Chapter 1: Blades of Fire

"You must marry him."

He stood there, his five-hundred-dollar suit smartly over his silk, blue-and-white checked shirt. His emerald eyes fixed through her. Rain's Dad had made his decision and wasn't letting go. He tapped his foot to a rhythm only he could follow, the sound of a pure leather shoe sole and clear white marble reverberating around the suite of the mansion. Rain stood in front of her father, her face shrouded with shock, amusement, disbelief and as if she was losing blood from her head- fast.

"Dad, that's not even funny..." Rain forced a smile.

"You will marry Aaron." Rain's Dad, Mr Carone, rephrased his previous command. The words echoed in Rain's ears, mocking and torturing, playing at every thought. " I hear Aaron is quite intelligent and good-looking- quite popular too," continued Mr Carone, seemingly indifferent towards his daughter's obvious dislike to the matter. "Plays Basketball, athletic and I hear he is quite…cool." The words did not sound right out of his mouth, Rain thought. He's mocking me. Rain felt like she was in some Indian drama. Everything had become unreal.

"I've discussed the matter with Aaron's father- Mr. Pierce. We have arranged it together. Aaron will be told about this matter soon." What?! Don't involve Aaron in this! What the heck is going on?!

"Dad, I'm only SIXTEEN! And Aaron's in my class! I can't marry that- that idiot!"

"I know you're a bit young…" Rain's Dad ignored his daughter's 'I'm glad you realised' look and was unerring in finishing his statement. "…But you're the heiress of my company and Aaron is fit to be your husband." He's having a lot of fun. Way too much fun. Rain was in total disbelief.

"Aaron's fit to be my husband?! Frankly, I don't think he's fit to even live!"

"Rain, watch your language," warned Mr Carone, softly.

"No, you watch yours! Dad, I really can't take you serious-"

"You're going to have to."

"What's wrong with you?! Ever since Mum died fourteen years ago, you said you would support me, didn't you? It was a promise and you're breaking it. Now you're arranging my marriage to Aaron! What's going on?!" Rain wanted to let out all the anger that was bursting to come out in blades of fire. Target- Mr. Carone. But Rain wasn't going to back down now and show her weaknesses. She had been outspoken countless times before but now it was time to play it cool. Beat him at his own game.

Mr. Carone's eyes softened. This is all my fault. I really don't want to do this to you Rain… honestly, I don't. Please understand. Please trust me, Rain. "Sometimes promises have to be broken by a Dad who believes he's doing what's right for his daughter."

"Right now, you're not being my father." Rain turned around to walk towards the stairs.

"Rain!" Mr. Carone called after her, his voice stern but with hidden grief and concern.

"Dad, this isn't fair." Rain briefly looked over her shoulder before swiftly running up the winding stairs, the pale pink lights from the delicately carved lamps guiding her to her room.

Dad, how will I ever face Aaron again? I can't stand that arrogant guy! How can I face Aaron when we both know we could possibly be married to each other- that our own parents want it to happen? But Rain wasn't going to ever let that happen. Not till her last breath…Aaron Pierce, I will NEVER marry you!

Ever!

"Rowan," Will said, as he watched a girl with jet-black hair approach the school gates from a third-storey window, "She's Rain Carone, right?".

Rowan, a boy with shoulder length blonde hair with deep blue, defined eyes had been watching his leader- the School Body president- for a while and knew exactly what was on Will's mind.

"Popular. Class 10C. Tall. She's the winner of 100m sprints in the nationals. Good grades. Amazing writer." Rowan paused and looked directly at the president. "So you like writers?"

"I don't think I've fallen for her… I just find her interesting. She's the heiress of a billion-dollar company. She's talented, as you've so kindly mentioned, and she doesn't look bad either. She's got so much but she never flaunts anything. But there's something about her. She's just so…different." The president watched as Rain disappeared beneath a canopy of a tree.

