Chapter 21 Princess to Prisoner

The moment I woke up, my body felt heavy. I woke up earlier than I intended to.

I wanted to go back to sleep, but my brain won't let me. So I just stayed in bed and only moved when the maids came in to assist. After I had taken a shower and put on some clean clothes, the maids lined up and bowed.

"Princess, we'll be going now. Please call us if you need any more assistance."

"Sure." I responded.

I walked to my bed when I accidentally stepped on something. I almost tripped and fell. Since I was in a pretty bad mood, I almost threw it out of the window in anger. Luckily, I caught sight of it just in time before I threw it out. It was the book that I was trying to read yesterday. It was pretty heavy that I decided to sit on my bed and placed the book on my lap. I traced the golden details of the book and it seemed to radiate life.

But I guess it's just my imagination.

I opened the book as I began to read. This time, my mind was slightly cleared that I was able to comprehend the words.

Decades ago, in the kingdom of Thalia. A kind King and a loving Queen dwelled over the land. Everyone was content and happy. That was until they angered the Gods. It was a day where the kingdom's freshly harvested crops were washed out by a great flood. Almost all of the food was washed away and only a few were left, leaving the citizens of Thalia weak with starvation.

The king decided to divide the remaining food to the citizens. Unfortunately, with the little of what they have and the large population of his kingdom, the food wasn't even enough to last for 2 days. Hunger led to desperation and greed. The people started to sin. They started to steal and kill. So many lives were lost and so much blood was shed. The war lasted for 3 days, it was declared as the Dark Hours, the day where the people were driven mad because of hunger and the blackened sand that was caused by the dried blood and ashes of its citizens.

One day, the King had had enough of the blood spills that he had banished all that was unworthy. Since then, a lot of the people fled the kingdom and lived in separate groups. There, they faced many challenges and have adapted into the wild to survive.

One group has decided to become one with the animals. They studied and imitated their hunting forms and acted like the animals. They were the very first Were people. The second group wandered far into the woods. They have food but water. Their thirst lasted for a week before one of them had decided to drink the blood of an animal, thus making them the first vampires.

The third group was the wisest. They planted their own crops for their living and relied on nature for their daily needs. They gave respect to nature as if it were alive. Soon the spirits of the forest had acknowledged them and given them powers. They became the first elves.

The Fourth decided to work on alchemy. They believe that the magic from their world can be learned through the use of symbols and languages. Through years of studying the alchemy and the elements, the people finally learned how to use it. That was how the warlocks and witches came to.

The Fifth discovered a mountain full of mythical creatures. Creatures forming bonds -

Blah blah blah and the list of supernatural beings went on and on. Explaining how they became this and that. How this happened and that. I yawned and flipped to another page, where the actual story begins. I'll come back and read the rest of the races later.

As years went by, each species had adopted and had become more civilized. Not long enough that they had built their own separate kingdom. Magic had bloomed -

I was still in the middle of reading when the door suddenly burst open. I looked up angrily at the one who had disturb my reading. "What do you want, PRINCE Ace?" I glared at him from my book. 

Ace - Oh excuse me - PRINCE Ace only glared back at me as if he wanted to skin me alive. "You do realize that I have been waiting in the library for 2 hours. Then I came to find you here reading?"

I only shrugged at him as if it was nothing. "Well what does it look like I'm doing? Now go along and find someone to play with. I'm busy." I waved him off. "Shoo!!"

"We.Have.Training." Ace said through gritted teeth.

"I know." I said. My eyes still glued to the book.

"And?"

"And I don't care." I said and finally looked up at him. "I'm not going to do anymore of that training crap. No one can boss me around."

"No." He said.

"No what? Dude please be specific when you talk. You're not a kid." I said then rubbed my chin as if I was thinking. "Although you do have anger issues. Let me guess. You're in one of your moods. Is it your time of the month?"

Ace walked straight towards me and hauled me up off the bed, almost making me fall in the process. "Hey! What's wrong with you. I know you like me that much but I don't like you, okay? Might as well say it right here to make things clear." I said sarcastically, then pulled my arm out of his grasp. Ace only rolled his eyes at me before his attention was shifted to the book that I was reading.

He froze.

"Um yohoo! Earth to Mr. Pain here. Are you there?" I waved my hand in front of his face. Trying to catch his attention. "Hey. I didn't hurt your feelings that bad when I rejected you, ri-"

"How far have you read?" Ace grabbed me by my shoulders and looked straight into my eyes.

"It's called resear-"

"I'm serious. How far have you read?" His tone was laced with annoyance.

"And seriously, Ace. When will you stop cutting me of-"

"Rose!" Now with the screaming.

Sheesh! I think no girl will be able to stand this guy's attitude. He'll end up alone....in the dumpster. Dead. 

I pointed at the page of the book where I have stopped. Ace finally released me from his hold. He grabbed the book and started to read it before he shut it.

"Hey. I was supposed to read that! I haven't even memorized the page!" I whined and tried to grab the book away from him but he moved it away. "Did you at least memorize the page number!?"

"Stay here and wait for me." He ordered. And now he's giving me orders? Who does he think he is? A prince?

...Well that was ironic and a stupid thing for me to think.

But that doesn't give him the right to order me around. "Why should I listen to you? H-E-L-L-O I am not from this world. I live in a free country so you can't boss this girl around." I pointed to myself. "So if you'll excuse me, I'll be going to get my breakfast now." I flipped my hair back in an attempt to be annoying. Of course, I know that everything that I do always annoys him. Or better yet, everyone annoys him.

Before I could even reach the door, Ace grabbed my hand and pulled me back. He walked towards the door and slammed it shut.

