1 PILOT

CLARE:

“Madame, your change” The scrawny looking old pub owner held out my change.

“Keep it” I waved my hand, downing the contents of the goblet in one go. The pub owner looked at me in astonishment and distaste, as I wiped my mouth with my hands. I hopped off the stool and made my way outside of the dimly lit pub and into the blazing sun. I squinted in the direction of the alley. A shadow loomed in the darkness of the passageway.

“There you are!” Katie exclaimed at me. I looked in her direction as she fiddled with her gown. I looked back in the alley to see nothing in sight.

“What?” Katie looked at me in a questioning gaze.

“Nothing” I replied, proceeding to walk down the lane. Katie gossiped excitedly beside me and I simply hummed back in answer.

“So?” Katie asked me.

“What?” I asked, waking up from my daydreaming.

“You weren’t listening were you?” Katie sighed.

“I lost it when you started. Sorry” I grinned back sheepishly.

“Well, I have to return to the motel. Mother must be waiting for me. She asked me to tell you that you would be joining us for the night.” She waved from a distance. I waved back. I gave a sigh as I dipped my hand in my pocket and jingled the few left eorpes. I walked into the Main Square. The streets were buzzing loudly as the royal crier stepped out of the carriage.

‘Funny isn’t it? We are in the twenty first century, still they are using carriages’ I snorted at my own thought. Behind the crier, a woman with a sharp aura stepped out of the carriage. Everyone bowed to the queen. I stood my ground, glaring holes at the women who destroyed my family. Ironic, isn’t it? My own mother tried to kill me, greedy to live long enough. But, as soon as she stepped outside, I smiled in glee. She looked old. The crier was saying something as people bowed, I didn’t notice what he was saying as I was so busy glaring holes at her. On her way back, she turned around and looked in my direction, as if she had sensed my gaze. I smirked inwardly thanking my cloak that covered my face. She whispered something at the guard, who nodded and glanced at my direction.

“Shit” I murmured, leaving my spot and disappearing into the web of lanes. I ended up at the broken down motel as I shut the door and bolted it with the rusty bolts as I made my way to the first floor. I sighed, glancing out the window. Nobody followed. I threw my cloak on the sack known as my bed. I sighed sitting on the sacked bed and went into an uneasy nap. I woke up as the clock tower struck seven. I stretched my numb limbs and yawned. I washed my face and put on my cloak, ready to make my way to Katie’s house. I hummed under my breath, skipping to her house. I entered the motel just to get welcomed by the aroma of fried chicken and an eerie silence. I looked around to see, not the rather same people but dressed in proper clothing. I sensed a gaze from the balcony that overlooked the entrance of the motel, and I kept my head down and made my way towards the kitchen, but not before glancing at the mirror that made me stop in my tracks. I regained my composure just as I lost it and entered the kitchen. I met Katie in front of the gigantic stove in which the broth was being heated up.

“The Queen came to your motel?” I asked her in a low voice.

“How do you know?” She whispered back, clearly astonished.

“I know my enemies quite well and so they do” I looked around to see a feast being prepared in the kitchen.

“Ah, dear Clare! You are here. Go, both of you and fetch me some potatoes. I ran out of them and I need them now. Hurry.” She motioned us outside through the backdoor. I grunted in response and dragged Katie along.

“Shit” I let out a gasp, covering my face with my cloak. The guards were patrolling the streets.

“What is with you and curse words, huh?” Katie followed my pace. I didn’t reply, being too cautious and not letting my guard down. Just as we entered the basement where the vegetables were stored, I turned around to see a guard murmuring something really fast to another guard.

“Une jeune fille, cheveux noirs, portant une cape, trouve-la, commande (A young girl, black hair, wearing a cape, find her, orders)” I sucked in a sharp breath. Katie looked at me in confusion, beckoning me to leave. I pulled her in.

“She found me, God! I should’ve never even stayed. The bond must have let her sense me. She is now combing the streets looking for me.” Katie stopped in horror.

“You go back alone, I will find a way” I pushed her outside and towards the motel, while I tightened my cloak around me and rushed back to my place. I was keeping a lookout behind me and crashed into a wall, or that is what I thought.

‘What the fuck is the wall doing in the middle of the road?’ I cursed, before stopping dead at the sight of the shoes. Royal shoes.

“Sorry” I mumbled and changed my direction walking past him, in fast steps.

“Hey” The man called out and I instantly broke into a run, cursing myself at such stupidity. I could hear footsteps following me and I plummeted forward, diving in an alley and jumping onto the roofs of houses skipping three streets when I finally released my breath. My cover was blown and I had to change it, realization hit me. I looked around to see nothing to eat and I only had drinks the whole day. I sighed, leaving my cloak and twisting my hair into a bun. Magic it is. A moment later goods were on my bed and my pocket felt a lot lighter. I sat down with a thud, grabbing a croissant and biting into it. I had just finished it when I heard shouting from outside. I stood by the window in the shadows, to see guards scattering in the streets.

“Search the area, every single house is to be searched” A soldier, who looked like their leader, shouted at them and he moved towards my house. I sprinted up the stairs, opened the attic window and jumped outside up on the roof. The cold wind hit me as I moved forward, jumping from roof to roof, keeping an eye out on the soldiers. Suddenly out of nowhere, rain started falling. I stood in shock on the roof of a house cursing at the downpour. I jumped down in the alley below, soundlessly. A shadow lingered in the alley just a few feet away. I pulled out my dagger, ready to send the person to the heaven above when I saw a shadow hovering above me. I looked up slowly, to see a dosorlla baring its fangs at me. I pierced my dagger inside the hideous creature and it flapped its large wings furiously. I drove my hand inside it and transformed into a puddle, and I was covered in goo. I vomited and the croissant I had eaten, all came outside along with fluids. I wiped my face and hands, many thanks to the rain that was pouring. I turned around to remember that there was someone along with me in the alley too. I squinted at the entrance of the alley to see no one. The man had disappeared. Or maybe it was a she? I shrugged past my spot just to fall square face on the ground. I couldn't even scream and with that I fainted.

"She's knocked out", I heard a voice coming from faraway.

‘Well, yeah asshole I know’ I was coming to my senses. Sensing no danger around me, I opened my eyes, adjusting them to the brightness of the room. "Where am I?". I asked sitting up. I was surrounded by a worried looking girl and boy and another boy stood a little away, anger written on his face.

"It's okay you're safe. Who are you?” The boy near me asked in one go.

"What do you mean, you're a human, I am a human, we are the same right?" I answered, looking at him as if he had grown two horns, hiding the fact of my true self.

"No, Don't get me wrong, I never meant it that way. Oh! And by the way I am Dominic Wood" He didn't mind the look I was giving him, instead he introduced himself cheerfully.

"I’m Clare James, thanks for helping me" I patted myself in my head on my brilliant acting.