The Kingdom

[crimson92]

Sparks narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms, "I am not shy, I just don't feel like being an attention grabber of men that have no business giving me the eye and then making a move on me."

She walked about the room, not able to sit very still in one place considering how antsy she was at the moment, how confused she still was about this kingdom and her purpose there. She pulled on her dress and huffed, wondering how long it would be before she could figure out a way to make her own clothes, mainly jeans. She turned to look at him, grinning as she decided to tease him a little.

"You know the blond chick was eying you, right? I mean, she didn't exactly hide it," she giggled and moved a little closer to him, "But I bet you get looks like that all the time; I wouldn't be surprised if you did. It seems that-"

She stopped when she caught sight of his eyes, her attention focusing just as they turned from gray to an intense blue. He had tried to hide it from her, but she knew she saw it. Walking closer to him, she bent down to where he had to look at her face, her own expression curious.

"Your eyes just did something weird," she mused to herself, "They just changed color. How can you do that?! That's awesome!"

She then rushed over to mirror and stared into it, squinting her eyes and concentrating on making the green change into something else, "My eyes don't do that...not really. That would be amazing if they did, though!"

[❖Amani❖]

"It's not cool at all. People stare at you oddly and talk about you..."

Vesper stood, slightly frustrated that she had seen his eyes. He backed toward the window and looked out of it, slightly thrown off.

"That blonde chick is always giving me those stares. She doesn't try to hide the fact that she likes me. I remember nearly jumping out of my skin when she popped up in my room one night. She'd said Rofus sent her to ask what measurements i needed. She frightens me."

Vesper chuckled and looked back at Sparks.

"And yes, I do get those looks alot. It annoys me. Girls always trip over themselves around me. It's embarrassing for the both of us."

His eyes had now begun to soften the intensity of the blue but still sparkled. Vesper happened to catch his reflection in the mirror across from him and his countenance darkened. The blue bled away to a dark charcoal gray and he turned back to the window, rain now pelting the ground and windows.

"I hate mirrors. I had them all removed from my room."

He felt Sparks gazing at him and he continued lowly.

"I'm normally happy, or at least content around here. For some reason my eyes turn blue then. And it reminds me of my uncle... I'm sorry. Perhaps i should leave. I don't want to ruin your day."

Gold flecks lightly dotted the gray when he looked back at Sparks.

[crimson92]

"Ruining my day? Please, there's no way you're ruining my day," Sparks replied with a playful roll of her eyes as she moved to stand next to Vesper, looking out of the window as well, "Just meeting you made it all the more interesting. I mean, one day I'm minding my own business before I'm attacked by a group of hunters, then I'm running through the forest, somehow knock myself out, wake up in a strange forest and then be found, so to say, by a prince with eyes that...I want to say change colors according to his emotions."

She turned to him, her own green eyes flashing that electric green, "Am I right? Hehehe, I tell you, your princeliness, you've made my book of interesting people. Your eyes change color, you don't like mirrors, you seem so mysterious...you interest me."

She giggled again as she tapped his forehead a little, "And trust me, I know all about being stared at. You're not exactly considered normal when you're born with pink and blue hair, are you? And my eyes, even though they don't change color...well, it's just weird for someone like me to have green eyes. Anyway, tell me about your uncle, if you want to, that is. And I'm also a little curious about the mirror thing..."

[❖Amani❖]

Vesper smiled at Sparks and shook his head, the gold filling his irises and flicking to royal blue.

"Well I'm glad I've made your list."

He motioned for her to sit in the chair she was in when he entered, seating himself on the bed.

"You seem nice enough... My uh, uncle is also Rajus. The one I told you about earlier? He died three years ago saving my father. There was a war and to make a long story short he died to protect him. I miss him so much. He was a good man inside, but from first appearance he seemed harsh. He had to be distant and wary for his own sake. He was king of the King's Men... I don't really talk about him too much. He had a lot of secrets."

He looked into the mirror, eyes growing gray again.

"He had the most intense blue eyes and dark raven hair... Its when I look in the mirror while I'm happy that it strikes me. I just don't like being reminded of him like that..."

He smiled.

"And Elise, the blonde, is one of the natives here. They found her as a young girl and put her to work. Ever since she saw me she's made it clear she likes me. She's never put it to rest!"

He chuckled nervously and looked at Sparks.

"I guess she's kinda crazy but she does her job and no ones been hurt, sooo..."

