"What are you wearing?" was the first thing Hunter said to me when I made it to the bottom of the stairs. He stared at me with a hard gaze and flushed cheeks.

"What I want to wear," I replied, nonchalantly.

His lip curled in slight disgust, "Go back and change into what I picked out. You look like a—"

"A what?" I challenged. I had forgiven him for the sake of my mom because I knew how much she liked him, but also it may have been for myself. Maybe I thought he would be better, or that he would change.

We could give second, or third, or fourth chances, but some people didn't deserve them. Now, it seemed like Hunter didn't.

"Come with me," Hunter didn't finish what he wanted to say. Instead, his hand tightened around my wrist as he pulled me back up the staircase. I was stumbling over my own feet.

I yanked my hand from his bruising grip and sprinted back down the stairs. Having an argument on the stairs was a recipe for disaster — I'd seen it in movies. He followed closely behind, his footsteps just a couple behind mine.

"What the hell is wrong with you," I heard him say through gritted teeth. I didn't need to turn around to see how furious he was. I'd never done anything like this since we'd been together.

"Leave me alone. We're over," I snapped, turning back to face him with a racing heart.

"You don't mean that," he said, his tone much softer than it had been a moment ago. His anger seemed to have dissipated slightly. "What will your mom say?"

"Fuck her and fuck you," I glowered at him. Blood rushed through my ears as my hands trembled. I should have been disappointed or heartbroken that this was happening. But, I wasn't. "Get out of my house."

I stared him down, but he only returned with a torn expression and dejected eyes. A pinch of guilt creeped up into my heart. Hunter and I had good times, but I wasn't so sure they were worth it anymore. I could hear all of Avery's complaints about Hunter running through my mind.

To be honest, I didn't know how I would deal with my mom after this, but this had to be the right thing to do. It was the right thing for me. I didn't want to be controlled anymore.

I took a deep breath, "Get out. I never want to see you here again. We're done."

His dejected expression had dissipated as his jaw and fists clenched. I needed to blast out of there for my own good. I eyed him as I turned away, dashing to the safety of the living room where everyone was.

I didn't need a man to act like he controlled me, I'd had enough of that two centuries ago.

The voices of multiple guests filled my ears as I entered. They were all occupied, either on their phones, drinking, or socializing.

Finally, I let out a relieved breath. Faint music played in the background and immediately I could tell my brother was the one who chose the playlist, consisting of rap and pop. At least Liam wouldn't be here.

It was a beautifully designed room, I had to give my mom that. She has personally chosen dark hardwood floors and matching paint for the walls. She'd also had my dad install a snack bar, juice bar, a large wine bar on one end, and a flat screen TV and couches on the other.

My parents stood near the snack bar, talking with a whole group of adults similar to their age. I had inherited my dad's darker hair myself, and he was dressed in a white dress shirt. My mom looked her usual elegant self with her blonde hair tied up and a beautiful dress on.

I grimaced, making my way to the other side of the room. If they saw me, they'd force me to introduce myself and mingle.

I scanned the room for Avery and her parents — probably the most tolerable group in the room at the moment. But instead, my eyes landed on my brother, Jackson. My eyebrow raised at the sight of him digging around at the wine bar.

I headed over to him, crossing my arms over my chest, "What are you doing?"

He jumped up from the sound of my voice, spinning around with a sickly sweet smile on his face.

"Thalia, what a surprise," he grinned, pressing his back to the bar behind him.

"Well, it's my stupid party," I rolled my eyes. "You're not seriously considering underage drinking are you? Especially now?" I asked, glancing around the room at the mounds of adults socializing.

"Keep your mouth shut," Jackson snapped, scanning past my shoulder at the other guests. "I just thought I might need something to get through the night. I'm already so bored and it's barely started."

"Well, not that," I pointed behind him. "Mom will kill you."

"Yeah well there's nothing else to do. I'm not hanging out with you and Avery," he said flatly.

"Good," I smirked. "I don't want you to."

Jackson watched me for a short moment. My eyebrows knitted together at his calculating expression.

"Hey mom!" Jackson called over my shoulder, waving his hand around. "Thalia's over here!"

I spun around to see my mom watching me, a glass of champagne in her hand. Overall, she seemed elegant in her black dress and heels and her hair done up in a bun. She had that same disapproving look in her eye and that was enough for me to know that I had taken to long to get downstairs.

"You are—" I started, but Jackson had already disappeared within the crowd. I sighed, forcing my feet forward as I weaved between guests.

I hadn't even noticed that I'd bumped into someone until something wet and cold dripped down my dress. I gasped, glancing down and taking in the large splotch of whiskey splattered all over the front of my dress. I was so dead. My mom was going to kill me.

"Whoops," my blood boiled from the sound of a familiar voice next to me. He was clad in a black suit and tie, and held a now empty glass in one hand. His presence alone sent my heart thumping but I shoved the feeling aside.

I met Liam's eyes, shooting daggers at him, which he returned with a toothy smile.

"You did that on purpose," I spat.

"Oh come on Ophelia, as a law student you should know that you should have evidence before you make an accusation like that," Liam said as a matter-of-fact. I wanted to wipe that smile off of him.

My jaw clenched, "I sure hope you liked how my fist felt against your face."

Liam's eyes widened, "Let's talk like any mature adult would." He swallowed hard, raising his hands in front of him. "Besides, we're even now." He snickered.

"Thalia!" Avery appeared next to me, her smile fading when she took in my mess. She glanced between Liam and I. "What happened here?"

I opened my mouth but Liam beat me to it.

"Thalia should be more careful of where she's going," Liam smirked and I gave him a flat look.

