Destiny

Running through the dark and ugly-looking trees that felt like they were watching me, the demons were everywhere hunting me.

Fighting the demons was like fighting with your own shadow, which was an impossible task.

I felt fingers running down my neck and back, sending shivers through my body.

"Destiny, join us," the demon said in a raspy voice behind me. "You were weak, Destiny. Join us and get the powers you seek. The Devil wants you," he added, and my body filled up with goosebumps.

I gritted my teeth in annoyance and turned all around, trying to find the demon among the darkness that surrounded me.

"I guess you messed with the wrong person," I said with a smirk as I stood still. "Leave me or die," I added after a heartbeat.

I wasn't sure of what I was saying because even the heavens knew I wasn't powerful enough to fight the demons.

Different voices laughed at me mockingly, and that was when I knew there were more than one demon.

The sound of my alarm woke me up, and I sat up, panting and gasping for air, with sweat running down my temple.

I turned to the side to glance at my alarm clock and saw that it was 7:03 am in the morning.

"My lady," the voice of Floral, my personal maid, sounded in the room, and I turned to look at her as she stood at the entrance of my room.

"Your bath is ready," she added with a smile and her hands in front of her white apron.

"Thank you," I replied curtly and with a groan.

"Do you want anything else?" she asked, and I shook my head and told her she could leave. She bowed her head and left, and when I heard the door close behind her, I got up and entered my bathroom.

The steamy water was like an invitation to my sore muscles, and I wasted no time in answering its call. I took off my clothes and entered the bathtub.

F*ck, it feels great.

As I sank deeper into the water, I couldn't help but think about the dream I had last night.

I spent about twenty minutes in the bathtub.

"My lady," I heard Flora say. "Are you in there?" she asked.

That brought me out of my daydream, and I snapped my eyes open.

"Oh yes, just a minute," I replied, getting out of the tub and stepping onto the tiled floor. As I entered my room, I found Flora next to my bed with a beautiful strapless white gown in her left arm.

"Do you like this one, my lady?" she asked, shaking the silky material a little.

"Yes, it's lovely. You really know my taste, Flora," I said with a wink, and she blushed.

"White is my favorite," I added.

I have always loved white because it matches my beautiful long white hair.

My name is Destiny, and I was turning 18 the next day. I am the only daughter and princess of the Cloud Kingdom.

My dad was a warrior, a powerful fighter, and he always told me that I would be a great warrior and princess and to always use my power for good.

My mother died when I was just a child at the hands of a demon. Dad still blames himself for not being there with Mom when she needed him, but he was fighting a war when it happened.

I was only six when I watched the demons tear through Mom's flesh, s*ck the blood out of her, and eat her brain. When one was about to get me, Dad saved me and killed them, and since then, I vowed to kill all demons, even Lucifer himself.

Tomorrow was a special day for me as it would be my birthday. The cloud kingdom was being decorated with beautiful flowers, and I stood in the hallway, staring out the window and admiring the beauty of my kingdom.

I had never once left the walls of the castle because it wasn't safe. Dad had warned me to stay within our kingdom walls because the demons had been growing rapidly.

I also wasn't allowed to have any friends, which made life here boring. Since the night of my mother's death, Dad had made sure I stayed safe and hidden in the castle. In fact, people hadn't seen me apart from some workers who worked in the castle.

People only saw me when there was a secret occasion or when special guests were invited to the castle, like the kings and queens of other kingdoms.

I would be turning 18 tomorrow, and all supernatural powers, or rather, teen powers, began from the age of 16 to 18.

For some days now, I hadn't been sleeping well because I had been having nightmares. I didn't tell Father a word about this, but the dream I had last night kept haunting me and troubling me throughout the day. I got up from my bed and made my way to Dad's chambers.

"Dad," I called while pushing his room door slowly.

Dad was seated in front of his desk with a book on how to kill demons in his right hand.

He turned his head towards me and took off his glasses. "Come sit," Dad said with a little smile playing on his lips.