[crimson92]

"So you let her continue doing what she's doing, hehehe," Sparks finished, laughing a little, "I suppose she thinks she'll have a chance one day...unless you're already taken."
She looked at Vesper pointedly before getting up and standing in front of him, "And I'm sorry about your uncle, my condolences my friend, but at the same time...I think you should start learning how to like your eyes."

Sparks stared at his face, smiling kindly as she continued, "I understand it's hard for you, but...your eyes are actually very beautiful and people might enjoy looking at them. I know I like it, they're pretty."

She walked over to the mirror and stared at her own reflection, "At least you have relatives to take an image after. I have no idea who I look like...I don't even know if I have a family."

She turned away from the mirror to look at Vesper, shrugging, "Maybe I was just a mistake, something that wasn't meant to be born...but what am I boring you for?! You don't need to know all of this, hahaha! Right now, I want to figure out how I got here and what my purpose is."

Her stomach rumbled and she blushed, "...Right after I get something to eat! If I step out that door, no one is going to ambush me, are they?"

[❖Amani❖]

"You weren't boring me."

Vesper smiled at her, eyes specked with black.

"But I tend to think you're lucky you don't have a family Sparks. Having a family is not all that it's worked up to be... My uncle had a secret that he told only to me and I've never told anyone else. But trust me, it ruined the family image for me."

He rubbed his hands together, eyes turning a purplish color.

"My father and mother though... They love me dearly. My brother too. We all have a good relationship.... I'm sorry. I shouldn't be rambling on! You're hungry!"

He shot up and grabbed her hand, pulling her out into the hallway. As they began walking Vesper kept talking, letting his feet guide him.

"So uh, tell me more about yourself Sparks. I'd love to hear. Unless you don't want to share... I'd understand."

His eyes began settling back into the intense blue color once more as they walked along.

[crimson92]

"Well, there isn't much to tell really," she replied, stumbling a little bit over the bothersome dress, something that made her huff in exasperation before she just picked up the skirt of it and kept going, "I'm just a traveler, have been for as long as I can remember. I've been to many places, seen some amazing things and done some crazy stuff. I've danced with witches, literally, fought against goblins, slept in haunted houses-never a good idea if you're actually trying to sleep- been chased by hunters, zapped by wizards, and escaped the clutches of a giant...so I wonder after all of that, I'm still surprised when I end up some place new and unheard of."

She looked at Vesper and smiled a small smile as she shrugged, "If you don't believe me, that's fine. Not a lot of people do, but then again, not a lot of people have been a traveler," she picked up her speed a little so she was in stride with Vesper, gently slipping her hand away from his and smiling at him when he turned to her quizzically, "Don't want anyone to get the wrong idea. I have a feeling that this is the kind of place where simply waving at someone will land you in the middle of a scandal, hehehe."

She looked at Vesper and tilted her head to the side, "Does your family know that you just picked up a total stranger? They're gonna have heart attacks when they see me! Hahaha!"

[❖Amani❖]

Vesper laughed and shook his head.

"Don't worry! I promise it'll be fine. They're really open to things and people. Especially my father."

He nodded his head to the right when Sparks started drifting to the left at the bottom of the steps. Vesper chuckled at her pink cheeks and started walking, going through a door set in the middle of the two staircases and emerging in a very large dining room with a table that could easily fit twenty. Vesper looked behind him to see Sparks wide-eyed with awe and offered his hand to help her up the three steps.

"I promise no one will jump to conclusions over me helping you up a few steps!"

Vesper grinned at her and led her past the table and the fire-place behind the head of it, and on through a short hall into the kitchen. Maids and cooks were bustling about, though not very many filled the area. Vesper led Sparks to an empty spot at one of the tables and tapped it once. The woman bending over the oven shut it and turned around to see him and smiled. Her face was soft and wrinkled with age and a light gray bun sat on top of her head. Vesper motioned to Sparks and grinned.

"Manna this is Sparks. I found her wandering in town today!"

Manna smiled and wiped her hand on her apron, overly excited and eager.

"Pleasure Miss Sparks! A pleasure indeed! And such a pretty face! Such an angel if I ever did see one!"

Vesper looked to Sparks and smiled, eyes electric blue with gold flecks in them.

[crimson92]

"Wow, that's a...that's a new one right there! Angel, really? Hahaha," Sparks laughed, holding her hand out to shake Manna's hand, "It's a pleasure for me to meet you, Ms. Manna and let me just go ahead and say it, whatever you got in that oven spells amazing!"

Another loud grumble left Sparks' stomach and she put her hands over it and smiled sheepishly as she shrugged, "Sorry! It's been like...two days since I've last had anything solid in my stomach. I see it's now protesting angrily at me, hahaha!"

