From Ash to Ashes

Chapter 3

The docks weren't as fun as I had originally thought they would be. By the time I got there, the shipment was already en route to the castle, and Chris and Ashton were nowhere to be seen. Upset, I stormed back to my chambers. Not long after I had entered, a sturdy knocking echoed through my rooms. opening my door, I found four sententials, one of which was holding a recorder. I reluctantly took the recorder, slamming the door in their faces. After securely locking the door, I placed the recorder on the floor and pressed "play." Instantly, a projection of the king appeared. His round stomach gleamed as the projection alongside his circular face and white hair shone in the empty space of my rooms.

"You have been cordially invited to the annual gathering of all family and friends of Crown Prince Christopher, Lord Ashton,... and Lady Ashlyn, I suppose since she is Lord Ashton's twin and al. Hmm... Well, anyway, celebrations for their birthdays are to commence tonight at 18:00 hours promptly. Unless you have a formal excuse, be there bearing gifts."

With that, the recorder clicked off. 18:00 hours. I looked at my watch and saw it flashing "17:30." Swiftly, I grabbed a navy blue, knee length dress with a wide, silver belt. I pulled a silver, sparkling handbag from my drawer, accompanied with a silver pair of open-toed, three inch, wide base heels. I promptly retrieved two nicely wrapped gifts, one for each of the boys. Chris's gift was wrapped in gold wrapping paper and topped off with a red bow. Inside, there was a flash drive filled with coded messages on the happenings from within the castle, excluding the Outcast "break-ins," of course. For Ashton, it wrapped in holographic wrapping paper. His gift was a series of piano music from the ancient classical musicians of Bach and Beethoven. I then brushed out my hair and let it hang down by my waist. At long last, I headed toward the ballroom.

In the ballroom, tables were set up along the lengths of the walls. It made it seem as if there was one long table that curled around the entire room. I placed the gifts I brought I brought. I immediately made a bee-line for the hot apple cider. However, before I could even grab a cup, someone dragged me to the balcony outside.

"You know it's not safe for you to be here, right?" the voice, sounding like Ashton, whispered angrily into my ear.

"Listen here, little brother, I can do what I want whenever I want, you got me?" I whispered back, feeling bad the instant the words left my mouth.

"Why did you do it?" he asked.

"Why did I do what?" I said, quirking my eyebrow.

"I stayed behind," he sighed. "I stayed behind and told Chris to go ahead to the docks because I wanted to make sure you would not get in trouble for Chris and I fighting. Why did you do it? Why did you join the Outcasts?"

"To protect you, you big dummy," I said, hardly containing my tears. "I'm guessing since you heard the conversation you know that mother was also an Outcast?" He nodded, staying deathly silent. "Well, I did it to protect you. When we were little, you remember that father was never very nice? Well, I sought them out, and they agreed that if I joined them, they would help keep you and me safe."

"I'm your brother, and I never looked out for you, but, for some reason, you always looked out for me." He embraced me with a big bear hug, and I had to wiggle my way out to be able to breathe again.

"What are you two doing here?" someone asked from the archway leading to the ballroom.

"Coming, Sir Christopher, sole heir and crown prince of the throne," my brother said teasingly. We followed Chris back into the ballroom, and immediately, servants come to attend us with trays of delicious wine.

The night dwindled on, and, eventually, there was not a soul left. The gifts had been carried off to our rooms, and everyone else had retired for the night. Ashton, Chris, and I headed to Chris's room, and Ashton, without even thinking, ran to the guest wing of Chris's chambers and passed out without a second thought. I admired the room I had spent most of my childhood in, where I made some of my best memories. I turned to leave, but I was stopped by what seemed like an impenetrable wall of muscle. I looked up and found the prince's grinning face. he then forcibly drew me in close and kissed me hard on the lips. He pulled back, that wicked grin still on his face.

"We are going to have fun tonight, princess," he breathed.