Hey guys! I wrote this story, or the beginning of it, once but I didn't like how it was turning out so I decided to rewrite it. Here you go.
Chapter One
Rose crouched under the table, attempting to stay out of view. She'd been in the middle of a raid, and the owners had decided to come home early. Tonight was the Prince's extravagant eighteenth birthday party. All the important royals and their guardians had been invited so this couple should have been gone for at least another two hours. Clearly, from the way they were all over each other, they'd gone under the love spell. The girl's hand held the back of the man's head, burying her fingers in his hair. Rose held her breath and tried not to gag. She tensed as the young couple decided to head to the second floor. Rose knew that her cover was blown the instant they'd open their bedroom door. She dove for the front door, shaking the knob over and over. It was locked.
"What is this?" The women questioned, most likely noticing Rose's black bag filled with the girl's jewelry.
"Someone's in our house!" Rose swore as the man came barreling down the steps. Rose bolted for the kitchen with the servant's entrance. It was locked. Realizing it wouldn't open to her she paused dropped her hands to her sides and turned slowly. She came face to face with the owner of the house. His face was red and puffy. His brown hair was untamed and matched his angry eyes. Two guardians appeared behind him, a boy and a girl. Noticing their approach she reached into her boot and pulled out a small dagger.
"St-stay back!" Her voice was soft, as she was scared and waved the dagger back and forth quickly. Never once had she been caught before. The owner's brows furrowed. Rose laughed inside. He'd noticed how young she was and had dropped his guard; a big mistake, in her opinion. He took a step forward.
"How old are you?" Rose cocked her head and held the dagger out farther as he stepped even closer. The male guardian set a hand on his charge's shoulder and turned to look at the female.
"Lydia," He said. "Go get the guards." The female seemed hesitant to leave. "We'll be fine. It's just a kid." Lydia nodded once, paused, and nodded twice thinking it through. She turned to leave but stopped when there was a knock on the door. Rose heard shuffling as the wife came down the steps.
"Young Dragmoir? To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Sorry to bother you Emile." A male voice said. "I thought maybe you'd be at the party but when I saw the light on I thought… maybe..." He paused and looked up at her. He cleared his throat. "I'm looking for my cousin, yey high… brown hair, eleven years old. She came in yesterday from Ebony. I'm on babysitting duty and she, unfortunately, likes to wander." Emile let him in and led them into the kitchen.
"I didn't know you had any other cousins! Why didn't you all go to the party?"
"Er-uh… you see, something's not right in her head. Mom didn't feel comfortable bringing her so I got stuck. I left her alone for only a second and she disappeared!" They entered the kitchen and he sighed in relief. "Oh! There she is! Rosemarie! Everyone's looking for you. Geez kid, give me the knife." Rose narrowed her eyes, reluctant to hand over her only protection. "Give it!" Grinding her teeth she rested it in his outstretched hand. "I'm so sorry this happened!" He said turning around to face the two owners of the house. "She's not in trouble is she?" The guardians looked at each other. The wife spoke up first.
"Somebody was stealing our things. There's a bag filled with my jewelry." The husband looked at his wife.
"Surely a child wouldn't be able to get in here. She's just lucky the thief didn't see her. She probably came in and he bolted." Idiots, Rose thought.
"I guess you're right." Lydia came stepped between the couple.
"Would you mind if I-?" Rose jutted out her chin. Lydia performed a body check and nodded. "She's clean." Emile smiled softly.
"Sorry again for all of this. Her mom and dad are thinking of tying her up." He called, taking Rose's hand. He lead her down the street and turned a corner. Rose wrapped her arms around her waist and pouted her lip.
"They shouldn't have been home until later." She growled. Andre knelt down to her level.
"You're just lucky I saw them leave the party." Rose turned away from him and looked up at the moon. It was full tonight. "Do you have a place to stay?" His angered voice softened.
"Yes," Rose whispered. "The house on third." Andre narrowed his eyes.
