Twisted Between Roses & Sins

Elara dreamed that she was free from her shackles. She dreamed of the freeing green fields and its steep hills, all the better because of how fast that she could roll down when she wanted to play. She dreamed of dancing in the sun all day. Swimming in a pond and disturbing some of the neighboring ducks just because it's what she desired.

This dream was quite different from her usual dreams, which always consisted of someone of her reality being by her side at all times for the rest of her lenghty life. Who would want that for eternity, reality or in the dream world? Elara climbed out of the pond, in the nude and frolicked, slinging her wet limbs all around. Her wet kinky and copper brown hair bounced heavy with water as she moved through the fields as if she was as free formed and skilled as a ballerina in a ballet.

She continued to play, dance, smile and giggle till her heart was content. She ran to the top of a hill and rolled down- only to stop and spiral on her back when she reached the bottom. Her praline skin glistening and dewy from the eventful evening of playing like a little elven child.

"This is one of my best dreams yet." She said in between breaths, smiling as she watched the now blue sky fade into a golden purple abyss that welcomed the evening's stars to dance.

She got up and looked over to the tree that she had been climbing today, suddenly wishing for some type of silken robe to wrap herself in just so she could at least climb the tree, because the memory of climbing it without any clothing on was something she had experienced earlier and caused her back side to ache. She ran to it. Climbing the tree with ease, as if she'd been doing it her entire life, even though she's never climbed a tree ever in her 107 years of being alive in reality.

She pulled herself up on a branch and looked out into the glowing celestial abyss with golden rays of shine.

"Wow." She said quietly in shock because this image made her heart ache.

Not because of the beauty of it but because she would never be able to witness this type of freedom again. The stars started to glow brighter. Tears streamed down her face as she began to look up at the sky from the branch she sat upon. Opening her mouth to plead to the Gods to let her stay asleep this time and not to wake her up into the reality that she faced.

"Please..." she cried as the rays of shine disappeared amongst the horizon. "Don't let me go back there." She hiccuped through the sobs.

She hugged her knees tight, as if the grasp would keep her grounded there. She was expecting to be woken up shortly by the servants of the manor to get groomed and ready for the day. Even though there were no days since she and all of her siblings were stuck in their manor for the rest of their lives all because of her eldest backstabbing absolute psychopath of a brother, who took away their own parents and her life.

She closed her eyes, hearing the clicking of a door opening and movement but she did not dare to open her eyes as that would take this beautiful image out of her sight.

"Go."

A deep, dark, powerful voice echoed through the dream world, both sounding as if a female and a male were speaking at once, startling Elara while the sun beamed through the windows that were once shut with curtains.

"Your fate will change soon. We promise, we'll give you what you desire."

The voices said again, this time fading out while another voice of a female started to fade in, as well as a feeling of being shaken side to side.

"My lady. My lady, it is time for you to get up. You must prepare for the day." Lea said to Elara, looking rather annoyed on another day of waking Elara up from her dreams.

She would have rather nice dreams, some of all of her siblings getting along, her parents being around again, traveling their lands. However, none of those things were just enough. This was the first dream that she could remember that made her feel as if she was free.

She wanted excitement, freedom, and to explore the world. Not to be imprisoned for the rest of her eternal life because of her eldest brother betraying her parents and murdering them in front of all of the Kingdom of Zendental on the day of his coronation after becoming the next king.

Elara sat up in her bed. The imagery from her dream slowly fading from her memory and the ache in her heart becoming more prominent now that it outweighed the usual feeling of numbness that she felt. She stared out in the distance, her face becoming solemn and her eyes searching for something new in the familiar room that she's spent majority of her life in.

"What do I prepare for everyday, Lea?" Elara whispered, her hurt very visible in her tone. She turned her head towards Lea, her lady in waiting. Her eyes welling up with tears before she quietly spoke again. "I don't know how much longer I can take this..."

Lea's expression turned soft, as she understood all too well of Elara's struggles and environment. That she could leave freely and come on her own free will, all while Elara watched because she was only allowed to come back to the tallest room in the manor, that happened to be her own personal prison. Lea touched Elara's shoulder.