"Wow, you've done your research," Rowan smirked.
Great, another one of those love stories, Rowan smiled to himself.

The president only looked away once Rain walked towards the entrance of the building with another girl.

Rain walked down the gravel path to the open, steel gates of New Heights High School. She had always wondered who in what mind would name a school with such a lame name. 'New Heights' my foot! We haven't even mastered a 'height' yet! Perhaps, once, a long time ago, this school actually achieved something. But Rain had always enjoyed her time at school. She was well known around the school for her writing and athletic skills. She was an amazing runner, beating the fastest boy in her year level- Aaron Pierce. Damn it! I'll have to face Aaron today! To calm her nerves, she searched for her friend among the sea of blue and white uniformed students.

"You! Brat! Yeah, I'm talking to you genius! Yeah, I saw you do that! Don't you dare do it again!"

Rain looked no further. The owner of that voice shall be my friend! Let's find my Cinderella! Wait- that's the worst name for her! Rain grinned. There she was, dark brown hair- almost black in the shadows- tied untidily at the back, the ponytail ending like sharp needles. A long straight side fringe covered half of her face diagonally, covering a sharp hazel eye. She was as tall as Rain-which meant she was quite tall for a girl. Her figure was toned perfectly for a person who had learned karate from the age of three. She was fierce. Rain thought her look matched perfectly with her character- a pure rebel.

"Yo, Rin! Stop teasing the Year 7's again! Go pick on someone your own size!" Rain shouted as she walked towards her friend, who was leaning against a tree near the gates.

"Princess Rain finally shows up. Welcome, your highness." Rin pushed against the tree and stood up straight with a smug grin. She did a clumsy gesture with her hands, as if she was going to bow.

"Thank you, my humble servant. I give thy permission to polish thou shoes." Rin glared. Rain continued, "Don't know if I got that right- never tried writing Old English in my stories."

"I'll make sure you don't get the opportunity to." Rin lightly punched Rain's firm shoulders, sending small streaks of pain shooting down her right arm.

The two continued to walk down the gravel path, towards the entrance to the main school building. The wind tugged at Rain's jet-black hair that was skilfully tied back. Rain had loose strands of straight her enveloping here pale face, creating a natural fringe. Her long ponytail ended in delicate curls. Her hair had always made her sharp large, green eyes stand out among her delicate features. The two walked in silence until Rin spoke up.

"Guess who's coaching us at Basketball training after school?"

Rain shrugged. She was too tired on a Monday morning to think about it.

"Aaron."

The name echoed through her mind, mocking her every nerve. For sometime, Rain's face had lost all colours. Even her nose, that went pink in the cold wind, had resumed to its pale cream colour.

"Rain, you okay?" It was those rare times when Rin sounded worried over a matter.

"Aaron, huh…? Cool…" Rain responded without thinking, her eyes clouded. She stared absentmindedly at the entrance door.

"Cool! You think that jerk training us is cool? Something is definitely wrong. Did Aaron say anything weird to you? You two have never gotten along! Did he try something funny on you? I'll smash a basketball into his perfect little face! You just watch..." Rin punched her hand hard into her other palm. People around her slowly moved away.

"If he did do something like that, he'd be dead by now, Rin! It's not him, it's Dad!" Rain shouted out, all colour returned at amazing speed. For the first time in her life, Rain was blushing. It felt strange feeling her cheeks burn.

"What about Mr C?" Rin asked curiously, trying to find a link between Mr Carone (Rain's father) and Aaron.

"He wants me to marry Aaron." Rain finally whispered, her throat on fire.

Rin froze on the spot. No expression at all. No words. No movement. Rain wanted her to say something, for her to console her and calm her own thundering heart.

Suddenly, Rain looked passed Rin as a shiver ran down her spine. Her eyes met a pair of mesmerizing midnight, blue eyes. Those familiar eyes, filled with questions, longing and concern.

Aaron was watching her.