I nodded my head and, while walking towards him, took a seat and placed it next to his. I peeked a little at the open book with a frown, and Dad quickly closed it and pushed it to the side. I raised my head up to look at him and gave him a confused and weak smile.

"What's wrong, Princess?" Dad asked, furrowing his brow as he smoothed my white hair. He looked so concerned because he knew I never came to his room late at night.

"I have been having nightmares, not sleeping well," I said with a shaky breath.

"What's the dream all about, Honey?" he asked with a warm smile, smoothing his hand through my hair once more in a comforting way.

"It's demons, Dad. They keep haunting me in my sleep, telling me that... that Lucifer wants me," I told him, looking up at him nervously.

"What do they want from me?" I added as a sob broke out of my lips.

Dad furrowed his brows, rubbing his temple and looking at his table as if he was looking for an answer there, but we both knew there wasn't. He released a sigh and then turned his head to look at me.

"Don't worry about it, Princess. It's going to be fine," he replied with a tight-lipped smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Tomorrow, I'll be taking you to Mr. Williams for potions. It will help you sleep better and keep the nightmares away," he added, patting my shoulder in a comforting way. I hesitantly nodded.

I felt like Dad was hiding something, that he knew something, but instead, I decided not to ask.

"Dad," I said with a small smile, standing up and dusting an invisible dirt from my PJs. "I'll be going to my room now." I kissed Dad on the cheek and then walked to the door.

"Happy birthday, dear, in advance," I heard him say.

"Thanks," I replied, looking back at him.

