Hello! I can't be bothered to continue with any of my other stories so I'm starting a new one! Yeah, okay, I know, I'm a moron. On the plus side all my exams end in two weeks so you are going to see a hell of a lot more of me then ;)
This story will contain a bit general disturbing-ness, so it's like a high T. If most Ts are like 12s on films, then this is a 15. You have me got? Good.

Disclaimer: I solemnly swear that this is all my own work, I am unfortunately not getting paid and I wish no harm to come to Ignio Staraffi or his army of minions. (Well that was an odd disclaimer…)

Beauty from Pain

(Helia's POV)

It all started on the 4th of September 2007, when my life was turned upside down for good.

My little sister, Cira, only four years old, was playing out in the street while I was inside helping my mother with the laundry. We heard a lot of commotion coming from the road outside, since Cira wasn't necessarily allowed to be playing out in the road by law, my mother and I ran out to see if she was alright.

We got outside to see Cira being hauled into a black vehicle by two men in black uniforms, she was screaming at the top of her lungs and the men were carrying on emotionlessly.

"What are you doing to my baby?" My mother yelled, running up to them in an attempt to pull her away, but they stopped her.

"Ma'am, it's a violation of rule number 552, you are not to leave your child outside unattended if they are under the age of seven. If this rule is violated then the child is to be taken to work at the palace." One of the men said, adjusting his sunglasses.

"THAT'S THE MOST RIDICULOUS RULE I'VE EVER HEARD!" My mother exclaimed, pulling Cira away even harder.

"With all due respect ma'am, we're just following orders."

"She's far to young to go all the way to the city on her own, let alone work!"

"We have no choice, ma'am." He said. It was clear that he didn't want to take a four year old away from her family, and there was definitely pity in his voice.

"Can't we compromise?" I asked him. He looked startled.

"I doubt it, but what do you have in mind son?"

"Would I be allowed to come with her to work at the palace with her? That way I can make sure she's okay and the king can gain another servant." I explained. The man looked thoughtful.

"Helia you're fourteen! You're too young to have a responsibility like this!" My mother told me.

"Mum! Cira is four, she can't go alone!" I said through my teeth.

"I think that would be acceptable." The man said finally. I turned back to my mum. She looked torn apart and ready to break down right there and then.

"Take good care of her. And yourself." She said after a while, "Please be safe! I love you both with all my heart, I hope we see each other again one day," we all knew that there was not much hope in this, the king only let servants go when he felt like it, and that was maybe once a year. At a push. I followed Cira into the back of the car and held her hand tightly. The car started to drive away. I looked back at my mother who was on her knees and staring into space. I looked at Cira; she had never looked so terrified. 'Lynthea isn't what it used to be.' I thought. It really wasn't. The queen had died when I was eight years old, but I remembered what Lynthea was like before then. It was all about nature; thick soft green lands with so many flowers, Lynthea used to be famous for it's flowers. Ever since the queen died, the earth dried out, and all the flowers died. All because the tyrant of a king thought that it was a useless thing to fund. The kingdom lost money and tourism after it became a dry wasteland, so people were really struggling. No one was making much money, and the king raised taxes so he could fund his own selfish lifestyle. No one could afford to leave Lynthea, and no one wanted to stay.

(No POV)

"HELIA! UP!" Helia heard the servant-coordinator, Griselda yell. How he hated her. He had been up late last night helping with the monthly ball, he didn't get to go to sleep until three in the morning.

"Nmm… I'm sorry ma'am," Helia groaned.

"Breakfast is in two minutes. Hurry it up!" Helia widened his eyes and jumped off his bed. Well, more like shelf. He threw on his uniform: black trousers, a white dress shirt, a black waistcoat and a bow tie, he then ran out the door as fast as he could. If you miss breakfast, not only do you get no food until dinner (lunch wasn't funded by the king) but also you don't get to 'fraternise' with any of the other servants, AKA his sister. It was now May 2012. Helia was already 19, and Cira had just turned 9.

