Full Summary: Max, the imperial princess, and heir to the throne, has a dangerous secret. Wings. She's kidnapped from a ball in her honor, (not like she wanted to go anyway), and meets Fang, her captor. In hatred, when she escapes, she condemned him to death of the guillotine. After his death, she sees his face come back to haunt her, reminding her of what she did. When Max finds out a deadly secret, can she keep it for the sake of the one she loves, or will she be doomed to her guilty fate forever?

A/N: A new story idea! I would of updated my other stories, but once an idea pops in my head, I have to write it down in a chapter or something or else I loose the inspiration to write it. So, I hope you enjoy and I will update my other stories soon, I promise!

I stared out the open window, my long, dirty blonde hair trailing after me. My hands moves towards my shoulder, where I give it a scratch. And then to my back, to my arm, and to my back again. I am very, let me say it again, very itchy in this dress, that my father Jeb, made me where. Of course, I wasn't saying that the dress was horrible. Compared to other dresses, it looked quite nice. It was a long gown with plumes of sapphire colored cloth. Underneath it was black silk that stuck to my skin and rustled when I moved, not allowing me to get anywhere without being heard. Around my neck was a sapphire sun, which was given to me when my mother, Valencia, passed away, and on my fingers were rings of the same gem. On my head was a thin twist of silver, resembling a crown, nothing to fancy, that told everyone of her status of imperial princess. I like the color blue, especially the rich, sapphire blue I'm wearing right now. I reminds me of the sky, and freedom. Away from the tower in which I sleep, away from Jeb and my sister. Away from the kingdom. Away from anyone at all.

My sister's name is Ella. Unlike me, Ella likes to look nice and wear fine silks from other kingdoms. Today, she had some sort of pink dress with thin sleeves, (Jeb had forbade her to wear sleeveless) which trailed to the floor after her. There was a belt of different gemstones around her waist, and she was wearing the necklace mother had given her, a ruby bead. (Which of course isn't as nice as mine.) On her fingers were many ruby rings, and around her wrists were dozens of jingling bracelets. She acted like she owned the palace. Which, of course, wasn't true.

I was the heir to the throne, after all.

Yes, I said it. Admitting the truth can be a hard thing, I know. Jeb wants me to start picking out suitors. For me to marry. I know, I found it hard to believe too. His excuse was that the people didn't want a queen to rule the kingdom. I guess they felt that a woman couldn't do a man's job. I knew it was just because he didn't trust me. If I was a boy, we probably wouldn't be having as many troubles as we do know.

Sexist pig.

Out of all the "charming" young men I've met, there is only one that catches my eye and seems to care about me, and doesn't just want to be king. All of the others are sexist pigs, or just want to be kings. None have blown me away. I don't care about the looks, I mean, I don't want some disgusting slob, but if they have a nice personality or are just friendly in general and aren't blow my mind away perfect, then I guess they're all right. I thought Jeb would know that by now. Anyway, the only suitor that caught my eye was someone named Dylan.

Dylan. He seemed nice enough. His looks didn't blow me away, but they weren't horrible. Like in the middle, but closer to the top than bottom. He didn't seem to want to be king much anyway. Well, he did, but it didn't control his brain. He was more concerned if I was happy. I like that quality in people. His personality was almost perfect, however. I couldn't find any flaws, but believe me, I'm looking. Trying to trip him up somewhere. I need to figure out the flaws of people for me to know them better. It gives me more of connection, since, I'm quoting directly from my sister, "Max, is there anything about you that isn't flawed?" Cruel. Ella, however, liked the perfect people.

I sighed. I can't believe I'm thinking about this. Jeb'll be king for a while still. I can get married if I am queen, if I want. If I'm the queen, I'm in total control, and I can decide if I want to get married or not. Now, I just have to keep Jeb off my back.

"Maax!" Ella called from the stone hallway, her voice echoing. "Hmm?" I called back to her, not really paying attention. My vision flitted to a bird who was standing on a branch, chirping a mating call.

My thoughts went to the wings that were pressed tightly against my back. Ouch. I would have to let them out tonight. Good thing this dress had a pretty high neckline. I couldn't say the same about Ella's. But she didn't have the trouble with wings. In fact, no one knew about my wings except me. I've had them for as long as I could remember, all fifteen years. As far as I know, I was born with them, but I don't think that's the case.

"Have you heard anything I just said, Max?" Ella demanded, pulling me out of my thoughts, tapping her high heeled foot against the floor. Another difference between me and Ella. She loved high shoes. I liked to go barefoot.