Sparks noticed the sun coming out again and looked at Vesper to see his eyes an intense blue with small gold flecks in them. She smiled at him.

"You're happy," she said, gaining a confused look as she laughed, "Your eyes, they're blue again. I think I'm learning what the different color of your eyes mean. I think I've at least got blue down."

[❖Amani❖]

Vesper suddenly paled and looked down, gray taking the place of the blue that had been there. Manna simply chuckled and shook her head at Sparks.

"Oh dear, you're so silly!"

She innocently smiled until she noticed Sparks' confused look.

"Prince Vesper's eyes! They're gray dear. They always are."

She almost started in on another statement but took one sniff of the air and twisted around to fuss over the oven. Vesper tugged on Sparks' arm and headed back out of the kitchen and into the dining room. Butlers were setting up the table for four and Vesper pulled her to the side.

"I know you think my eyes are cool, but I don't and others sure won't. No one else knows about my little secret and I try to keep it that way! They don't want a freak for a king!"

Vesper hissed and ground his teeth together in frustration while a little thunder rumbled slightly in the distance.

"I try to stay as normal as possible because I know I have to take my father's place someday. I already have my life chosen for me. I can't throw that away on something as trivial as my eyes changing color."

[crimson92]

"Alright, alright! Enough!" Sparks shouted, tearing his hand away from her arm and backing away from him, "You're hurting me, okay?"

She stared at him, her defenses kicking in as her own eyes began to glow that electric green, lightening striking somewhere in the distance, coupling with the thunder in the sky. She closed her eyes and focused on calming herself, her eyes turning back to the normal color of green.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly, looking up at him, "I'm sorry, alright? I didn't mean to make things...worse. I really didn't. In case you haven't noticed, I'm still a stranger here and I don't know what secrets are being kept and what's considered normal or not!"

She turned her head to the window when the skies suddenly filled with clouds and rain pelted the ground. She then looked at Vesper and noted how his eyes were gray again and raging with anger...like a storm. She scratched her arm and looked at him before turning and heading back towards the doors, not very hungry any more and feeling more electric energy flowing through her.

[❖Amani❖]

Vesper sighed as he watched her go, rage boiling inside at his show of anger. Not only had he managed to hurt her, he'd also shown her a very ungentlemanly side of him. He shook his head and frowned, forcing his way out of the dining room and through the large doors that marked the entrance to the castle. He ignored the shouts from a few of the servants that spotted him and shot out into the rain, catching some men bringing a black stallion back to the stables. In a rush Vesper apprehended the reins and jumped atop the horse before the man truly knew what was going on.

After a few minutes, Vesper was well into the town and soaked to the bone, still urging the horse as fast as it would go. The forest was in sight by now and Vesper could feel the horse tiring. His mind was still whirling and his anger was bubbling less dangerously, yet still heavy, along with the weather. The trees began thinning out ahead of him and he felt some small relief when the hooves of the stallion struck the sand. He pulled the beast to a stop and jumped down, making his way down to the water. The foam rushed up around his ankles and he sighed, the anger slowly leaving him. When his senses came flooding slowly back he began to wonder where Sparks had taken off to...

"You're losing your mind."

Vesper's eyes shot open and he felt a presence beside him. He slowly looked up and froze when his eyes locked with electric blue ones.

"Why are you so afraid? And of what?"

Vesper frowned and somehow found his voice.

"I-I'm not sure what you're talking about."

The figure narrowed his eyes and shook his head.

"Don't be stupid. I know you're a smart boy."

Vesper shook his head and started to protest but before he could speak the figure was gone. He sighed and lay back, closing his eyes and drifting off. He felt a pang of worry about Sparks getting lost but then relaxed a bit. She would most likely run into Rofus if she'd stayed at the castle. He seemed to always be everywhere...

[crimson92]

Sparks looked up as the rain began to fall harder and faster, pelting her body like little wet needles. She sighed heavily and shook her head, rain falling through her hair and into her face.

"Great...just what I needed," she muttered to herself, continuing to walk through the trees of the forest.

She had been walking for several minutes, wondering how long it was going to be raining or, more specifically, how long Vesper was going to be angry. She sort of put two and two together; whenever the young prince was upset or angry, the weather would change. She figured he had some sort of...magical ability and she supposed magic wasn't totally accepted in the kingdom. Maybe that was why he was so scared before.