"Rose, the roof on that house is about to cave in. You are not staying there." Rose rolled her eyes. She'd heard this speech a million times. She was an orphan unrelated to the Dragmoirs in any way. Her parents had left her on the street a few years ago. She'd learned to adapt. "Stay in our guest room."
"No way Andre. I appreciate everything you've done for me but I can take it from here." Andre rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Look Rose, you're only eleven. You can't take care of yourself. Please. I know it will make Lissa happy." Hearing Andre's sister's name she tensed. They'd been close once upon a time. Now it was the acknowledged hi, or how are you. Rose supposed it was her own fault. Lissa's family had been nothing but caring for her. When her parents had dropped her off to play there would be fresh baked cookies. Now she felt that since she lived on the streets, the Dragmoirs would be disgusted by her. So instead of facing their judgment she avoided them. Andre however didn't let things go easily and tried to watch her bad even though she didn't like it. Rose brushed a hand through her knotted hair and gave a defeated sigh.
"Okay…" Andre led here down a few more rows of streets until they came to a three story house. Rose stared at the king sized bed and took a deep breath. She wasn't comfortable. Andre turned to go. A-Andre?" She said making him stop. "Thank you… for tonight." He smiled and nodded.
"You're welcome. Rose." Once he shut the door Rose walked over to the window and looked back at the closed door. She shook her head and slipped out and into the night.
IT WAS THREE WEEKS LATER. The sun was up so most were asleep. Rose wore a small ratted brown dress stolen a week ago from someone's back yard. Although Rose was alone on the street she felt as if someone was following her. She continued slowly down the cobblestone path and listened for the sound of another set of feet. She could hear them, at least two. Rose froze and spun on her heels.
"Who's there?" No answer. "I know you're out there!" She put her little hands on her hips. Her voice echoed down the streets. A cat meowed somewhere down an ally. Getting nervous Rose pulled out her handy dagger. After a few minutes of standing there, a young boy with orangish red hair appeared with his hands in a surrendering position. By the looks of it he and Rose were about the same age, and homeless as well. His clothes were ripped and he wore no shoes.
"s-sorry," he said sheepishly. "I-I was just curious w-where you were g-going this time of day." Rose's hood fell off her face by a blast of cold air, exposing her wavy brown hair. "I-I'm Mason… Mason Ashford." A dhamphir. Rose lowered her weapon.
"Rose Hathaway." Her voice was soft. Another boy jumped from the shadows and once again she raised the dagger.
"Hathaway? As in The Hathaways?" She groaned inwardly realizing her mistake.
'You're thinking of my mother-" She whispered.
"Didn't she marry the war general Ibraham Mazur?"
"That would be my dad…"
"Awwww MAN! You must have the life!"
"Look, uh Eddie is it? I-"
"I'm Eddie Castile." Rose glared at the boy who was continuously interrupting her.
"Look, Mason, Eddie… I really don't have much time to talk-"
"What's it like to live in the castle?" She gave Eddie an even more angry glare.
"I wouldn't know." The boys looked at each other. Rose placed her knife back in her boot, turned around and started walking away. The two boys decided o follow her.
"You don't live there?" Mason asked. Rose sighed.
"My parents kicked me out when I was five. Live on the streets. Anything else you'd like to know?" She yanked her hood up over her head.
"You wanna live with us?" Rose froze causing the boys to walk ahead.
"Mason… thanks for the offer… really… but I don't really feel comfortable in other people's homes." Eddie smiled.
"No! we're homeless too!" HE exclaimed a little too excited. "My mom found this warehouse type place. About ten kids live there! Some of the older kids train the others so that we can be guardians when we get older. Or at least so that we have a chance to compete against the dhamphirs that can afford to go to the academy."
"I'm not really sure…"
"I don't like the idea of you living on the street Rose." Rose pinched the bridge of her nose and muttered something incoherent to herself. Then she looked at the two boys who flanked each side of her.
"If I don't like it I'm leaving."