"Goodnight mama, goodnight baby brother" I lean down to kiss my mother on the cheek before giving a soft rub to her gigantic belly. Of course I would never tell her that, not after father commented on how big she'd gotten. That was a scary day in the castle. Father only meant it as a compliment but mother did not see it that way.
"Good night baby" mama blows me a kiss as I leave the entertainment room and head to the east wing where my bedroom is situated.
As I make my way through the corridors I pass countless treasures of art from ancient tapestries, sculptures and paintings to framed armoury, ornaments and exquisite carpentry.
My family are big supporters of the arts and have always encouraged me to pursue my own creativity. I've tried everything from martial arts to poetry to cooking. I've not only gained useful skills but I've found a way to express my emotions and relieve stress, something I can't always do as a public figure.
As I reach my bedroom my personal guards walk ahead of me to open my door. I smile at them in thanks and bid them goodnight. My room is definitely fitting of a princess but by no means would I describe it as girly. Directly opposite my bedroom door is my private balcony that has a stunning view of the west side of the city, giving me breath-taking views at sunset. My bed is a four-poster cherry wood 10metres by 12metres frame, my silk sheets are a deep teal with gold cushions. I have cherry wood floor boards with a faux sheep rug that covers half my floor. My walls were originally cream but over the years I've taken to using the blank spaces as a canvas for painting pictures, compositions and poetry. Other than my bed I have a mini fridge, computer and workout area where I do my morning exercises.
I walk to the left side of the room where my walk in closet and ensuite bathroom are located. I go through my nightly routine before jumping into bed and snuggling into my blanket. I click my fingers and close my eyes as the curtains slowly close and the lights dim until I'm submerged into complete darkness. It's not long until I fall into a blissful sleep.
*CRASH*
I jolt awake when I hear a loud noise. I turn my head just in time as my guards rush into my room, only the look on their faces tells me they aren't here to protect me. I grab my knife hidden under my pillow and throw it at the first guards throat. I leap out of bed and hurl my body at the second guard. He's taken by surprise at my direct attack and slams to the ground. Before he can get his bearings I steal his gun and shoot him twice in the head at close range. I roll away from him and lift my arm and shoot the last guy in the chest. He drops to the floor and I shoot him two more times in the chest. I look at my bedroom door and see my fourth guard lying lifelessly on the floor and I come to the conclusion that not all my guards betrayed me, something I don't know if I should feel happy about or not. I drop the gun then run to my closet where my secret escape route is. Not even the palace guards know the exact locations of the personal escape tunnels so I figure I'm safe for now but that doesn't calm me down. I'm guessing my guards aren't the only traitors in the palace and I have no idea if my parents are ok. Remembering my training I take deep breaths to calm my breathing and focus. I close my eyes and think of a plan. Seven heartbeats later and I know what I have to do.
Even when I run at my maximum speed it still takes me 5 minutes to get to my parents personal chambers. Once I arrive I see the situatiin through a double sided mirror. Both my parents are on their knees, my mother has a knife at her throat and my father has a gun to his head. I release a suprised gasp when I take notice of the man arrogantly standing before them with a smug smile on his face. After the initial shock wears off I pay attention to what he's saying.
"...is what you deserve dear brother. You were always the favourite. Everybody loves you. And when father banished me you did nothing. Nothing! Oh wait, that's not true, you took my childhood sweetheart and defiled her"
"Your brother's soft-heartedness is the only reason your father didn't kill you. His generosity and loyalty are the only reason you were allowed to set foot into this kingdom again. And how dare a vulgar monster like you say my HUSBAND defiled me. You are a mere stalker, MY HUSBAND owns my heart" my mother spat at my uncle's feet.
*Deep breath* "I'll forgive you this time my dove but your actions thus far must be punished" my uncle turns to his henchmen "Take her to the north wing dungeons. I want that creature inside her removed at once. She's then to be locked in her new room until she learns to accept me...as for my brother, kill him" as his henchmen listen to uncle Ray's orders and start to drag my mother out of the room my father who has been silent since now suddenly disarms his guard and reaches for my mother as she too releases herself from her captures. I begin to smile as I see my parents kick ass. However a frown quickly replaces it as a bullet pierces my fathers chest. I tilt my head in the direction the bullet came from and see my uncle chuckling with a magi-gun in his hands. He shoots off another round aimed at my father but my mother shields him and is hit between her shoulder blades.
