Chapter 1

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Ice

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 I swung around the corner, sprinting with a duffle bag full of money from the King's private treasury. My boots slide on the cold, rose marble floor. The momentum sends the bag in my hand careening out as I lose my grip and it smashes into an expensive glass vase. Dashing over, I hoist the bag over my shoulder; avoiding the broken pieces. Left. Right. No one in sight yet but sounds of the royal guards and that stupid prince could be heard. They aren't far behind. I raced through through the hall. Two muscled guards manage to catch up behind me. I spin around, whacking the nearest guard in the face with the bag and he goes flying backwards. Who knew stolen money could pack such a punch? Another guard reaches me and hits me from behind, unbalancing me. I look up at him and see the nasty leer on his face as he leans down to me. I use my position to my advantage and kick out at his shins, launching his legs out from under him so he falls face first onto the hard ground. I pick myself off the floor and continue on my way down the hall, before the others catch me.

 'Turn right. Left. Third Right. Double Left.' I recite to myself. A map I have studied over and over plays in my mind as I maneuver my way through the maze known as the Palace. Almost there, just a little longer. I check behind me again. I've managed to lose all the guards but not the stupid prince, he is still hot on my heels. Doesn't he get it? Doesn't he get he is not going to win? Doesn't he get the fact that I have everything planned out according to plan? Doesn't he understand that I'm always the winner? He's never caught me before so why does he still think this will be his lucky day?

 I'm here. I charge through the door into what looks like an office. There it is! My escape route. I hear the prince burst in behind me and stop dead. He thinks he's caught me. Cornered me. I snicker to myself at his stupidity. Does he think he can catch the elusive IceFlame so easily? I vault over the desk in front of me and turn around, staring him down. I can see the hatred and rage swirled in his beautiful black eyes. I notice that they're sprinkled with flecks of gold, like rays of sun shining through tar. I wink at him, making him even angrier, as I press my palm against the wall to leave my signature. The wall smokes where my hand is and "IceFlame" is left imprinted. Then I begin to walk backwards. Behind of me was a big window was open, I'm estimating 5 seconds until jump off. I see the prince's expression change as he realises what I'm about to do.

 5.

 "Stop! Are you crazy? You"

 I feel the night breeze on my back.

 4.

 "Are going."

 My legs press against the wall.

 3.

 "To jump."

 I sit down on the window sill and give him a wave and my signature smirk.

 2.

 "Out of a."

 Our eyes meet and I hesitate just for a millisecond. A zap of invisible lightning flies between us seeming to try to envelop me. My smirk fall. What on earth was that?

 1.

 Whatever it's too late. Whatever that prince had tried to shout was lost in the wind as I sailed backwards out of the window. One hand clutching at the handle of the bag, the other stretched out as if it's a wing and I'm about to take flight while I plunge down, down, down. The ground was 100 meters away. Then 90. Then 60. Come on plan, don't fail me. 30 meters. 20 meters. 10 meters. I closed my eyes and waited. What am I waiting for? I can't be sure yet. Death? Maybe. But no, not yet. Not now.

 I feel a woosh beneath me and just in time, my dear friend, Lucaso, swoops underneath and catches me.

 "Yeah! We did it!" I woop, removing the scarf I tied around my face, and letting my hair unwind itself from it's ponytail to flow out behind me. I tuck the bag safely between my knees and settle into my dragon's saddle, feeling the wind through my hair as we disappear into the night.