Odessa

I know something doesn't feel right from the moment I open my eyes.

A burst of sunlight draws in through the balcony, making the worn wallpaper covered in roses appear more peach than fuscia.
Grime settles all around my furniture and I can see little specks of dust dancing in the air, it reminds me how I still haven't cleaned after coming back. My dressing table gleams with noticeable stains as I stare at my reflection.

I pull back my tangled hair and press my fingers down on my cheek to pull back to see bags have formed under my eyes. My skin isn't as good as they make it out to be on magazines either.
Red blemishes and multiple spots appear on my chin and forehead.
I feel dry flakes on the tip of my nose as I scrunch in frustration.

As soon as I rub my nose, a weft of something delicious catches my attention.

Set on my dressing table is a tray of breakfast. Warm porridge with a warm pot of tea sits accompanied with the daily newspaper folded neatly beside it.
I make a mental note to thank Alexander later as I pull out the newspaper out and unfold it.

As soon as my eyes see the headline, I drop the paper.
In bold black lettering it reads:
'Report shows true side of Blackthorn twins '

We are headline news. James' little act made it to the papers.

As the paper lies on the end of my bed, I can't resist reading what they have said about me this time.
Taking in a calm breath, I clutch the paper and anticipate what they have to say.

'In a turn of events, Prince James Blackthorn has declared his conduct against Prince Nicolai has been vile and cruel as he reported to the nation last night how he and Odessa were both involved in bitter circumstances against Prince Nicolai'

I scroll down, missing the detail about James' state as the next heir of the throne and how this will affect his reputation.

'It appears that Princess Odessa Blackthorn was part of the act as well, luring Nicolai to betrayal as she assaulted him in his poor state after consuming a large amount of alcohol. It isn't hard to believe after her troubling past few months dealing with depression due to the lost of her older brother Prince Gerard Blackthorn, she has turned and sexual assaulted the prince of a strong nation. Experts say this is a likely occurrance with one who is suffering as they feel the need for sexual desire and closure...'

I immediately scrunch the paper into a ball, throwing it away as if it is hot coal burning my hands.
How could they say such a thing?
It is all lies, sick twisted lies that should never have surfaced.

As the newspaper ball falls to the ground, it is followed by the soft thump of clothing.

Out of the corner of my eye I see the guards' uniform tossed on my chair accompanied with a pair of black cover boots covered in traces of dried mud and grass.

Everything comes back to me as I stretch out my legs to examine the uniform, but as soon as I place a foot on the floor, a soaring pain ripples up my left leg.

I have to stop and ground myself as I let out a yelp of agony.
Gingerly, I lift up my nightgown to see a deep red cut on the back of my calf. A scab has formed and a red hue tinges around the miscellaneous shaped scar.
I place my fingers over the rigid bumpy scarring, putting pressure around it. I force myself to stop as instant pain shoots through.

It's hard to believe a knife could cause such scarring.
A knife thrown by an outsider.

As I sit on the edge of my bed, I reminisce about last night's events and how I got back.

My heart's beating too quickly as I over think every little detail.
It just happened all so fast.
One moment, I planned to hunt, the next I knocked out a guard and took his clothes and then, I was encountered by such a strange couple.

Calm down I order myself as I take in a hefty breath.
I clutch to my duvet so tightly that my palm swells with the physical sensation of agony.
I can't believe it actually happened.
I broke the rules just to get an hour of freedom but worst of all, I actually saw outsiders in the forest. Actual people in the forest.

There must be more of them by the sounds of it.
Commanders? Hunting? Curfew? None of it makes any sense!
It's as if they have a community, how many of these refugees live out in the woods?

They truly must hate me judging by their reaction, well especially the girl's, Astra. She looked like a true warrior with her dark clothing and ability to throw knives. A cunning little viper to say the least.

But there was something about the man, what was his name again?
Oh yes, I nod. Alder.
What an offbeat naturist name. But when I think about it again, it did suit him.
His name reminds me of a strong sturdy tree, just like him and his physical being.
With such a mysterious presence, my skin prickles just with the thought of his strong deep scar. How did he get such an injury? Was it an act of cruelty? Was it as part of a punishment? Was he a criminal on the run?

Without any warning, my thoughts of this mysterious Alder are disturbed as the door swings open to reveal James.
Sweat pours on his slender stubbly face as he wears a black tank top and shorts.
He is breathless as he hangs onto the door handle, waiting for my approval to come in.

Even though last night's events flood my mind, I still remember what he did to me.

"What do you want?" I growl, pretending to smooth down my duvet as I sit.

It takes a few seconds of heavy breathing before he answers "Did you hear about the guard last night?"

Instantly I turn my eyes towards the guard uniforms resting on my chair.
"No, I didn't, what happened?" I say trying my best to sound bored.
"There was a guard under your balcony stripped of his clothes. It was no ordinary guard, it was Sergant Barnes"

I try to swallow a lump in my throat.
I push myself off my bed and try to walk over to the chair to hide the clothing but as soon as I get up, I fall flat to my face howling over the pain in my leg.

James catches me before I fall.
Overly concerned he asks, "Odessa are you alright?"
I push him away and snap "I'm fine" but my leg is searing with pain as I step back away from him.
I hold back tears as I order him to leave.

Of course, being the twin that he is, he pesters me saying "No, I won't leave"

I am not prepared to listen to another one of his speeches but he continues to say "Look Odessa, about last night, please I can explain. I never meant to hurt you"

"Never meant it?! Then why would you do it in the first place" I throw my hands up into air in protest as I bark at him.

"You know what happened, you were there, and honestly do you think I'm an idiot?"

"No I don't think you're an -" he mutters folding his arms.
"Then why did you publicly humiliate me? I swear I want to kill you right now, you have no right to intrude my personal space like this"
I clench my fists so tightly my knuckles start to turn white.

He stays silent, only his heavy breathing audible.

"Look Odessa-" he begins again, his slouched posture showing his concern but I only look away.

My mind acts before my body as I scream loudly, "Oh my god can you just leave me alone?!"
He stares back startled, his skin turning pale in a matter of seconds.

He stands still and soon I erupt with fury as I push him out the door, my left leg screaming with pain as I use all my strength to push him away.

"Odessa, please!" He pleads but I only push him with more strength out the door.
He falls on his back and before he regains his strength to get up, I slam the door on his face.

My legs buckle as I turn the handle and lock the key.
Sobs escape as I slide down to the floor in a heap. My hands shake furiously as I let out a deafening wail.

The only thought that comes to my mind is that I wish Astra had just killed me last night, right there on the spot.

At least then I would be with Gerard.

bilityoI

So this is Chapter Twenty three!
I hope you enjoy it! :)