Butterfly Prince Read online

  Butterfly Prince

  BRITANNICA TANY

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  PART ONE

  Contents

  Chapter One: A New Sun

  Behind a Smile

  Faces of a Blooming Friendship

  A Royal History

  Smile for me, please?

  The Lee’s

  Starting to Fall

  A Bodyguards Duty

  Lit by Flames Pt. 1

  Splinter the Dark

  Lit by Flames pt. 2

  Deadly Nightshade

  Types of Idiots

  Intoxicated Pt. 1

  Intoxicated Pt. 2

  Foolishly Hurting

  When we close our Eyes Pt. 1

  When we close our Eyes Pt. 2

  When we close our Eyes Pt. 3

  When we close our Eyes. Pt. 4

  Who Are You?

  A Castle Away

  Scattered Petals

  A Dance, A Waltz

  PART TWO

  Embracing you Pt.1

  Embracing You Pt. 2

  Embracing You Pt.3

  Delicate Taboo Pt.1

  Delicate Taboo Pt.2

  PART THREE

  Mended Wounds… 250

  ….and Broken Souls 259

  In the Midst of Hell pt. 1 271

  In the Midst of Hell Pt.2 279

  In the Midst of Hell Pt.3 286

  White Knight 295

  Everything Ends and Begins Again 303

  Words Aren’t Enough 312

  White Chrysanthemum 318

  The World Stands Still 326

  Reign Part 1 334

  Reign Part II 343

  In This Garden, I Wait 354

  Faces of Tomorrow 362

  Drowning 371

  Pluck a Flower, Pluck a Rose 378

  Skye- Written in the Past 388

  Our Beautiful Bouquet 393

  While You’re Sleeping 408

  Like So Many Morning’s Ago 417

  The Greenhouse 424

  Epilogue – Dancing Wings 440

  PREFACE

  I am a seventeen year old writer, who still has some maturing to do and to some I may come across as ignorant of the world or dreamy with my words being that I am still young and inexperienced. However, with this book I wanted to take such an inexperience and stage of development and incorporate it into the plot of my characters. It was my goal with this novel to show the growth and change in all of us and thus in myself. The finishing and publishing of this book would not have been made possible without the help of my mother, the encouragement from my family and the dedication of my cousin who did the cover art.

  I am thankful for their faith in me and am grateful to those of you who are now reading what I am so proud of.

  Thank you.

  This is not my first time writing a novel and finishing one, but this is the first time I’ve ever felt so completed and proud of myself. I wrote this book with the intention of showing the struggles that come with sexual identity and one’s identity with ones self. Who we are and why we are the way we are. Many of the characters in my book are faced with this problem and in the end realize that it is not something they can overcome solely by themselves.

  ~PART ONE~

  A butterfly takes time to grow, its wings will unfurl and in the process they will reveal a new born creature.

  These wings shield a shattered soul

  Chapter One: A New Sun

  The rain did not pitter patter against his window. It did not trickle down in streams. The rain fell soundlessly as the Prince sat in his empty bedroom. The walls were adorned with paintings from all over the world and his bedsheets were made from only the finest of silk. The Prince having just turned twenty-one was on his way to university , a proper education was in the works.

  The rain continues to fall, lining his window in splattered droplets and he only stares, sedated by his thoughts. His hair was slightly damp from having showered and he wore a cotton robe to keep warm. Slowly he wraps his arms around his body and falls back against the pillows. His eyes blink up at the ceiling and his breath leaves him in a single sigh. He had read every book in the house and worn out all of the films too.

