Flames of Destiny

P.O.V. Adallina

My 21st birthday is days away. A big day for anyone. It’s like our eighteenth birthday but more...permanent.

For generations now when we turn 18, we are given a choice of what lifestyle we’d like to pursue and if you don’t have any experience for the job, you are to train in that field till your 21st birthday. The choice you make at your 21st birthday ceremony is final, for life.

I’ve known since I was six years old that the path I wanted was to be a huntress. I’ve watched the trainees for years and in secret I would practice with a wooden sword deep in the maze gardens pretending to defeat creatures of the night.

Our world has its good and bad, peace and chaos. The bad is that Supernatural beings border our lands and the chaos is it’s a constant battle to keep them out and away from our kind. The good is our kingdom is not weak despite these attacks and the monsters that border our lands, the peace is that we are thriving with life and trade with other human kingdoms.

To the western borders of our lands is where we know the Werewolves reside somewhere deep in the forest. Huge, furry and full of teeth, beasts that shred our soldiers to pieces with no mercy.

My Father, this kingdoms current King, had a fur coat made from a werewolf that was slain before it shifted back to a human.

He wears it to this day with pride.

To the east, the Vampires took claim up in the far mountains. It’s weather is in winter all year round, it’s harsh cold temperatures make it impossible for us to travel there, not that we’d ever want too. Our problem with the vampires is that they continue to kidnap our people from their very beds at night. It’s why there is a curfew within our kingdom, when night falls everyone must be in their homes, doors and windows locked. If you are wealthy enough you already have the newest invention from my father’s anti-supernatural scientists and inventors. If I’m being honest I don’t even know what it is, I just know it’s talked about often because so far it’s worked in keeping vampires from entering those homes.

Whispers travel fast in this kingdom, even more so if it’s related to anything supernatural.

As you can imagine we don’t have a homeless problem, anyone unfortunate to be forced on the streets past curfew is never seen again.

Catching a vampire alive is near impossible, their speeds are inhuman. It has happened once or twice by my grandfather the former king, but my father has not been so lucky.

However, with my father investing so much into science and modern inventions we have found ways to kill even the vampires, but it takes great skill.

At the moment, only our elite hunters have the skill set to kill a vampire and even then, we unfortunately lose too many hunters to those night creatures.

My father loves his trophies of war and had two vampire skulls molded at the front of each armrest of his throne chair. It’s very eerie to look at, even the vampire fangs are in pristine condition.

To the South is the forbidden black forest which filthy, deadly creatures linger. Huge spiders the size of a horse are known to swarm inside. It is said other evil creatures live with that forest, but no one truly knows because anyone who has dared to venture into that forest has never returned to speak of it.

We only know of the spiders because a few patrol groups have spotted them near the border of the dark forest. Their stories and drawings would give anyone the goosebumps. Thankfully those eight legged creatures have never attempted to crawl into our lands.

We’ve been lucky enough not to have an all out war with either beings of the west or east. There have been small battles here and there but nothing that would impact our kingdom greatly. But everyone knows it’s only a matter of time before a Great War happens, in many ways we’ve been preparing for it. My father and his conspiracy theorists amongst the high council never stop talking about it.

With no treaty ever existing between us and the supernatural beings, if spotted too close to our borders or if they foolishly enter our lands, they are hunted and killed.

We despise every supernatural being and I’m sure the feeling is mutually returned. But this is our world, our way of life. It’s not perfect, it’s not always peaceful but everything and everyone has their place, so for now, it’s enough.

Or so I once believed...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As I finish lacing up my boots, I stand to look myself over in my golden floor length mirror. Hair braided down the middle so that it’s not a bother during training. An ivory elbow length shirt paired with a brown leather corset, closet thing to training armor for a princess. Dark brown pants tucked neatly into my boots. I tighten the brown leather around each wrist to prevent myself from any possible injury.

A knock upon my bedroom door is my cue to go. Before I reach the door, Lilly my servant and dearest friend, opens the door and upon seeing me bow’s in greeting. Her smile reaches her friendly grey blue eyes, her dark brown hair is pinned back as it always is. The dark grey dress flows to her ankles, the sleeves are worn down to her wrists. Lilly always has an ivory apron over her daily uniform since she helps in the kitchen as well most days.

