I watch as she looks lovingly over my brothers. Then they drift past them, and her cold, fathomless black eyes latch onto me. Her eyes immediately turned from love to a mixture of disgust and hate. I avert my own eyes, so I do not have to look at hers. Finally, when I could not take her glowering anymore, I moved to the side of the room.
I look around the room for a distraction, even though I know I will not find a suitable one. The members of the Unseelie Court were pouring into the throne room while Queen Mab sits elegantly on her ice-capped throne. Her black nails were tapping her armrest impatiently. My brothers Sage, Rowan, and Ash, had moved from their position of infront of Mab, to the wall opposite of me. Sage was sitting on the ground, deep in thought while absentmindly petting his wolf pup. Rowan was sneering at me and mouthing rude words that were also aimed toward me, which I ignored. Ash was leaning against the wall with his eyes closed.
They all had midnight-black hair, like Mab. And like me. They all had different colored eyes. Sage had calculating, light green eyes. Rowan had cruel, pale blue eyes. Ash had steely, gray eyes. I had the most different, yet the dullest eyes. One regular, dark green eye and one dull, dark blue eye. Why am I comparing myself to the princes of the Unseelie Court? Well, I am the princess, sister of Sage, Rowan, and Ash, and most importantly, the daughter of Queen Mab, the ruler of the Unseelie does the Queen hate me? Why does Rowan sneer at me? Why am I not with my brothers currently? They are all pure fey. I am half-fey. And half-human.
When all the fey had gathered in the room, Mab's nails finally stopped their rhythmic tapping. The whole room was quiet, everyone had their eyes glued on Queen Mab. My brothers had also stood up straight and were focusing on her. I was the only one in the room, not completely absorbed by her presence. Mab stood up in one smooth motion, her black floor-length dress flowing around her. She smiled, in a way I thought was predatory.
"Tomorrow is the day of the Exchange," she said, her voice echoing around the room. "It will be the day, once again, when Winter will receive the Scepter from Summer." Her smile turned smug. She closed her eyes, and dramatically lifted her arms to the ceiling and announced, "So tonight, we shall feast!" Upon her word, servants began to march into the room carrying tables laden with fairy food, that would be very dangerous to me if I ate carelessly. Mab put down her arms, opened her eyes, and glided towards her sons, most likely to discuss tomorrow's events. I took that chance to try and head for the exit.
I shuffle through the crowd, ignoring all the dirty looks I was receiving. I was bumped into several times, most of them on purpose, and it took me quite a while to get to the doorway. Nice to know that they do not think I am too disgusting to bump into.
I was nearing the exit, and there were not any fey around, so I quickened my strides, eager to get to the safe haven also known as my room. Before I was able to reach the exit, I was stopped in my tracks by a cold, powerful voice. Also know as my mother's voice.
"And where do you think you're going?" she asked, with an eyebrow hiked up in fake interest. Her arms were crossed, and her chin was lifted haughtily.
"To my room," I mumbled quietly while staring at my shifting feet which were covered in brown, braided sandals.
"Do you not want to stay and celebrate tomorrow with your friends?" she drawled. Her mouth was hanging slightly open as if to exaggerate her fake surprise, and her eyebrows were slightly raised.
"I am not aqquainted with anyone in this room,"I said, my eyes narrowing. My lips were pursed. I really wish to get out of here.
"What about your brothers?" she asked, trying to antaganize me the best she could. Sad to say, but she was succeeding.
I snorted mentally. I hate my brothers. They practically fall to Mab's feet whenever she asks them to do something, or shred each other to pieces to gain her favor. "We don't have much in common," I spoke in an emotionless voice.
"Oh is that so?" she purred sickly. "Well, go along now to your room since you do not want to enjoy the night," she made a shooing gesture with her hands, knowing that she had humilated me enough and was satisfied for the night then she turned around and strided away with her blackhole of a dress, flapping gracefully around her legs.
I also turned and treaded down the hallway with stiff limbs, gracelessly compared to Mab. My face was burning furiously even though she wasn't as bad today as other days. I have no idea why, but today was different. I was at my limit, and I made a drastic desicion. I cannot deal with any more hatred by judgemental fey whom I have never had a real conversation with. I was going to run away.
At least I will not be at a complete disadvantage, Mab had my brothers and I slightly trained in combat. Though, they had quickly learned the ways of the sword, while I struggled on just the proper way of how to hold one. Maybe it was my human blood that caused my clumsiness, or *maybe* it was Mab watching our practices, fawning over my brothers while glaring at me, causing myself to stumble.
Sage is 14, Rowan is 13, Ash is 12, and I was the youngest at 11 years old, but I was going to show them that I am not as weak as they think. When I leave here, I was going to go to the Wyldwood. It was called the Wyldwood for a reason, but I just can't take all this hatred anymore. Anything was better. Even monsters that will most likely try to take a chomp out of me when I am sleeping. I'm willing to take that chance.