"Cira!" Helia said, exasperated when he finally reached their table.

"Helia!" Cira exclaimed and gave him a big hug. Some of the other workers laughed at their usual daily reuniting.

"So. An apple. That's inventive." Helia said as he looked at his plate. It wasn't fresh either; no fruit could grow in Lynthea without the help of chemicals.

"Beggars can't be choosers, stupid." Cira laughed, happily biting into her apple. He laughed back and started to eat his apple.

"BREAKFAST IS OVER. STOP EATING AND LINE UP IN THE GRAND HALL." Griselda yelled into the speakerphone.

"Dammit." Helia cursed. He didn't even have time to finish his apple. Everyone stood up and walked to the main hall.

"The king's quarters… Main bathroom…. Kitchen…" Griselda walked along the line issuing rooms for each person to clean. My sister often got stuck with polishing the main dining hall, while Helia usually waited on the king, since he was one of the older and more 'fit' servants.

"Cira… Let me see… Ball room…" Griselda said, Helia saw Cira roll her eyes. Griselda stopped in front of him and looked through her lists. "Oh, well Helia today we have something different for you. Prince Elliot is coming over to 'get to know' Princess Flora. We need you to accompany them and wait on them. It'll just be you, and I hear the prince is pretty harsh." She explained, "Probably why the king chose him to succeed him." she muttered under her breath. "So anyway, you must wait at the main doors, and of course you know what the princess is like… Don't do anything stupid." She told him before moving on. Of course he knew what the princess was like. No doubt, the most beautiful girl in the whole kingdom, she was almost identical to her late mother, just younger and somehow even prettier. The thing that really bugged him about the princess was how she never said a word, at every stupid announcement and decision her father made she just stood there looking down at the floor, wearing one of her many fabulous gowns. She never had a say in what her father decided, and she wasn't allowed to succeed him herself since she was a woman. No one knew whether she liked what her father had to say or not, and no one knew whether they'd want her has a leader. For all anyone knew, princess Flora could have been trained by her father to be even worse.

Helia walked to the main doors and stood next to them with his back. He averted his gaze to the grand staircase, where princess Flora was taking her time to walk down. She looked as beautiful as ever; she wore a grand pale pink gown, decorated with fabric roses, she had dainty white gloves on her hands and her hair was pulled back into an elegant ponytail. She finally reached the bottom of the stairs and walked towards Helia. There was anticipation for him, as this would be the first time he'd ever heard her speak.

"What's you're name?" she asked me. Her voice was light and sweet; it wasn't at all what he had been expecting. She sounded sad, bored and tired. Possibly from the ball last night.

"Err… Helia… Your highness." he stuttered. There was something about her that made Helia really nervous.

"So Helia… Tell me… Were you at the ball last night?" she asked him.

"Yes… I was helping out. Your highness."

"Did you happen to see Prince Elliot there?"

"Yes… I saw him talking to some people, and he asked me if there was anything in his teeth just before he was introduced to you. Your highness." I said. She giggled slightly, letting out a small smile. He wished that she had been smiling for longer; he only saw a glimpse of something unimaginably beautiful.

"Do you think he seemed like a good person?" she asked him. Helia panicked. Good? By what standards? By his standards, prince Elliot had been a total arsehole, but what standards did princess Flora have?"

"You were speaking to him for longer than I was, princess. I'm sure he's an excellent leader though." He said, "Your majesty." She looked down.

"I see." She paused, "What do you really think?" she asked again, "Honestly. Don't think about me, what was your first impression of him?" he hesitated.

"He was… He seemed… driven."

"Driven." She repeated quietly, "Is that supposed to be a good thing or a bad thing?"

"I…"

"I just want you to be honest!"

"He seemed to be a bit of a bastard, your highness." I let out finally, then immediately wanted to take it back. The princess widened her emerald green eyes in shock.

