• Arita walked through the forest quietly. She'd been warned so many times about this forest. How dangerous it was and also how likely it was that Arita would be kidnapped. Arita was the Princess of the Winter Kingdom. One of the princesses at least. Arita had two other sisters and the only one that mattered in the public eye was her eldest Crystal. Crystal was elegant and beautiful and lady-like. Arita, however, loved to ride horses and rough house and sword fight and just about everything that a princess was not allowed to do.

    Arita may have been the middle sister out of the three princesses but she behaved like as if she were the youngest. At least she did according to her family's standards. Arita wanted to savor life not spend it pretending to be something she wasn't. Arita was free spirited and loud and once she even showed up to a ball in dirty pants. She'd fallen off a horse and had no time to get ready for the ball before her maidservants dragged her through the room.

    Arita breathed in the forest air. The warm oranges and reds swirled around her and she just adored it. The scents of wet leaves and pumpkins filled the warm air. Arita could smell candles and food like pies, fresh apples, and cider. They swam around her in a sweet aromatic mixture that just lifted Arita into an ecstacey. The leaves on the ground were all the lovely colors that Arita adored. Reds, oranges, browns, and golds danced in Arita's eyes and took her breath away. Arita could hear music in the distance. Drums, guitars, violins, flutes, and a managery of other sounds filled Arita's ears as she wandered farther away from her palace home.

    That's when Arita's bliss was interrupted by the sound of a twig snapping. She stopped, her heart pounding. "Well, well, well," A young male voice said from behind her. "You look lost," It continued,"Perhaps I can help?" Arita turned and her breath stopped. The young man before her truly must have been a God. He was gorgeous. His pale skin glowed and his soft eyes were a blazing golden color. His body was thin and muscular and covered in beautiful clothing. An off-white peasant shirt with a brown vest over it and matching brown trousers with high black boots. His neck and hands were decorated in gold and jewels, his long black hair, reaching about his waist was in a ponytail. But one thing stood out to Arita. Around his neck was a long chained silver cross.

    Arita, in that moment, forgot about his beauty and marched up to him, grasping the cross,"Where did you get this?"

    He took her wrists into his soft, warm hands,"I've had it for many years. It's not of your concern. Now, who are you and why are you in this forest?" His voice was pure velvet and Arita would have shivered if she weren't so burning mad that he'd grabbed her wrists away from the cross. Arita finally looked up into his golden eyes, his long black bangs hung in his eyes gently. They stole her words from her as his gaze burned into her eyes so deeply that she almost felt pain. His eyes now displayed an emotion Arita was not used to. Shock? Wonder, maybe? His warm hand came to rest upon her cool cheek,"Who. . . Are you?"

    Arita thought about that. It was a loaded question. This beautiful boy was definitely one of the robbers that controlled these woods so if she told the truth he might harm her but if she lied and he found out later he might come after her despite her getting away. "My name is. . . Ari," Arita said. That was true. Arita's nickname was Ari. No one but her younger sister called her that though. "Who are you?"

    "Damian," He replied. Damian? Damian was the name of the Autumn Queen's oldest son. The Autumn Queen, Hazan, preferred to run her kingdom differently. She was vile and violent and fierce. She wasn't elegant or graceful. She was loud and fired off her guns for fun and taught her children to steal and kill if a situation should call for such action. She'd been just a thief as a girl and then met the former Autumn King, Jareth, when he was still just a prince. Everyone knew the story. Jareth had caught Hazan stealing and she'd heard guards coming so she dragged him along with her, not knowing at the time that Jareth was the only heir to the throne. "It's nice to meet you, Ms. Ari," Damian took one of her hands and kissed it softly.

    "You as well, Prince Damian," Arita said. Damian grinned at her.

    "Ah, my secret's out," Damian chuckled,"I thought I was hiding it so well." Arita had to smile at him. Damian's smile soon faded,"Are you afraid?"

    "No. Of coarse not. Why do you ask?"

    "You're trembling. Are you cold?" Damian watched her body shake but Arita shook her head. "You're sweating," Damian touched her forehead softly. Sure enough when Arita felt her own forehead she was sweating but she couldn't think why. Arita's teeth began to chatter. She looked at her hands, they were shaking. Why were they shaking though is what Arita kept asking herself. "I'll take you to my home," Damian said. "You need a doctor." Arita nodded but when she tried to take a step she fell. Damian helped her up but Arita felt dizzy as she walked. She made it a few steps before passing out.

    When Arita woke up the moon was shining down on her. She sat up and looked around. She heard strange music playing. It sounded like the music she'd heard earlier. She tried to stand but nearly fell back down. She was caught though. Arita looked up to look into the golden eyes from before. "You. . . Damien. ."

    "I see you remember my name," Damien chuckled. "That's good."

    "Where am I-" Arita was cut off by a gunshot.