Gunshots. Screams. Shattering glass. One moment, I was being crowned the Queen of Prophellya and the next I’m being quickly escorted down dozens of flights of stairs leading to the safe room.

But I never have my own safety in mind. I wait until we’re a good ways down the stairs and the maids and guards are distracted, ditch my heavy heels, and break into a run up the stairs, opposing this strong force of huge guards that are each twice the size of me. But I’m the princess. If I tell them to, they’ll let me through without hesitation.

“Danielle!” I scream, searching for my little sister, who I haven’t seen since before the gunshots started. Of course, she’s probably in the safe room, but… my mind loves to wander into dangerous places. And apparently so do I, which is yet another weird thing I reveal about myself as I climb up flight after flight of stairs, ignoring the fact that my feet are frozen numb due to the drafts and frozen stone steps. “Hunter!”

“Princess, you need to get to safety,” a guard with gelled blonde hair informs me, clutching my arm with an iron grip.

“Let me go,” I say, trying to stop my voice from wavering. I’m not scared, I should not be scared. I am going to be queen, and queens aren’t scared of bullets.

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but I’m afraid I can’t do that,” the guard says, pulling me down the stairs.

Alright. He dares defy the princess. I guess he didn't know I was required to take self-defense in year five. I do not tell him sorry as I knee him in the soft spot and race past him and all the other guards that are staring at me like I’m crazy. But they don’t know what I can do to this supposedly strong army.

Well maybe I am crazy. People I care about might be up there, and they’re not bulletproof. I twirl my arm around, gathering a ball of fire in my hand that gradually gets bigger with something as simple as my will.

The gunshots get louder and more frequent as I reach the top of the staircase. I make the fireball bigger as they spot me and expand it, so it’s a barrier of fire protecting me. Sure enough, they shoot at me.

I laugh - I can’t help it. All of their bullets melt in the air that’s warping in front of me from the extreme heat. “You really think bullets are going to stop me? You must be mad.”

One of them advances towards me, beckoning his idiot cronies along with him. They all hold their guns at the ready, clearly not convinced that I can evaporate them. They all shoot, but it’s useless, bullet after bullet that I destroy.

“Princess Kiara,” the man in the front addresses. I nod but don’t let my fire shield fall.

“Why hello, terrorist,” I quickly create an arrow made of fire and send it right at his heart. He immediately crumples, and flames ensnare his burning body. I turn to his little buddies, gathering an army of fire arrows behind me and raise my eyebrows. “Had enough yet?”

There isn’t a word to describe how fast they all disperse. I smile. Of course the Royals in Opheria didn’t send their soldiers with abilities yet. They’re playing it low. But I’m not blind to their techniques.

As soon as there’s a few seconds with no gunshots to be heard, guards come out of the staircase like steam a volcano. In seconds, dozens surround me, inspecting me up and down, asking me if I’m alright.

“I’m fine!” I assure them, closing my palm and making all of my fire weapons disappear, including my shield. Sweat trickles down my neck, warning me that I’m working too hard. Don’t worry, I’m done. For now.

“Kiara!” I whisk around at the familiar glance and am almost toppled over by the girl who’s dress almost eats her up and her curly blonde hair curves perfectly around her face.

“Danielle,” I whisper, clutching her close to me and whispering into her hair. “I had no idea where you were.”

“I didn’t know where you were,” she corrected, looking up at me with her glistening green eyes. It’s the only thing we have in common - I’m a pyro, she’s a hydro, I’m a brunette, she’s blonde. She’s pretty and I’m not, despite what people tell me everyday.