"Iri! Iri!" Hope squeals for the tenth time this morning as she runs up and down the sapphire halls of Crosland. Everest races after her in her wolf form. Her paws are too big for her short legs leading her to tumble into the human princess Hope.

Princess Iridessa huffs, "What?" She slams her book closed with a pinched expression.

Everest barks happily.

"Iri! You said we cou-could play after breakfast." Hope waddles on unsteady feet after her fall.

Iridessa hums softly. "Did you finish your food?"

Both girls nod.

"Fine, we can go to the beach. I'll teach you how to swim today."

Everest begins to bark and yip madly while Hope jumps up and down squealing.

Iridessa grins, the two brats have no idea what she's about to do to them. "Come along, brats."

The girls giggle.

"What's so funny?" Iridessa glances down at the toddlers.

Princess Hope smiles. "Nuthin'."

"It's pronounced, 'nothing,' okay repeat and enunciate the 'O' sound." Iridessa was tasked with helping the smaller princesses with their language skills. So far, it wasn't going well.

Hope blinks large eyes at the older. "No-nothin." She smiles big.

Iridessa cringes. "Better." She snaps her fingers. "Come!"

On the beach, the salty breeze calms Iridessa. Her dress ruffles from the strong winds, dark hair whipping every which way.

Behind her, Princess Everest and Hope hold on to each other for dear life. "Iri..." Everest shakes, gripping her doll.

Dark clouds are rolling in from the ocean. Large waves roll and crash. A bolt of lightning strikes miles out. The flash illuminates Princess Iridessa in a terrifying light.

"Don't worry, it's just a passing storm." She waves passively at the angry waters.

"I went potty." Hope sniffles, shaking.

"Are you wearing a diaper?" Iridessa checks the girl and finds that she is indeed wearing one. "You'll be fine." She pats Hope's bottom.

Everest reaches out and grasps Iridessa's retreating hand. "Iri, I don't want to swim no more."

Smirking, Iridessa bends down to their height. "But I really wanted to swim with you today!" She fakes a pout. "I thought we were friends? You must not like me anymore if you don't want to play with me." She whips around away from the young wolf princess.

Intense whispers sound as Hope and Everest squabble over swimming. "No!" Hope says with finality and stomps to Princess Iridessa. "Iri! Iri, I sorry!" She tugs on Iridessa's skirt. "We swim with you."

Everest joins grabbing Iridessa's hand. "Everest and Iridessa are friends!" She whines sadly, "Iridessa and Hope and Everest are friends."

Hiding a grin, Iridessa grabs both girls' hands. "Good, then let's go swim at the cove." They head down the beach, toward the scraggly expanse of sharp rocks.

At the cove the storm is has gotten worse. The winds are howling, waves thrashing, and there's no light left in the sky. Iridessa grips their hands tightly enough to bruise. "Here we are, girls."

A smug smirk contorts her beautiful features at the scared whimpers. Princess Hope quivers and hunkers into Iridessa's skirt. Princess Everest transforms into her wolf, digs a hole, and hides inside.

"Now, we will try dipping our feet in and then go from there." Princess Iridessa toes off her sandals and helps Hope do the same. "Come, Hope, the wolf is too scared."

Toddling after the older girl, Hope peeks over her shoulder at the brown fluffy form of Everest. "Eve!" The wolf digs deeper until you can't see her. "Hmm."

Water swells and crests on the rocky shore. Crosland Cove is directly behind the castle. It has a purpose. High in the towers, there's a door. The former King of Crosland, Iridessa's grandfather, would throw lawbreakers out of it. They would fall screaming. Their bodies would break apart from the impact of the jagged rocks.

This happened for years so much so that it has a new name. Black Shark Cove, because it became a feeding ground for the predators of the sea. The cove's usually clear waters are now murky from the turbulent storm. Iridessa knows the sharks are waiting. They become restless during storms.

"Don't be afraid. Just dip your feet in." She watches in fascination as the little princess does exactly as she says. Hope cautiously dips her feet in the water. She kicks it and splashes her hands in it. "See, it's not so bad." Out of the corner of her eye, Iridessa sees a fin dart by.

Hope squeals and splashes more. "It's not scary!" She smiles and steps forward more into the waves. "Iri! Look, look."

Princess Iridessa grins. "I see, you're a very big girl aren't you." Beside her, Everest joins in her wolf form. The pup sniffs the water. "Go ahead Everest, there's nothing to be afraid of."

