2 Ch. 1: The Beginning of a Promise

***Officially Chapter One***

Point of View (POV) ---ATHENA---

How did it come to this? What did I do to deserve such injustice? From the moment of my birth, I have always done what I was ordered even if it went against what was right and sacrificing what I wanted most. From the moment of my birth, I have done what needed to be done without questioning the motives as to why it needed to be done.

This darkness is all-consuming. It eats at your soul. As I sit here, trapped in these four walls, I try to keep myself sane. I try to remember the few happy moments I have lived in my short life, but they seem to escape me. All I can do is remember the harsh moments I have lived in my short life. I have seen more cruelty in my 20 years of living on this planet than a person who has 50 more years than I do. Yet, what can I expect by the way this place is governed. Most people here think they live in a utopian society, but they don't know the truth. The few who do either revolt against the royal family or completely ignore it for the fear that they feel. Yet, I know the truth and I have done nothing to free my people from this burden.

Ruthless and shrewd parents raised me. They never showed their emotions. I am convinced they have none. From the moment of my birth, they trained me to have no emotions, but I never fully accepted their training. I trained myself to know how to feel, but to keep those feelings from ever showing. I keep them as a secret.

I look around me and all I can see are four walls that keep me locked up. Not a single light can shine through this place. This darkness is all-consuming. It is slowly eating at my soul. But, for how long can I survive it? How long will it be until I have no soul left and I completely resemble those who raised me? I have no emotional attachment to the people who raised me. The only attachment I could say I had to them once would be loyalty. But, not now. Not after what they have done to me. I will never be loyal to them again.

I cannot take it anymore! I cannot take this darkness anymore! It is too consuming. I get up and scream, "Let me out! Let me out! I have done nothing to deserve this! All I have ever done is follow your orders! I ignored everything else! So, damn it let me out!"

My screams are ignored. I feel desperate, but suddenly I feel anger and betrayal. I let those two feelings fester into a disease that cannot be cured. Not until I am completely free.

Hours pass by and I still sit within the consuming darkness, but it doesn't have power over me anymore. I have realized why he locked me up. The reason is beyond cruel. I have come to a resolution and I know what I must do. Suddenly, the door opens. Light floods into the room and I am blinded by its intensity. I hear his voice. A voice I have come to hate with a passion.

"Athena, you will follow me to the chamber." I get you from the floor and start to walk towards the door. Before he allows me to leave the darkroom, he says to me, "Athena, you are an example to our kingdom. You must behave accordingly."

In a calm tone that did not reflect how I felt I responded to him, "How have I not been an example to our kingdom? I have done everything in my power to appease you. To do as you say and to never complain."

"Yes, from the moment of your birth you have. Until yesterday. You disappointed me yesterday. That I will not forgive."

My anger rising but he does not know it. I respond to him, "Over what are you disappointed at?"

"I am disappointed in the way you responded to me at the offer I gave you."

"You offered, not ordered. Had you ordered, as you are accustomed to I would have said YES. However, I will not aid your tyrannical ways anymore. I refuse to become Princess Regent and marry the idiot man you have chosen."

"Very well you leave me no choice."

He raised his hand and slapped my face with brute force. I fall to my side and my weight bruises my arm. He thinks to dominate me by brute force. I let him think that. I let him think that he has power over me. It is all part of my plan.

Before he can raise his arm to slap me again, I scream, "Fine! I accept! I will do as you say!"

I get up to face him. I look at his face. I stare into his eyes to see if there is emotion in them, but there is none. His eyes are empty and frigid. His face is nonchalant. Once again, he proves to me that he has no emotions. He turns his back to me and starts to walk away. I start to walk after him, but I stop myself. I turn back and look into the darkroom. In the room, there is nothing but concrete walls. Those walls will be forever etched in my memory. As I look at them, I make a secret promise to my people and to myself. One that involves actions that no one will ever see coming or know about until the final deed is done. Yet, it will grant my people and me true freedom.

It is a promise that will be remembered by all, especially him, the tyrant. He will remember me as Athena the traitor. But my people will remember me as Athena the savior and true princess to them. I will be remembered as a phoenix rising from the ashes. From this moment on I am Athena Phoenix. No longer am I Athena Dolion. He will one day know my new name, but for now I will follow him.

I hear him say, "Athena, will you please hurry up."

I turn my back on the dark room and start walking towards him. I start walking towards a fate I cannot escape from nor do I want to. I will fulfill this promise, even if it cost me my life.