THE DARK PRINCESS

I was sitting in front of the camera, trying to record my project just like the literature teacher demanded when I heard my name.

"Mia!!!!!!!" I heard my nanny calling, and I knew it was time to eat breakfast and get ready before the school bus got here.

I chose to ignore her because I was not feeling well enough to go to school, but no one wanted to listen to me. They think I was making excuses to skip school.

When I said I was not feeling fine, I did not mean physically; I meant emotionally. Things haven't been so great for me at all.

"Young woman, why aren't you answering your name?" My mom asked, barging into my room with a furious expression on her face.

"Don't you know how to knock"? I asked her, totally ignoring her look.

"What did you just say?" She asked, coming close to me.

"I said, Don't you know how to knock, or do you just intrude on people's privacy?" I repeated, looking her straight in the eye.

"So you have grown wings to talk back at me, right?" She asked, dragging me by the hair, but I pushed her. She fell back and was surprised by my action.

"Don't ever drag me like that again; I am not the small Mia you used to know. This Mia right here is ready for anything." I told her as I took my school bag and headed down the stairs.

I went to the kitchen to see if I could grab something to eat. I was about to turn when I felt something hitting my head. It was my mom; she broke a plate on my head.

Did she just break a plate on my head? I felt something liquid running down my face, and when I touched it, it was blood. I heard screams around me, but I was feeling dizzy. Then I felt something deep, like something controlled my body, and I headed straight for the kitchen knife and went after her.

I wanted to make sure I damaged her stupid face so no modeling company in the whole of America would ever want her again. But she was fast enough to block it, making me stab her hand instead.

"Mia!!!!! Please stop this at once. What has come over you?" I hear my nanny saying, and then it feels like the spell has left. What just happened? I looked around to see my mom on the floor with her hands bleeding. She looked scared, but what is she scared of, and why is she bleeding? I looked at my hand and saw a knife with blood dropping out of it.

What have I done? I stabbed her, but I didn't do it.

Before I knew what was happening, the police were already at my house, and I was arrested.

As they took me away, I saw my mom being treated by a doctor, and she did not even think twice before telling the police to make sure I never came out of the cell and that they should make sure I never got out.

"Miss, what's your name?" One of the officers asked me.

"My name is Mia," I replied to him.

"Who is that woman that you stabbed?" He asked

"She is my mom," I replied with my head down.

"How old are you, Mia?"

"I'm fifteen years old."

"Why did you stab your mom, Mia, knowing you would be punished by the law?"

"I don't know what came over me; she broke a plate on my head, and before I knew it, I was with a knife, and she was already bleeding."

"Wait, she broke a plate on your head?" He asked

"Yes," I replied before he even noticed I was bleeding. He stood up and left. When he came back, he brought a first-aid kit with him and tended to my wound.

"Mia, can you tell me more about your mom?" He said. It was more of a request than a question.

"But everyone knows her; she is a well-known model," I replied. My mom is a model who cares nothing about anyone but herself.

"I know everyone knows her as a model, but I want to know her as a mother, not a model," he said.

"Okay, what do you want to know?" I asked him.

"What was your relationship with her like?" He asked.

"We don't get along; we are more like enemies. All my life, she was never there; all she ever wanted was to get more beautiful for her modeling business. I was raised by my nanny because she was never around. I barely see her, and we totally lived like strangers until last year, when she started hitting me for no reason. Whenever she has a bad day, she will say that I caused it," I told him.

"What about your dad?" He asked

"I think it's better you ask her that," I replied, not wanting to be the one to say that part. A woman who left her marriage for her career. She didn't even consider her children.

The officer took me back home and requested to see my mom, who was not happy to see me at all.

I was told to go upstairs since they had something to discuss. I went to my room restless, not knowing what they were talking about, which killed my curiosity.

My life has never been as I expected. My mom got married to a well-known king in England; she wanted to be a model, but the king needs a queen beside him. My mom was pregnant when she gave birth; she had twins, me and my brother. We were just a few months old when my mom filed for divorce, and she took everything she wanted, but my father wanted my twin brother, leaving me with her.

