~Chapter 1~
Once upon a time in a little town called Camden was a family of four who lived in a small cottage barely big enough for them. They were a well-known friendly family through out the village and kingdom of Kalamia. Ian Bryden was the youngest of the family. He had brown hair like his father and sea blue eyes like his mother. His sister, Fallen, was beautiful with her long blonde hair and golden brown eyes. She had just turned twelve and was known to Ian as the most annoying person on the planet. She would boss him around like a queen would on her wedding day.
Their mother, Eliza, would often take them to the village to see their father, who worked as the local Blacksmith. Ian was very intrigued with his fathers work and told him one day he wanted to be just like him. His father laughed and told him "You can be anything you want to be, son. As long as you take care of your mother and sister while at it" He winked at him.
When Ian was seven years old his father and sister were two of the many people who died of a deadly illness that was in the village. He and his mother grieved of the family and friends they had lost and soon came to realize they had little money left. Ian being too little to work, his mother had found a small paying job at a mansion as a care taker for Tariq Emberwood's two young sons, Elliot and Jason. The job required for her and Ian to live at the mansion so they sold the house and moved into the grand house.
Tariq and Eliza soon fell in love and married five months later. At first, everything seemed to be going well and that everyone was happy. Three years later they found out Eliza was terminally ill and only found out a few months after her wedding. Knowing her time was coming to an end she spent the last few days bed ridden. Ian had spent every possible minute with her until her last breath. He grasped her hand and held on tightly. She did the same. "Don't leave me mommy!" He said with tears in his eyes, "Please!" His mother looked at him with love in her eyes. "No matter what happens," She said as she gasped for air, "I will always love you." He saw her close her eyes and take her last breath. And all too soon he felt her grip on his hands loosen.
"No!" Ian cried. His heart racing wildly, he shook his mothers hands as if it would wake her up only to realize she wont this time. "That's enough Ian." He heard his step-father say sternly, "Come here I need to talk to you." Ian looked back at him leaning on the dark wooden door frame with his arms crossed and his spoiled sons standing beside him watching the scene. Elliot was thirteen with blonde hair and pale blue eyes, the oldest of the young boys and the most cruel to Ian. Jason had dirty blonde hair with dark green eyes and was one year older than Ian.
Ian shook his head. "I c-can't l-leave her." He sniffed and wiped his eyes with his shirts sleeve. His father looked at him angrily. "You will do as I say or you will be punished," He said ,"Now come here you ungrateful boy." Ian reluctantly stood up from his mother's bed and slowly walked out of the room.
Ian glanced at the two household maids just outside his mother's room and they gave him a sympathetic look as if they knew something was going to happen. Nessa was in her fifties with fading blonde hair, dark brown eyes and a kind face. Anna was a bit younger than Nessa but not by much. She was slightly plump with brown hair that was pulled into a long braid and had the most beautiful sea green eyes Ian had ever seen. Both of the maids had taken care of him while his mother was sick. The three of them had grown rather close since then.
Ian looked back at his father with sad eyes. "Yes?" He said. His father motioned to Nessa and Anna and said smugly "Ian, get your things. Your moving to the servants quarters in the attic. These two will help you set up your room." Ian felt as if he had taken a blow to the stomach. How could he do this to him? He was his son and had just lost his mother. His step-brothers snickered and his father had a wicked grin on his face. Elliot and Jason made a face at Ian and walked the other way. His father was about to do the same when he turned back to Ian and whispered in his ear, "Your working for me now."
In the Royal Palace lived King Aden and his beautiful wife Queen Ezarah of Kalamia. They ruled the kingdom fairly and were well-respected by the court. They had two daughters named Katrina and Evangeline. Katrina was a lovely young girl with straight blonde hair like her father and silver eyes like her mother. She was prim and proper and loved to have attention. Evangeline, who liked to be called Eva, the youngest and was very beautiful with her long wavy brown hair that almost reached her hips and the most beautiful brown eyes with gold flecks in them. Even under the radiance she shown was a beauty of a mind as well.
Eva liked to sneak away from everything that went on in the palace and sit in the royal garden to watch the birds dance in the sky or even just a walk outside. But more than anything she wanted to see the village. She heard of many stories about the little town and grew more and more curious as the days went by. One evening Eva was on her bedroom balcony overlooking the kingdom. Her mother walked into the room to see Eva on the marble balcony and smiled at her child. "Honey, come on inside. Time for you to go to bed" Eva sighed and walked back into her room. The room was richly decorated in blue satin curtains with silver ties. On her bed were sheets of different shades of blue and over the bed draped a white canopy. The wall opposite her bed was a dresser with a huge white mirror on top of it. In the middle of the room was a black love seat where her mother and father would read stories to her.
Eva was already dressed in her night-gown so she got into bed and under her covers. Her mother came over and sat on the bed. "Where is papa?" Eva asked. Her mother looked at her and smiled sadly "He's very busy with his royal duties, sweetie. He's planning the Royal ball." The King and Queen of Kalamia were well-known for their extravagant balls all over the country. Many other kingdoms came to their palace for the events King Aden and Queen Ezarah hosted. The king and queen had hoped that one day they could unite their kingdom by an arranged marriage with two countries.
"Oh." Eva said sadly. She loved attending the balls but hated how busy everything got around the castle. The preparations would take about a month but the event was the best time of the year. Last year she had met two friends and now they come every few months to visit Eva and her sister. Katrina was better friends with them than Eva was. "Are Cassidy and Jade coming?" She asked her mother. The queen nodded her head. "Yes I believe so. Duchess Subitha and her daughters will arrive a few days before the ball," She said with a small smile, "Now enough talking about the ball. Time for sleep." She bent down and kissed Eva's forehead. "Good-night." Eva turned on her side and whispered goodnight than soon fell asleep.
Eva and Ian live in very different worlds from each other. Little did they know that with meeting by chance, a sprinkle of fairy dust and a masked ball could change everything