"Oh, sorry, sister dear," I said sarcastically. "Would you please repeat that for me? My hearing is going downhill." She rolled her eyes at me. "Max!" She complained. "I need you to listen!"

"Spit it out, Ella."

"Spitting isn't very lady-like. Jeb said so." She sniffed. Another difference. Ella liked Jeb. Let's just say I didn't. I resisted the urge to pull out my hair and stomp my foot on the ground in frustration. "I don't give a care of what Jeb said. You know what I mean Ella." I said through clenched teeth, growling ever so slightly. She took a step back. "Gods." She muttered. "Well, anyway, I was wondering if you wanted to borrow one of my dresses for ball tomorrow. I mean," she giggled softly, bringing her hand to her mouth. "Jac will be there. I want you to look nice. It does make a impact on him."

Jac was one of my annoying suitors. I hated him with a fiery passion, almost as much as I hated Jeb. Ella, on the other hand, had a huge full blown crush on him. Eww. He had black hair and blue eyes, with a charming appearance when you first saw him. But, once you start to talk to him, you realize that he isn't everything. I mean, can't she fall for someone more... err, nice? When I die, (and my possible husband) she'll be queen, and if someone like Jac is king, then this kingdom will fall to pieces, and shatter. Or maybe, she wants me to get married, so the king could cheat on me with her. Like that'll ever happen. (Jac being king

"Gods, Ella, no. I hate your dresses." I said bluntly, looking back out the window. The bird had flown away. I hope he found a mate. I thought, tapping my fingers on the windowsill. Maybe eventually I'll find the right person for me. I doubt it though. Ella seemed to be voicing my thoughts. "You'll never find someone if all you wear is those dresses." She stuck her noise up at me. "I'll be in my room." I sighed, as she walked out of the door confidently. "Maid!" She called on her way out. "Prepare a bath, please."

"Don't bother." I muttered back to her. "Let her do it herself." I didn't like the maids. For one, it was wrong for people to do things for me, even if they were getting paid. It also makes me look snobbish and lazy. And two, I could do those things myself, like everyone else in the kingdom who didn't use people to do stuff for them.

"Mistress Maximum," someone said uncertainly from the doorway, like I was going to come out and bite them. "Hmm?" I said once again, leaning on the windowsill so I wasn't standing up completely. "Would you like a bath too?" I shook my head. "I can do it myself." I can now imagine the worried look on the maid's face, frown lines appearing and her biting her lower lip. "But that's what I'm paid to do! Please, my lady, let me do something for you!"

I turned towards her and winked. "I'll do it myself and tell Jeb that you did it for me." I smiled a tiny bit. "And, I'll tell him how good you did it, and he could perhaps give you some sort of raise. I know you have a family too." She smiled thankfully to be and curtsied to me, hurrying out of the room. Yes, I can be nice. I just don't like to be.

I flopped on my bed and looked up at the ceiling, making pictures from the textures on the stone. My room was practically all stone. There was the window that I was fond of in the corner, with sapphire drapes all around it. My bed was on the opposite side of the room, also the rich, deep blue. It was with silk sheets fit for a princess, which, of course, I am. (Let me tell you the truth, I prefer cotton.) On the floor is a wooly, guess, blue rug, and next to my bed is a wooden desk, which is surprisingly not blue. My room didn't have much in it.

Now, I won't even get started on Ella's room. But let me tell you, it is thousands times worse. Including all of the pink. Yawning, I got up from my bed. I was tired. This morning I had to take some, let's say, proper princess training classes. Boring. None of that will help me when I am queen. I don't need to know how to host a proper party when we are in war. Nor do I care.

I moved to the dark wooden door, which was perhaps rowan, and shut it, using the deadbolt to lock it. I couldn't risk anyone walking in on me and seeing my, err, feathery little secret.

I knew Jeb would kill me if I slit two long lines in the dress I was wearing, so I moved towards my trunk of clothes underneath my bed and grabbed out a pair of breeches and a plain cream shirt, that I had persuaded one of the maids to steal for me. I threw the dress to the bottom of my small trunk and shoved it back underneath my bed. I moved towards my desk where I grabbed a dagger. Another thing I was sneaked it. I slit the shirt and let my wings out with a sigh of content. All fourteen feet of my wings moved out across the room.

The tops of them were a dark brown, then it melted into a light brown, then cream, and then white, with specks of brown. I flapped them the smallest bit, not enough to let me off of the ground, but enough to stretch them out a bit. I moved to the window, and folded the wings back on my back. You're probably wondering how I can fly without out being noticed.

Well, there's a dragon.

