• I looked into the mirror, at my reflection. Cold, expressionless, dead, that was my natural expression.
    “Josie, come here” Mom said. I headed toward her.
    “I’m proud of you daughter.” She placed a hand on my cheek. “You’ll become a great ruler. So I’m going to make you a greater one then you and I are, right now. I’m sending you on an adventure, to explore the world below us, bowing down to us.”
    “Yes.” I said robot-like.
    “Good girl. I’ll be watching over you. Keep your identity a secret. Pretend to be weak. Anything to survive; to gain their trust.” Mom said with a slice of ice in her voice.
    Those were her last words before I left. Now I’m in a small village, small but wild. People were here and about. But what amazed me most were the different expressions they make. There was a variety of it. I slipped in to a stall and took out a mirror. Trying to make different expressions, I got the hang of it.
    Slipping back out, I looked around curiously. Being trapped in the castle always was boring. Mother never let me get out, but trained me to be a powerful sorceress, and I soon became more powerful then mother herself.
    A boy walking backwards, about my age, with his hands up in defense against a girl, pleading, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.” Looking at his feet he was about to trip on a rock.
    “Hey, watch out,” I said. He turned around tripped on the rock. Should I have warned him? That was a waste of energy.
    “Good, let’s get him together!” the girl said to me, rolling up her sleeves. Now this is confusing.
    “Huh?”
    The boy covered his face, just as the girl was about to hit him. But she was stopped by another guy.
    “What are you doing Elise!” he yelled, “don’t hurt your companions, save that for the enemies.”
    “But that pervert…” she started but then realized I was still here.
    “Uh, hi” I smiled.
    “Who are you?” Elise asked.
    That’s kind of rude. “Josie, I’m on an adventure, but I don’t know where to go or where I am.” I said helplessly.
    “That’s not much of an adventure.” Elise muttered.
    “I…can’t remember much” I whispered my lie. They were all silent. I wonder if they believe me that was my first lie I did in awhile.
    “Well you could come with us. On our adventure,” the guy said. “Oh, and my name is Max”
    “And I’m Jesse” the boy still on the ground.
    I smiled, thankful. “Thanks” I said in a small voice. Boy, I really know how to lie.

    It’s been five days, and we were still walking, but there was so many things that I didn’t see in the castle. I didn’t know where we were going and didn’t really care. Mother said she’s watching me, and I’m pretty independent. Elise kept constant watch on me. But the others seem okay with me.
    “By the way Josie, are u a sorceress?” Elise asked.
    There was a quick pause before I could figure out a right answer. “Yeah, but I just started learning.”
    “Well you have us, so don’t worry. You’ll learn bunches.” Max smiled, receiving Elise’s glare.
    I smiled. I just adore Max he’s so sweet and supporting, especially with his looks, his flowing light brown hair and glowing blue eyes. It could be deceiving.
    “You guys never told me this, but what’s the point of your adventure?” I asked, curious.
    They all looked ahead, not even turning to look at me to answer.
    “We’re planning to over-run the queen, so we’re traveling to learn” Jesse said. I stopped in my footstep, shocked. I joined the enemy? They can’t be strong enough to run mother over yet, are they? Then I realized Max turned to glance back at my reaction.
    “That’s pretty big.” Was all I could say.
    “What’s wrong with it? Countless people are suffering because of her, her rules, her murders.”Max’s voice seemed to trail off in my head.
    She was cold I knew that, but I always denied the fact that she was a killer, at least until the day she introduced me to a new way of fighting and winning. Mother killed the guy in front of my eyes. Then, she ordered to try for myself. And I did. “I don’t think I’ll be able to…”
    They were all silent, standing there watching me.
    “Don’t worry, we all aren’t ready yet. That’s why we’re traveling.” Jesse comforted.
    I smiled at the comfort.