"I..." Lea said, attempting to come up with a response but coming up rather short. She turned to the window, staring at the woods that boarded the manor and then back to Elara who still sat in her bed, since the princess has been in a depressive state for decades where she cannot physically take care of herself.

"It helps to get you motivated, my lady." Lea said softly while she came closer to her, removing her bonnet while Elara sat still and distant in her bed.

Elara closed her eyes, that word of motivation hurting her. Elara's motivation was long gone and the only thing that kept her here today was Lea, since her siblings were no help.

They all seemed to be okay with living this imprisoned and shackled lifestyle, however, it had to be easier for them since they've all lived outside and have traveled the world before. While she was the only one who was born and kept in captivity her whole life.

"I.. have no motivation. I have nothing." Elara said before the tears that pooled in her eyes fell like a cloud that once harvested sorrowful rain was now able to release after a long but needed drought.

Lea winced as she said that. Knowing that 107 years was not too far from her own life and knowing she couldn't do anything about it.

"I know, my lady... I know it's just..."

"I am the youngest. They've all got to experience life with my parents and I never got the chance to even walk around them." Elara said, her tears coating her eyelashes and her hands.

She pulled her legs up to her and buried her face in it. Letting her quiet sobs wet the duvet. She wanted to escape this reality. This hurt that she couldn't and wouldn't be able to leave this manor's grounds ever. She then laid back down. The depression causing her fatigue, so she laid her head on her pillow. Staring out into the distance- and remembering the freedom she felt in her dream. Her soul craving for it.

Lea sighed, knowing that it was her duty to get the elven princess ready each day, so she pulled Elara up. She wiped her cheeks while they were covered in her sweet salty tears. She then stripped her of her periwinkle sleeping garments, since that was her designated color to be identified by the guards and the dragon that kept them within the grounds. She then placed a periwinkle bodice on with wide frilly periwinkle pants of a darker shade that gave an illusion of a skirt.

Elara did not say anything as Lea brushed her copper brown curls in a donut using a sponge like contraption. She then brushed her teeth, trimmed her nails, washed her face and applied some finishing touches before Elara came to look like an emotionless doll once again, mascara smearing around her eyes from the tears that she couldn't keep in.

Lea looked at her, grinning at her masterpiece but nose crinkling at the model who showed no enthusiasm for today's work.

"Down to the eating hall." Lea said after looking at her state.

She pulled Elara up out of her chair, leading her to the door that welcomed hundreds of stairs. They both quietly walked down the spiral staircase until they reached the bottom of the stairwell, out of breath and now starved.

They walked along the hallways, Lea bowing to the servants and guards who were silently taking account of every detail that Elara wore. Because if her or her siblings were to escape, they'd be tortured, tamed and brought back here in such a disgruntled shape that it would take months or years just to become sane again. Elara would know, since she was on her 6th attempt which was the one where she finally gave up hope. When her depression began to consume her.

Lea looked at Elara's appearance before they reached the doors of the eating hall. She took note of Elara's slim frame and her soulless flare. Most nobles would jump and shrill, however, she stood empty like a shell. She knew Elara was stronger than what she appeared as at this moment, however, there was absolutely nothing that she could do to change it. She had tried everything and it just placed Elara back at square one. She wondered what the princess was thinking.

Lea cleared her throat at dining hall, waiting patiently for the servants to open the doors for them. The servants stared at them cautiously, aware of Elara and Lea's physique as that this was the first time in months or even years that Elara made an appearance out of her room and to the eating hall to eat with her family. Lea wondered if they all were wondering if today was another attempt to escape.

When the doors finally opened, her 7 siblings all looked as if they were all taking their seats amongst the feast on the table. An array of fruits, eggs, cinnamon toast, bacon and other breakfast items were decorated beautifully amongst them. Enough to fill up each of their plates and more, which they never did- unless birthing a child was involved.

Lea led Elara inside to her chair, pulling it out for her before pushing it in. The other siblings looked at her in interest, confusion and concern as to why she was here today, since she never attended any breakfast, luncheon, or dinner in months to decades.

