As she sits in the horse-driven Carriage, Bianca starts to regret every decision she has ever made till this moment.

When heat seeps into the Carriage, she rubs her sweaty palms on the clothes her excited friends picked out for her.

She is scared more than ever.

A few hours ago, she was sure she was going to die, however a strange arrow from the dark saved her life. And she took all that for granted; she lied about what really happened just to get praises from friends. She wouldn’t even be sitting here in a Carriage provided by the Queen if that arrow hadn’t saved her and it’s even worse that she has taken the rightful place of the real savior.

She regrets lying. She feels uneasy and guilty.

However, now, there’s no going back.

Her heart skips a beat when the Carriage suddenly stops. Her dark eyes widen when the doors open up to reveal the royal guard behind it.

“We’re stopping for a quick food break,” he says, “Would you want anything to eat?”

Bianca numbly shakes her head.

The guard gives her one last look before stepping away. “Okay. Stay here in the Carriage. We would be back soon.”

The aggressive sound the door makes when it shuts, makes Bianca jump. Reaching her hand to her fast-beating heart, she sighs heavily. “How can I eat when the Queen will find out I lied sooner or later?” She murmurs to herself.

Trying her best to ease the pressure off, she inhales the woodsy scent of the Carriage.

It is an honorable experience to be invited by the queen but the circumstances make it impossible for Bianca to enjoy it.

Bianca peers out the small window of the Carriage to see the people of the Forte Lands chattering and living their day to the fullest. Some women hold their children beside them as they pick up vegetables and food ingredients. Bianca watches quietly as men travel past the market, carrying heavy loads of wood for their homes. Stretching her neck, she sees a lake at the far end with people and kids playing around happily.

The smiles on their faces makes Bianca’s knee jerk worriedly since she knows that the smiles will soon disappear when night falls.

At least things are a little better now. Years ago, no one had been able to walk out of their homes even during the day. They had all been scared that werewolves, ghouls or something worse would attack.

A sudden loud cry from the outside causes her to jump in fear once again. Her heart races uncontrollably when the human cry sounds closer to her Carriage. Something hits the Carriage one more time, followed by fits of laughter and she quickly shuffles to the other side and raises the tiny curtains that cover the window.

Her lips curl up in distaste when she sees a group of boys her age, gathered near the Carriage throwing peaches at another boy.

The boy shakes on his feet as he presses his back against Bianca’s Carriage. The sudden hit of a round object throws Bianca and the boy into another round of emotional turmoil but the physical pain is only felt by the boy since he is hit by the object.

Clenching her fists, she opens the door and hops out of the Carriage.

The four boys continue laughing obliviously to her presence. One of them picks up another peach, aiming at the boy who currently has bruises all over.

“Would you stop this?” She fires.

The boy who wields the peach glances at the slim girl for a moment. His smile washes off as he squints his eyes at her. “And who are you?”

Bianca’s eyes settle on the fruit in his hands. She knows how a lot of people starve to death either because they can’t step out of their houses for fear they would get killed. Some even starve because the Vampires destroyed their land years ago in an attack. And here are the people of the Forte Lands abusing the privileges that come with living on the same land as the Queen.

“Someone who doesn’t like it when people waste food.”

The boy scoffs, running his hand through his black hair. “It’s not your food, is it? Now mind your business.”

He lifts his hand higher and throws the peach at the boy. The round fruit hits the boy on the jaw, pulling out a pained groan from his lips as he falls to the ground.

Bianca grows angrier when she sees the boys laugh.

“Get up, Quentin. I don’t have much time. I have more important things to do.” The attacker yells.

The boy’s pale skin glistens under the sun and Bianca takes in everything about him. His flawless skin glows like he has never had a scar on him. Whenever she looks into his dark green eyes, there’s pure confidence and courage swirling in them. He stands tall with broad shoulders and slightly muscular arms that fuel his disgusting ego. His black hair also looks well shampooed and perfectly styled.

Bianca can’t tell who the handsome young adult is exactly but there’s one thing she is sure of— he is definitely the spoilt, overpampered child who thinks they own everything in the world.

He takes another peach but Bianca stops him before he does any more damage.

“You should drop that.”

The boy groans loudly before he turns his gaze to Bianca. “Saints! What is your problem? Where did you even come from? Just leave.”

She grits her teeth at the irritation in his voice. “I won’t leave because I don’t like it when people are getting bullied by a bunch of idiotic brats.”

The three boys standing behind the dark-haired recoil, taking several steps away from him.

The boy grips the peach tightly as he takes a step closer to Bianca. “What did you just say to me?”

“I said what I said. Now, let him go.” Bianca snaps, moving to pick up the injured boy from the ground and helping him to stand back on his feet.

