"So you go left and I go right, no jokes Tara. You don't have to do this if you don't want to".

I scoffed at Vicky. "Well excuse you, I need this point as much as everyone does. So yes, I want to". Vicky shook her head making her blue hair rough. Her brown eyes turned a shade darker as she continued talking.

"Ok that settled it then. Amy you take the middle while Sammy and Sadie take the opposites. Do we understand this plan!".

"Yeah, let's kick some butts!". Amy shouted. While the rest just muttered yes.

"So the plan is, don't get mobbed. If they come to much exchange positions immediately and don't even think of chickening out. That goes to you Tara".

"Yeah, yeah I got it". Sadie and Sammy both eyed me suspiciously and I shrugged. "I won't chicken out okay, as far as five hundred monsters don't come at me at once".

"Fair enough, now positions people!". Vicky shouted.

We all ran to our various positions in time for the monsters of doom to arrive. The gates opened and ten monsters came out. Okay you got me, they aren't exactly monsters, just teenage kids dressed as monsters.

This was my everyday life. As the princess of Chantara I need to learn defence and know how to fight. As my father says. you don't have any powers yet, so I'm not taking the chances.

Everybody in Chantara has a superpower when they become thirteen but mine just flew right pass me. I'm seventeen and I'm powerless and this often got me bullied and looked at like I'm some kinda of plague. Luckily for me the friends I have will stick to me in thick or thin even though they get really mad when I run out of the field in fear of what the costume monsters might do to me. Our defense teacher, Mr bridge then made it a rule . If we lose we also lose marks for school grades and so far we've lost four all because of me.

And I'm grateful that even if we lose. I'll always be the one they choose over and over again.

I fought to control my lungs from screaming as they ran towards me. Why always me for Pete's sake. Maybe because they know I'll chicken out or maybe because they hate me for being the powerless princess.

"Exchange!, exchange!. For Pete's sake Tara exchange positions!". Vicky shouted from my opposite side. I didn't need to be told twice before I ran towards her making the monsters follow me. Vicky also ran towards me just in time. She stretched her arms and purple lights flickered from it. The light looked like tiny ice blocks joined together to become a ball and Vicky threw it at them. The ball landed in their middle and it blew up sending the monsters flying in different directions.

"Attack!. Leave no monster behind". Vicky yelled and charged. The others shouted in unison and also charged. I followed shouting as I ran.

Vicky swinged her bat stick when a recovering monster in lion form tried to stand up. She charged at a falcon who stumbled backwards in fear. While I on the other hand just used my needle shaped sword that was three feet long to hit the monsters Vicky already hit.

Sadie and Sammy both kicked a tiger in the gut while the poor thing whimpered in pain. Was it me or did that whimper sound like James. They used their hands to carry the tiger and threw him down again. Then next they went to the rhino who ran as it saw them coming. I'm guessing that's Clancy.

Amy on the other way just waved her fingers which produced tiny flickering pink lights which spread all around her. every monster that it touched just stumbled on his foot and if he stands up back he eventually falls back down. She didn't even need to run, shout, kick or anything. Just wave. That's her superpower.

"Your back, watch your back". Amy suddenly shouted looking at me, I turned to look but I was to late. A horse was just five feet away from me and then it jumped forward. The hooves hit me before I could scream and I blacked out.

I groaned in pain as I rubbed my forehead. It throbbed repeatedly as I remembered what had happened. My head was killing me.

"Relax Tara, rest". I heard my mum's voice and I turned to look at her.

"My head feels like it's being hit repeatedly by a hammer".

Mum laughed and patted my hair. "Just rest Tara. Go back to sleep".

It took me two seconds to know mum was compelling me. And then I slept of. Curse her power.

★★★★

I walked down the hallway , my heart in my throat as I headed for the throne room. My elder brother had came into my room waking me up to tell me my dad was calling me. I placed my hands on my chest when I reached the iron doors. Whenever a person gets summoned in the throne room it's never good. I pushed the door and was faced with. Uhm, I think men in armours. My father was seated on his throne with my mother by his right side.

As culture upholds. I walked to my father and bowed. Then I faced the warlocks and bowed at them. Then I walked to my mother. I pecked her cheek and went to take my seat at my father's left side.

"Since the reason for this meeting is here. Let's get down to what this meeting is about. ' Griffin Harrington. You may proceed".

A war lock walked forward. He was tall in height and his chest was wide. His waist was smaller to the rest of his body.

He raised his hand and removed his helmet revealing a blonde head man. His face was with a permanent scowl.

"Lord Hendrix". He bowed a little and my father also bowed his head in acceptance then the man continued. " In accordance to what you promised we've come to take our bride".

I choked on nothing cause they all turned to look at me and I lowered my lashes to look at the floor like it had suddenly become the most amazing thing in the room.

"Your daughter has come of age, and my son has waited enough". He finished.

