The Lost Princess

by R. G. Angel

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Epilogue

  About Me

  Also By R.G. Angel

  The Lost Princess – Blood Feud book 1

  By R.G Angel

  Copyright © 2021 R.G. Angel

  This book is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.

  This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people.

  If you’re reading this e-book and did not purchase it, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Cover: Pink Elephant Designs

  Formatting: Pink Elephant Designs

  Editing: Editing by Kimberly Dawn

  To my readers,

  Thank you so much for being on this journey with me.

  There would not be stories without you.

  R.G. Angel

  Chapter 1

  “Fay, come on! You’re going to miss your plane!” my mother shouted from the bottom of the stairs.

  “I’ll be down in a minute,” I shouted back, throwing my heavy duffel bag on my shoulder before giving one last longing look at my childhood room.

  My wooden shelves were full of books I couldn’t take with me. My records were on my desk, with the hundred pictures I’ve drawn of all the animals I’d seen in the forest.

  My parents kept reassuring me that it would all be there, that nothing would have to change and I could get it all back once I was done with school. But it was where all my memories were. I felt so safe in this room, almost like I belonged in between my books and music.

  Now I had to go to college. I was becoming an adult; well, at least that was what my parents told me.

  I shook my head sullenly. I wanted to get an education; don’t get me wrong, I’ve been dreaming of it for a long time. But I would have wanted to stay here at home in New England and study at the University of New England, just like my brothers were. It was all set until I got a letter awarding me a full scholarship for Oregon State University in Corvallis. This university had a well-rated bachelor’s degree in bioresource research, and I could even take my minor in zoology which was not the case here.

  It'd been weird to get that letter; I hadn’t applied anywhere other than NE but they’d explained that they had read the paper I wrote when I entered the National High School Competition on Climate Change. I’d won with my paper on climate change on endangered species, but I was just happy to get the trophies. I had no idea it would impact me to the point of a full ride to college.

  I thought my parents would refuse to send their baby girl to Oregon, more than three thousand miles from home. They had panic attacks as I grew up when I even walked away from them; even at the supermarket I had to stay close. They were always so protective of me; even my older twin brothers had kept an eye on me like a falcon on prey.

  But no, contrary to what I hoped they would do, they were pleased! I felt like they were even trying to kick me out of my home and it hurt me deep down. What happened to my overprotective parents?

  “Young lady—” My father's booming voice came from downstairs.

  “Yeesh!” I stormed out of my bedroom, running down the stairs. “Are you that happy to get rid of me?” I was not able to conceal the hurt in my voice or the tears stinging my eyes.

  “Don’t be silly, you’re my baby girl,” my father soothed, hugging me tightly before kissing my forehead. “We’re going to miss you terribly. But leaving is a part of growing up and it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” He tugged at my long ponytail with affection as he always did. “Believe me when I say you’ll regret it if you don’t go,” he added with a small smile. Even if I knew he was right, but it still didn’t please me much to be so far from the people I loved the most.

  I sighed in defeat and nodded in resignation. I looked up at my two brothers who were grinning goofily in the middle of the hallway.

  They always had the gift of making me chuckle even when I was feeling very low.

  I looked at them just a little longer, as if to make sure I had them imprinted in my memory forever.

  We didn’t look related, my brothers and me. Many people in school didn't know that the twins and I were related.

  Where my brothers had pale-blond hair, mine was brown. Their eyes were hazel like our mothers; mine were an eerie silvery blue.

  My parents and brothers were also very sporty. My brothers were even good enough to get partial scholarships—Nick to play basketball and Mick to play football. As for me, well… I was just useless in sports and even I had to admit that any kind of sport bored me to the extreme, which was almost a blasphemy in the Newman household.

  I was the artist of the family. I was always drawing, playing guitar, and reading. God, I just loved my books and I knew I would miss them so much while I was that far from home. So I packed some of my favorites to take with me. Some girls needed their makeup; I needed my books. It was as simple as that.

  As sad as it sounded, my books had always been my best friends. It was through them that I first experienced love, pain, jealousy, and betrayal. It was books that made me dream, made me feel less alone… made me feel alive. They had always been my window to the world.

  It was not only at home that I felt like I didn’t belong; school was exactly the same. I was probably the only person in the whole world who spent eighteen years in a city without having any close friends, only some remote acquaintances.

  I was not a pariah at school; nobody bullied me or anything. Well, I supposed that having two superstar brothers only a year older than me helped a lot with the social status issues, but I was somehow invisible, faded to the background of the high school social scene. I was not bitter about that because I knew that I was mostly the one to blame for that. I never tried to fit in, to be a part of the game. I was pleased to be left alone. I didn’t need to speak; I didn’t want to speak! It just didn’t feel right most of the time. It was like I was pretending just for the outside world and I didn’t want to bother with that. I was a loner and probably always would be.