IT hasn't been seen for a while, and IT's lair is somewhere in the mountains far away from here. The dragon is white, and sometimes, flies over the kingdom. Recently, however, there has been more sightings. ...I wouldn't have anything to do about it. I sat on the ledge of the window and looked out at the city. I could see, if I squinted my eyes a bit, people working, but I did have the highest tower. It wasn't easy to see.

I turned so my legs were dangling out of the window, and then taking a deep breath, moved forward, falling gracefully down.

I snapped out my wings and winced. I had to do it this way so I was able to fly. It had hurt a lot at first, but I've been getting used to it. I mean, I just can't take off in the courtyard where a lot of people can see me. I flapped my wings and slowly elevated, before going up by the clouds, my favorite spot.

Some people think flying through clouds would be fun, that is, if they actually have the chance to fly through them. They're not. Clouds are wet and big, and seem foggy so it's hard to fly through them. That's why I just usually stay beneath them. It allows me to be up high enough and not be in the clouds, but low enough where I could see tiny dots as houses.

I spread my arms out as I flew of the mountains, which were the borders of the two kingdoms. Judging by the light of the sun, I should probably get back. I know, it was the shortest flight ever. But I can't be gone long from the castle or someone will come looking for me, so I try to go on as many short flights as I can.

Once I was back in the tower, I slipped in through my tower window, and unlocked my door, opening it a crack. I then proceeded to flop down on my bed. "Maximum?" A voice called from the doorway, looking in. I groaned, loud enough for the person to here. Jeb.

"What do you want?" I growled, looking up from the bed. He looked at my clothes in shock. "What are you wearing?" Mentally, I slapped myself. I should of changed back into the blue silk dress, but I didn't'. Good thing I was able to get back from my flight, though, before he came. "Nothing." I snapped. "What do you want?"

He sighed, and moved into the room. I was about to say that he wasn't allowed in my room, but he interrupted me by saying. "Maximum-"

"It's Max." I growled once again.

He continued talking like I hadn't even interrupted him. "The ball is coming up, tomorrow, and you haven't found an escort. Now, your sister Ella had some fine ideas of suitors that I thought would be appropriate-" I cut him off. "Look, Jeb, I won't be going to the ball with anyone. In fact, I don't want to go at all." He opened his mouth to say something. "Wait." I ordered. "The only reason I'm going is because I promised Mother that I would cooperate. So, that means I'll go, but I won't like it. And I won't go with anyone. I mean it, Jeb."

His eyebrows furrowed. "I'm just trying to be nice, Maximum, but if you don't appreciate that-"

"I'd appreciate it more if you were nicer." I snarled, standing up from the bed and crossing his arms, so I looked tougher and taller. "Look," Jeb said to me. "You are going to the ball. You are going to like it. And on Ella's request, you are going with Jac."

That did it. That was my breaking point. If my father couldn't respect that I didn't want an escort, then fine. "Get out!" I shouted at him. "Just get out! I'm sick of you! I'm sick of you trying to rule my life! I'm sick of you making all of my decisions!" When I saw that he was still there, I shrieked, "Just get out!" He left in a hasty retreat. "Just ... go." I rasped, looking down at my bed and blinking millions of times to clear my foggy vision.

If he wanted to be that way, then fine. I wouldn't be going to the ball then.

The next morning, I awoke to find a pink, frilly dress laid out on my bed. "Jeb!" I growled softly, grabbing the cursed thing and moving to the window, where I flung it out and watched it float slowly to the dirty moat. I hope something eats it.

I moved to my closet where I grabbed a pale green dress that I was originally going to wear to the ball. Green was Mother's favorite color, and I was wearing it and going to the ball for her. Just a few more minutes.

I realized that I was still wearing the breeches and a shirt, so I slipped them off and put the dress on. It was made of silk, with a velvet layer over it. Unfortunately, it was a v-neck, but there was lace there so it wasn't that low. The bottom also had a cream lace trim, and there was an intricate design of thread, portraying a swan in a lake under a full moon above it. I had decided to go barefoot ages ago, and Jeb couldn't stop me. Shoes would make sounds when I tried to escape and it was more comfortable going barefoot. He should just be happy that I was attending.

I moved towards the door, where I peeked outside, looking for maids or guards or Jeb or Ella roaming the hallway. Then, I silently slipped out the door and into the hallway. The stone was cold against my feet, and I was happy to start walking on carpet when I reached the end of the hallway. Quiet as a mouse, I stepped down the stairs the stairs, heart thudding and me pressing up against a wall whenever I heard a voice.