"So it wasn't just me!" she exclaimed. "Everyone kept telling me how nice, charming and handsome he was, but to me he was totally transparent!" she exclaimed, sounding really excited, almost jumping up and down. She stumbled over her 7-inch heels and groaned loudly, kicking them off. "If I never see one of those things again I swear to god, I'll be the happiest person alive!" she laughed. Helia sighed with relief at her relaxed reaction. "So. How did you end up working in the palace anyway?" she asked him.

"Oh. That." he started, "My sister was playing in the street under aged, age four, the guards came to take her away, but I insisted that I joined her, so I could look after her, your highness."

"Really? How old is she now?"

"She's nine." I answered. Flora's expression changed, into that of pain, guilt, sadness, anger and regret. "Are you alright, your highness?"

"I'm good." She replied, "I'm really sorry that happened. At least you still get to see her."

"Thank you, your highness." Helia smiled, just as the main doors opened.

"Hello? Doesn't this freaking place have a door man?" They heard an angry voice yell. Flora's face went back to the stony frown she normally wore.

"Not today it doesn't." Flora said.

"Princess!" Prince Elliot exclaimed, "You're not wearing shoes." He frowned; and then noticed them on the other side of the entrance hall. He turned to me.

"Aren't you going to pick those up?" he said coldly.

"No, that's not his job," Flora said quickly.

"It's fine, your majesty!" Helia defended then picked up her pink heels and placed them neatly in front of her.

"Thank you." She sighed, stepping up into them. "So what are we doing today?

"Well I thought we could go for a walk around the grounds then maybe come back into the palace for a meal, that's not a problem is it?" said Prince Elliot. He was such a cheap skate.

"That's fine," Flora said emotionlessly.

"Well then, let's go!" he said cheerfully, waiting by the door. Helia finally realised that his hands must have been tired from lifting them up slightly, and he was waiting for Helia to open the door.

"Thank you." Flora said as she walked out, the prince gave Helia a glare.

"Stop undressing her with your eyes," he hissed.

"Of course I wasn't-,"

"No talking back!"

"Sorry, your majesty."

"That's better." Prince Elliot took Flora's arm and led her to that path that led around the garden. Since it was the only garden that the kingdom funded, it was really an honour to be allowed to walk through them. Helia hadn't seen a water lily or a rose since he was eight years old. He looked back at the prince and the princess; this was the most awkward he had ever felt.

"So Flora, what do you do in your free time?" Prince Elliot asked her. She sighed deeply.

"I write. Sometimes I sew, or draw, but for the most part, I write. I do love to read too, and I'm always looking at art in the gallery." Flora said simply.

"Well I happen to like art myself." The prince said proudly.

"Really? Who do you like? I do like Hockney's work, but it's a little too much colour for me to take in at one time. I looked at some of Picasso's less popular pieces which were a lot nicer than I had expected them to be, but my favourite artist of all time is Monet."

"Who?" Prince Elliot shook his head, "No I meant that I like to look at art, I can't stand doing anything more. I really don't care who painted what, but if it isn't good then I have it removed from my gallery." Flora looked like she had been shot in the stomach.

"But you said you liked art…"

"Yeah. Liked."

"You can't say that you have an interest in art if all you do is look at it!"

"I can say what I want!" he snapped. Flora looked down at her feet.

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah, you should be." He snapped. Helia couldn't believe what he was seeing, all he wanted to do was support Flora; tell her she was right and express his own love for art, although he only took small sneak peaks when he was in the palace gallery, he used to have an abnormal interest in it, for a 10-year old boy. "So I hear your father has an announcement later on today."

"Yes, that's right. He's introducing some new rule." Flora said emotionlessly. 'Fantastic." Thought Helia.

"Do you not know what it is?" Flora shook her head, Prince Elliot burst out laughing. "Of course not, you're a woman." Helia could see Flora getting more and more irritated. "Trust me, it's good, look forward to it."

"I will." Flora said simply.

"Now Flora, would you mind addressing me as 'master'?" Helia looked up. What the hell was he doing?

"What? Why?"

"For the last time, no talking back."

"I'm sorry," said Flora sadly.

