Scribbles Galore

However before I could open my mouth to give her a well thought snarky reply, a woman let out a bloodcurdling shriek that echoed throughout the market. She was pointing a bony finger at me, frozen in fear. Her eyes were pinned on the dusty gray sash I wore, the dumb sash that told everyone how I lacked magic. I scowled, sick of seeing that look of mortal terror from people once they spotted that sash on a young child. I dreamed of burning the sash in a huge blaze someday.

That and the awful blue and gold dress I wore, with long sleeves that met with my gloves, and a skirt that brushed the ground. I was forced to wear it because according to the royal scientist's theory my "condition" was likely to be contagious. And of course, word about me spread.

The truth is, they don't know much about my lack of magic, only that it's incredibly rare and by so accounts, I shouldn't be alive. Since magic is kind of what makes up the life force of the people in the Kingdom of Mirshik. Its great.

She must be new around here, I thought with a mental sigh. Everyone else had stopped reacting in horrified screams a couple of years ago.

With my presence finally known the wealthy, followed by their servants and maids, began to clear out, their previous goals in the market currently forgotten. They all gossiped among themselves, each telling a made up story about me, every one more ridiculous than the last.

Whispers of, "she's the dead brought back to life," "an utterly horrifying disgrace," and "she's a changeling, but she's not fooling anybody," caught my ear. I just kept a straight face in response, a helpful skill I'd learned to use years ago. So far just another regular day for me.

"Must that happen every time I go to the market with you, Samantha?" Elizabeth sighed in irritation as we neared an old, pudgy fruit vendor who looked anywhere but at me.

"It's Sam," was the only thing that I muttered in response, watching the rocks I kicked with each step. I hated the name Samantha, it sounded like a name that belonged to a regular girl who enjoyed dresses and had magic; any girl but me.

"Samantha," Elizabeth said in a sweet voice. Shards. "I just remembered that I had some more work for you to do later. If you're not too busy, of course." Because according to her I never did enough. She turned away to talk with the vendor to buy some fruits, sure a response wouldn't come from me. And although I bit my tongue and said nothing, there were a couple of choice words directed at Elizabeth floating through my head. I silenced those thoughts quickly, irritated I'd even thought of them. Elizabeth was my sister, after all. And besides, the silence was better than being rude and making things worse for myself. Who knew that that wouldn't require words.

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I almost hummed to myself as I worked in the garden later that afternoon, planting flower seeds that would bloom within the month. Of all the work I had to do as my family's serving girl, gardening was the job I could always do with a smile on my face.

I loved the sun on my face, the way the flowers created a beautiful space that I felt at home in.

It was also the one job I could do without wearing my awful dress. I smiled to myself as if sharing an inside joke as I glanced down at the rolled up sleeves of my shirt, and my pale gloveless hands; my family would freak out if they saw my exposed skin. But they weren't around to see, and besides what they didn't know couldn't hurt them.

"Samantha! Sam! Sam!" Elizabeth squealed behind me, pulling me out of my thoughts. I sighed, wiping my dirt covered hands on my pants as I stood up. They were a nicer pair but I couldn't bring myself to care too much about it. Besides, I'd just have to wash them later tonight anyways. I wonder what work she's just decided that I can do for her. I sighed, about to say my thoughts out loud.

Instead I was turned around, sucking in a huge breath of air from almost falling onto my back due to the sudden change. The only thing that kept me from falling was her hand holding onto mine. I found myself face to face with her, her beaming with an almost childish joy

"Elizabeth, what in the-" I muttered, trying to reorient myself. I glared up at her, irritated that she didn't seem to care about anything except her news. She, of course, missed look I gave her; I wasn't even sure she was actually paying attention to me.

"Sam, I got a position at the palace! Can you believe it? At the palace!" She continued, basically squealing as she squeezed my hands tighter and shook them in her excitement. She swayed on her feet, apparently unable to stand from her excitement. I looked up at her, giving her a small smile. This had been her dream since she was 10.