At least that's what my nanny told me since she has been close to my mom. She said my mom never said why she left her marriage. She only said she wanted to live her dream. I loved my mom so much, but she was never there for me.

On my graduation day, I waited to see my mom, but instead I saw my nanny; she was the one there. My mom just cared about her weight, how to look beautiful, how to buy the latest outfit, and how to impress the world.

I grew up without my mother's love. When I turned twelve, she started acting weird toward me. She kept telling me that my father rejected me, and she told me that I should worship her for that.

She said she regretted not leaving me with the motherless baby or even selling me out. Those were the words I heard all my life growing up with her. I was rejected by my father and hated by my mother.

My mom said she would send me over to my father when I turned sixteen. That was their agreement. And I will be sixteen in a few months. I'm scared; I don't want to jump from frying pan to fire. I do normally wonder how my brother is doing; I am sure he is having his best life.

But if you ask me, I want to stay here with my mom even though we don't get along. I can just avoid her, and maybe until I am ready to fend for myself. Growing up, I never lacked anything.

Since the day my mom took me, my father has opened a separate account under my name where he pays in money every month for my upkeep.

But my mom never gave me access to it; she said not until I turned sixteen. I heard a knock on my door, and when I opened the door, it was my mom and the officer standing beside her.

I stood staring at them because they were not saying anything, and then my mom sighed.

"Start packing, young lady; you have a flight to catch tomorrow morning," she said with a mean face.

"What? I thought you said I wouldn't go until I was sixteen, and it's like two months away," I replied.

"Well, I changed my mind. I will do anything to get you away from me," she said and left.

"Hey, you don't look excited about going to see your father. And I heard you were an infant the first time you met him," the officer said.

"I see him every day on TV, and that's enough for me. He doesn't want me, so why should I stay with him?" I said, nearly screaming at the officer.

"I'm sorry, Mia, but no matter what, he is your father, and nothing can change that. You can just go; maybe it won't be that bad. After all, your dad is a king, which makes you a princess, and every girl your age will love and wish to have your life," he said.

"Then they are stupid; I don't want to be a princess; I don't want to be called a freak by my friends; I don't want this life," I said, nearly in tears.

"I'm sorry, Mia, but you don't get along with your mom, and your dad is the only person you can stay with. And I am sorry if your friends think that you are a freak. But what really matters is what you think about yourself; that's all," he said before he left.

I just want to live a life like a normal girl, not the daughter of a model or some princess.

The first thing the next morning, I was already at the airport, ready to go. Mom didn't even say a simple goodbye. No wonder she processed everything in one night, just to make sure I was far away from her.

"Make sure you don't cause any trouble, because if you ever get sent back to me, I will make sure I dump you on the street. And also, you now have access to the account that was opened under your name; if I were you, I would use it wisely." That was all she said before she left.

I stood there, staring at her car, until I couldn't see it anymore. I turned and headed inside before they would leave me behind. All the while on the plane, I was tensed and a little scared. What other phase of life am I going to see?

I was told a driver would pick me up once I arrived at the airport. But there are too many people here; how do I find this driver? I am also finding it hard to carry all my luggage; my mom made sure I packed every one of my belongings. I was about to give up on finding this driver guy when I saw a man in a suit. He has paper boldly written "Princess MIA" on it. Just the name on the paper alone was calling people's attention. In those minutes, I thanked God. I was wearing a hoodie, and I quickly covered my face and walked up to him.

"Hi, I am Mia," I said, extending my hands to him for a handshake, but instead of taking my hands, he smiled and bowed.

"Your highness, welcome. This way, please, and let me handle your luggage for you," he said.

"No, my name is Mia; there is no princess attached to it, and no one is calling me your highness. I should be the one showing my respect. I mean, you are old enough to be my father," I told him because everything was weird.

"You have royal blood, and all royals are to be respected," he said before he started putting my luggage in the very beautiful car he came with.

