Chapter 2 Rahni

Ten years later

"Mom!" I cried out,dogging a blow from the beast.

Picking up my skirts, I ran as fast as I could down the halls of the castle.

Everywhere was silent and desserted. The only sounds were my laboured breaths and the beasts footsteps.

I hit a dead end at the end of a hall. The beast was right behind me and I couldn't fight it. I saw an open door to my left and I quickly slipped inside bolting the door.

"Hello Zarahani ."

I turned back in fright to lay my eyes on the most beautiful woman I had ever laid my eyes on. She was even more beautiful than my own mother and that was saying something.

She was a raven haired beauty. With ice blue eyes and red lips. She wore a black ceremonial ball gown and an Onyx stoned crown on her hair. On her neck lay a purple pendant which was glowing.

She looked so familiar. I just couldn't place my finger on it.

"Who are you?" I asked.

She simply smiled at me and said" I am you."

*************

"Is she alive?"

"Why won't she be alive , she's breathing."

"But we have tried everything she isn't waking up."

"Get away from me you seven legged troll worm." I grumbled in my sleep very annoyed with the squabbling voices that are disturbing my peace.

"She's really vast in her vocabulary. I mean that is for a princess."

"Shut up you pig wart"

"Really vast indeed"

"Hmmm tickling her didn't seem to work that means I'll have to try a new...ooh my lord.."

I heard her trail off. I was glad for the silence but slightly worried.

"Your highness Queen Snow , I didn't see you there .."

Queen Snow? As in my mother?

I don't know how and I don't think I will ever but I shot out of my bed and was standing on the ground before you could say peach.

"Mother, I didn't know you were there... well how would I had known I was sleeping..no I wasn't sleeping..I couldn't have possibly be sleeping at this time I was...um ..just resting..."

I rambled with my eyes fixed to the ground.

I continued my rambling until I realized something. Mother on a normal basis would have caught me off the minute I opened my mouth to speak. She wasn't particularly fond of my voice.

I heard a muffled laughter and giggling. My mother doesn't giggle. I raised my head to behold the devil herself.

"Adriana.." I glared at her.

"Yes your highness" she answer and flashed her sweetest smile and looked so innocent to mortal eyes. Only I knew better.

"Is it your mission to kill me?" I asked.

"No. why would you think so?"

She asked.

"Because that stunt of yours could have cost me my life."

"Oh please don't exaggerate Zarahani"

I turned to the owner of the voice and I saw Sali my cousin on my bed.

"Of course, why won't you be part of this plot you traitor." I said.

"Hey how I'm I a traitor. I didn't kidnap you and sell you to the Indians." Sali said in her defense.

"As if the Indians would be foolish enough to buy such a maniac. "

Adriana mumbled from the wardrobe where she was picking out my clothes for the day.

I rolled my eyes at her foolish comment and made a mental note to deal with her later.

"Now may I know why my sleep was disturbed. It's the weekend and I have no classes to wake up early for."

"Well it's seems you have forgotten that today is the fist Saturday of the month." Adriana said as she laid a shimmering blue gown on the bed.

Why would she bring that kind of gown out. I only wear such extravagant dresses on special occasions.

Adriana noticed the puzzled look on my face and she sighed. " It's the Royal picnic." She said .

Oh! That. The royal picnic. A day that all royals and noble blood look forward to. It's practically a day were all royals and noble blood come together to mingle and converse with each other with no hostility what so ever.

It's meant to be a way to ensure the continuity of peace and unity between the twelve kingdom since the vanquish of all the wicked nine bearers, but now it's just a time to see whether prince Harry has dumped princess Leia and gone to Duchess Carla or Princess Beatrix has left PRS ( Popular Royal Squad ) and Lady Gaga has taken her place.

It's a gossip center and no place for me. It's not mandatory to attend even though no one would miss it , but since it was my kingdom that was hosting it this month, my absence would just be a reason to cause rumors and rouse my mother's wrath.

"Great now I have to go down there and throw up."

I could never do that because I would ruin my family's reputation and would be declared pregnant. Over here if you are married and feel nauseous that expect a little you. It doesn't matter if you ate something that doesn't go with your system you take it like that.

"Here's your dress and your shoes...." She dropped a pair of silver heels at the foot of my bed.

".... Your bath has already been run so when you are done call me and I'll get you ready." She said and proceed to drag Sali from my room.

"But her bed is so soft ". Sali moaned and struggled with Adriana.

"You'll come back to her bed later but now let's go ." Adriana dragged her hand and led her out of my room.

"I'll be back for you my love. "Sali declared.

"Oohh chocolate? Why not. To the pantry." She said and most likely dragged Adriana off with her.

A small smile graced my lips at he thought of my little cousin and close friend. Sali was fifteen while I am seventeen soon to be turning eighteen in three months. She was in a little way like me. Shut off from the world and unaccepted.

The only difference was that her parents loved her the way she was and she was naturally stunning. She had dark chocolate hair and green eyes, pink full lips and a nice shape. She had a petite figure but she was small and mighty. The fire in that girl could burn a city down.

Her own reason for not being accepted was because she didn't have the same views the other royals had. She wasn't stuck up and prideful. But lately I could see their insults and taunting getting to her and it hurts me more knowing that I'm the cause of it mostly.

********

"Stay still Rahni." Adriana scolded me.

"If you want that to happen quit sticking pins in my hair." I growled and moved my head sideways. We continued with this cat and mouse game until it reached a point that I stood up and ran around the room with Adriana and her cursed comb following me.

We scattered the bed, toppled over the bookcase and broke the bathroom door handle. I don't think Mrs Fergus would be happy tonight when she comes to clean up the place, but she once said I looked like an over grown squirrel in my sleep so that would be enough punishment for her.

Soon Adriana gave up and sat on the bed with her face buried in her hands. I thought she was joking so I started jumping up and down the bed celebrating my victory. It was when I heard her sobs that I became worried.

I really should have let her dress me up. But I didn't think it meant so much to her.

"Adri what's wrong?" I asked.

"Is it because I didn't let you dress me up? I didn't know it meant so much to you."

"It doesn't.."she wiped her tears and took a deep breath." It's means a lot to you."

"Have you lost your marbles? It's doesn't mean a thing to me."

"Well it should." Her voice became a lot harder." Everyone keeps insulting you and calling you names. They say that you should have never been born, that how can the queen be sure that you are her child. You aren't even pretty in the slightest like your sister and parents are..."

So they even question my Identity

"They keep singing that sister of yours praises. That she is so beautiful like they haven't seen her since they she entered the world. That she's perfect for the throne and would make a fine queen and would give birth to fine babies as if they haven't seen enough babies to last a lifetime. I don't like what they say about you okay, it's hurts me that they don't know what a lovely person you are." She said her filled with tears and filled with pain. Pain for me.

Adriana sat back on the bed and stared into space. I leaned forward and wrapped my hands around her.

"I'm fine.."

She huffed and rolled her eyes

"... I've been for up to seventeen years and I'll be for a lot longer."

"Fine we'll continue this discussion later cause it's almost time and your mother will explode if you aren't there on time."

I gave her a smile and wiped her tears off.

"Yes we'll continue later." I promised her.

"Now..." She turned to me with hope glittering in her eyes and she held up her comb."... Can I continue."

I knew there was no way to escape so did what any sensible person in my situation would do.

"Pillow Fight"