I turned to look at my father who nodded. "Yes Lord Alaric, we've been expecting this, but I would like you to give my daughter time. Let her see who she's getting married to before we give her to you".

Okay I was lost. Who's getting married and who's daughter.

"If you say so lord Hendrix, Luca, come forward".

The boy who I think is Luca came forward. He was also wearing an armor, but not as big as his father's. He removed the helmet and my breath hitched. He was handsome, I'll admit. He had blonde hair with silver streaks that shimmered in the dim light. He had full red lips and oval shaped face with prominent jaw line. Even from where I sat I could see his forest green eyes. He had thick blonde long eye lashes that made me jealous. Even his eye brows were so thick and full.

I must have been staring to much cause immediately he turned his face to look at me. I jerked from my seat and quickly sat straight.

"Lord Hendrix". He bowed to my father who nodded. "I'm glad to see lady Tara all grown up and beautiful but I would like to have a private discussion with her before we move things forward."

"As you wish, Lord Luca, Tara, why don't you show him around the castle". I think I didn't reply so my father snapped his fingers.

"Y...ye..yes father. I would certainly love to". Luca must have noticed the sarcasm in my voice cause his lips moved into a perfect smirk that made me imagine what it would feel like kissing those lips.

I stood up from my sit. Then I walked towards the handsome devil.

"Lord Luca". I courtesied. Luca smiled. And raised my hand to his mouth. " Lady Tara". He kissed my hand and interlocked it with his arm and then we walked out. If I was Amy I would have probably be blushing and fanning myself and trying to stop myself from screaming in joy. Buy I had a really good emotion trainer. My mum. And that's probably why I'm not yet freaked out by all the gibberish they were spilling.

Immediately the door closed behind us. Luca removed his hand from mine and took at least two steps away from me. I should have been hurt or confused but I was thankful for the space.

"Well?". He asked.

"Well what?". I asked back.

"Aren't you going to freak out or something".

"Am I supposed to freak out?".

"All girls do usually. I was expecting you to ogle at me, or tell me'?". He narrowed his eyes. "aren't you interested in me".

"Does all the girls who meet you ogle at you".

"Yeah they do. It's kind of fun to watch them fight for something they can't have"

I didn't know where the sudden hate came from but I hated this guy. He talked about girls like they couldn't do without him.

"So what do you think about us Getting married" .

I'm not sure but I think the words stabbed me and I stopped walking. I looked at him and answered.

"I feel awful getting to marry someone like you".

His face suddenly turned sour and he stopped walking to face me. "You what?". He questioned confused.

"I said_. I feel awful getting to marry and ego driven idiot like you". I sighed when he said nothing but just looking at me with an expressionless face. "I think this walk is over". I bowed a little and walked away.

**********

" Wait so if I get you correctly, you told your future husband you feel great..."

"Awful"! I corrected.

"You feel awful getting to marry someone like him?".

"Exactly". I answered.

Vicky looked at me like I'd suddenly gone insane before she yelled. "What the hell did you say that for. Do you know you just gave him a reason to dislike you".

"I don't care"....

"Of cause, she never cares". Sadie said and I shot her a look.

"See guys, I have a reason for saying it, he was to proud. He talked as if he was the only boy in the".....

"In the what, Tara. You shouldn't have said that no matter what he said". Sammy groaned. "What does he look like anyway".

"Yeah what does he look like"?. Amy who had been busy with her finger nails asked.

"He looks like a pig farmer who hadn't taken a bath in a hundred years".

"Shut up". Amy gasped. "He looks like a god, how handsome is he. I want details Tara".

I rolled my eyes at her. "His my husband or what do you call it. _ right_ my fiancee not yours".

"Correction, your awful husband". Sammy corrected.

"I'm tired of this conversation guys, let's talk about something else".

"And there we go, you're trying to avoid the matter". Vicky picked up a scissors from the drawer and cut through her hair. "Why aren't you angry your parents kept it from you anyway".

"Yeah why aren't you". Sadie asked.

"Maybe because my mother compelled me during one of our emotion class. She said something about accepting things the way you find it".

"Yeah that might be true. Cause the other day she sort of told me to change my nail colour purple and I did".

"Ney!!". We all shouted throwing anything we could find at Amy.

"You changed the colour yourself." Vicky said.

"But the other day she told me to make Clancy a flying horse and I did. I had no idea I was doing it until I gave it to her". Sammy frowned. "Your mother's power is dark, she made me let Clancy win".

They all laughed at Sammy while I sighed. Everybody's got a story about how my mother makes them do something they don't want to do with her compelling power. And I on the other hand can't even enchant a necklace.

"Let's get to class before Mr Roddy sees an opportunity to get us to do cleaning duty". Amy said. "My fingers can't take anymore spooks".

We walked out of my room and headed for the school that was located right behind the palace.