I remember her telling a little 7 year old me about how she would sleep in a luxurious bed, with serving maids to tend to her, and how she'd browse the library, reading as many books as she wished. These were the good kind of memories I held on to.

I opened my mouth to congratulate her, when something in my head clicked. I couldn't believe that I hadn't realized earlier.

Her bare hands were holding my ungloved ones. Not good.

I pulled my hands out of hers, backing away from her. My mind raced with questions that I didn't know the answer to, but I soon would; the idea of which horrified me. What would happen to me when my family found out? What would happen to Elizabeth?

"Samantha, what are you-" Elizabeth broke off, her eyebrows raised. The look of realization when she figured out what had happened came seconds later, as she looked down at her own hands, then to mine. It killed me to see her like that.

For the first time I can remember Elizabeth was at a loss for words. Words but not actions. She screamed, the sound loud and piercing as it rang through my ears. From where I stood I watched as she trembled, looking at her hand as if it were something foreign she'd never before seen.

"Elizabeth dear, what's wrong?" Mother asked, walking outside, tailed by her personal maid.

"Sam, hands." She stuttered, pointing an accusing finger at me. Not even a second later she collapsed to the ground, from fear or touching me I didn't know which.

"What have you done." Mother growled at me, straightening her posture to seem taller as to look down on me better.

"I, it was an accident! I swear! She just came out here excited an-" I began to explain in a rush of words, tripping over every other one.

"Spare me the lies. Maid call in the king's gaurd to take away this monster." She said the words with the deepest hatred I'd ever heard.

"But I swear! I swear it was an accident I, I never meant to do anything to her please don't take me away. Please."

"You expect help from me? You're a monster, a guest I begrudgingly allowed into my home and how do you repay me? You ruin the future of my one daughter, the one person who could finally raise the status of our family after your disgraceful existance dragged us down. The only thing I could feel for you is disgust, for being such a useless fool.

"So you will leave this house in cuffs, under arrest like the criminal you are. Just as you should have years ago." With that she turned away without another word, calling the butler out to ensure I didn't run off before I was arrested. He seemed to almost blend in with the scenery, only to be seen when he was needed. He was just a nameless part of the house that had just always been there, at least to me. Another servant followed him, scooping up the unconscious Elizabeth and carrying her in after Mother.

I just stood there, unable to produce a word or a clear thought in response to those cruel words. I hadn't thought I was that despised in my own home. Those words hit me deep and I knew that they'd always stick with me whether I wanted them or not.

Deep breaths, I told myself in an attempt to calm down and think of something. I couldn't be arrested for a crime that wasn't my fault, that I didn't commit. I glanced around the walls of the courtyard, covered in winding vines and vibrant flowers that contrasted the crumbling broken wall that it was.

I glanced back at the stoic butler, who seemed to look through me. I wasn't sure if he actually saw me, or if that was just part of his butler act. Either way I was about to find out.

With a second of hesitation I darted to the wall, grasping for a vine I could use to climb up. I jad underestimated how difficult this could be. Behind me the butler let out a comically loud gasp.

"Miss you can't do that!" He shouted from behind, sounding breathy. The guy probably hadn't run in the last few years.

I ignored him, fighting the urge to look over my shoulder. I had to trust that I could find my way up faster than the butler could run. There, a vine I could grab onto. I pulled myself up, finding it easier once I got moving up.

"Lady Everly! Lord Everly! The girl is escaping!" He continued on in a screechy voice while still trying to sound pompous. I liked him better when he was silent.

I wasn't far from the top now, my hand was mere inches below it.

"You half-wit butler! I gave you one job! Just the one." Mother barreled out, screeching in a similar fashion.

"You won't make it far. The first person to see you will turn you without a second thought. You might as well just turn back and make this easier for all of us." She continued, talking to my back and sounding more composed.

I paused on top of the wall, listening to her words, a vine in my hand to swing down with. Then, I jumped, choosing to not look back.