The Lovenina princesses: New Beginnings (Book 1)

BEEP!

BEEP!

BEEP!

“Ugh, shut up alarm!” Lucy groaned as she slammed her hand down to hit snooze.

“One more minute,” She mumbled in her sleep.

“WAKE UP SLEEPYHEAD!” Rose shouted as she pulled the covers.

“Why did I ever give you a key,” Lucy sighed, placing her pillow over her head.

“Because, you knew you would be late if I wasn’t your backup alarm,” Rose answered as she allowed the sunlight in.

“Look, it’s a beautiful day!” She pointed out looking at groups of Parisians enjoying croissants, Crepes, and more buttery, hot pastry, “I would never understand how you can sleep the day away, while we live here. So many people would be amazed seeing the Eiffel Tower out of their window or people watching the Parisians.”

“Ugh, fine, I’m up,” Lucy grumbled as she shielded her eyes with her hands, and entered the walk-in closet. “And to answer your curiosity most people come to Paris on vacation not to stay in a dorm room; that is connected to a private school that only cares about their reputation.”

Rose sighed. “Just get dressed. I don’t want to be late.”

“I swear you are the only person I know who is this excited about school every year,” Lucy pointed out, slipping on a red off-the-shoulder sweater, a black, flirty, flared skirt, and black chunky lace-up ankle boots.

“It’s a stepping stone in life. Of course, I am excited!” Rose cheered, grinning.

“It’s just another year of the same boring school.”

“Not true, we get to move to the High school building of Rosemary Prep, experience our first homecoming dance, and date semi-mature boys,” Rose stated.

“I will give you homecoming It won’t be lame with you there, also I don’t plan to waste my time on boys like one of those girls in your romance novels,” Lucy replied, grabbing lipstick from the bathroom sink.

“Awe, same here, also you say that now, but you will change your mind later.”

“I don’t think I will,” Lucy stated, flopping down in her desk chair to lace up her boots.

“At least try to have fun today.”

“Try? Oh, my dear Rose, you can’t make school fun.”

“Sure, you can.”

“Nope, it cannot be fun it’s boring, stressful, and everyone is so fake.”

“First of all, you can make it fun if you change your perspective of it and try a positive attitude for once,” Rose suggested.

“I don’t think so, and rude you know I don’t get all that learning stuff like you do.”

“Ok, drama-queen I know it was just a suggestion that could help you—”

Lucy continued, “Help me be less grumpy, look thank you bookworm, but you can keep being the only school lover and cheerful one. I don’t want any part of it. Besides, you are the smartest out of everyone at that school.”

“I don’t know about that. Bella did beat me in the highest GPA, but thank you grumpy pants.”

“That is because she cheats on everything, also I want a different nickname.”

“Hmm sleeping beauty?”

“I suppose it is better than grumpy pants.”

“Hmm, about Bella It’s kind of mean, but this is something you can look forward to. I heard that she is enrolling in a fancy art school instead of staying at Rosemary Prep.” Rose added.

“I hope so she is always pushing my buttons.”

“You almost ready? We got to leave in a few minutes or we are going to miss homeroom.” Rose said, checking her phone.

“Almost, I just have to grab my charger. Got it! Hey, can you toss me my bag?” Lucy asked, pointing to the tote bag in the narrow corner on the other side of the dorm; closest to Rose.

“Sure, here you go,” She answered, tossing Lucy’s bag from across the room.

CRASH!

The bag strikes the crystal heart container on Lucy’s dresser causing the glassware to shatter.

“No, no Lucy I am so sorry, you know I suck at throwing,” Rose stated quickly picking up the items that spilled out of the bag.

“Rose, calm down it is ok we can glue it back together later,” Lucy told her while she gathered the broken shards into a pile.

“But— that was the only thing you had from your birth mother…”

“Yeah it is, but it is fixable,” Lucy suggested, noticing something gleaming inside the pile.

“Uh? This is weird I don’t remember putting these in here?” She wondered; arching her eyebrows and pulling out two identical necklaces that connected to form a heart.

