2 Chapter 1 Sneaking out

Valor POV

One month, it has been one month of torture. Every day from the moment I wake up, to I fall asleep from exhaustion, I can hear it. When the voice first came to me, it was a dark evening. A raspy voice, emotionless and cold started to whisper words out, it was tempting me to hurt the people I had close. The first night was hell and after that a torment.

The music helps, but as soon as the music stops the voices start. Good thing I know how to play many musical instruments. I am the crown prince, I should be taught in combat, not music. But I have never held a weapon or thrown a punch. Instead, I was forced to play. I have always detested my father for forcing music lessons on me my entire life. I am taught in Vielle, Rebec, lute, harp and multiple flutes. I was also taught in singing, but for some reason, my own singing doesn't work on the curse. Others do, but if I sing the voices don't go silent.

Even though what the voices are saying is the most heinous thing you can imagine. The real torment is that they are always there whispering to me. If it's not the voices it's music, but no silence. I never thought I would long for a thing as ordinary as silence. My fingertips were hurting from playing the strings on the harp, I always hated the feeling of touching them. But the music that comes from a harp is some of the most calming there is and calm is what I need. I have hired multiple singers and musicians who are masters in their instruments. They help keep me sane from the voices, but they can't be with me always, not if this curse is to be kept secret.

The sound of the screeching door cut into the music. Ignoring it, I continue playing. Assuming, it's just a servant. But then between the strings of the harp, I see a pale orange dress walk into view. I look up seeing the face of my little sister Zora, her crimped hair pinned behind her head and her big lips in a grinning smile. I know that smile, it's the one she has when she is up to trouble. I stop playing so I can concentrate on what she has to say. "Why did you stop? it sounded beautiful" she asks. The moment I stopped playing, the voices return to whisper in my ear. And the thought of strangling my sister with the strings of the harp plagues my mind. "I assume there was a reason my darling little sister came here, and It would be rude not to stop so I could hear what you have to say," I reply to her question. "I am bored out of my mind, we need to do something." Zora declares."If you are bored go read a book" I suggest even though I know she won't accept that idea. "No, I wanna do something exciting I wanna sneak down to the market."

There it came, the reason she is here. "Absolutely not." I snap. her smile turning to a scowl, "Come on Valor, we have done it plenty of times before." She is right, it would not be our first time sneaking out. But things have changed I can not risk it. "No, get Malika or Alva to sneak out with you." Zora crosses her arms before complaining that Malika doesn't have time, she only has time for her upcoming wedding. And that Alva is too anxious about getting in trouble. In a few days, my big sister Malika is getting married, to the man our father picked out for her. We met him for the first time a week ago. Alva is a foundling my parents took in as a baby. my father has always been cold towards her, reminding us Alva is not our sister. Alva has the fear that if she displeases our father he will send her away, I would never let that happen to my dear sweet Alva. "Maybe Keisha would be interested in sneaking out" Zoras suggest, pulling me out of my thoughts about Alva "What? She is far too young to do that." Keisha is my last and youngest sister. "Then you must accompany me. After all, I cannot go alone."

"Why won't you understand I have to be careful with the curse," I tell her. "That's it? you are letting a stupid curse stop you from living your life." Sneered Zora. "The possibility that I endanger someone is too great, I can not risk it." Zora takes a moment to reply, no doubt she is thinking of a way to convince me. "Valor you are our future king, how can you let a curse control your life." I am about to say something but she doesn't let me and instead continues "How can you be a king when you fear walking down the street? You coward." she concluded "I am not a coward" I sneered. I am though, I fear what I will do, and what I already have done, but like hell, I will let my little sister call me a coward. "Valor it is a market there are plenty of street musicians, you can go listen to them if it gets too bad." Gets to bad? it's always bad, if she knew how bad it is, the voices telling me to hit her hit her hit her over and over again. She doesn't get it, she doesn't know how hard it is. "But then I guess I have to go alone. " Zora replied as a last option. "you can not go alone, what if something happens?" I ask, but she just smirks and says "Then you will have to go with me" Now she got me in a corner, she won't let this go, she is sneaking out even if it's alone.

"In conclusion, you are coming with me, I am gonna go change, thank you Valor you are my favourite brother," Zora says while running out of the room. I yell after her "I am your only brother!" I also need to go change, or else I will stick out in the market. Walking out of the music room to the grand staircase. I see a maid cleaning the stairs, and the thought to push her down the stairs comes into my mind. Ignoring it I walk towards the sleeping chambers. I could hide from Zora, if I stay out of her way long enough she might drop the idea of sneaking out. Then again she has never been one to drop things. 'Besides she is right I shouldn't let the curse control my life. I don't wanna be a coward prince.

Finally reaching the hall where my sisters and I each have our bedrooms. My own room is at the end of the hall. When I walk past Keisha's door I hear voices. The door is open so I look in. My youngest sister Keisha and my dear Alva are sitting on Keisha's bed. I wasn't gonna greet them, not before Keisha saw me and waved. "Hey, what are you two doing?" I ask. Alva doesn't look at me when answering "Talking." I take some steps into the room, before replying "I see, any interesting subjects, or is it a secret". Alva still doesn't look my way, she looks so pretty sitting on the bed. Her light curly brown hair falling down her back, with her two brown elf horns sticking up over her head. "Alva and I were talking about the dresses we would like to wear one day when we get married." I can't help but smile at the thought of Alva's wedding, why? Because it would be mine too. I love Alva I have for years, and she loves me too. "What kind of dress would you wanna wear?" I already knew though as she has told me that many times. A very light red dress with dark red flowers. She doesn't answer, she is still mad at me. It hurts me how she has been towards me. I can't say I don't deserve it, but it's not my fault the curse made me do it. "I wanna wear a green dress when I get married." Keisha says "You won't get married for many years young lady," I say. From the door I see her scowl, she doesn't know what marriage means, I doubt she be so excited about it if she did. How she will basically be sold to whatever man comes with the best offer. As Malika has.

I excuse myself since I appear to be unwanted. Two doors down is my own room. A brown wooden door with carved flowers. My room has a dark brown colour scheme. A chimney sits between a wooden shelf and a wooden desk on the left wall. The room is lit up by the sunlight coming in through the grand windows. By the right wall is a bed, I walk directly towards it and sit on its edge. Silence I just want a moment of silence. But the voices, even when I am alone it speaks, telling me to harm myself. In frustration, I take a pillow and scream into it. Before throwing it across the room. When I have calmed down a bit, I stand and walk over to my dresser. Rummaging through it for some old clothes. In the bottom of the dresser are some grey trousers, A white tunic with a brown cape and a couple of worn-out turnshoes. After getting changed, I leave my room to find Zora. She is almost finished and ready to leave. She is wearing a brown dress with multiple layers and fringes. "What are you wearing, ordinary city people don't wear fringes to the market." she crosses her arms before replying "I don't have anything else, the dress I usually wear is gone." I groan "Let's just get going, so we can get back"