I laid on my bed with a sigh as I looked up at the white ceiling. It didn't take long before I fell asleep.

~~~~~~~

Everyone was busy preparing for my birthday. I was in the dressing room where the makeup artist had just done a final touch on my face.

I got up from my seat and walked to the mirror on the wall. I gasped in awe at how I looked. I smiled at my reflection and did a little twirl. The yellow mermaid gown hugged my body in all the right places. I flattened my palm on the soft silky material.

I looked so beautiful... No, scratch that, I felt beautiful.

"You look beautiful, my lady," Lilly, the makeup artist, said, looking at me with admiration.

"Thanks, Lilly," I replied proudly, with my chin raised high.

When everyone left, I took a deep breath before pushing the door and walking down the hall. It would be the first time the Kingdom got to see me in twelve years, and I was a nervous wreck.

I stood behind the closed door that separated me from the guests who were in the ballroom. The sound of shoes against the marble floor made me turn my head around to see Dad in a blue tuxedo, walking straight toward me with a large smile on his face.

"You look beautiful, my princess," he mumbled against my temple, and I closed my eyes, releasing a soft sigh.

"Thanks, Dad," I said with a grin.

Soon, the door was pulled open, and I walked with my left hand curved around Dad's. We walked down the flight of stairs.

All eyes were on me, and whispers filled the large room.

"She's beautiful."

"Is she the princess?"

"I don't like her."

Those were the words that filled my ears as I walked past the people.

When we reached the middle of the ballroom, I stood awkwardly, not knowing where to go or who to talk to since I didn't have any friends.

F*ck! This was way harder than I thought.

There were so many people looking at me, and I felt really shy and uncomfortable.

Dad cleared his throat, and the room became silent. Even if a needle were to drop on the floor, it would be heard by all.

"We have all gathered together to celebrate the special day of my daughter, the princess of Cloud Kingdom. Today, Destiny turns 18," Dad finished his little speech, and the crowd cheered and clapped.

People came forward and congratulated me, and I answered them with a smile. When over seventy people came to greet me, I became exhausted and excused myself from the group that had gathered around me.

I went over to the bar to get myself a drink. I gulped down a glass of orange juice when I heard someone from behind me.

"Would you care for a dance, Princess Destiny?"

I looked back and saw a young blonde guy standing behind me with his hand outstretched. I almost gasped at how handsome he was. His blonde hair was slicked back, and his plump pink lips stretched into a half smile— half smirk.

"Uhm, sure," I stuttered nervously, tucking a strand of white hair behind my ear and also taking his hand in my right hand.

"My name is Kelvin," he said, tightening his hand around mine as we moved to the middle of the room to dance.

"I'm Destiny," I replied, putting my hands on his shoulders.

"Oh, I know," he chuckled, and I smiled.

We danced quietly, and he kept looking deeply into my eyes like he was searching for something. My heart felt like it was about to burst out of my chest from how hard it was beating

"You dance really well, princess," he said, putting my hands on his chest, and my heart did a somersault.

"Thanks. You danced beautifully too," I told him and gently bit my lips.

I wasn't doing it to seduce him or anything; I was just really nervous to have danced with a boy, and not just any boy, but a handsome one at that.

"Your white hair makes you look cute," he added.

"Thanks."

I looked over Kelvin's shoulders and saw Dad walking towards us. I stopped dancing, and Kelvin looked down at me in worry. He turned his head to see who I was staring at.

"Your majesty," Kelvin bowed his head, and Dad nodded.

"Destiny, come with me. I have something to discuss with you," Dad said, and I became worried that something bad had happened.

"I will be back," I said to Kelvin, and he nodded with a smile.

Dad and I walked away from the crowd to a more silent place.

"Dad, what's wrong?" I finally asked.

He released a sigh and ran his hand through his hair. "Destiny, I added your name to the list of teen supernatural academy candidates, and you were selected," he said, and my eyes widened.

"If you are chosen among the best seven, you will get to fight demons outside the kingdoms. When I was your age, I was picked. I wasn't alone. I am sure you will do great," he added.

I just stood there, lost in my own thoughts.

It took about three seconds before everything clicked together.

"You did what!" I whisper-yelled, and a few heads turned our way. I took a few breaths, trying to calm my nerves. "Dad, did I ever tell you I would like to join the academy? I mean, yeah, I want to, but not now! And why would you do that without asking me first?" I asked, tears of frustration gathering at the corner of my eyes.

"And we don't even know what my gift is. Why would you do that to me..." Most people wouldn't understand why this is frustrating to me. Knowing that I was going to an academy filled with gifted people, I would be left out. I'd always felt left out in almost everything.

Before Dad could utter a word, I stomped out of the hall with a single tear rolling down my face. I couldn't deal with this sh*t, so I left the castle to clear my head.

I walked down the dirty road with large trees for minutes, and my yellow gown trailed along the ground. I kicked a harmless pebble, and it hit a tree. That was when I finally looked up.

"Sh*t," I cussed under my breath, turning around to see where I was. It was quiet and dark, and the branches looked like they were monsters trying to grab me.

I regretted leaving the castle.

"What do I do?" I said to myself.

"Are you a lost princess?" a husky male voice said, and I held my breath in fear. I looked around, trying to find the source of the voice, but couldn't.

"Is anyone there?" I said shakily. I was so scared that he might be a demon out to get me.

Dumbass me just had to leave the castle.

"Hi," the voice said again, but this time, I knew where it was coming from. A young boy came out from the back of a tree with his hands in his pockets.

"Oh my god," I gasped, my left hand flying to my mouth to conceal the choking sound.

Is he a demigod?

I stared at him, his perfection and beauty were indescribable. Gods, he looked like an angel, I thought, still staring at him.

"What were you doing here wandering around in this creepy place?" he said in the most charming way.

His voice was so charming and alluring, and he had these beautiful green cat eyes that made me gaze deep into them. On his head was long red hair, lazily packed at the back of his neck, and he was wearing a black hoodie, black sneakers, and black jeans.

He looked like the Devil, a sexy devil, that is.

"Hmm, I-I'm lost," I said, stumbling on my words before blinking and cursing myself for the mistake.

"Can you show me the way back to Cloud Castle or... take me there?" I asked, holding onto my gown. He stared at me for a minute, then nodded.

For about fifteen minutes, we said nothing to each other as we walked along the dirt road until I finally decided to break the silence.

"You l