Her mother Susan, used to be my nanny, so when I heard her daughter had trained and chosen to become a royal palace maid, I wasted no time and snatched her up as my own personal maid. Though Lilly is very timid and quiet, she easily blends in a crowd unnoticed but she is the sweetest girl I’ve ever met. Where her mother Susan, was loud, intimidating and straightforward, which is probably why she was the nanny to a royal princess.

As I fidget with my hair for the hundredth time Lilly huffs behind me impatiently... “Princess your training is about to start”...the urgency in her tone lets me know I really should get going.

But despite that, I frowned ...“Lilly it’s just us, you know you don’t have to call me princess in private.”

As usual she only just nods respectfully but doesn’t say anything else. I sighed out loud, there’s no use in pushing the issue. I can’t force her to be comfortable with me and I can’t blame her for not wanting to. If she was ever caught by another addressing me by my name, she’d be whipped.

It wasn’t long before Lilly is practically pushing me out of my chambers and down the hall, and like always we separated at the entrance to the main castle.

Lilly went on with her daily duties no doubt as I headed for the training grounds. It was practically a straight shot from this path I was taking, wouldn’t be long till I arrived. The perks of being the royal princess who lives in the main castle. Everything important is close by.

The air had a light breeze to it, it was still warm out but Autumn was near approaching. It was said the birds had already left to migrate elsewhere. Certain trees already showed the first signs of summer ending as the leafs were turning a shade lighter.

As I walk along the white gravel pathway that heads directly to the training grounds, nearby guards would bow in greeting as I passed by.

As I turned the corner my heart nearly fell into my stomach. Through the stone archway in the middle of a long stone castle wall, I could see the rows upon rows of trainees in formation.

I was late...again.

Before I entering the grounds I can hear numerous shouts from the commander, Oscar Hellrod. Our head instructor and general of my father’s imperial army. A mean old brute but built and trained for destruction, a warrior in every sense.

The gravel beneath my feet gives me away as I pick up my pace nearly jogging through the training grounds entrance. My fellow classmates aren’t facing me, as their attention is to the front and thankfully the entrance is behind them all. But I have no doubt everyone knows it’s me who has entered late. I step into formation in the back, very last row as per usual.

I can feel the glares upon me before I actually make eye contact to those up on the wooden podium. My late entrance was noticed by all three men who watched me like a hawk the moment I entered the training ground. Commander Hellrod, Lieutenant Grayson second in command and my father, our King.

I hold back the urge to roll my eyes as I see my father is here over seeing the training today. The moment our eyes make contact he scowls at me. His light grey eyes stare daggers into me saying more than words could. His face hides nothing, his anger and disappointment clear as day.

His golden crown sits upon his salt and pepper wavy hair that reaches just above his shoulders. Our Kings signature red and black werewolf coat drapes around his shoulders no matter what season it is.

Crazy bastard... it’s still too hot outside for such a coat.

It’s no secret that I am not favored by my father or Stepmother... Queen Marie. But even so everyone else must treat me with respect because at the end of the day I am still this Kingdoms only heir.

There are moments my father and I get along, and every time I grow hopeful when I’m shown a sliver of his love. But most of the time it’s scowls, harsh comments and minor punishments.

Queen Marie is far worse though, that evil woman hates the fact I’m still breathing.

And what’s worse... she’s pregnant.

It’s known by all that my mother, Queen Isla died during child birth. She was my father’s true love and they only had me, which is why I’m sure my father hates me. He blames me for her death and to make it worse, I wasn’t a boy. My father wanted a son but he got me instead.

Princesses don’t take over kingdoms here, only a son can inherit the throne. My saving grace to the people is that I inherited my mother’s beauty, my pretty face is enough to be married off to some handsome wealthy man.

However, once I decided on my 18th birthday I wanted to train the ways of a Huntress, a warrior. And because such a choice is public knowledge, the people thought me insane and marriage offers from other kingdoms came to a sudden stop.