The wolf paws at the water. Barking, she lunges at the waves, while Hope laughs. Both girls don't notice Iridessa slowly backing away, her hands behind her back. Nimble fingers find a vial hidden in her belt. Uncorking the vial, a coppery scent fills her nostrils. She fakes throwing a rock in the water, the vial making a small plop. It rapidly sinks only a few feet from the pair.

More black fins pop up. They draw closer, dark forms beginning to take shape. Iridessa watches as Everest has her back turned to the oncoming wave. She holds her breath for impact. This was too easy.

"Princess! Get away from there!" Several Crosland guards barrel out of the forest.

Everest and Hope stop playing, frozen at the sight of the large Alpha guards. Hope fists some sand, crouched low. Beside her, Everest's tail wags in the water.

Unsuspecting of the approaching shark, Everest backs closer into the crashing waves.

"Princess! Behind you, out of the water now!" The guards won't make it in time. Iridessa knows this, she just didn't see this hitch in her plan.

Suddenly, Iridessa lunges into the water. Her hands grip both toddlers' biceps and she heaves them above the crashing waves. A dark mass thrashes right where Princess Everest just was. She shoves the girls toward the bank, away from deeper water.

"Go now, hurry it's dangerous!" She doesn't look behind her. Iridessa doesn't fear the sharks. They can't hurt her.

On the shore, the guards immediately pick up the little shaking princesses. Irdiessa pants, looking stricken as she kneels in the sand. A guard goes to pick her up, "Princess Iridessa, come you're freezing."

The three young girls are carried back inside the castle by the guards. Instead of being brought to her room, Iridessa is carried down a different hallway. She twists her head to watch as Everest and Hope are carted off in the direction of their shared room.

"Where are you taking me?" She begins to feel antsy.

The guard shoulders on, "To the King."

Iridessa is brought before her father. He sits on his gilded golden throne, heavy rings adorning his fat fingers. The guard that carried her bows then retreats.

"Child." King Franklin stares down at his oldest with disdain. Having a female be born first was just the icing on his cake.

Iridessa curtsies, "Father."

He taps his finger on the golden arm of the throne. His rings almost sound like they're banging against the fine metal. "Explain to me what it was that you were thinking earlier." King Franklin lifts a heavy thick brow at his only daughter.

Saltwater clings to her skin causing it to itch. Her drenched skirts weigh Iridessa down to the marble floor of the throne room. "I don't know what you mean." She folds her hands behind her back.

He motions with his hand to a nearby guard.

She goes tense, eyes wide. "Father, please no."

The guard comes to stand in front of her. They raise a metal-gloved hand and slap her across the face. Blood wells up on her split lip while more pools in her mouth.

"The truth, now Iridessa." King Franklin looks absolutely bored. Like he could be doing anything far more interesting than dealing with his unruly child.

"We were going to swim." She knows better than to fumble over her words. That will only make him angrier.

He scoffs. "I saw you from the balcony." The King smiles but it's dark and cruel. "You tried to feed the sharks."

It's over. No use in lying. He knows already.

"It was only a joke." She looks down at her feet. Instantly her hair is grabbed and she is dragged forward. The guard throws Iridessa down the stairs of the dais. Her knees bang harshly on the marble.

"What is a joke, is my daughter attempting to murder those filthy beasts." He spits out through clenched teeth. "Do you understand what would happen if either of those disgusting things are harmed while here? They are in our care."

Iridessa trembles in fear. This, this right here is what she is afraid of.

Not sharks.

Not the monsters that go thump in the night.

Not of the snarling beasts that surround them.

"I'm sorry Father. It won't happen again." She lowers her head to the cool marble in a vain attempt at making him pity her.

He huffs then whistles.

She raises her head, frantically shaking. "No please Father! Please!"

Guards grab her upper arms and drag her away.

"Father!" Iridessa pleads desperately, tears falling.

"A few days in the cellar will fix your attitude." He tilts his head. "Don't worry, your brother will play with the Princesses." He smiles, eyes filled with mirth. "They won't even notice you're gone."

Dragged through the lower tunnels, Iridessa is thrown into a cell deep in the bowels of the castle. There's no sunlight, no wind, no sound. Just silence.

The heavy metal door is slammed in her face when she tries to escape. The guards twist the lock and leave Iridessa crying in her dark, dank cell.

Yes, the thing she fears the most isn't something a child would normally fear. Usually, a Father is supposed to inspire protection and love. But hers only ignites chills and dread in his children.