"But I still prefer my name; I am not a princess," I said before I entered the car and we drove off.

Getting to the cattle, two maidens followed me while the others carried my luggage. They led the way while I followed, then they stopped and bowed to a man who was standing at the doorway, but he had his back on us. I am guessing this is my father, the mighty king.

He turned and stared at me for a while. I had no idea what to do or say, so I stared back at him. I couldn't help wondering if he hated me as much as Mom did.

"Eva"

"Yes, your highness."

He said, and of the two ladies that came in with me, the one standing on my left hand answered him with her head bowed.

"Tessa"

"Yes, your highness."

The other one on my right answered the exact same way the first one did.

"See that the princess gets the best room and help her unpack her luggage. Also see that the designer gets here tomorrow to do something about her dressing; she needs to dress like a princess if she is going to be here," my father said, looking like my dressing irritates him.

I was wearing my hoodie and my favorite sports pants. I know I looked like I was about to go for a morning run, but spare me the shit. I hate gowns; I don't like them, and I don't even own one.

I can't believe I have to wear those big-looking ball gowns that princesses wear. Oh Jesus, please save me from this. I said a little prayer before waiting to see what my father had to say.

He kept staring at me with no smiling face; his face doesn't look happy or angry to see me.

"Welcome, Mia. You are to begin your princess duties tomorrow, and Eva and Tessa are your personal maidens. They will see to your feeding, fix you a bath when needed, and inform you when there is a ball or an occasion. All the assistance you want or need will be at your service.

He said it without even blinking.

"Quick question, please: what am I supposed to call you?"

"Mia, I am your father," he said, giving me the answer I was looking for.

"Okay, father, please, I object. Please, no one picks up my clothes for me, and what princess duties are you talking about?" I asked, trying to set things straight.

"You will know by tomorrow."

"Your highness, may I remind you that we have a ball tomorrow?" The lady addressed as Tessa said

"That is true; you must prepare her. I need to introduce her to my friends. Then maybe, in no time, we will find a perfect March for her," he said with a smile on his face.

What did he mean by saying he would find a perfect March for me? Then it hit me: No, no, no, no!!!! Wait, is he trying to marry me off at this age? That was why he wanted me back at age sixteen, because he could marry me off to another kingdom and gain more power.

"Look, your highness, or whatever you call yourself, or should I call you dad? Let me ask for a favor. Don't mess with me. I'm a little crazy sometimes, so if you know all the stupid plans you have on your head that are not in my favor, drop them," I said, surprising him and the two ladies beside me.

"What did you just say?" Didn't your mother teach you some manners?" He asked, looking furious.

But who cares? This is my life, and I must have a say in my own life.

"No, she did not; she was too busy chasing after her dreams to do that, and here I was thinking you were different, but no, you are even worse," I said to him and turned to the two ladies beside me.

"Take me to my room, now!!!" I turned and started heading upstairs, not waiting for them to bow to this man I called a father.

When I got to my room, the two ladies tried to help me unpack, but I dismissed them. I wanted to be alone. I think it is time I accept that I am not wanted, but before I leave, there are things I need to do. First, I need to see my twin brother. I wonder where to find him.

I started unpacking my bags, but not all of them. I knew my days here were numbered. It is time I face the truth. My family doesn't want me, but why? After setting a few of my things in my room, I decided to take a bath before going in search of my brother.

I wanted to try and fit in, but after hearing what my father said, I changed my mind. So I dressed the way I love dressing: I put on my jeans and a crop top, put my hair in a ponytail, and headed down. After walking around for a while, I think I got lost. This castle is big, and then I saw a girl about my age, but I am guessing she works here.

"Excuse me, my name is Mia, and I am kind of looking for Prince Andrew," I told the girl.

She smiled and led the way without saying anything. After walking for a while, she said something that surprised me.

"You know if you want to seduce the prince, that is not the best clothes to wear; you should go for something princess-like and expose," she said with a wide smile on her face.