Her two oldest sisters, Elizabeth and Zeylra sat the farthest from where she sat. Her three elder brothers, Anchor, Altophor, who oddly insisted on being called 'Chris', and Aaron, who sat opposite from them. Lastly, her elder set of twin siblings- Elotte and Uniud, sat closest to her and the door for which they all arrived from.

"What an odd sight." Elizabeth, the eldest, said out loud, mainly towards Elara, who said nothing in response.

She stared down at her plate. Eyelashes coated with tears and black mascara that stained the white place matt black from blinking.

Elara didn't respond nor looked up at her family before all the younger children gathered in the room. 7 of them- all different ages, sizes and color came in and sat beside their parents like this was a routine instilled in them since birth. Only unified characteristics were their ginger hair that mixed with blonde, brown, red, orange or whatever their other parents hair color were.

However, Elara wouldn't know since she stopped coming to see them about 6 years ago, years after her last attempt.

She waited until the shuffling subsided before glancing up under her lashes and seeing the variety of colors that her sibling wore. The royal palette were the colors that they all wore, being so specific that any person outside of the dragon and guards would know that they were royals and should alert any guardsmen nearby if they escaped.

Which they did every time Elara stealthily hid into the city, knowing that she would be dragged back into a hell that most of them will never know, since they were only thinking of the small reward they'd be given for their unsolicited duty.

Lea cleared her throat. Elara then lifted her head in response. Her eyes met her siblings, who looked at her either concerned, unimpressed or shocked at her attendance. Without saying a word, she fiddled with the cutlery and grabbed a plate to put some of the honey glazed croissants that laid piled in the center of the table on it. Ignoring the multitude of expressions that were made at her.

"And she's eating..." spoke Aaron who looked at Chris, who also started to pile his plate with food- seeming rather uninterested in his family's statements toward Elara.

Chris then picked up some bacon and fruit, all placing it onto his plate then Elara's who switched from holding the plate from one hand to two to hold the weight of the new food that was placed. He then took a big bite, holding a biscuit in his mouth and winked at Elara who ducked her face into herself before slyly breaking a smile to her brother who frequented her room for her concern, despite the hundreds of stairs every now and then.

"Eat up, you look like a witches wand." He said through muffled bread before choking on the dryness.

"Manners Altaphor." Elizabeth said firmly to Chris, who pointed to her before taking another bite and speaking through that mouthful as well.

"Chris. Don't forget it, Lizzy."

The others amongst the table snickered as Elizabeth's chocolate skin turned a burgundy pink, blushing at the use of a nickname she had despised.

"That is not my name."

"Use the one I gave and I'll use the one mother gave you." Chris said, looking across the table at her, knowing that she was the hypocrite in this battle that she'd never win.

"How despicable." Elizabeth shook her head and muttered while peeling fruit for one of her sons.

The room then filled with clatter of cutlery on plates, and laughter after that. Elara wondered if every time they surrounded the feast hall, it would be like this. Lively, something new to her maybe since it had been a while since she has been of attendance.

However, it was just something new until it became a routine, once again.

Elara ate slowly. Noticing that her stomach ached from the small bites she just took, assuming the anxiety and uninterest of this situation would overwhelm her sooner or later and she'd slowly become her depressed and numb shell of self again. She was looking for a way out and back to her room again, if Lea allowed her to.

The chatter became louder and then the kids were running around the room, Elizabeth fussing at Chris over something small and trivial. Zeylra talking to Anchor and Aaron who were invested about another gambling game with the stable men later. Elotte and Uniud sat together, whispering amongst each other before Anchor's children waddled over to them, asking to play and for attention.

Elara blinked, not realizing that this was not the routine they'd been accustomed to before the room became more crowded with children and her family. Noting that this was different.

That this... was somewhat nice.

"Not what you're used to, huh?" A voice behind her spoke.

She turned around and saw her sister, Zeylra in her peach colored silk dress that was dressed with different hues of red and gold. A gold embroidered corset laced up tight enough to make her breast bust at the seams. She pulled a chair back and sat in it, pulling it closer to Elara while the noise in the back grew louder.