  He could not leave the castle without a bodyguard or two and bringing them along sought too much attention. He would have explored the world more and met different types of people if it wasn’t for his parents. They kept him locked away like a damned princess. Homeschooling was the way to go, all the way up until his final year in high school. He had exhausted begging and pleading, so he stalked up to his parents and demanded that they let him go to a public university . “I’m not a little boy anymore, I can take care of myself.” He sits up and shoves a hand through his curly strands of hair. Looking around the room his eyes dance across the paintings before landing on a family portrait that was taken more than a decade ago. Written on the frame in gold letters were the two words: Lennon Family. He turns away from the looming portrait and rises to his feet. His steps were slow as he nears the room door, he turns the brass knob and a strip of light streaks into his room. He pulls the door open wide and steps out into the hallway.

  Different portraits lined these wall, all of them reminding the Prince of his heritage. He hangs his head as he nears the end of the hall and the room that led to the study. He lifts his hand to knock on the door, but hesitates when he hears their voices. “Can’t we send him to the campus with at least a few bodyguards?” It was his mother speaking. “He’s asked that we don’t, it’ll bring too much attention.” His father replies. “Don’t people already recognize his face?” His mother asks and he listens as they talk. “Only a select few, you should know this.” His father sighs, he places his head against the door and closes his eyes. “Well we can’t send him there alone, what if, what if…”

  “Kael will be alright, he’s told us already.” The Prince—Kael Lennon—opens his eyes and loosens the tie of his robe. “Why don’t you believe me…” He murmurs biting his bottom lip to keep from opening the door and yelling at them. No matter how old he became or how the years passed, he was always seen as the little Prince that needed to be taken out to play. Either watched over by his mother or a few well paid strangers. Before he’s able to hurry away, the door clicks open and his father stares at him with startled eyes. “Kael…”

  “I heard you talking,” He starts off slowly, causing his father to look away nervously. Kael sighs and looks towards his father bitterly. “I’ll show you—tomorrow—when I go to the campus, you’ll see that I’ll be fine on my own.”

  “Kael,” It was his mother now—a petite woman with a shapely frame and lovely eyes (Kael had inherited those from her) “We just think it bes—“ His father shoots his mother a look and the woman clears her throat. “I just think it’d be best if someone were to escort you.” Kael rolls his eyes. “These are people—young adults who could care less if royalty were sitting next to them.” He says heading down the hallway and back towards his room. “If one of them were to find out,” Kael shrugs. “I’m sure they’d think I was some nut who was into roleplay.” Neither of his parents say a word, they watch with concerned eyes as their son disappears into his room. Kael closes the door quietly and slides down the wall until he is sitting on the ground. He covers his face with his hands and breathes heavily. The rain slithers down his window and they run like tears. The sky was dark, turning darker as the storm grew. Kael moves his hand away from his face and looks towards the window. He watches as the drops disappear into one, flowing down like a river.

  And then the morning came like a distant whisper; the sun smoothly rose up into the sky and the horizon became a magenta pool. Kael stirs as there’s a knock on his door. “Young master!” The knoc
ks continue, forcing him to rise up from his bed, but he rolls off and onto the floor. “Are you alright!?” The voice calls somewhat panicked. Kael sighs and rises reluctantly to his feet. He trudges towards the door and swings it open. His personal butler stood erect with a warm smile. “Did you fall off of your bed again?” He asks and Kael rolls his eyes. “You don’t need to wake me every morning, Janus.”

  “Actually I do since today is special. You know why, don’t you?” Kael nods. Today would be his first day of university, he’d be escorted around the campus to familiar himself with the surroundings and possibly the people. His goal was to make friends and for people to come to him because of who he was and not his family line or flashy crown. “I know where everything is, you don’t have to show me every time.” Kael says stopping in his tracks to stare at Janus. The butler raises his hands in surrender. “Fine, fine. Go on.” Kael nods and flashes a brief smile before hurrying towards the room that was solely for his wardrobe. Of course there were perks of being royalty. He swings the door open grandly and smiles at his plethora of clothes. His selection ranged from leather and ripped jeans to refined silk and button up tops. Today Kael was going for something a little mismatched.