"Max!" Ella called from the top of the stairs. I raced down them, not bothering to be as quiet as I was before, and retreated underneath the stairs, shoving myself in the farthest corner. Ella came clomping down in her heels. She was wearing a similar dress to yesterday, except sleeveless. I guess Jeb let her wear something like that for a ball. "Jac is waiting for you!" She called in a singsong voice, her head turning left and right.

My heart caught in my throat as she turned this way, like I'd be underneath the staircase. "Maybe.." she turned to search over here. My breathing became rapid as my hands went to my chest. "Eww! Never mind. Too dirty. Max wouldn't go underneath there." She said softly, turning away. "At least, I won't look under there." She added, turning away from the hidden spot and going down the next hallway, still calling my name. Once I didn't hear her voice or her shoes, I came out from the stairs, brushing my dress off and started to move again.

I hurried to the main entrance, where two guards were there, one hand on their spears, and the other on their swords on her waists. "Think she'll come here?" One asked the other, who shrugged. Who can be they talking about? Anyway, I have to get through. I can't go to the ball, not with Jac. Sorry Mother. Now, calm, casual, like nothing's going on.

"Hello!" I said cheerfully, unlike myself. The guards looked at each other in amusement. "Yes?" One asked. "If you'll excuse me, I just have to get through." He raised his eyebrows. "Hmm? For what? Care to enlighten me?" Drat. I don't have a lie. My tongue was dry, and I looked down, my mind racing. "I didn't think so." The other one chuckled. "Be on your way, princess." They started to move back towards the gate.

"No wait!" I called, looking back up at them. "I need to see a friend in town. She, um, needs to fix the hem of my dress." I hope they know nothing about dresses. "It looks fine to me." One informed me and I sighed. "Let me through?" I tried, a last resort.

"Nope. King's orders. He thought you might try and get away," I resisted the urge to stomp my foot. "And anyway, my lady, it can't be that bad." I glared at him, crossing my arms. "Believe me, it is. Just let me out!" He smirked. "No can do." I then decided to use brute force. No one in my place except me would. I'm stronger then normal, for some reason, (the wings, perhaps?) and maybe, just maybe, I could get through them, run into some sort of forest, and then take off, only coming back after the ball is over. I can deal with the punishments.

I charged into the guards, which one of them had their spear pointed at me. "Stop!" The other one screeched. "You can't kill the imperial princess!" He let his spear down at the last minute as I ran into the middle of both of them. They grabbed me by my arms as I kicked and punched. So lady-like, I know.

Minutes later, I was seated in the courtyard, my dress dirty and torn slightly in some places, my eye black, a split lip and a permanent scowl on my face. The two guards were seated next to me, holding my arms, which were fighting to be crossed. Jac was looking me over, like I was something he could buy. "Nice. I like 'em feisty." He wiggled his eye brows suggestively. I fought to get out of the guard's grip to get a blow into him. "Let me go!" I ordered to them. "A princess's order's don't block out a kings." One murmured as I stopped fighting.

Jac circled the bench. "You're mine." He breathed down my neck. "I'm not your anything!" I snapped at him, trying to get out of their only once again. Did they eat super food for breakfast or something? These guards were not some of the wimpy ones Jeb hired. I could escape from them easy.

Jac grabbed my shoulder. "Time to go, darling." The guards stood up as Jac grabbed my arm. "You sure you got her?" One asked as he nodded. "She's trouble, that one."

"Don't forget it." I hissed as Jac tried to led me away like he would a prisoner, with my arms behind my back so I couldn't pinch, slap, hit or do whatever with them. "It doesn't have to be this way." He whispered through my hair. I tried to stop walking so I could try and kick his shins, but he pushed me forward. "Yes, I would prefer it this way." I told him.

We stopped at the entrance at the ballroom, my eyes already searching for exits. I didn't really come to the ballroom much, only a few times. (Mostly in a grip like this one.) "And now, Princess's Maximum's escort! Jac of Lomingtal!" A loud male voice called, sending Jac down the stairs, waving and winking to all of the girls. I thought he was my escort! (Not that I liked him or anything, but he can't be flirting with girls when I was right here!)

Once again. Sexist pig.

"And now, Princess Maximum herself! The future queen!" Just as I was about to descend down the stairs and into the horrors of the ballroom, a sweet smelling cloth was placed over my face, and I felt myself falling back, and then, there was darkness.

A/N: So, did you like it? Sorry about the cliffhanger, if you really like it, I'll update soon! (If you want links to their dresses, then they'll be up on my profile in a few minutes or so!)