The sound of yet another screaming match filled my ears

The sound of yet another screaming match filled my ears. The sound of breaking glass, raised voices and agitated cries were common enough sounds.

I told you that my neighborhood was stereotyped.

My family is the furthest thing from perfect. My step dad is a total jerk. He used to be really nice, like the romantic type you know? Ideal for my mum. But then one day, I don’t know, he just sort of snapped I guess.

Now he is just rude and impatient as well as argumentative and violent.

Why doesn’t my mum break it off? She won’t admit it, but it is because she is too scared to be alone again. My dad left when Dylan and I were little. I hardly even remember what he looked like. All I know is he was perfect for my mum; they loved each other very much. But nobody knows where he went. He just sort of disappeared.

It’s scary how similar my brother and I think. Just as I was considering going into his room my door creaked open and Dylan slid in. He sighed as he sat beside me on my bed.

“Do you remember dad?” he whispered. I shook my head silently. “I do, a little.”

“I remember he loved us, and mum. And that he always spoke politely to everyone, I don’t think I ever heard him raise his voice,” I said quietly.

“Never,” Dylan agreed as he nodded his head.

The house fell silent. Dylan and I didn’t speak a word, both of us listening for a noise. Anything at all to tell us what was going on. Then we got what we wished for.

A scream.

One singular blood curdling scream.

Then of course there came more deafening silence.

“Want to go check it out?” Dylan whispered. I nodded and took his hand as we crept quietly out of my room and down the staircase. Our step father held a plate above his head, poised and ready to throw, our mother curled up in a ball on the floor.

And right in the center, was ‘Prince Jacob’.

A knife held to my step father’s throat and nobody moved.

“Don’t kill him!” My mother sobbed, breaking through the silence. ‘Prince Jacob’ nodded and put the knife on the bench.

“You sir, must go. For now,” ‘Prince Jacob’ said calmly pointing at my step father.

“You can’t kick me out of my own house!” he argued. ‘Prince Jacob’ just smiled and pointed to the door. Our step father stomped out of the house and ‘Prince Jacob’ helped my mother to her feet.

Dylan and I stayed frozen in place on the stairs.

“Fair Maiden, are you alright?” ‘Prince Jacob’ asked. My mum nodded slowly.

“Who are you?” she whispered.

“I am,” he began, “Prince-”

“This is Jacob, mum,” I said cutting him off as I ran into the room. I did not want to have to attempt to explain ‘Prince Jacob’ to my mother.

“Prince Jacob,” he corrected. My mother shot me a look so I shrugged my shoulders.

“Prince Jacob...” My mother’s voice was barely a whisper, she was thinking about something. She knew something I didn’t.

“The second son of King George,” he nodded.

“Oh my...” My mother turned pale and she clutched her head. She looked rather shocked and worried but mostly confused, “Who sent you?”

“King Albert...” now it was the ‘Prince’ that looked confused. My mother closed her eyes and Dylan barley had time to react as she closed her eyes and feinted.

The boys carried her into the living room and placed her on the couch.

“Why do you think she reacted like that?” I asked, Dylan shrugged his shoulders and we both stared at ‘Prince Jacob’.

“What is your mother’s name?” he asked.

“Leanne,” Dylan and I both answered in unison.

“Queen Leanne,” ‘Prince Jacob’ said as his smile turned into a full fletched grin. He was sort of beautiful, in a weird way.

“What?” I asked. Dylan looked at me and I could tell he was as confused as I was.

The Prince had a duty, to explain the situation, but could it be true? And how was it true?