I panic at the situation before me but before I can do anything a wave of light is released and it takes a few seconds for my eyes to re-adjust to the brightness. Once the light faded all that was left of my parents was what looked like a white jade sculpture of the two holding each other in their arms. It took a few moments for me to comprehend what happened. They were gone.
"AAAAHHHHH!Bastard! Dirty whore! You two deserve each other! Just wait and see what I do to your precious country. Hahahhaha" Uncle Raymond mocks wickedly
"Your majesty, we have yet to hear from team B, I'm afraid they might have failed to kill your niece" henchman one voices his concerns
"Ah yes, my neice...so much like her mother. *deranged smile* Retrieve my niece using any means but I want her alive. If Felicity refuses to be mine by locking herself away in a stupid rock then I'll make her watch as I make her own daughter submit to my wishes" I gag as my uncle voices his plans for me.
Barely able to stay on my two feet. I make my way back through the tunnels and take the route that will take me out of the city. My family is gone. Tears cascade down my face as an overbearing sense of lonliness enters my mind.
I know deep down it was the right choice to make. Mama only had a brief opportunity to save daddy and baby brother but being left behind still hurts.
As I reach the end of the tunnel I decide to rest and recover my energy. When I wake up I'll decide what to do.
I wake up as streaks of morning light enter the cracks of the tunnels exit. I don't feel refreshed from my sleep as my dreams were plagued by nightmares.
I don't know who to trust anymore. I don't know the state of the kingdom. And I don't know what to do. I do know that my mother would never commit suicide, especially pregnant. She and father are still alive. I have to save them! Somehow...I lean my head back against the tunnel wall and grunt in frustration. But self-pity never solved anything so I open up the secret safe for emergenies and place my palm flat on the bottom of the empty safe.
"Identity confirmed. Please select emergency protocol. Initiating protocol three" a robotic male voice sounds out.
The fake bottom is unsealed and exposes two cards. The first will be useless as it's my Royal ID card. I second is my fake ID. I'm surprised that it shows me as male but take it anyway. Beside the small duffel bag--which I know to be filled with clean clothes for various seasons, money and weapons--there are two items. One is a privy-cell, an electronic device that only opens for the owner and the person it's directed to, and the other is a potion.
I tap the privy-cell and it starts to float in the air. It scans the area and when it deems it secure it activates a sound proof barrier with me inside the bubble.
"Baby, if your listening to this it means you're on your own. For that I'm sorry, you must be so lonely right now but you need to be strong, I know you will be ok because you have your father's heart and my strength" my mother's virtual-self smiles and winks at me. "I'm sure you've seen your ID and the potion. The potion can turn you male. Don't worry it won't change your bottom half, it will just keep your chest flat and make your face more masculine. But it will only last a year. Hopefully you won't need it after that but if you do it gives you enough time to collect the necessary ingredients for another batch if you need to make your own. Be safe my love and know that your father and I are always here with you" my mother blows me a kiss.
The scene glitches and my mother is replaced by my daddy "Darling I've made an adjustment to the potion. I'm sorry but it's too much of a risk to not have a full transformation. Daddy is going to tell you how to use...the male appendage *lightly coughs* I know you might not like it but the world is a scary place and with me not there to protect you and you being a young woman...men are dispicable creatures my darling, you can only trust daddy. Now listen to my instructions...." my father explains in great detail how to use the penis but I still roll my eyes when he repeats the whole 'only trust daddy' spiel. "I love you my darling, now go show the world why" daddy says with a shaky smile and watery eyes before the message ends and the privy-cell floats back down to the floor.
I reach into the safe and grab the potion and drink it all to activate the magic, I feel a tingle run down my spine as my body changes from female to male. I grab my ID and privy-cell and place them into my bag before walking out of the tunnel. I take one last deep breath before exiting the tunnel and facing my new life as Sirius Sly. My new name is Sirius Sly. Seriously. My father definitely came up with the name. Damn goof. I smile and step out into the sun.