Lacey was on her way to her rooms, she had just come up the stairs when she stopped as someone called her name, "Lacey" Alex said, coming down the hall, he walked up to her, "Here" handing a small box to Lacey. "Happy birthday, I know it is a little late. but I want you to have this." He finish.
In the box was a moon flower incased in glass, Lacey pulled it out, it was a hair pin,
"The a moon flower." He said with a grin, the flower was black with small petals of blue coming from the yellow center, Lacey looked at him "Thank you, it's so beautiful" Lacey said,
Alex sighed "Well I got to go, father wanted to talk with me" he said as he went down the stairs. Lacey looked down at the flower, and lifting it out she noticed it was not only a flower but a hair pin. It was beautiful, she had only heard of a moon flower from books, and stories.
Lacey walked in to her sitting room, it was quiet, the candles were all lit, the light from the windows was dim, Fay came out of her bedroom, walking over to the window pulled the drapes shut then turned around, Nodding her head in a show of respect to the princess,
"Your bath is ready for you" she said.
After her bath Lacey felt better. She walked over to the trunk that she and Mia had attempted to pack, but didn't do a very good job, she smiled they had just came up here and played around trying on all the dresses in Lacey closet, but now the dress that had been laying around on the bed were back in the closet, except for her new dress that her the father had given her for her birthday. She touched the fabric with her fingers, the smooth cloth was like silk, as she touched it it lit up, she pulled way.
Then laughed at herself, picking it up she walked over to the door of the bedroom, Fay was right out side the door fixing the arrangements on the coffee table, "Get this dress washed before we leave I want to take it with me" Lacey said. Fay came and took the dress without a word.
Lacey turned around and went back in the bedroom, getting in bed. She could not stop thinking, her mind was running over time. She had so much on her mind, the dress and it's ability to change colors, the trip..., there was a lot on her mind but soon she fell asleep.
Three days had passed, Lacey now stood on the docks in a elegant dress that came to her knees. Alex's gift in her hair. Waiting for her father to arrive, he was putting some last minute things together. When her father finally arrived, they followed him onto the ship, servants had already put there bags on the ship.
Angela was jumping up and down as the ship left the dock, Lacey giggled but looked out over the fast growing water gap between the ship and the dock where Mia was waving good bye. She had come to her room that morning to say good bye and to help her get the last of her things packed.
She waved good bye as the ship pulled a way, going further out on the water.
Lacey looked down into the sea green water, it splashed around the big ship. Then she followed her mother and sister down into the ship, to where their cabins were. A little while later after going past door after door, they came to the royal cabins, there was one for each of them. Lacey entered her cabin. She looked around seeing her trunk, and bed and a hammock in the corner. Her dresses hung to the side, there was a mirror on the wall and a washstand.
She walked in and sat on the bed then fell back bouncing a little as she did. She let out a big sigh, then got back up and walked over to her dresses. Looking through them she searched for the blue dress. she undressed hanging up her dress, before putting the blue fabric over her head, she struggled a little as she tried to zip it up.
She gave out a huff of frustration, a tingle went up her spine as the zipper, zipped itself up, making her shiver. Lacey ran to the mirror, turning around to see her back, the zipper was done up, turning around again so she was facing the mirror.
She went over to the wash stand dumping water in the bowl, throwing water on her face looking in the small mirror in front of her, she felt good to wear the dress, she felt safe.
The door flew open, Angela came in and looked around, she said "Lacey lets go up to the deck mother said that we will be able to see the Island of Claws soon, we are going to go passed it!" She finally stopped rambling on.
"You changed" she said looking at Lacey's dress, "That's the dress father gave you!" She added as she walked over to Lacey "Yup" Lacey said, "Can I touch it" she said. Lacey laughed, picking up a towel and drying her face, "Let's go up on the deck" she said, walked to the door that was still open, Angela followed her.
Lacey followed Angela down the hall, the dress not forgotten, as Angela rambled on with excitement in every word she said.
They came out on deck, the sun still high in the blue sky felt warm, Alex was sitting on a crate, talking to a boy his age, they walked in their direction, Alex looked up seeing them smiled, "Hello my dear sisters!" He said, the boy look up at his words, interest on he's face, he had messy black hair it was short and moved with the wind, he's eyes were blue. The girls looked at him "This is my good friend, Ash" Alex said, Ash gave them a nod, "He is the cook's son". the girls smiled, "Nice to meet you Ash" Lacey said, Angela giggled then said, "Have you ever seen Claws Island or been there?"
Ash look surprised.
"No, but I have went past it many time." he said, Angela smiled looking at her brother, "Well, we are going to find mother and eat." A small growling come from her middle, she grinned sheepishly.
"Come on Lacey" pulling Lacey's arm, they walked away, Lacey almost looked back to look at the boy, but stopped herself and followed Angela. They went down the deck and soon got lost looking for their mother on the big ship. They finally had to ask a servant where she was.
They walked in the room that was their fathers work room, their mother and father sat across facing each other at a table, the food was already there, they looked up. "Come let's eat" said their father, they walked over sitting down at the table.
"Is Claws Island that dangerous" Angela asked their father, "Yes, it's worse then the story's" said their father with a frown, after that they all ate in silence, until a knock came on the door, "come in" their father said, a messenger came in, "My king, there is a ship coming right for us" he bowed, "does it have a flag" asked their father, "No." Was all the man said, their father got to his feet in a second, turning to his family, "Go down to your cabins and stay there!" then he quickly left.
The girls were left alone, the messenger had left with the king, Lacey looked at her mother, fear going though her but quickly disappeared. Her mother got up, "Come let's go" they hurried to the cabins, when they got there Alex was waiting, they all went into their mothers cabins, Alex shut the door locking it.
Their mother sat down in the closest chair, Angela went to the hammock, Lacey sat on the floor the blue fabric fell around her, Alex stayed by the door, they waited all was quiet.
Some time went past, then there was a loud "BANG!!".
The ship rocked and all was quiet, Lacey look at her mother, her face was grim, Angela's face was scared as she scrambled across the room to sit by her mother, Alex was silent. About 20 minutes went past before, there was a knock on the door, the door rattling, their father's voice came though the shut door, "Dear" he yelled, Alex opened up the door and their father came in, he look around the room a sigh of relief left his lips.
"Is everything ok" asked their mother, speaking in a scared voice, he nodded, "The ship tried to attack us but we sent them running" he came in giving his wife a hug.
"I can't say that will be the last of them."
Lacey was in her cabin that night brushing her hair, in deep thought, they had already passed Claws Island while they had been in the cabin hiding, she was glad, she thought about the attack, now she knew why her father had been so reluctant to take them with him on his adventures.