Not that I’m complaining, I have no desire to marry a complete stranger just for my father’s political benefit. He has another child on the way, and hopefully it’s a son. If it is. It won’t matter what I do, I would be free to be a Huntress without the obligation to marriage unless a Great War breaks out.

Queen Marie is my fathers newest wife. He’s had four since my mother died. But none could produce an heir and somehow they would accidentally die in some manner.

Accidental? I think not, but no one would dare question their deaths, since the kingdom wanted my father to produce a son. Apparently I’m not good enough for them either. How typical. But I don’t care, all I care about is becoming a huntress.

The people here do not hate me, but they certainly don’t ever wish to see me on the throne. A woman has never sat upon our kingdoms throne and with the elite stubbornness these people inherit, they’d rather die than see that day ever happen.

My only hope is that I somehow prove to them all, I am worthy to be called a huntress, a warrior they can count on to protect them.

Not having heard Commander Hellrod’s orders to begin the days training.

Two firm hands on either shoulder breaks my daydream like trance... “Get enough beauty sleep princess?“... Brandon said sarcastically with a playful wink.

While Rudy wiggled four fingers in my face with that signature smirk of his. Of course he’s been keeping count of how many times I’ve walked into training late.

“Oh shut up”... I playfully shove their hands away before I force my shoulders to relax with a roll or two.

Brandon and Rudy, twin brothers and my dearest friends.

They caught me secretly training when I was 13 in the garden maze. I made them swear to secrecy never to tell a soul and along the way we three became the best of friends. I’ve trained alongside them since then, we also entered the hunter association together. Their father is a noble who is apart of my father’s high council as well.

Brandon is 6 foot ’4 with shaggy blond hair and piercing sky blue eyes. Rudy has light brown hair but the same eyes standing at 6 foot ’2. Both have sharp strong jaw lines with a body meant for muscles. In truth they are godlike in human form. The ladies drool over those two, constantly seeking for their attention.

Although I can admit they are both attractive men, I’ve never felt so drawn to them in the same way other woman are. But I believe it’s because I’ve known them since they first hit puberty. They feel more like brothers to me, sometimes I find myself wishing they were.

After a few more shouts from our commander we do as we’re told, the usual warm up with training swords as we scatter around to give each other enough room.

“Psst..” ...I look to my left to see Rudy fake glaring at me.

“Something to say my dearest Rudy?” ...an innocent smile gracing my lips which I know only ruffles Rudy’s feathers more.

“I’m gonna put you on your ass today princess”.. his blue eyes pierce mine with determination, his smile full of confidence.

I roll my eyes with a soft chuckle...“Still crying over it huh?”

“He doesn’t shut up about it, Rudy I bet granny’s apple pie you won’t”... Brandon whispered from my right just before swinging his practice sword.

“You ain’t having my slice of granny’s apple pie dickhead”... Rudy said as he flipped off his brother, it took everything I had not to laugh out loud.

But fear of being caught laughing during training and sent running laps with a wooden beam across my shoulders had my laugh stuck in my throat. Only a snort came out, enough to claim it as a cough.

Rudy has always been a sore loser and two days ago I had kicked his feet out from under him, having landed on his ass so quick he was stunned the rest of practice. Now he’s been trying to settle the score but hasn’t managed to put me on my ass, yet.

Truthfully it’s only a matter of time, I’m skilled enough but Brandon and Rudy truly are the best of the best this year.

I’ve just been lucky these past few days but it’s always fun to tease the boys when I can.

My 21st birthday is near and just the thought gets my blood pumping, my body moving and eager to be stronger, faster.

It’s been on my mind all week, well if I’m being honest all month.

Once I turn 21 I can finally join the hunting parties for my final tests to determine if I’m good enough to be officially sworn in as a Huntress. Then I can join the patrols around the borders and throughout the kingdom. And begin my new life, finally experience the real deal as they say.

I’ll be far enough away from this castle, away from father and his evil wife, Queen Marie.

Just a few more days, just a few more days till freedom.