"Sorry…" Prince Elliot said with anticipation in his voice.

"I'm sorry master." Flora said through her teeth.

"A little less attitude next time, but good." Prince Elliot yawned, "I'm tired, let's go inside and dine."

"But we've only been walking for-," Flora was cut off by his glare, "I mean, yes master."

"Boy!" It took Helia a while to realise that Prince Elliot was addressing him.

"Yes sir?" Helia responded abruptly.

"Go tell the chef that I would like a large steak, well done, with a glass of champagne, and Flora will have-," he looked her up and down, "A small salad."

"Excuse me?" Flora said, shocked.

"Those hips, they're a little wide." He said calmly.

"But master… That's just the way my body is structured, I can't help-," she was once again cut off by his glare, "Fine." She scorned. Helia nodded and jogged back to the kitchen so that the chef could get a head start on cooking before they sat down in the dining hall.

"Okay, Prince Elliot wants a well done steak with a glass of champagne, and Prince Elliot wants Prince Flora to have a small salad." Helia said to the chef.

"A 'small salad'?" he raised his eyebrows, "But the princess is tiny!"

"Apparently not tiny enough." Helia sat on the counter top and rubbed his temples, "I can't believe that guy! They met yesterday and he's already acting like she's his property."

"My god I know, you should have seen him yesterday at dinner, he kept telling the princess to sit up straight and would glare at her every time she didn't break into hysterics at his jokes. The poor girl." The chef said as he started tenderising the steak. "Do you mind starting on the salad?" Helia shook his head and washed his hands.

"The king is making an announcement later." Helia stated after a while.

"Jesus, what is it this time?"

"Some new rule apparently."

"Great, just what we need."

"Hopefully it's not that bad." Helia said sympathetically.

"Doubt it." The chef threw the steak into the frying pan.

"I'm going to go take the cutlery to the table." Helia said, the chef nodded and waved him off. Helia took the knives and forks from the cutlery drawers, and took the salt and pepper to the table. He then went into the wine cellar and retrieved a bottle of champagne. He put it in a tumbler full of ice just as the prince and princess entered.

"Boy."

"Yes sir?"

"How long will the food be?"

"About five minutes, sir."

"Could you set up the television projector? The king will be making his announcement from his office and it will be broadcast over the TV, I don't want to miss it."

"Of course sir." Helia went back into the kitchen and grabbed the two plates set out on the counter and took them back into the dining hall where they were both seated in front of the blank projection wall. Helia put the salad in front of Flora and the steak in front of Elliot. He grabbed the champagne bottle and filled up Elliot's glass.

"Princess Flora, would you like some?" he asked. Flora shook her head.

"Could I possibly have a glass of iced tea?" she asked. Helia nodded and once again walked back into the kitchen and grabbed her drink, then took the remote for the projector and brought them both in.

"Here you are ma'am."

"Thank you." She said, picking at her salad. Helia pushed the on button on the projector.

"Channel 7." Prince Elliot snapped. Helia pushed '7' on the remote and an image of the king appeared on the wall. He was a tall, thin man with piercing green eyes. He was wearing his usual grand attire and was sitting in his golden office.

"My people," the image said. Helia was standing by the projector, dreading whatever he was going to say. "For the safety of our blessed nation, my beloved family and I have made a big decision." Helia could hear Flora scoff. Flora was his only family, and he barely ever spoke to her. "We have decided it would be best if we brought an old punishment back to Lynthea, make things more traditional around here. So, without further a do I would like the pleasure of telling you that we are bringing back the death penalty." Flora dropped her fork, Elliot was grinning like a fool. "Have a wonderful day, people of Lynthea." Helia turned off the projector. What does this mean? What would be punishable by death?

"Is this really necessary?" Flora asked.

"Isn't it fantastic? There are so many people in this kingdom who would be better off dead."

"I don't think-,"

"Save your useless opinion."

"Yes master." Flora said sadly.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooo

A/N:

Do you like it? Please review! This is like the longest chapter I've ever written.