"Thanks for the advice, but I am not here to seduce the prince, and if I ever think of that, I will definitely take your advice," I replied. She doesn't know me, and my dressing made it seem worse because I caught her a few times staring at it.

"So I am guessing you are a guest in the palace, or, wait, did you come with the princess? I really want to meet her or make her my friend."

"Yes, I am a guest, and I came with the princess. As a matter of fact, she told me to find her brother and inform him that she just arrived." I decided to go with the flow.

"Wow, can we be friends? Well, maybe you can help me make the princess my friend," she said with excitement. Why does she want to be friends with the princess?

"Yes, we can be friends, and I will make sure to tell the princess about you," I said immediately. She showed me my brother's room.

"Thank you so much; by the way, my name is Jennifer, and it was nice meeting you," she said before she left.

I stood outside the door for a while; we haven't seen each other in so many years. And also, why are ladies trying to seduce the prince, a fifteen-year-old teenage boy? That's strange.

I knocked; at first, no one answered, but I didn't give up so quickly. After a while, someone opened the door. Immediately after I saw him, I recognized him; he looked a lot like my mother. I stared at him for a while, and he stared back. Then he looked at me from head to toe, and the first thing he said was.

"What are you wearing?" He asked

"Clothes," I replied, walking past him and entering his room.

He has everything. His room looks like that of a prince. It has a master bedroom, a beautiful king-sized bed, a study room, and lots of musical instruments. I was about to compliment him when a girl about our age walked out of his study room. I must confess she is beautiful. I was admiring her dress when I remembered what Jennifer told me about seducing the prince. The girl in front of me had her makeup done, and her dress was very beautiful, exposing her smooth, creamy skin and parts of her breasts.

"Andrew, who is she?" she asked my brother, who sighed in frustration.

"I'm his wife-to-be, and I have come so that we might get to know each other," I said and walked over to my brother, hugging his hand to my chest and smiling sweetly at him.

"So you chose some American chick over me, a princess?" she said, very annoyed. Did she just call me an American chick? How dare she?

"Yes, he chose me over you, and you are invading our privacy. I want you to leave, now," I said, walking towards her. My brother, who was speechless with the whole event, tried stopping me when he saw me walking toward her, but I ignored him.

"Who are you to tell me what to do? Andrew and I have been friends since we were three years old. How dare you think you can break it up?" she said, closing the remaining space between us.

"I don't care if you guys are childhood sweethearts. All I know is that I want to chat with him, and you will leave this room, call me 'Your Highness,' and cry on your way down," I said, staring fixedly at her.

"Yes, Your Highness," she said and walked like a zombie out of the room. A few seconds later, I started hearing cries. I smiled to myself. This is the third time I have tried this on people, and it worked. At first, I wanted to be scared that I was possessed, but after it saved me two times, I counted it as luck.

When I turned, my brother's mouth was open. I didn't know whether to describe his look as surprise or shock.

"How did you do that? The Anna that I know wouldn't have left this room without fighting, not to mention crying," Andrew asked.

"Well, you're welcome. I know you were trying to get rid of her," I said, ignoring the question.

"Does this mean Mom and Dad were right about you?" he said.

"Right about what?" I asked, confused.

"About the story, the night we were born," he said, assuming I knew what he was talking about, but I was totally lost. What happened the night we were born? I need to know what happened.

"Andrew, what happened the night we were born?" I asked him.

"Wait, Mom never told you?" he asked, surprised.

"No, as a matter of fact, she hates me. She said she regretted ever giving birth to me and that she should have left me at the orphanage the day she divorced Dad," I said and sighed in frustration. I walked over to my brother's bed, sitting down at the edge. He also sat beside me. Even though I just met him after so many years, he recognized me, and I felt we both have a strong bond that our parents can't break.

"I'm so sorry, Mia, for the pain you passed through or are still passing through," he said.

"Tell me what happened," I replied.

