I was currently sitting on my bed, chocolate wrappers sprawled around me as well as my drawing of the oh-so familiar man.

I have only confirmed two things so far:

1- This man is from Descuvi, my homeland

2- This man is widely known

Not much to go off of, I know. But it's somewhere!

Why does everybody fear this figure so much? My curiosity is about to send my head into overdrive. The last time I felt like this was when I had just met Damien, and it about drove me insane to find his identity.

"Annalise! Hazalen is here," my mother called.

"Coming," I replied, and walked downstairs.

"What's up girl! Long time no see." She gave me a little glare.

Long time no see?

"Oh shit, I'm sorry Hazalen... we were supposed to meet up at the festival, weren't we?"

"Did you just curse? Did Annalise Woods just curse! Deltora is quaking. When did this start happening?" Hazalen placed her basket on our table, forgetting about the festival.

"After I cursed the Prince out. I felt so powerful!" I laughed.

"Well actions speak louder then words... like leaving me alone at the festival." She fell back on the topic.

I grimaced," I'm sorry, Hazalen. I truly am... I just got caught up with the Prince-"

"'The Prince this, the Prince that', I swear it's all about him these days."

"Then let's have some girl time, alright? How about a picnic this weekend? Just you and me." I recommend.

"Well... maybe plus one other?" She pleaded.

"And who would that be?"

"My cousins are transferring to our high school!" Her smile was so bright and I couldn't help but smile back.

"That's so exciting, Hazalen! Why are they transferring during the middle of the year? What are their names?"

"Well, you know how my uncle was the Head Knight at Revolva?" She was squealing with delight. I nodded my head excitedly, playing along with the role. "Well, he is just so good at his job being the manager of basically all knights, that the King recruited him to Deltora!"

"Wow... like wow, that's a big job. Probably because Damien will be King soon and they will need more guards then ever. Especially since the population of Deltora has been risen so much recently, more is needed and a better recruit."

"Now I can go into the castle whenever I want!" She jumped up and down.

"Well... I don't know about that-"

"Oh, and you have to meet Henry! He's about the most flamboyant, exquisite, gayest boy you will ever meet. Literally the best cousin ever. He's going to love you, Annalise."

"What about the other one?"

"His name is Jack. He's kind of like the guy every girl drools over, and he knows it. Honesty a jackass in my opinion, but he's sweet when he wants to be."

"So which one are we taking on the picnic with us?"

"Oh, Henry. For sure."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As the school hours passed by, I couldn't help but think of the man yet again. When I gazed into the cloudy sky at lunch, I noticed the type of blue was in his eye as well. So many colors into one. Just about anything reminded me of him.

Who is he? I just might have to ask Damien myself.

"Oh, Annalise! Annalise," Hazalen called from across the courtyard, gathering everybody's attention. She was dragging two guys our age by the arm, right to where I was sitting. I felt an immediate blush cross my face.

Why do I have such an idiotic best friend!

"Meet Henry and Jack! I'm trying to introduce them to anybody I can. Yet Jack has seemed to be able to do that very easily so far."

Henry looked at my dress once over," Honey, your dress is marvelous. Matches my handkerchief perfectly. Great minds think alike, don't they?"

I smiled back with generosity. I can always tell when people are lying or not, especially in this school full of fake bimbos; but Henry was not. He seemed like a guy I could get along with very easily.

"Your outfit is so unique as well. I wish I could pair colors and pull off a look like that."

"Well of corse sweetie, I didn't spend this much time in the closet for nothing!" He preformed a little bow, and I giggled in response.

Oh, he's definitely a good time. Now to Jack... just as she described.

He was built like he knew business, with a gentle smile yet a slight hint of cockiness to it. He was dressed nicely, basically played the role of a rich playboy. The type you could be good friends with, but never romantically.

Almost like a Cole, but without the drugs and creepy crawly vibe.

"Nice to meet you, beautiful." Jack scooped my hand into his, and placed a light kiss on the back, managing to look right into my eyes.

