Chapter 2:
They lead us down the dark hallway and shoved us into different rooms, I only had to wait a few minutes before my family streamed in. They hugged me like they've never hugged before, then the guards came back and shoved them out the door. The last thing I said to them was "I love you!"
The door creaked open and Brooke ran in embracing me, "You're going to win okay." I looked at her with tears welling in my eyes, "I'll do my best." Then she handed me something, my purple dragon bracelet, "Your mom said to give it to you," she said with a sniffle. I could hear the guards coming, "Everyday, tell them how much I loved them," I said before she was lead out the big doors.
It felt like I sat there for eternity, then finally the door opened once more, "Come dear, we must get going to the capital." I followed her out the big doors and down the dark hallway, I stared at the beautiful paintings that lined the walls. I wish my house had paintings.
She lead me behind the building where a huge train stood, "lovely isn't it," Emilee nodded at me, "Yes it is," I replied.
We boarded the train where I saw Bane and a man I didn't recognize sitting in royal purple velvet chairs that I just wanted to sink into. "You must be River?" The man said getting up from the chair with his hand held out to shake. I shook is dry hand.
"You guys must be hungry!" Emilee said, "I sure am!" Said Bane laughing, why does that guy have to be so likeable considering what he has done to me in the past. Like that one time he pushed me in the sixth grade, down a hill, then he and his friends laughed the whole time. Brooke had come running down the hill to help me up, I was covered in scrapes and bruises but I needed to do one last thing.
I marched up the hill, looked down at Bane, then kneed him in the groin and slapped him in the face, Brooke stood at the bottom of the hill gasping, "There's more where that came from." I told bane in an angry tone and then I walked away towards the school.
Ever since then I've had a reputation, the boys were scared of me, all except one, Bane.
They brought the food out on big plates. Anything you could imagine was there. Bane fiercely dug in without being gestured to, like, hello manners! I saw the mashed potatoes and piled them on the plate then grabbed three sourdough buns and of course had to have a little pulled pork.
Like a well taught lady I ate slowly and daintily, and I can say mother would be proud. The way Bane eat was as like a lion trying to eat a wounded gazelle as fast as possible, "Foul pig," I muttered under my breath, "Sorry dear?" Said Emilee with an innocent expression on her face. "Nothing." I looked down at my plate, " Darling you're eating like a bird." She said to me, "Unlike others I was taught good table manners," I looked towards Bane, "I have your look! Wise British girl!" She yelled with delight, I finally noticed that I was the only one with a British accent.
"River, you should eat more. It's rude not to eat what they serve you," he said to me while continuing to shove steak into his mouth. I stood up and slammed my fist on the glass table making it shake. "At least I'm not a foul pig!" I screamed, "Not to mention the things you've done to me!" I was now seething with anger. "My apologies. Excuse me." I lowered my head and walked away from the bane of my existence. Bane.