“Stop right there!” The sudden burst of anger causes the hairs on Bianca’s arm to stand. “Who in the hell do you think you are to interrupt me, you peasant?”

Bianca grinds her jaw, flipping her long hair over her shoulders. She confidently glares at him and replies. “And who do you think you are to inflict pain on another human being?”

The tall boy flexes his jaw, an amused smile playing on his lips. “You’re really getting on my nerves. And you wouldn’t want to do that.”

“You wouldn’t want to be fighting against another human when we all know who the real threats are.” She says back.

“No one tells me what to do.”

His comment stirs anger inside Bianca and she gently pushes the boy out of the way, telling him to leave.

The dark-haired boy watches his prey scurrying away. He then settles his eyes on the brave girl before him.

“Fine. Since you want to be a hero, you can take his place.”

“What?” She eyes him.

“I’m currently in the mood to throw peaches and no one can stop me.” He arrogantly echoes into the day. “So, if I can’t throw at him, I’ll have to throw at you instead. You replace him.”

Bianca shifts on her feet, staring around at the people in the market. Everyone walks by, pretending nothing’s happening at the moment. Some do throw cautious glances at the scene but they don’t do anything to save Bianca from the angry young man.

The dark-haired then raises the peach into the air, preparing to throw it at her when the royal guards appear.

“I told you to stay in the Carriage.” The guard glares at her while the other one stands by the two horses, feeding them. The guard narrows his eyes on the peach in the boy’s hands. “You should start getting home; your mother would be worried.”

Bianca frowns at the way he talks to him—it is almost as if he knows him.

The guard pulls her away from the boys, directing her back into the Carriage.

“Wait.” The dark-haired boy walks forward, eyeing the golden wheels of the shiny, white Carriage. “This is the Queen’s Carriage. What is this girl doing in there?”

The guard responds with a bleak look. “Get home and you’d find out.” He then turns to Bianca and lifts her into the Carriage before closing the doors.

The minute the sky turns into an expanse of jet-black, Bianca arrives at the Queen’s Palace.

Goosebumps appear on her skin the moment she sets foot onto the concrete. Her dark eyes scans over the huge building— it is exactly how she pictured it as a child. Everyone who lives close to the Academy –where the huge, brick wall is placed– dream of what it’s like to live on the Forte Lands. Since they’re opportune to live close to the Queen, the Forte Lands are protected and guarded against the Supernatural, unlike the Academy where Bianca and the rest are all forced to train and protect themselves.

The people from the Academy can’t easily travel to the Forte lands because it takes a total of 14 hours to get there and in those 14 hours, one can be attacked by some creature if they aren’t properly protected by trained queen guards.

At the moment, Bianca is excited to be visiting the Queen but the second she steps into the Palace, she starts to panic.

What if she asks how she killed the Vampire and finds out she’s a fraud within the first five minutes?

Her palms start to sweat again and she feels the armor the guards placed around her start to tighten against her ribcages to the extent she can’t breathe anymore. Her footsteps are loud and they echo off the halls of the palace as she walks through with the guards behind her.

Bianca thinks the heat from the fire torches mounted round the hall is what makes her sweat but it’s just her anxiety and her guilt.

When she arrives at the throne room, Bianca spots a beautiful woman dressed in a long, sky-blue flowy dress with a golden crown seated perfectly on her head.

She feels a nudge from behind her and she glances at the guards who gesture for her to walk further to meet the Queen standing by her throne.

Bianca swallows loudly, placing one foot in front of the other. She keeps her eyes on the ground, amazed by how the floors are so clean and sparkly— she comes to the conclusion that they must have hundreds of maids at the Palace. Noticing all of the decorations, exotic items and paintings hung around the Palace, Bianca starts to feel out of place.

Her nerves only get worse when she reaches the Queen’s throne. She keeps her head bowed, showing respect but also scared to look the woman in her eyes.

“Bianca from the family of Rosefield?”

Bianca nods. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I have waited all day for you.” The happiness in the woman’s voice can be heard all over the Palace. “I hope you had a splendid trip.”

Bianca swallows once more. “Yes, your majesty.”

“My maids will escort you to your chambers and then prepare you for the banquet.”

Bianca snaps her head up. “Banquet?”

The tall woman smiles warmly at the nervous, young girl. “Your accomplishment calls for a celebration in the royal palace.”

Bianca silently panics, darting her eyes in every corner on the throne room.

“You have done what no one has been able to do in hundreds of years. You are a miracle, Bianca.” The woman’s fine lines appear when she squints in adoration. “Now that you are here, I am filled with immense joy that I need to host a banquet to express the ebullience of my heart.”

“Uh,” Bianca tries to speak but the queen’s voice is louder.

“Maids!” She claps her hands and four young ladies run in, dressed in uniforms. “Take this lovely lady to her chambers and get her dressed.”