Sometimes I just listen to the sound of the wind and think that I was lucky that this force did not turn me to dust.

...........

When I enter my room, I'm momentarily surprised when silence greets me. Then with a jolt, I realize that my friends don't actually live here, and my room is mostly empty and quiet. With no one to accompany me most of the time, I found solace in reading. The palace is horrible but it sure has a damn good library.

The books have been loyal companions through all my life. Making me cry, laugh and curse at the world. I couldn't bear to part with my lovely friends, so of course I shipped them to Patrucia the past week. Despite the arguments from Lena and Mira, My three trunks are now safely in Patrucia. An additional two trunks were sent a few days earlier, containing my clothes and stuff. Yes, we will be rebelling against the kingdom's high court, but is there any rule where we can't do it in style?

Finally, convincing myself that I made the right decision, I open the last drawer of my dresser. Taking out an elegant red box, I open it and take out the armlet. Running my fingers over it intricacies, I smile at it. I put it in my rucksack. It's the only luggage I'll be carrying tonight as I make my way out of the palace.

The rucksack is already full with my laptop, makeup, an outfit for emergencies and other necessities. Zipping it close, I look at the clock. Only 2 hours till midnight, then I'm leaving this place of hell. Revelling in the feeling of freedom, I sigh and sit at my window seat. Looking at the sky, my mind drifts to the stories my mother used to tell me of the clear blues and bright stars in the mountains. Here, in the capital, the views aren't so great. The haze and dust and pollution cause the sky to seem blank. I can't wait to see the wonders that have been strangers to me my whole life.

As I continue to look out, I just stare at the lights. If it was daylight, I would mostly see people milling about. Many of them either Fae or Vamprys dressed in expensive suits and dresses. And occasionally an Avian guards soaring over the palace grounds for his patrol or shifter sentries on rounds. The world is messed up this way, all the prestigious positions and jobs with decent salaries are given to Faes and Vamprys and the mediocre ones to the Avians and Shifters.

That is the reason for the huge population of Faes and Vamprys in the Capital and why the Shifters and Faes prefer to live in Patrucia or Eldermar or towards the far north or south. That is why Mira and Lena are my friends, because only Faes and Vamprys are allowed inside the palace. Both are fae, with extraordinary abilities that on several occasions have caused me to feel empty. I haven't been able to perform magic since I was fifteen due to the black metal enforced on my wrist.

A glance at my cuff interrupts my trail of thoughts. Reminding myself that the plan tonight has to go perfectly, I look at the contact of my phone. Emmet had made the arrangements for a broker to meet us tonight to remove the cuff. It all has to go without a hitch, because as soon as the cuff is off, the king will know, and he won't rest until he finds us.

At five minutes to midnight, I walk out of my room without a backward glance.

....

Soooo many things are going to happen in the next chapter. So stick around. Also, don't forget to vote and comment.

Stay Stylish. XO