A Fight Over Shoes!

Silence fell, filled only by the sounds of his heavy breathing. He lay on the bare floor, pressing the heels of his palms into his eyes.

His words echoed through her, melting her anger, and turning everything inside her watery and frail. "How … how long do I have to, before killing each of them?" Kielee asked.

He didn't reply.

"A week?" No answer. "A month?" He shook his head slowly. Her upper lip curled, but She forced herself into neutrality. "A year?" That much time to endure all the pains of seeing him …

"Do not be stupid, Kielee" Heather chimed in. She did not know how to end that stupid feeling going inside her tiny brain. She had told her many times that Azriel was not like the other men. He was not a guy that would fall in love one day. "Everything went as planned. The princess likes my brother. Didn't you see how she was overall him? What's her name again?

"Ember," Azriel replied. He got rid of his coat and sat up in front of the fireplace. The palace was warm even though it was winter. He wondered how they do it over there.

He took his hands closed to the fire and spread his palms. The welcome party was over and none of them made mistake. The princess was impressed with him. However, he was not impressed with her.

She was different from what he had imagined. He was expecting to meet someone that would leave him speechless. Her appearance was not enough to please him. But these won't matter when they get married. He will cut her throat and feed them to the birds of the earth.

Azriel looked at his friends. They were still arguing. Kielee was staring at him and it made him a bit nervous. Was there something on his face? Did she see his hair fall off his head?

He wondered why she did not blink when their eyes met. He raised a brow at her and she looked away.

Funny kielee, he thought. A knock came on the door and he got up from the floor. Azriel picked up his coat and wore it.

Stryga went to the door and opened it. A guard from the palace had come. A cold shiver ran through his spine as he turned and looked at Azriel.

Where did they go wrong?

*****

Princess Azarel's POV.

"Baron?" I was shocked. My eyes almost pulled out of my sockets as I ran my fingers through the paper. I would have known from his appearance and behaviour. The way he avoided the crowd and stood by the corner. It broke my heart to know this.

The other guests must have made jest of him. My father did not invite Barons. He must have come with a prince. I wondered who was this prince.

I closed the book and placed it back on the shelf. Nothing was going on well today. I finally met a man that my heart leapt for joy and I found out later that he was not among the men, my father has invited.

To make things worse, my cousin, Ember has gotten his attention already. I did not want to be called a snatcher. I will avoid him tonight…maybe.

I got back to my room to rest my head. It was going to be a long night. A good sleep now would do.

As I lay my head to sleep, I saw the image of this green-eyed man. The way he looked at me when I was leaving. It melted my heart. Maybe he wanted me to stay with him but my aunt did not allow me.

I got up from my bed and went to the bathroom. The water was cold. I was going to call Hope and Lyla to bring in hot water when I remembered that they were serving their punishment.

I wished I could persuade father to let them come to me. He grounded them. They won't come out till the ball time.

I lay back in my bed thinking about this handsome fellow and in no time, I fell asleep like a baby.

A loud noise woke me up from my sleep. It was my cousins. They were fighting over shoes to wear. I thought I was still dreaming. Unfortunately, it was reality.

"You always get the best of everything, not today Hazel spoke in between her gritted teeth. It was not easy to convince her that the shoes in her hands were finer.

My vision was blurry but I knew the shoes Ember was wearing were the best. I closed my eyes to go back to where I was before the loud noise interrupted.

"You should have told mother that you wanted these green shoes but you didn't. It is too late and don't cry like yours are bad" Ember retorted. I opened my eyes and watched them. She was younger than Hazel but her mouth was sharper than all of us put together.

"I want yours, there is nothing you can do about it" She shouted back, throwing one of the shoes at her. Ember dodged and it hit my aunt's face. She was just entering the room. "Sorry, mother. I didn't mean to."

"You wear those or stay locked up in your room" Ember gave a smirk that could have angered her elder sister. "You mustn't go to the ball. You were barely noticed this morning at the…"

She did not finish when Hazel aimed the other shoe at her. Ember rushed to my bedside and made funny faces at her while my aunt tried to stop them.

I could not explain how it happened but the shoe landed on my back. The fun time was over. Silence crept into the room all of a sudden. My aunt was scared too.

I was the princess of Akkad. My father always told them to respect me no matter what. They were fighting in my room while I was sleeping and I did not punish them for it.

I could have thrown them out of my room but I didn't.

"Get out" My voice rang in the room like thunder. I pointed at the door and they ran out of the room.

My head ached and I knew it was going to be like this till evening. I hated it when I get to wake up like this.

My hands ran through my hair and I fell back to my bed. A knock came on the door and I urged the person to come in.

It was Hope. I looked at the window and saw that the sun has gone east. The ball was just an hour from now.  We have to get ready.