  The sun had fully risen and shone brightly in the sky—Kael uses the light as a sort of spotlight, stepping into his wardrobe and dancing around the room. In actuality he was quite giddy for today; anxious, eager and excited. Who would he meet first? Who would befriend him and would he find someone to love? With that last question he makes a face and scolds himself. “Why are you thinking of something so trivial.” He mumbles stripping out of his shirt and yanking out one of his pastel colored tanks.

  His mother was waiting at the castle doors, in her hand a bag full of books and papers and she wore a thin smile. “Smile, dear.” Her husband says to her, noticing the way in which she curled her lips. “I am.”

  “You’re forcing yourself to.” At that her shoulders sag and she sighs. “I feel uneasy. It’s the first time he’s going out on his own.”

  “Imagine how he feels? He’s been locked away in this castle for 21 years. He’s an adult now and he wants to get an education with other people.” They look up at the sound of nearing footsteps. “He wants to experience normality for once.” Her husband whispers in her ear. Kael reaches them and his face was glowing. “Did you wait up for me?” He asks reaching for his bag. His mother slips it onto his arms and stares at his face. She seemed to be swallowing his vibrant expression with her dark eyes. “Not at all.” His father says with a grin. Kael laughs lightly and hurries out the doors. “I’ll see you later!” He calls, already running down the steps and towards the black car that awaited him. His parents stand together by the door looking out and gazing at him with tender eyes. His mother sighs. “I feel like I’m sending him off to kindergarten.” She murmurs and his father cracks a smile at that, his hand resting on his wife’s hip. “He’s old enough now…” Is all he says as the castle doors close with a resounding THOOM. Kael reaches the car and shoos away the chauffeur as he opens the door for himself. He slides into the leather seat and bounces childishly. It was a new feeling to be out of the castle and in the fresh air and going somewhere other than “down the street.” His life was now beginning as the car rolls down the driveway and out onto the street.

  Kael looks out of the window, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. He rolls the window down and sticks his head out into the air. The wind blew his brunette bangs into his eyes and he exhales a happy breath. He could see his past, mixing with the trees and swaying with the leaves. He was driving past the memories and the sun blotted out all of the isolation. The castle became a figure of all the passing years, the only one and a few others, to be left behind during such a modernized time. There was not a second nor a millisecond to be wasted on feeling down, the world is finally shining upon him and he will not hide from its light. Kael smiles broadly, his teeth showing and twinkling in competition with the sun.

  He rolls the window back up and leans against the seat. His eyes close as he thinks about all the limitless possibilities, of all the people he’s never met and the friends he’s never had and the excitement nearly knocks his breath away.

  He arrives at the campus in 15 minutes thanks to his constant pestering, the chauffeur sped up just a little to save his ears from anymore of Kael’s rambling. He pushes the door open and stumbles out into the fresh air. It smelled like fresh pin and endless hopes. The streets were littered with cars and stop signs and people walking about. He looks to his right and there were people laughing loudly with one another. To his left was the university campus. It was a big building with maroon colored bricks and a collection of windows pictured here and there. There was a flower bed or two placed in front of the entrances and Kael takes in a deep breath thinking that maybe he could smell them from this far. “The entrance is that way and the Queen says to keep your cellphone on at all times.” The chauffeur informs him. Kael had received a cellphone when he was 18, but he didn’t use it much because there were only three people in his list of contacts: his mother and father and Janus. “Thank you.” He bows his head swiftly before taking off across the street. He ran like he was in an open field in the middle of summer, he ran until he was standing in front of the campus. He had stopped smiling and stood staring in awe. He’s seen the university in pictures before—magazines, newspapers and the like—but up close it was a different experience. Kael could feel his journey of becoming a student starting now and of becoming an actual person panning out before him. He stares for a moment before opening the door and stepping inside. It was cool and smelled like a university would. He couldn’t put his finger on the scent, but it smelled like coffee and late nights. The door clicks shut behind him and a young woman with black hair rushes up to him. “Excuse me are you, Kael Lennon?” He hesitates before nodding. “Yes, that’s me.” Her face brightens and she thrusts out her hand. “Nice to meet you, I’m Jenna Camille and I’ll be escorting you around today.” Kael takes her hand in his and they shake. “I’m a part of this club and we greet the new students.”