Her sister pulled Elara's hand away from her fork, not realizing that she had a tight grip on it until it released in a clatter across the long oak table. Elara didn't want to converse. All of her energy was gone from the moment she'd entered the dining hall, and even more, she did not want to converse with her siblings who had no care for her state, let alone, couldn't be nice enough to act as if today was normal.

Zeylra looked down at her hand as she held it, then pulled it closer to her lap, making Elara close the space in between them. Elara tensed, not knowing what was coming next, she felt the queasiness of her stomach start to rise.

"We... No." Zeylra shook her head and looked at Elara with gleaming eyes. "I am so happy to see you, sister." She said, squeezing her hand for comfort.

Elara gritted her teeth, knowing that it was a lie and that she could use free will to see her for herself, just like Chris had done ever so often.

"This situation is not ideal for any of us... it hurts to see you like this. To live life shackled and imprisoned." Elara winced at the reminder, realizing that this small moment of newness didn't avoid the fact that they were stuck here. For life.

That everyone else could move freely except her 7 siblings and her. That they weren't even as bothered by it as she was. Elara started to feel sick, balling her hands up in fists and turned her face away from her sister. Elara didn't understand any of this. Why was this okay to them?

"Why does it not bother you?" Elara said, voice quietly croaking through raspiness. "Why aren't you like me?"

Zelyra's shoulders slumped. She looked as if she pitied Elara, squeezing her hand tighter. Her sister's blackish brown ginger hair fell over her shoulders as she leaned closer to Elara. Elara didn't dare look into her eyes. She knew that if she did, rage would follow because her family was not a reflection of her and she despised them for it. Her eyes fell onto her sister's grip on her instead.

"Because we got a chance to live. You... never did. And I'm sorry about that" Zeylra said, her hand reaching for Elara's face to guide her to eye contact.

Elara gritted her teeth tighter, not caring if they would fracture, to hold back the rage that she would feel when their eyes met. However, clatter of metal platters, screams and commotion broke the sisters conversation. Causing them both to look towards the door.

A guardsman charged in, looking at them all before more of them followed behind.

"TAKE THE FAMILY AND EVACUATE." He screamed to the others who flooded the room.

"Take them to the evacuation quarters and stay behind, we must defend the manor!"

A large boom echoed through the room. Elara and her siblings all stopped looking at the guardsmen. Their eyes following Anchor as he walked hurriedly to the window, before turning back and grabbing his 3 children. He looked at Elizabeth who immediately nodded and called her 4 children to her, as if this drill was practiced repeatedly.

"To the lower quarters." Anchor exclaimed, grabbing a bag from the servants who gave each of them one, including Elara, who stood frozen looking at the chaos unfolding in front of her.

"Guards, assist with the children and we should be fine to evacuate from there."

Elara said nothing but watched as the others stripped their silken slides and slippers off and replace them with heavy and grim boots. They placed them onto all of the children and then to themselves.

Chris turned her chair towards him, ripping off her slippers and placing on the thick militia boots then tying up the twine like laces. She stared at his face, never seeing him this serious before and knowing that something was going on bigger than what she could tell.

Elara looked all around to see all of her siblings, the servants and the children were all looking the same. She felt even more isolated, like she was apart of their world for once but still left out to understand nothing.

"What is going on?" She asked, her voice still raspy and quiet.

This time meeting the eyes of her elder brother who looked up at her with a cold and intense gaze. The rage she thought she would feel with Zeylra diminished at his contact and a slight panic shivered through her body.

"The rebels are coming. They are here to kill us for revenge for Alzan killing their late king and queen. And we have to escape before we follow the same fate."

•••

Hi! I'm Endia and this is a book that I am actually planning to get published after it's completed. This is a 1st draft publication. This whole series is a 3 part saga with a total of 9 books planned. If you would like to follow my IG, it's a Endia.Vosges for more videos, pictures and lore! ☺️ Hopefully, you enjoy this book and want to read the rest of my series.