“That is strange, is there anything written on them?” Rose asked as she joined Lucy on the floor.

“Nope, nothing,” She replied, flipping the charm over.

“Well, they are cute and looked vintage we should make them our BFF promise necklaces.”

“Awesome idea Rose!” Lucy cheered as she handed one of the necklaces to her.

They both clasp the necklaces around their necks.

“Even though they are blank and a bit rusty looking they are pretty cool,” Rose said as she inspected the charm.

“They are, do you want to connect them?”

Rose agreed, connecting the charms.

The room exploded in a gleaming light as the ground around the girls shook, while the floor ripped open forming a glowing path that traveled up the wall behind them. The necklaces spark to life shining brighter as more of the wooden floor spilt open.

WHOA!” Lucy shrieked, feeling the chain shock her as she watch the charms glow pink, with a million crystals forming around the charms. In a flash, the spark and crystals were connected to form an illuminating, radiant diamond around the complete heart.

“What is happening?!” Rose exclaimed, watching her skin start to glow the same shade as the gem forming around the necklace.

Lucy turned around causing the charms to be disconnected but keeping their new form, and Realized the wall behind them was shining like the necklaces, their skin, and replaced the once plain wall with a glimmering doorway that looked almost transparent with how pale the pastel mist that covers the opening was.

“The wall! Lucy announced, catching her breath, “I think by connecting the charms to form the glowing gems it opened up a portal of some sort,” She explained as she stuck her arm through the glowing doorway.

She gasped as she felt her arms tingling, while where she stood a diamond pathway that was identical to the glowing gem assembled.

“AAH, don’t put your arm through it!” Rose shouted ripping Lucy’s hand away from the mysterious doorway.

“It did not eat me, it is ok,” She replied while brushing her hand over the doorway.

“Stop touching it! We don’t know what it is we need to be cautious.”

“Pretty sure we know what it is, it’s a portal—”

“That’s not what I meant I know we know it is some kind of portal, but we do not know what kind of magic it is… it could be dangerous.”

“I doubt magic that is pink will be dangerous,” Lucy added as she threw her bag into the portal, “Are you coming?” She asked, stepping one foot through the portal.

“You can’t seriously be thinking about going through that?” Rose questioned as she glanced at the alarm clock on Lucy’s nightstand, “And we’re late.”

“More reasons to go explore what is through this portal, so are you coming or not?”

“Uh? We don’t even know where it goes.” Rose stated.

“Yeah, that makes it more exciting… come on it could be like a fairytale.”

“Uh…ok, fine,” Rose answered, cautiously stepping closer to the shining pathway, and grabbing Lucy’s hand.

~ Lucy & Rose ~

“Whoa, this place is beautiful!” Lucy said with her eyes wide and jaw dropped as she took in the view.

They fell onto a hill that was made up of amazing rainbow crystals. Giant shimmering, pine trees surrounded the hill until two cylinder crystals ran down a diamond path leading to an enormous town. The sky was unreal it was hard to pinpoint one solid color as the same mist that covered the portal opening; formed around blue, green, and purple clouds, while silver and golden stars spread out against the galaxy-looking sky.

“This hill looks like stained glass, these trees are shimmering, and the grass is beaming!” Rose squealed brushing her hand over the glitzing grass blades.

“This place is so illuminated I think we might have to buy some sunglasses,” Lucy announced while giggling at Rose being mesmerized by the glittering world.

“Hey, you think it looks amazing too.”

“I do, it is just ironic you didn’t want to come, and now look at you.”

“Not true, I did want to come I was just being cautious, because we had never seen anything like this before.”

“I know, I am just messing with you. Hey, do you want to leave this hill and check out that town?” Lucy asked, pointing at a little marketplace, with different food carts surrounding a cul-de-sac.

“I don’t know… what if someone found out we aren’t from here?”

“They won’t if we blend in, and don’t act suspicious, also we got the charms that opened the portal, which can help us flee quickly if we are caught.”

