Two days later I went to school. When I entered the classroom everyone looked at me with sympathy. I looked at the memorial that was in the corner of the classroom. "I'm so sorry CJ!" Isabella said as she hugged me. "We're sorry for your loss." The class said in an incomplete cacophony. I sat at my desk, right behind Isabel's. I almost could've heard her. "Don't cry ok?" She whispered. That day we learned about Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt.

When the bell rang Diana and Isabella asked me to go to the bathroom with them. "S- Sure." I hesitated. They nervously closed the door, but they left a small opening. "I'm sorry. It's all my fault!" Isabella said distraughtly. "I put the phone in her bag. I- I didn't think that she'd get hurt." Diana confessed. "I took the pictures for money. I just wanted money for food!" Isabella continued as tears fell. "My- my mommy does the same thing, s- so I thought I could too." Isabella said. "It's okay." I smiled. "No it's not! I have been really mean to you and your best friend died because of me!" Isabella blurted out. "I forgive you." I said with a hidden fist. Suddenly the door swung open and Mrs Apate grabbed their arms. "Come with me!" She said sternly as they both began crying. I saw the God of War smile at me in the mirror. "Make sure no harm comes to them." She said, as I looked away.

As we drove back home I listened to the radio. "Michelle and Hobbinson Arora were arrested for the murder of their daughter." I glanced out the window. "Tomorrow, we'll be going to Grandma's house. You'll be sleeping over. " Daddy said. "Ok." I sighed.

When we arrived, we were greeted by my grandparents. "Hello David, it's wonderful to see you again." Grandma said politely. "Yes, it has been quite some time." Grandpa agreed. "Please, come in." They welcomed us.

I looked around as we entered the house. It had been remodeled since we last visited. The once yellow walls were now ordained with paintings of flowers and birds. The tiles had changed as well, now they look like marble. "We know you'll have to be at work David so I assure you we'll take good care of her." Grandma smiled down at me. I squeezed my interlocking fingers as I pressed them down in front of me. I smiled politely.

We sat together and ate lunch. "Have you heard about the new president?" Grandma asked. "He's quite the adonis, and a respectable young man." She continued. "Yes, it is very sad that Cobalt was assassinated before the election." Grandpa sipped his drink carefully. "Condolences to the family." They all said simultaneously. "CJ, so what have you been up to in school lately?" Grandma looked down on me. "Well, today we learned about Cleopatra." I said lifting my head. "Ohh really!?" She faked amusement. "Yeah…" I bowed my head once more. "Cleopatra was the greatest ruler that Egypt ever had. In fact, she is a symbol of female empowerment and strength." She said gleefully. I looked up at her in concealed confusion. "You're just adorable CJ!" She squeezed my cheeks. "You're precious." Grandpa said.

When daddy left she took me to my room. "Pearl? Could you prepare a bath for our guest?" She called out to one of the maids. Quick footsteps came from the hallway. A thin young lady appeared before us."Yes of course, head mistress." She said quietly. When we arrived at my library the door was opened before we could even touch the doorknob. "Dia, Thank you. Could you prepare a dressing selection for her?" She addressed the maid. She was quite tall and wore red ribbons in addition to her black and white maid outfit. "I would be delighted to." She said, in a masculine tone. As she walked briskly to open the doors in front of us.

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I was surprised that there were still so many options of clothing for me to wear. It was as if they bought more and more every day that I was away. When I was all dressed up, we went to the second living room. When Dia opened the door 12 maids stood in a line facing us. They all stood shoulder to shoulder without a smile. I looked at the beautiful chandelier and wavy ceiling design. The tiny rainbows from the chandelier made the late afternoon sun sparkle like stars across the room. The paintings of the ocean on the walls and the distant whisper of the waterfall outside. "Sapphire, step forward." Grandma said. A very young girl stepped out from the side of the line. "Yes, head mistresses?" She asked shyly. "This is CJ, The Princess of the Xander house. From this moment on you are to serve her." She stated. I looked at her as she walked toward me, then quickly looked at the golden pattern on the marble floor. "Select the secondary maids that will serve under you."She said, quietly. "Ruby, Opal, Moon, and Alex." Sapphire said without hesitation. "Very well. Return to your duties ladies." She said, clapping her hands.

"CJ and Sapphire come sit down." She said walking toward the sofa. The other girls left the room.

"The Xander family is the largest and most powerful family on this continent. We will not tolerate insolence of any kind." Grandma said. "Sapphire is one of the many servants that understand this and she is going to be your servant." She continued. "From now on, you will conduct yourself as if you belong to this family CJ." She said sternly. "Oh, ok..." I looked down at my shoes. "That means that you will be living here from now on." She said, as she looked down at me. "Grandma- I-" I muttered. "You will have no say in this matter, your father already agreed to the arrangement." She smiled. My heart hurt as my mouth began to sink... "You are the heir to the throne after all." She said, "What is an heir?" I questioned… "You will take my place as the head of the Xander family." She smiled kindly. "Let me tell you both a story." She said with a grin.

There one was a young boy and girl that were in love. The girl was an orphan and the boy was the son of a farmer. The boy took the girl to the beach so they could both gase at the romantic night sky. They stumbled upon a cave, and the girl decided to offer up her flower to him there, but before she could speak to him a great light came out of the cave. When they both investigated, there was a great treasure that had been hidden in the cave. The treasure was so grand that they both became rich and got married. They cherished their wealth and desired to share it with their descendants. However, they would both carry a curse for discovering something hidden by the Gods. They had 2 sons and 6 daughters together, but the wife was cursed to be without any more children. So the husband had concubines come unto him and bear children unto his house. Those children were not of pure Xander blood and were not fit to inherit the wealth. Therefore, after much time, a pureblooded daughter was born to take the throne.

"I don't understand…" I grumbled. "You will soon enough." Grandma whispered.