  I enjoyed being with animals so much more which was why I’d been volunteering at the local shelter. Animals I understood… People? Not so much.

  My brothers were now giving me their famous ‘brotherly-love’ hug which mainly consisted of choking me by hugging me tight between them.

  “Can’t… breathe.” I said with difficulty against Mick’s chest, my voice muffled.

  “Come on, boys,” our father chided with a low chuckle. “It’s time for us to go to the airport.”

  “Okay…” they replied simultaneously, letting go of me reluctantly.

  “Listen, baby sis.” Nick started turning me around, resting his hands on my shoulders. He looked so serious that I almost had an attack. My brothers were never serious! “You know boys…” He quickly glanced at Mick, standing behind us.

  “Well, boys are pigs,” Mick added oh so helpfully.

  Nick gave him a sharp nod. “Yeah, exactly. Boys are pigs,” Nick repeated without a hint of
humor in his voice.

  “Oh boy,” our mother huffed, rolling her eyes as our father picked up my duffel bag from the floor. “We’ll wait for you in the car, baby. Don’t take too long,” she added, walking out, probably to give us some sibling time.

  Nick waved his hand dismissively. “It won’t take long,” Nick assured her, still looking at me, his hands still resting on my shoulders, squeezing them gently. “Anyway, Fay, all we want to say is that we know you’re a smart girl, pretty solitary and stuff but…”

  “But guys will say and promise anything just to get in your pants,” Mick added bluntly.

  “Dude!” Nick chastised with a glare before wincing and nodding in agreement. “Well, I wanted to say that more… ummm… less… crudely but he's right. Men are evil, Fay; don’t trust them,” he added, squeezing my shoulders again.

  “Well, if you are so worried about me, maybe you should have tried to convince our parents to keep me here!” I finally snapped. It was easier to feel angry than let myself be submerged by the disappointment of being let down by the two people that were supposed to love me the most.

  Hurt flashed in Nick's eyes and I felt guilty almost immediately. “We tried to, but they said you had to go that—” he started sheepishly, almost whispering.

  Mick cleared his throat loudly, sending a warning glance to Nick, a look saying, ‘shut the hell up!’

  I frowned, looking back at Mick. I wanted to know what was wrong, but the car honk prevented me from finding out.

  “You better go, baby sis.” Mick pulled me into a tight hug. “I love you,” he added, his tone carrying a tinge of regret.

  “Call me if you feel bad or if you need something or if you just want to talk. No matter how insane you think it might be, I’ll be there,” Nick whispered in my ear as he pulled me to him for another hug.

  I just frowned at the intensity of his tone. My brothers were light, laid-back guys, but not today, not as they were seeing their baby sister leave.

  I took a deep breath and turned around to give them a last look before going outside. I forced a smile, showing them it would be alright.

  “I love you two, doofers.” I tried to joke, failing miserably. If only they knew how much I was going to miss them. My brothers were my best friends.

  I sighed, getting in the car.

  “Come on, Fay, cheer up,” my mother said with slight annoyance. “You don’t know how lucky you are to go there. You saw it yourself; the biodiversity is amazing!” She turned around to look at me and gave me her usual motherly smile that always made me feel like a brat.

  “I’ll be alright, Ma,” I said, looking at the sun playing in her hair, the exact same shade as my brothers.

  I, on the other hand, didn’t inherit anything from my parents. They were both tall and I was short. I apparently looked a lot like my great grandmother Newman, but she died quite some time before I was born.

  “It's just a bit scary,” I added dismissively.

  “It’s a brand-new life for you,” my mother agreed, straightening up in her seat. “You can start fresh… make friends.” She touched my father's shoulder. “You know when I went to college I was terrified too, and this is when I met this lovely young man and look how it turned out.”

  “Yeah…” I said, looking out the window to the well-known landscape I was leaving behind.

  I was reluctant to admit it, but my mother was right. This was my chance to start over, to try to fit in… a chance to reinvent myself, but I was not sure I wanted to. I liked who I was.

  Oregon State University here I come! I thought as my father took the exit to the airport.

  I had the curious feeling that everything was about to change, much more than what was to be expected.

  I was sure it was normal to feel that way when you left your nest for the first time, moving to the unknown with nothing familiar to hold on to.

  What could be so bad at the university?

  Chapter 2

  The cab stopped in front of the administrative building and even though it was late afternoon, there were a lot of people running around.

  I took a deep breath while taking my duffel bag and rolling suitcase out of the trunk and looked up at the massive white building.