"Your jaw," I pointed at my own, hinting at his own bruised one and he visibly swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

"Oh gosh, are you okay? How did you get that nasty bruise?" Avery scanned Liam's jaw, her eyebrows drawing together in concern.

"Yeah Liam, how did you get it?" I chortled. Now it was his turn to give me a flat look. It gave me great joy to see him squirm.

"I fell," he lied, the corners of his mouth curved downwards. His eyes narrowed slightly when they met mine and I muffled my laugh.

"Huh," Avery nodded, her lower lip jutting out. She cleared her throat, turning back to me. "Your mom is looking for you I think, she's been watching us for like a solid minute now."

I glanced past her shoulder, and sure enough, there my mom was, spying on me. Liam had disappeared, and I watched as his back as he retreated within the crowd. There was no way we were even, my punch was to get even with him for what he did.

And what was Liam doing here anyways. I didn't remember him being invited to my birthday.

"Tell my mom I'll be back," I sighed. "I need to change." Avery nodded and headed in the direction of my parents while I scurried out of the living room.

Once I was out of earshot, I sprinted up the stairs and into my room. By the time I'd made it, I was already winded. It was a good reminder that I needed more exercise.

I sifted through my closet until my eyes landed on another cocktail dress. I slipped it on over my head, taking a quick glance in the mirror.

It was a tight backless ruby red dress that hugged my curves. I kept my heels on even though I knew that shoes usually made or broke an outfit, but at that point, I just needed to get my ass downstairs.

Hunter would have hated this dress, it was too revealing, too flashy, you name it. My luck with guys seemed pretty dry, Hunter was my first boyfriend and he turned out to be a jackass. Two hundred years ago it was Liam— or Noah but that also ended in flames.

I had only met him again a week ago and the memories of what happened had begun creeping in.

S U M M E R: 1 8 5 4

The moon was bright as Noah and I strolled through beach and I clutched my heels in one hand, while Noah held my other. It was late and the beach was empty, away from the prying eyes of others if they noticed how close we were too each other. The sand felt cold and wet as it seeped between my toes.

My hand tingled where it met with Noah's and it felt just right. As if it were made for one another.

I had waited until both my parents had fallen asleep before I left Father's manor. Without a doubt, I had remembered to put on the barrette Noah gave me.

"Will you be ready to join the King's Court?" I asked, glancing up at Noah. His high cheekbones and his sharp jaw casted shadows along his face against the moonlight. It was inappropriate that I wanted to trace my finger along his face.

"I do not think anyone is really ready for it," Noah replied, chuckling. He stopped walking, turning to me and his grip on my hand tightened slightly. He held a soft smile on his face. "I would be ready for anything as long as you're waiting for me at home."

The butterflies in my stomach swarmed and my cheeks grew fiery.

"It is a good thing I will be," I kept my gaze low, studying the grains of sand by my feet. But still, I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face.

Our engagement had been announced months ago, but our parents concluded that we would wait until Noah began working in Court before we got married. That way, he could support the both of us.

"My Father had been preparing me for this role since I was born. Even if I am not ready, I have to be. It is my responsibility after all," Noah explained.

"Yes it is," was all I could say. I could never imagine what it would be like, to have such a responsibility bestowed on me the moment I was born. At least I could be there for Noah.

We continued our walk blissfully, accompanied by the sounds of the waves crashing onto shore. Noah was everything I could have ever wanted and all I ever needed. I could not wait to spend the rest of my life with him and to wake up next to him every day.

My eyebrows drew together in confusion just a second later and I stopped in my tracks.

"N-Noah, who is that?" my grip around Noah's hand tightened.

My eyes widened when I realized it was a boy. He laid on the sand, unmoving. Without waiting for Noah's response I ran towards him, almost tripping over in my gown.

"Ophelia!" Noah called after me, his footsteps following mine closely. I ignored Noah's calls as I approached the boy, cautiously, my steps slow.

As I got closer, it was clear that the boy must have only been about twelve years old.

I gasped when he turned his head towards me, sitting up. His lips were chapped and pale, his clothes had become rags that were torn, dirty and ripped. Vaguely, I could make out that they had been some sort of uniform. He watched me with fearful eyes, his body tense.

"It will be alright, I am going to help you," I stated, moving closer towards the boy.

"Ophelia, what are you doing?" from behind, Noah grabbed ahold of my wrist and pulled me behind him. He ran a hand through his hair as his jaw visibly clenched. He glanced back at the boy with hard eyes.

"I am going to help," I snapped. "Look at him."

My voice shook as I glanced back at the boy and my chest pinched, as if a huge weight had suddenly been placed on my shoulders. He was someone who had nothing compared to Noah and I. The least I could do was give him food, water, money or anything that could help.

"Ophelia, look," Noah swallowed, his eyes were still set on the boy who only watched us with large eyes. Noah's eyebrows knitted together as his hand tightened into a bruising grip around mine.

I followed his line of vision to the boy's sleeve. It was tattered and ripped, covered in dirt and sand, but faintly I could make out a flag.

A flag with the colours of purple, white and yellow. I recognized the flag from my lessons a while back. My history tutor was passionate and had spent a whole hour talking about it, complaining and yelling.

I had taken no interest it in then, but now I remembered exactly why he had been so angry from the sight of the flag.

It was the flag that belonged to an enemy country.

★★★

𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑔𝑢𝑦𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦! 𝐼𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑒𝑛𝑗𝑜𝑦𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟, 𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑣𝑜𝑡𝑒, 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤!

𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘 𝑂𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑎 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑑𝑜? 𝐴𝑛𝑦 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑠 𝑜𝑛 ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑦 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑢𝑝 𝑂𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑁𝑜𝑎ℎ'𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑝?

~𝑆𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑡𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠𝐼𝑛𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑆𝑎𝑙𝑡