"On our tenth birthday, I wanted so much to see you. I told Dad to inform Mom to come with you while coming for my birthday party since Dad normally organized one for me, and Mom made sure she was always there. If she couldn't come, she sent her gift later," he said, looking at me. I was shocked. Growing up, I never received one gift from my mom or my dad, and my birthday was never celebrated.

"And then what happened?" I said.

"That was another failure after attempting to see you many times. I was angry that I couldn't see my own sister. On our fourteenth birthday, I decided to confront Dad. That was when he told me I couldn't see you until we turned sixteen. I wanted to know why, but he refused to say anything until I attempted to run away to see you because I thought maybe something happened to you that they weren't telling me. That was when he opened up," he paused and took a deep breath before he continued.

"The night we were born, Mom was in labor, and the doctors were doing their best to make sure she was stable. Dad said he was present in the room. He said they heard my cry first, and I was taken out of the room to be dressed by the nurse. Mom was already weak and was trying to push you out. After many attempts, the doctor said Mom was too weak to continue pushing, and she was losing a lot of blood already.

The doctors decided to operate on Mom since she was too weak to push, but she insisted on trying more. After a few more attempts, she was able to push you out, but you weren't breathing, and your body was cold. The doctors thought maybe they were too late, but then you opened your eyes and let out a cry. Just as that happened, the whole city went into a blackout. Dad said he looked from the window, and there was no light coming from the city.

The operating room was dark until a light shone from your neck for a few seconds and went off. Then the light returned to the city. No one understood what happened," he said, staring at me.

I was surprised. Then I remembered the mark on my neck; it has been there as long as I can remember.

"Is that the mark on my neck?" I asked.

"Yes. Dad said one of the greatest witches of all time was summoned. She said you bear the mark of darkness. She called you the Dark Princess and said you must be taken away from the palace until you were sixteen. That's all he told me, Mia.

"A witch? I thought witches didn't exist," I asked him.

"They do, but they are rare to find," he replied.

"So that was why Mom hated me so much. Let me guess: I'm the reason they are not together, Mom and Dad."

"I don't know, Mia, but I don't hate you. You are my twin sister. At least now you are back at the palace."

"I'm not here to stay. I will be leaving very soon," I told him, surprising him.

"Why?" he asked.

"Dad wants to marry me off, and I'm not letting that happen. Since they want me to disappear from their life, that is exactly what I'm going to do," I told him.

"Are you crazy? Where are you going to go if you leave the palace, knowing fully well Mom will not take you back?"

"I don't care where I will be going. I just want to have a life for myself, that's all."

"Mia, you don't have to do this."

"You're right. I don't have to do this; I need to do this. Meanwhile, I bet you will make a good king when it's your turn to rule," I said, changing the topic. We discussed other things and what our childhood was like before I went back to my room.

My food was served to me in my room. I guess my father doesn't want to eat with me. I went to the mirror, staring at the mark on my neck and wondering if it is really the mark of darkness. I wish my life could have been easier. If this mark is of the dark, why did it choose me? Does this mean I'm a bad person? I couldn't help but wonder about all of this. The next morning, Eva and Tessa were in my room to get me ready for the ball. I did not hesitate because I had my own plan. They took their time washing my hair and doing my manicure and pedicure.

The fashion designer came, and I started regretting all the ball gowns I was given while I was seated, taking my fruit juice and some snacks. After a while, they all gave up and picked one for me. They did my makeup, then helped me get dressed. After everything, they told me that my dad was already waiting for me.

I dismissed them and told them I would join them soon. Once they were out, I took a pair of scissors and some small flowers from the designer's bag. The dress was too big for me, so I decided to alter it to my taste. I cut the sleeves, making it an off-shoulder, and I also cut the side of the gown, exposing my legs, then used the flowers to decorate it.

When I was sure it was to my liking, I left the room and headed to the ballroom. My mom was a model, so most of her stylists normally designed her dresses at home. I learned one or two things from them.

When I entered the ballroom, all eyes were on me. Most people were wondering who I was, while others were looking at my dress.

Of all the people in the ballroom, the only expression I loved was my dad's.