 

“He should be here any minute.” Stella grabbed her toast and started to butter it. 

“He’s the son of King Gil,” Jean said, doing the same.

“We don’t know much about him. We can’t trust him. He might be coming for revenge.” Helen said. She grabbed some grapes.

I stared at my plate with my hands in my lap. They're right, we can’t trust him. “What’s going on here?” Jean’s question pulled me back. Looking up, they all were facing the mansion. Walking this way were two men in suits. 

“That’s his men,” Helen said. 

“Ladies.” The one with chestnut eyes smiled at us. 

“I’m assuming neither of you is King Alexander.” Jean snapped.

“Girls,” Stella said, smiling. She put her toast down and faced the men. “Why don’t you join us? I’m sure you’re hungry for the long trip.” 

“Sorry, but I have to decline. We still have to settle in. I just want to inform you that we arrived.” He smiled. The one next to him just watched us. His green eyes were studying us. 

“Where is your king?” Jean asked. 

“He’s running a little behind.” The man said. Jean and Helan rolled their eyes as they sat back.

“That’s okay, Isadora. Can you show them to their wing?” Stella faced me. I wanted to sit, but no, once again, I just did what I was told.

“Sure.” I pushed my chair away from the table. Smiling, I walked over to them. “This way.” I stood in front of them. The one doing the talking nodded to them. Then we headed off, heading back inside the mansion. We didn’t talk as we walked. I stopped in front of a double door. “Here we are,” I said, facing them. 

“Thank you.” The chestnut eye said. He bowed his head. That’s when I met the emerald green eyes. I smiled at him and faced the chestnut eyes as he lifted his head back up. I went to leave, but the emerald eyes held out a hand. 

“You don’t seem like the rest of them.” He said.

“And you don’t seem like some brain-dead guard for a wannabe king.” I snapped. Chest-nut eyes smiled disappeared, but a smile appeared on the green eyes.

“You know.” Green eyes said, dropping his hand. I looked at him, then the other one. “What gave it away?”

“When are we to expect you to arrive?” I asked. They didn’t answer me. Rolling my eyes, I went to walk away, but this time he grabbed my arm. 

“We can’t have you going and telling her.” He said. 

“Yeah, like she would listen anyway.” I pulled my arm away. Walking away, I left there. More of his people walked by. I pointed them the way to go. I found Stella and the others at the top of the stairs. The closer I got to them, the more I saw someone standing next to Stella.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so excited. You couldn’t pick a better time to do this.” Jean said. 

“Let me see that.” Helan reached over and grabbed Stella’s hand. There was a ring that wasn’t there before. I walked over to them, standing on the other side of Stella. Helan and Jean gave me a disgusted look. 

“Izzy!” Stella pulled away and wrapped her arms around me. She pulled me away, where they couldn’t hear. 

“You said yes!” I said when she pulled away from me. 

“Okay, I know you don’t like him, but—” She started.

“I hate him. He’s just like—” I started, but he walked over to us.

“Did you tell her the wonderful news?” King Johnathan said. He smiled at Stella.

“We were talking!” I snapped. He faced me, and the smile went away.

“Seeing as she’s going to be my wife, what you have to say to her, you can say it to me.” He wrapped an arm around Stella. Meeting her eyes, she gave me a little smile, but didn’t meet my eyes. 

“Okay then. I think you’re making a mistake. He’s not good enough for you.” I said.

“Not good enough for her!” He laughed. “I’m a king. What better would that be? She would have anything and everything she ever wanted.” He pulled her closer.

“And yet. She won’t have love. The one thing that matters. She would be nothing but a prize for you to show off.” I said, smiling at him.

“Can we not fight? Not when King Alexander would be here soon.” Stella said. 

“Of course, my dear,” Jonhathan said, kissing her cheek.

“You can’t do this. He can’t be trust—” I started, but he slapped me. His ring cut my face.

“You will respect me, slave! She might’ve taken pity on you, but that has its limits!” He snapped. He pulled her away. I just watched as they went back to the group. Stella looked back, only giving me a pitying look. 

‘I’ll talk with him.’  She mouthed. 

“What happened to you?” King Alexander asked as he and the chestnut-eyed walked up.

“I really hate kings,” I said. Facing him, I smiled at him and walked over to the group.

“What—” Johnathan started, but I punched him in the jaw. He fell to the ground.

“A word of advice, little king.” I stood over him. “Make sure the slave you hit isn’t one that’s sacred to fight back.”