This book belongs to James Patterson AND Lulunoel plot, but I changed it and asked permission to do so!

No one's POV;

In the land of Sigreek the people were devastated. The king was dying and now Prince Charles (Yes this is Fang, but no one calls him that.), who was still only 18 would have to rule. The Royal Advisor would invite all the girls in town for a masquerade ball, and whoever the Royal Advisor chose would get to stay in the Royal Palace for 3 months. Everyone's excited, well mostly everyone...

Maximum Ride's POV:

"Maximum! Come down, you have mail."

My dad yelled from the bottom step. Needless to say I was shocked. My dad...was talking to me? This may sound weird, but after my dad re-married he barely said a word to me, because his wife well...my step-mom was a witch! She doesn't talk to me which is just fine. Anyways my dad, who once loved me more than the world itself, had stopped talking to me, and just looked at me with sad eyes. I quickly rushed downstairs to see if I could keep this conversation running, but he left , and had put the letter on the floor. I grabbed it, and walked up the steps a little sadly. I had thought maybe today would be the day he realized how much he missed me. I went upstairs, so I could read in private. I tried to lock my jammed door. But just as it was about to close someone stepped in. Perfect, it was wonder woman. I hadn't mentioned this before, but she was beautiful, if you think ice blue eyes and long brown hair is beautiful. I bet looks were the only way she could have weaseled her way to my dad's heart. My dad was a very important nobleman, and he should have known she only wanted him for his money and position in our government. She looked at me, and said,

"You and I are going shopping for your dress."

Ok…now the devil in heels is talking to me. This day just keeps getting weirder and weirder!

"I would love that." I answered-lying through my teeth.

She looked disgusted, as if I told her to start eating bugs. I stared at her till she got the message: that said 'Get out of my room!' She slinked out while I ripped open the envelope.

Dear Maximum Ride,

The king and queen cordially invite you to the Masquerade Ball. You are required to wear a mask. His Royal Highness will dance with each girl individually. At the end you will receive a message telling you if you are one of the lucky 50 girls to win a stay at the castle, and get a chance to be Queen of Sigreek. Our Royal Advisor chooses these girls. All your belongings and some special outerwear will be sent to the castle in advance. The masquerade ball will start at the 21st starting at exactly 8:00. Do not be late.

The Royal Advisor

Below the letter was the official seal. I couldn't believe it. The prince was snooty, and spoiled. No matter how much I wanted to leave this dump I couldn't win, or I would have to marry that jerk. I swiftly crumpled the letter, and was about to drop it out of the window when I felt a hand grab mine and yank.

"What are you doing?" My step-mom snarled.

I wanted to drop the paper and run, but she grabbed it in a flash. She glared at me, and left my room, with my crumpled invitation in her hand. I stared at my hand. It was still red from where her talons-excuse me I mean hands held me. I wanted to tell my dad, but it would be awkward, as he dosen't talk to me anymore.

I looked out the window and saw my dad playing football with Cindy's kids, as in my idiotic stepbrothers. I watched as they tackled each other, my dad acting as a referee, I watched how he looked at them with such love, a look only a parent can give on their best days. A look he used to reserve for me. I remember how my dad used to say that there is no such thing as being too smart. I watched Caleb and Aiden fight on the ground, and wondered how he even used to think about those things, when now he was smiling like an idiot at the ground. I remembered way back when I was a little girl how he used to read me Hamlet, and quote Shakespeare. I looked at the man on the ground, and with a sad realization I knew that those were two separate people.

Right then and there I made a snap decision, I would leave this place whether it meant marrying a jerk or moving to Alaska. Well I guess I need to RSVP a ball!

...

I can't believe I'm doing this. I tugged at the hem of my pink dress and inwardly laughed. I would never be caught dead in pink, but here I am. I originally thought that I would be allowed to wear some good old fashioned jeans, but nooo, I have to wear a fuzzy mask on my face and a pink dress (pic on profile!), Once I started walking in I felt weird. I mean me in a dress= HAHAHAH. I quickly sat down at my place card so I wouldn't trip in my heels. I stared at all the exotic, colorful, delicious looking, foods and piled my plate high. I planned to take a second plate anyways. I started noticing my half-sister Alexis staring at me. Alexis was a bit anorexic, and was the most popular back at school. Most people couldn't see the resemblance between us...thankfully.

Alexis looked like her mom, Cindy, in an uglier way. She had straight blonde hair that hung loose around her face, and was constantly greasy. Her pale blue eyes were always squinted, and she had very pale eyelashes that barely showed. But Cindy treated her like an angel. (A/N Duddlykins! lol if u got that reference) Right now Alexis's 'dress' was more like a shirt. A tight black shirt that was supposed to work as a dress. I would never wear that, but even if I wanted to I couldn't, because Cindy only gave me twenty dollars for dress shopping. Her idea of taking me to go dress-shopping was warning me to not mess up Alexis's chance of becoming queen, and told me to try to contain my jealousy for one night. She said Alexis's name like she already was chosen.

As I left my day-dreams I heard Alexis telling her fiends- I mean friends that her dress was one of a kind. Her dress cost sixteen hundred dollars. The only way I even got this dress, which originally cost three hundred dollars was because, I promised to give their store a better heater once I became queen. Well more like if I become queen. Anyways I looked nice in my opinion, and eww hot in my boy neighbors opinion. My hair was neat for once (pic on profile), and always something that stood out in a crowd. It had streaks of red, brown, and blond in it. I was pretty skinny because I ran a lot. My metabolism is fast anyways.

I was brought back to earth when I felt a sudden jab at my arm. I turned around, mouth still full, and said something that probably came out like,

"Mhhrm."

"Well," the jabber-whom I noticed to be Alexis, started off, "you eat like a pig, and you're already fat! You want the prince to notice you? You have to have curves"

Alexis stopped to point at her board-like body. I almost laughed in her face, and then realized what the heck? And did. All of a sudden a blind dude walked in holding a scroll in front of him, as if he could read it. I was a little confused, at why he was doing this, and obviously so were the other girls, but we kept our mouths shut. He started to clear his throat, and trumpets blew.

"Ladies of our wonderful little town, I welcome you into the castle. Fifty of you lucky girls will be chosen to live here for three months, and I would expect you're excited. Let us please welcome Prince Charles (Fang), and Prince Dylan (his brother)."

We all stood and clapped our hands until the guards called for quiet. I knew the girls were excited, and I'll admit I was to. Everyone wanted to see what they looked like. I knew that beside me Alexis was squinting, and for once I didn't blame her. All the guards finally uncrowded the soon to be King as I got my first look at the Princes of Sigreek.