I walked into my room. It was about the same size as a servant's room, but I do not care. I do not need a big, fancy room like my brothers since I did not have many belongings. My room contained only my bed, a drawer, and a small bathroom. I packed some clothes, and some other things I thought I would need to survive, into a black, leather sack. I hoisted it onto my shoulder and was about to leave my room when I thought about my eyes.
I was known for my two different colored eyes throughout the courts, and I would be recognized as soon as someone saw them, so I slipped into my bathroom and got the knife that I always carried around with me, dropping the sack onto the floor.
I moved my hair to the side, so that it covered my left, blue eye. I held my hair between two fingers and sliced it long, so that it ended right below my blue eye. I smirked at the mirror, satisfied with my new look. The cut was not even since I am not a hair stylist in the least, but it will serve its purpose.
I put my sack back onto my shoulder. I was about to take a right in the direction of the exit of the castle when I remembered I only had one small dagger to protect myself with. I sharply turned around and went on my way to the armory, hoping that no one would catch me taking a few items.
The corridors were deserted. I mentally face-palmed myself. Everyone was at the celebration in the throne room. Though, I was still cautious as I tip-toed into the room.
My mouth gaped open. The rows of shelves that held weapons and armor were endless. I snapped my jaw closed and sped to the nearest shelf and took things that would not be missed, like regular faery steel knives, and about 20 packs of matches. I roamed around for anything else I might need and was about to leave when I spotted them. The most elegant, yet powerful looking objects in the whole room, and one of them looked as if it was made for me. One was an icey-blue sword that radiated power and the other was a faery, silver armband. It had a dozen, ancient language letters on it, and its ends did not meet, but twined together. Somehow, I knew the armband could turn into multiple could turn into a sword exactly like the one next to it, an elegant long bow, a shield, a spear, and even into a crossbow. I also somehow knew that it would fit my left bicep perfectly. A long quiver of arrows and crossbow bolts were lying beside it though I'm pretty sure the armlet can turn into those too.
I stepped hesitantly towards them. These would surely be missed. I almost walked away from them when I realized I could go out with a bang by taking these, yet I will not need the sword if I take the armlet. I took the last few steps toward the silver band, and reached out to grab it. Just as I thought, it fit perfectly, a pleasantly cold object on my arm. I shot out of the armory as fast as I could to reach the exit of the palace. I did not even bother trying the band out to see if my inferences were correct. There just was not any time for it.
I was finally going to be free and outside of the castle when my mother's voice stopped me for the second time this night, and hopefully the last time ever.
"Where are you going?" she asked with narrowed eyes. Her hands were placed on her hips patronizingly.
I looked up at her defiantly with only my green eye showing because of my new haircut. "Leaving."
"Why? Don't you have a glamourous life here? And what happened to your hair?" she questioned me sarcastically. She reached out with her long, pale fingers to touch my hair.
I flinched away and responded,"It's the statement of my new life."
"What are you talking about," she smirked and continued, "What makes you want to leave all of a sudden? Do you not have a *privledged* life here? And such a *loving* family? You're willing to leave all of that?"
"What privledged life?" I hissed. I hated her. I hated my mother. I hated her for always making me feel like I'm comepletely inferior. "I do *not* have a privledged life. I do *not* have a *loving* family. I am willing to leave it all for *anything*," I spat venomously.
Her eyes flashed dangerously. Word of advice: Do NOT anger a queen, especially the Unseelie Queen. It will probably end with your head on an ice pike. "What makes you say that?"
I scoffed, "*You* should know. *You're* the one causing the most misery for me, and you take enjoyment in it. I've made my decision. I'm leaving the Court. And I'm not coming back."
"You're not going to make it," she snarled. "Have fun slowly starving to death." She started to walk away, but before she turned, I saw a glimmer of an emotion I've never seen on her face. Regret? I mentally snorted at that thought.
Before I walked out of the sad-faced door, and before Mab had reached the hallway leading back to the throne room, I stopped Mab in her tracks when I called out her name. "Oh and Mab?" She slowly turned around.
Her eyes were narrowed to little slits, but I could see they were slightly glimmering. Was she crying? Mab, the Queen of Air and Darkness does NOT cry. Even though I felt some guilt, my heart hardened when I thought about all the things she had done to me. "My name isn't Maple," I finally stated. Her glittering eyes widened slightly in surprise.
"My name is Ira, named after iron. Afterall, iron is strong, and so am I," with that last statement, I whipped around and strided out of the doorway. I heard the door slam behind me, but I didn't care. With my silver armband and my sack of neccessary items on my other shoulder, I was ready to take on the world.
I stood there outside of the palace for a moment, feeling the snow swirl around my body. I closed my eyes, and breathed in the cold air. Since the cold didn't affect me, I could survive well during the winters, and the heat would merely irritate me during the Summers. I smiled slightly.
I opened my eyes, and started to walk. Then I started to run. Then I started to skip. I was laughing and jumping and spinning, having the most fun I've had in forever without any regrets floating through my mind.
I was no longer Maple, of the Unseelie Court. I was Ira, of the free.
*End of Flashback*
Disclaimer: IDNOTIFS (I Do Not Own The Iron Fey Series)
Fighting!
~Ira