IV

I am now sitting in front of the vanity mirror while my mother is beside me.

"Mom I want everyone to be invited on my 18th birthday," I said while she's combing my hair. "I want you to take down the barriers on that day,"

She's calm when she doing something nice. But sometimes she's more than evil because of something that she don't like that her eyes sees.

If you think she is good in front of you you are mistaken. She is even worse than you think, what I am, she is even worse than me.

She can be a royal and a villain at the same time. She's queen Keturah my mother, the one and only deserving.

"Are you sure with that?" She stopped what she's doing and sat beside me.

I know why she sounded sarcastic. It's because she hated people and so as the villains...

There is no word for forgiveness in her heart.

Forgiveness is for those who deserve it, not just for those who waste it.

But sometimes I hated her for being evil, but that makes me hate myself too because sometimes I am like her. She's my mother and no one can ever replace her, not even a single finger tip of a woman who will step into our palace.

I may not respect her that much, because I don't like the things that she does, but I think it is for the best.

"It's just that I want a masquerade theme on my birthday. I want them to experience what we always do."

Isang beses ko lang mararanasan na maging 18 years old, kaya bakit hindi ko iimbitahin ang lahat ng mga tao?

"Is that so? Then we'll take down the barriers and we'll open up the gates if that's what you want,"

"Really?" She kissed my forehead.

I felt the warmth of her lips when she kissed my forehead.

"Go to sleep now, darling." She turned of the lights and left the lamp by the bed side table only open.

I forgot to ask her about my brother Cedrick. He's always out the palace. I never saw him smiled at me. I never felt him care for me which I badly want to feel from him.

I wonder if he'll attend my birthday...

Or will he leave and distract his self?

I approached the side of my balcony to look at the garden but I saw something else.

I saw a silhouette near the trees at the garden. He clasp his both hands and a spark started and it was a fire! A swirling fire ball!

The same with my father abilities...

Is that even possible?

Or are you crazy Athaliah? Of course it's possible!

I held my amulet and glanced at the guy.

"Respirez et éclatez des bulles brillantes." I mentioned a spell in French.

It was a Bubble Spell. This spell can bring colorful bubbles into the air. But as soon as it touches you, it will pop and ruin your looks, everything.

Nakita kong nagulat siya at napalinga-linga sa paligid nang makita niya ang Iba't-ibang kulay na bubbles.

All I thought this spell is useless but I was wrong.

I laughed at him when he got distracted by the bubbles. I burst out laughing when I saw the bubble touches his face and ruin his looks.

What a funny moment for a peasant like him?

Or was he a peasant?

He looked around the balcony of my room and I saw the shock of his persona when he saw me.

I think he wants to get the crown in the secret wall but he couldn't find it.

Behind the secret wall are the crowns. The secret wall is called Neriah's garden, because it was made especially for me.

In just one snapped the guards approached him and held his both hands. I went to the garden to see who he is.

"A villain," I said when I removed his mask. "What do you want?" I calmly asked him and raised an eyebrow at him.

Sometimes I wonder where these creatures get the courage to land a foot inside the palace.

"Tsk... I was expecting to see the King or the Queen," he laughed sarcastically. "But looks who's here, the weakest among them,"

"Poor you Villain," I sarcastically said. "I may be the weakest in my family. But once I sit on my own throne, watch me make 'em bow one by one. And clearly you aren't an exception to it."

I saw the amusement in his eyes because of what I said.

He can't use his powers or elements against me because he will be under my spell. He can't use his element while he's in the palace.

I just let the soldiers take him to his dungeon, because I have to wake up early tomorrow because I will go to that school again.

I saw the dreamcatcher that was given by Sverre. I put it in the purple box so it has a container.

Maganda at tamang-tama lang para sa isang prinsesang tulad ko ngunit hindi ko maaring tanggalin ang aking kwintas dahil kailangan ko ito.

I know I'am not deserving to be a queen but my father trained me to become one of them. My brother will become the king of Aysel and that's his shit priority.

I'am engaged with the prince of Malgrave. Prince Marius and he is my childhood friend.

"Princess Athaliah!" I heard a maiden's voice.

"Hmm?" I rolled myself off the bed.

"Everything's ready, so be ready for your second day."

Maybe I should get an alarm clock because they always get in without my permission!

I was sluggish in going to the bathroom to take a shower and get dressed.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror again like I always do. I dried my hair and made a bouncy curl on it's ends. After that I wore my other Royal Hair Swirls, it's purple.

"I prefer the state Limousine, please." I commanded the driver.

He opens up the door for me and didn't even bother to talk to me.

I saw the clouds near the Pendragon Belgues changed, where the villains lived. It turns Gray and only their clouds turned gray!

"What's with Pendragon?" I asked the driver then he just simply shrugged not saying anything.

Wala ba siyang bibig?

"Villains lives there right? Do you think they're planning something?" He didn't answer me but I keep on over thinking on what's happening.

Gray clouds... Lightning... Thunder... Barriers. What are these Villains doing?

I clear my mind before entering my classroom. Everyone looked at me when they saw me. I just smiled at them before sitting on my seat.

"A princess MUST always protect her crown and you will always protect your crown," I heard the Royal teacher said her name is Mireya. "A crown princess is always destined to be a Queen no matter what."