Talk about ladies first.

I ran towards the door and tried to twist the knob only to find it locked.

What the!?

I knock loudly on the door. "YOU STUPID SON OF A JERK!! UNLOCK THIS DOOR!!"

Well this is funny. I'm knocking from the inside of my room?

"Stay!" Ace barked and I heard his footsteps getting farther and farther.

Why does he keep threating me like a dog!?

"What!? No! Let me out. At least bring me something to eat! Ace!"

***

10 Minutes have past and I was still trying to break the door. I even threw my desk at it and was now hitting the door knob with my chair.

The cardio that I'm doing right now is making me hungrier by the minute.

"Stupid....Prince....I'll....Kill...You." I grumbled as I continued hitting the door with the chair. "I'll be sure to hang you to a post with your royal cape and expose your royal underwear so everyone one can see that pride of yours! ARGH!!"

The chair isn't working! I knew I should have used the mahogany one, but it was too heavy.

"ARRRRGHH!!!" I angrily marched to my dresser and grabbed all of the brushes and makeups that I saw and started to throw them against the wall. The makeup broken and scattered messily on the floor after they hit. It left a lot of stains on both the door and the floor.

The door suddenly burst open and the 5 princes came. A box of powder came flying towards Nate's face but he easily caught it.

Cool reflexes. I applaud him for that, temporarily forgetting about my situation.

Nate smirked proudly while holding the box of powder. As he strode towards the room, he immediately slipped because of the messed up powders on the floor from the other product. Luckily, he was able to catch himself and avoid further humiliation.

I slapped at hand to my mouth to cover my giggle. Unfortunately, he saw it and scowled at me.

I looked behind him to see Ace standing there with the rest. My blood started to boil at the sight of him and I grabbed my hair brush and attempted to tackle him. Unfortunately, the twins stopped me.

"Well if it isn't, PRINCE Ace. Nice to see you again after you lock me up in this room with no food and water! Do you know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day?!" I looked at the princes. "And did you even bring something to eat!?" I struggled against the twin's grip, but it was futile.

"I could cook you right now but I don't want your blood in my veins. I'll puke. And you probably think that I'm overreacting but I'm not. I'm a human for crying out loud! If I don't get any food then what will I dispose of after that!?" I slumped against their hold and continued to grumble.

"Woah woah. Slow down, Buttercup. Is it really that bad?" Dan asks with a laugh.

"He locked me up in this room! No food. No water."

"You almost hit a guy because of that?" Ren turned to the side and laughed.

"What do you mean almost?" I challenged him. I swung my foot up sending my shoe flying towards Ace. Very unfortunately, he slapped it away like a bug. "Okay then. Almost it is."

The twins started laughing. I gasped. These bastards must not have experienced hunger. After all, they are a bunch of spoiled princes. Well lucky for them.

"It's not just that. He almost choked me." They all stopped laughing. Shock was written on their faces. Slowly, they turned their head to Ace who looked really confused at the moment. Well he almost did when he grabbed me by the collar earlier and not so gently pulled me back. I was being dramatic here.

"Ace, Is that true?" Fred gave him a look.

"I figured he'd snap." Nate mumbled.

Ace glared at me for accusing him. I stuck my tongue out at him.

"You all know she spouts a lot of bullsh*t. I did no such thing." He said while glaring at me.

I gave a dramatic gasp. "So now you deny your actions a while ago? Just to keep that clean image of yours?"

"Why would I even choke you when I could snap your neck." Ace said coldly.

Yikes. No need to go that far.

Feeling insecure, I touched my neck. "You monster." I mumbled. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked up to see the oh-so-glorious-freakishly-handsome Prince Fred. "Rose, we came here to tell you something. Can this argument that you have with Ace wait?" He was giving me an expectant look as if pleading with me.

"PRINCE Ace." Ace corrected him.

"R-Right. Sorry."

"Okay." I nodded. Fred led me to sit on the edge of my bed. I looked back at Ace and stuck my tongue out at him.

If looks could kill I'd be dead.

The rest of the prince stood behind Fred. He came down to his knees in front of me and stared.

I'm getting married!?

I mentally slapped and dismissed the thought. No way is he going to do just that. He's a prince and I'm an alien...? Well I am from a different world after all, right? And besides, I'm still 17 and not legally old enough to get married.

But I am from a different world with different rules. Who knows?

He's gonna propose!

Where's the ring? I want diamonds!!

Fred sighed and grabbed my hand. "Rose, what I'm - I mean we're about to tell you.....it's kind of complicated-"

"I do!"

"What?" He asked.

"What?" I followed.

Fred laughed a little when our conversation was headed elsewhere. "What I was trying to say a while ago was..." Fred's eyes seemed to travel at each and every one of the boys. Having a silent conversation with them. I raised an eyebrow at him as I waited.

"Are you hungry?" Fred finished and politely grinned at me.

"FRED!!!" Nate and the twins screamed making me flinch at the noise.

"Oh. Is that it?" I was a bit disappointed. "Yes. I am starving." I admitted. Fred pulled me up on my feet. He was about to lead the way when Nate grabbed my arm and made me face him. He was looking at me. All serious and no hint of flirting.

Fred grabbed his hand that was holding my arm.

"Nate-" Nate swatted his hand away from his and glanced at Fred.

"I think this is the right time to tell her, Fred. She has read the book and I think that since she's living here with us then she has the right to know." Nate said.

"Right to know about what?" I asked. Making Nate turn his attention back at me. His red hair falling covering his eyes when he looked down.

Finally, he raised his eyes to meet mine again. His green eyes danced as it held a secret. "I'm a vampire."