"Was that compliment for me? I mean, I haven't heard beautiful before, but there's a first for everything!" Damien swooped in.

"Well, I think your beautiful too."Henry interjected, trying to save the conversation.

Oh lord. The first act has begun.

"Your majesty, lordship, princeleness, how may I serve you today?" Jack was patronizing him.

"I mean, you could get me a ham and cheese sandwich, but I'll get the servants to do it. I mean, your dad is one of mine now, isn't he?" Damien arched a brow, standing taller; trying to show he was the alpha. I could see his neck veins popping out, and his sharp jaw grinding in anger.

"Damien, that was rude." I scolded him. His tough facade fell as looked back at me like a little child, not knowing what he did wrong.

"And I wonder who's next in line for that position... oh yes, me! One night, I could slip up, not send guards to watch your door, or-"

"That's enough, you two. You're acting like children for no reason." Hazalen broke up the argument.

"I was quite enjoying the show." Henry remarked. He somehow ended up on the ground, right below the two as if it was the front row seats to a dramatic sopra.

"Shut up, Henry." Hazalen and Jack snapped. Henry frowned and tragically wiped away a stray tear with his handkerchief.

"Well, until we meet again, Prince." Jack overdramtigcally bowed.

"Until you stop serving me, Jack Star." Damien nodded with a coy smile, making sure his chest was puffed out.

As Jack walked away, he winked at me; and settled eating nearby with other girls for lunch. "Can I talk to you for a second, Damien?" I was angry.

And he knew it.

I pulled him away, under a tree; another color in that man's eyes.

Dammit.

"Can you please explain to me what that was all about?"

He threw up his arms," Women, why are you so scorn with me? I was just protecting you from his-"

"His what Damien?"

"His-"

"Go on."

"Listen, I just know what you want, and you don't want some other guy flirting with you."

"Other guy? Did you just state you've been flirting with me?" I gave him a playful look. Wait... is he blushing?

"I meant there might be more."

"Uh-huh."

"And I was just making sure he knew that." He lied like a little child.

"Or you were just claiming your property."

"Why would I need to do that? I already own everything you see."

"You're impossible."

"If nothing is impossible, is it possible for something to be impossible?" He winked at me, then gave his usual panty-dropping smile he knew could win over anybody.

Now he's just trying to distract me. He knew he was being a jerk... but it almost worked.

"What? The main point is, I don't need protection from other guys, Damien. I can handle a little flirting, I mean you do it all the time!" I exclaimed. He nodded his head in agreement with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm not joking around Darius!"

"Fine, I won't protect you anymore from 'flirting'. But if he tries anything there will be repercussions."

"Damien, you and I aren't dating. You have no control over what I do with other guys." I stated. I just wanted to see his reaction... yet none came. His face was emotionless, a frozen statue.

"Your right," and he walked away. His back rolled with a slight twinge of anger, from either Jack or the situation we had just discussed; but probably both.

Why does he do this?

I know how he truly feels. He confessed it to me in the hospital room, after my concussion. Why is he holding back? Why won't he tell me and show me how he really feels? Why did he didn't he just kiss me in that room!

Why can't we both do what we know we want to do.

Ever since I'd ran literally head first into Damien, I've felt this magnetic pull toward him. Not just because he was the most handsome man I had ever seen, but because I felt something deep down; drawing me to him.

And that scares me.

A Descuvi born girl and Deltora soon-to-be King?

Not a great idea.

"I think I'm going to love it here. If it's going to be like this every day, I think I might just have to move out of the castle and live in this school."

"Why would anybody do that? You live in the castle, Henry."

"I don't see the Prince there. He's in a whole separate wing, trust me I've already tried. And Miss thang over here needs to give me details about your relationship, pronto. I need a full scoop of this whole school to know what I'm dealing with here. Henry Star is going to be making some serious social changes around here, starting with him at the top." Henry wiped off his brow as if he was exhausted.

Oh what a day.