"Alright, understood...I get it," she said to no one in particular, giving a short grunt when the skirt of her dress caught onto a tree branch

Growling in agitation, she tugged it free, hearing the material tear. She sighed and reached down, tearing a good portion of the skirt in half, leaving the rest of the material to hang just above her knees. She supposed this made her look anything but ladylike; did she care? No. She continued walking, noticing the trees thinning and soon gave way to the ocean view. She remembered Vesper telling her about the ocean...speaking which. Sparks surveyed the area when her eyes suddenly caught sight of a black stallion not too far down the beach and next to the stallion.

"Vesper," she whispered, smiling a little as she made a step to walk towards him, "I guess I should go apologize."

However, before she could get very far, she was suddenly grabbed and pulled back by large, rough hands. She struggled and felt her anger spike as she looked up to see three large, terrible looking men all smirking down at her.

"Looks like we've caught a foreigner, boys," one of them snickered, his beady black eyes glazing over as he stroked his beard, "And my, what a treasure she is."

"She's not like anyone else at all. She's far more...beautiful," a scraggly old one said as he reached out and touched her cheek.

Sparks jolted and shook herself away from the man, snapping her teeth in an attempt to bite him; "Don't touch me," she sneered, glaring at them.

They just laughed as the burly man grabbed hold of her again and began to drag her away, "She seems to be a fighter too! We'll have fun breaking her in."

Sparks heard them laugh cruelly, her eyes starting to brighten again, hitting that electric green and then going beyond until they were almost white. The air around her grew hot with an electric current, her hair beginning to float about her. The men looked confused, the burly one staring down at her when he felt hot electricity snap around his hand, the one that was holding her.

"I said don't. Touch. Me!" she shouted, a large bolt of green lightening streamed down from the sky and struck her, setting her body ablaze with power as she directed it towards the man, shocking him and sending him back several feet, "Don't any of you ever touch me!"

[❖Amani❖]

Vesper opened his eyes to a scream that had an oddly familiar tone. He pushed himself up and noticed the figure lounging in the branches of a tree not to far up the beach. Vesper narrowed his now ebony eyes and tilted his head as the figure chuckled.

"Have a good rest?"

Vesper furrowed his brows in confusion.

"I thought you were supposed to be resting! What are you-"

"My gift to you. It's more helpful than you realize..."

"I said don't. Touch. Me! Don't any of you ever touch me!"

Vesper jerked his head around to the origin of the noise and immediately jumped up, grabbing the stallion and pausing to see blue eyes studying him.

"Use your head Vesper. Don't get carried away lad."

Vesper snorted and growled, swinging his head around to see Sparks shock a man and send him flying. There was another one that looked frightened to death just a few feet away. He squinted and felt his jaw drop.

"Isn't that-"

"Yes."

The figure was now beside him, quicker than it should have been possible. Vesper simply ignored it though and started off towards the men, the sky growing darker and darker. He was only a few feet away when Sparks spotted him and the man turned around, but Vesper wasn't in the mood to for nice chats and negotiations.

"Sparks are you okay?"

The man opened his mouth to speak but Vesper hissed at him, eyes now pitch black and canines very slowly siding out.

"DON'T you dare say a word Micky. Rajus would be very disappointed in you."

"Correction. Rajus is very disappointed in him."

Vesper looked to his side where the figure was standing and he lost his anger to confusion for a moment. But when he turned back he noticed Micky eyeing him strangely and Sparks giving him a confused look. Apparently neither of them could see Rajus. Was he going insane? Rajus was dead! And yet he was- No. He was simply seeing things. Pretending the figure wasn't there, Vesper stepped toward Sparks and hissed at Micky, the man stepping back a few feet. When Sparks reluctantly came to him, he whispered to her, fangs now completely elongated.

"Are you alright? They didn't hurt you did they?"

[crimson92]

"Well...not really," Sparks answered, looking down at her arms and feeling them throb a little.

She could see the fingerprints on her skin from when the burly man had grabbed her and she winced at the image, "I might have a few new bruises by tomorrow, but for the most part, I'm okay."

Looking up at Vesper and studying his face, she was surprised to see his canines longer than any human's should be and his eyes completely black, as black as the storming sky. She put her hand over his heart to feel it beating wildly and she took a deep breath.

"Vesper, it's okay. Just calm down, please," she whispered to him, turning to face the man that would have been one of her captors, "How do you know this guy, Vesper? A friend of yours?"

She glared at the man, her eyes sparking a bright green as three bolts of electricity came down from the sky and hit the ground near the man, surprising him a little and making him step farther back.