Parang ang salitang iyon ay parang sa akin niya sinasabi.

A woman is a queen with or without a crown it's in their soul. Not all shall wear a crown on her head, because some are already in their soul.

After class I hurriedly went to the palace to change my clothes. I'm wearing a Royal Fitted long sleeves gown that accentuates every curve on my body...embroidered & beaded with a matching belt.

I'm planning to roam around the palace or in the garden. I'm also planning to distribute the invitation for my 18th birthday.

"My Princess Athaliah!" I heard Prince Marius voice when I turned around I saw him riding in a carriage.

"Prince Marius of Malgrave, what brings you here?" We bowed down to each other.

"I'm here because of you," He's so pure in and out. "The Queen told me to help you," he helped me get in the carriage and then he followed.

"We're going to the three islands and give them the invitation--"

"Villains are invited?" His eyebrows furrowed.

"Well, they will not mess my birthday because they're invited," I assured him. "They may be a Villains but I trust them to act accordingly."

Other palaces are our servant who will give them the invitation because I cannot travel far away other than the island around us.

"First destination is Herst Fort," I said.

When we arrived at the Herst Fort I saw the people going there, going here, running everywhere. Sobrang gulo nila palagi and sometimes they're disappointing us.

They were shocked when they saw us. They all stopped on what they're doing and bowed down to the both of us.

"I'm here to say that you're all invited to my 18th birthday and it's a masquerade ball. Wear anything comfortable gown and coats don't forget your glamorous mask." I'm the one who personally gave the invitations because I want to.

I have in mind that there are Villains who secretly lives here in Herst Fort, but they are too talented to continue on hiding behind the darkness.

"Next destination is Miserth Wisdom," I must visit the true owner of the elements and where it all begins, Astraea and Calaenos the god and goddess of the nine elements.

When I arrived I saw them sitting in front of the waterfalls.

"Mi dios y diosa," They slowly turned around when they heard my voice.

"Princess Athaliah," they bowed down to give respect and I also did. "What brings you here?"

"I came here for this," I gave them the invitations for my 18th birthday. "I hope you'll come."

"We will our princess," she motioned for me to sit on the hard rock next to them. "You still haven't find out on what element you belong," but Calaenos gave me a different smile. His eyes went down to my amulet.

"You still have that," he pointed at the amulet.

"You gave this, remember?"

Calaenos gave me this amulet when I was born. It's a very special amulet and it had their protection.

"But about your element..." I seriously glanced at him and wait what he'll say next. "It will come in the right time and that time is near."

He held my hand and touches my palm using his index finger. I saw a line and it formed the zodiac sign Aquarius... My zodiac sign.

"Do you know that the zodiac sign Aquarius belongs to the element of earth?" He said when he let go of my hand. "Earth is one of the most powerful elements."

"Does that mean that I belong to that element?"

"You need to see, before you assumed things." And that hit me...

If Aquarius belong to the element of Earth, then maybe I'am one of those people who own the element of Earth.

"Last destination is Pendragon Belgues." I let out of sigh as I say it.

This is a place where Villains live. Ilan sa kanila ay galit sa royalties because they're Villains at hindi aming sila napagtutuunan ng pansin.

I saw how the clouds changed from gray to its normal color.

Maybe, I am the only one who can calm them.

"I'm back~" some of them looked at me and bowed but some of them just smirked at me.

"Look who's here!" Teivil said. Sound Devil right? Because he really is...

"Is that how you welcome me, Teivil?" I asked sarcastically.

He changed his self for the better...

"Oh," he laughed. "Bow down to your majesty," then he bowed down for how many second and the others also followed him.

"So childish of you Teivil," I rolled my eyes and handed him my invitation.

"Oh, it is so nice of you to invite us villains, Princess Athaliah."

"Yes, I'm too nice to invite you, Villains so thank me for remembering you."

"Mhavryck and Mallory!" He called his best friends. I know them... Very well.

"Thank you, your majesty," They said and tear the invitation in front of me. "Oh, Sorry!"

"Tear it all you want, it just cost a thousand." I proudly said.

"Wow, money is just a thing to you." Teivil said and picked up the ripped papers.

"It's just a thing to me, but at least I value things."

"Well then, see you on your 18th birthday, Crown Princess of Pevanshire." They bowed down once more before we leaved.

Villains are always like that. They're always immature. They said that Teivil is their leader while M and M are his assistants.

He's not like this before but someone ruined him so bad that he turned out to be a monster on his own. I just realized how love can ruin a person's life and everything.

"Prince Marius," I called him while we're walking in our garden.

"Hmm?" He didn't look at me. He just continues on looking at the roses.

"Why do you always do this?"

"What do you mean?" Now he looked straight into my eyes. Reading every inch of it.

"Why... Why do you always stay by my side? Why are you always there to help me?" He gave me a pure... really pure and sincere smile that he always shows only to me.

"Because you're here," he pointed his left chest where the heart is located at.

"But why..."

"I saw you Princess Athaliah. I saw how much you care for me-"

"Why don't you go find some other girl that's not gonna hurt you?"

We're engaged in the paper but I know deep inside there's no Love, maybe only for him.

"Because you're here..." He pointed his left chest again. "And... I love you, so dearly ever since then." He whispered.

I match for any man but they just can't match me.