  “Do you greet all of them?” Jenna laughs. “No, only the ones that we find interesting.” There was a teasing twinkle in her eyes. “I’m joking.” She laughs lightly and he laughs along with her. “We try to welcome all of the transferring students, but a lot of them slip past us.”

  “Ah.” Kael looks up and down the halls as they walk, his eyes taking in all the new surroundings. “This is the library, a lot of people come here to study, but there’s a study room dedicated for such.” She pushes the door open slightly so that he could look inside. The library was enormous; books lined almost every wall and the shelves nearly touched the ceiling. “There sure are a lot of books…” He murmurs. “Think you could read them all?” Kael looks towards her with daring eyes. “Maybe.” She smiles. “You’re quite interesting, Kael.”

  “Thanks I guess.” They continue on the tour and Jenna points out specific spots and places students weren’t allowed to go. There was one room for professors only. It looked like an in-home cafe; a mini fridge, a couple of tables placed about and there was a coffee machine located on one of the marble counters. Jenna was actually a warm girl, something which Kael began to uncover the more he talked with her. She said she’s been studying here for a year and that her and her boyfriend have plans on graduating together. “What are you studying for?”

  “Mmm, psychology. My plan is to graduate as a psychiatrist and become someone who can work well with teenagers.” She says these words with finality and determination. “Over there is the cafeteria. Not many people eat there since they either buy their lunch from one of the neighboring restaurants or fast food places.” Kael nods peeking inside the wide room. Lunch tables took up the majority of the space. There was a vending machine that displayed a selection of iced-coffee, sodas and a variety of other beverages. “We’ll break here.” Jenna declares with a breath. She sits down on one of the benches, her thin legs crossing. Kael fo
llows her lead and sits beside her. He’d have to walk the halls for a few days to actually familiarize himself with the big campus. “We haven’t even reached the other side of the campus.” She murmurs groaning under her breath. Kael laughs. “Its fine, we can finish up tomorrow.” She shakes her head at his words. “Naah, its fine. Besides, don’t your classes start tomorrow?” He nods fiddling with the strap dangling from his jacket. “So, we’ll take a brief break and then continue where we left off.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” They share a high-five and Jenna laughs lightly, unaware of the person coming up to them. “Oh, who’s this?” A voice asks coming from the person that was standing behind them. Jenna’s eyes widen and she rises quickly from her seat. “This is Kael, he’s new here so I’ve been showing him around.” She says to the voice and Kael turns slowly to look at the person who had joined their break. “Kael?” When he meets the stranger’s eyes, time seems to come to a slow. The voice belonged to a man with ashen hair and deep, brown eyes. “Hey….” Kael starts slowly still staring intently at the man. “Introduce yourself.” Jenna urges, slipping her hand into the mans palm. Their fingers interlock perfectly. “Nice to meet ya, Kael.” The stranger steps forward placing his hand to Kael’s shoulder. “The name’s Aiden.” His smile was crooked and bright. Kael continues to stare at him as if in a daze. He was about as tall as Jenna (maybe an inch or so taller) but his shoulders were broad and he seemed well built under his white button up. Kael couldn’t stop himself from staring. He clears his throat and forces a smile onto his face. “Nice to meet you too.” Aiden watches his face for a moment, taking in his curled lips and the little dimple that was in his cheek. “You’re quite cute.” He blurts and Kael’s eyes widen. Jenna swats Aiden in his chest. “Stop flirting with everyone you meet.” She scolds and Aiden chuckles. “Why? Will you get jealous?” She rolls her eyes and they drift into a world where it is only the two of them. Kael was still somewhat dazed by Aiden’s words. “Why don’t you go to class?”