  I’d always avoided crowded places because I felt so uncomfortable. I only felt happy and at ease when I was wandering alone on the beach back home or when I was trying to identify flowers, trees, and animals in the forest or even playing with the neighborhood dogs.

  I adjusted the duffel bag on my shoulder and stood a little straighter. “You can do it, Fay Newman,” I whispered to give myself some courage. This university had more than twenty thousand students which was a big step for a half-asocial girl like me. I took one last look around before pulling up the hood of my green sweatshirt and strode in.

  In the building, I looked around the huge hall to find where I was supposed to go. The queues were made in alphabetical order and I was rather pleased that there were only two people queuing at the K-O line as I was starting to have some trouble breathing with all the people around me.

  “What’s your name?” asked a plump woman with a warm smile behind a metal desk.

  “F-Fay Newman,” I stuttered, attempting a smile.

  “Fay Newman…” she repeated, looking into a big metal filing drawer. “Here!” She took out three files of different colors.

  The woman quickly glanced at me and smiled again, probably trying to ease my obvious discomfort.

  “Don’t you worry.” She patted my hand nicely. “It’s a big change for all of you, but you’re going to adapt fast enough,” she added reassuringly.

  I nodded and smiled back. I could feel her kindness radiating from her. Because despite my misunderstanding of general social cues, I’ve always been more or less perceptive to human nature. My parents called it a sixth sense and it was probably the case because I was rarely wrong with my first impression.

  She pointed at the green folder. “So here you’ll find your room assignment and everything dealing with the housing services along with the rules you’ll have to respect.”

  “Do I get to stay by myself?” I asked, half hopeful. I knew the chances were slim, but even if I promised myself to try harder to fit in, sharing my living space was a different story.

  The woman burst into laughter as if my suggestion were the most ridiculous thing she ever heard, which made me blush, slightly self-conscious.

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” she intoned, seeing my discomfort increasing. “It’s just that there is almost no chance for a first-year student to be alone in a room.” She opened the file and had a quick look into it. “But you are pretty lucky,” she exclaimed with surprise. “You are in Cauthorn Hall.” She looked up at me.

  “Cauthorn Hall?” I asked, not seeing what her point was.

  “Cauthorn Hall is the most central building. An excellent place to stay in the campus; you’ll be close to everything.” She pointed at it on the little map that was taped to her desk. “Plus, it was refurbished only a couple of years ago, so everything is fairly new and very nice.” She seemed genuinely pleased for me. “Only two percent of the rooms there are occupied by first-year students and usually they are people with contacts,” she added, eyeing me curiously, probably trying to guess who this little shy and uncomfortable girl could possibly know.

  “I don’t know anyone,” I said a bit colder than I intended, taking the file from her.

  “Anyway,” she said, quickly seeing that a line was forming behind me. “The red file contains all your class information, schedule, materials you’ll need to buy, and a detailed map of the campus,” she added, clearly in a rush now. “The blue one contains all the paperwork you need to fill out to complete the registration and scholarship if you have one.”

  I nodded and stopped myself from asking questions as I could feel the students behind me getting impatient.

  She handed me the two remaining files. “If you have any questions or anything, don’t forget y
ou can always go to your floor monitor, also called an RA. They are here to help and most of them are easy to talk to.” She probably felt bad to rush things like that.

  “Thank you.” I was sincerely thankful for her warmth and concern as those things were so rare nowadays.

  “You take care, sweetie. Next!” she called as a tall ginger-haired boy took my place in front of her.

  I made it outside as the sun started to set on the horizon, and I felt grateful that my hall was just down the little path to my right.

  As I made my way down the path, I had time to detail the seven-floor building. It was a modern-looking building, but surrounded by all the trees, it was rather lovely. I had some luck after all.

  Now I just hoped that my luck would hold and that my roommate was as quiet and organized as I was.

  I realized that my luck was just a one-time thing when I walked into room 409 and heard some kind of squealing sound just before seeing a blond girl jumping up and down as she clapped her hands.

  “Welcome, roomie!” she exclaimed in a high-pitched voice, finally stopping to jump.

  Oh boy! I thought about doing my best not to roll my eyes. Don’t be your usual smartass, I chastised myself. You want to fit in, remember?

  “Hi, I—” I started.

  “My name is Krysten with a Y. Krysten Jones,” she chirped, rudely interrupting me.

  Okay, I was getting the picture alright. “Well, hi, Krysten with a Y, my name is—”

  “Fay, I know, which is, by the way, a totally weird way to spell it,” she cut me off again as she turned around to hang a poster of kittens on the wall above her headboard. “But I’m sure we’re going to be friends and all that! I mean, don’t you think we’re so lucky to study at the same university as Jill X?” she babbled, turning around to look at me eagerly.