💖

“You know, I been wondering why these charms opened that portal for us, and why we just now notice the necklaces. Like I don’t know, but it feels like this wasn’t just some freak accident with the crystal heart container shattering and then the Charms appearing. What if we are supposed to be here?”

“I think, you are overthinking, it is not like we are long, lost, “princesses” of this shiny place,” Lucy added as they entered a cute, medieval town that was made up of stone cottages of all different sizes and colors.

“Oh, I know you are being sarcastic, but I hope that is true!”

“I think you read too much fantasy,” Lucy whispered as she passed carts selling chocolate flowers, spell books, and potions.

“Do you not feel it too? Like this was supposed to happen,” Rose whispered back, pulling her into the marketplace center.

“I mean haven’t we always felt strange and like the oddballs in our world, with the strange dreams you experience and the unusual things that happen. Like how a blackout happens when one of us is annoyed or angry with our adopted mothers—”

“That was one-time Rose and everyone has strange dreams at times,” Lucy replied, cutting Rose off as a woman in a long, elegant summer dress passed them.

“Sure, but not everyone has dreams about people they never met. I think we were meant to find this place.”

“I do not have that feeling as you do, sorry, but I do not believe finding this place is our “destiny” or something. Sure, we are strange that is probably the reason why our birth parents sent us away to the sisters of we do not give a damn let’s send these kids away once again,” Lucy exaggerated, while walking to the next cart.

“Why are you such a downer all the time?” Rose pestered, following.

“Look Rose, you can believe in whatever you want, but I just believe we are no one. That’s no family wanted, and we are meant to be on our own for—HEY WATCH IT!” Lucy snapped as a girl collided with her.

💖

“Are you both ok?” Rose asked, holding a hand out for Lucy and the stranger.

“Why don’t you get off the phone and watch where you ar—”

Rose covered Lucy’s mouth before she could continue her assault.

“Uh, what my friend meant to say, is are you ok?” Rose finished, releasing Lucy, and looking at the stranger’s bruised legs.

“I am sorry, I was in a rush, so I did not see you…um, what is your name?” The stranger all decked out in a business look asked.

She looked like she was coming back from an office meeting, her short, curly, caramel hair was in a half-do, while she wore golden sunglasses that matched her layer necklaces and the multiple rings she wore around her pointer, middle, and ring fingers, with stars and moon designs. She looked close to eighteen with the shoulder pads her white blazer had, and how put together her white blouse and violet pencil skirt looked. Her shoes were stylish, heel wedges.

“Lucy and you?” Lucy asked, crossing her arms.

“She is usually more pleasant than this she is cranky,” Rose laughed nervously as she elbowed her.

“Well, Lucy I apologize for running into you,” The stranger said as she grabbed for her hand.

“To answer you, I am Ella Stone, and I know everyone in Starina, and I have never seen you two before.”

“Starina?” Both Rose and Lucy asked, narrowing their eyes.

“Yes, Starina that is where you are?”

“Oh, we are from out of town,” Lucy blurted out.

“Oh, you must be traveling from a different kingdom.”

“Uh—” Rose mumbled, grabbing for Lucy’s hand to flee.

“Of course, we are,” Lucy stated, stepping closer to Ella, “We had traveled far for some chocolate flowers.”

“Oh, those are the best harvest all the way from Flowerina, so where in Gemanina are you two from?” Ella asked.

“Oh, we are from—” Lucy started.

💖

“Ella, are you ok? After our call got disconnected in the middle of our conversation I thought you were in trouble,” A tall, tan, seventeen-year-old boy with spiky, short, dark brown hair, and hazel eyes, announced as he bolted over.

“I am fine, I am where I told you I was going to be, I just got in a conversation with Lucy and Rose.”

He eyed the strange girls, one looked like she could care less about what was happening. With her arm crossed, a straight face, while the other look restless, looked around anywhere but toward the group going in for the nonchalant one hand.

“Please, excuse us girls,” The boy said as he pulled Ella away.

“Ella, what did I say about talking to strangers we cannot trust anyone right now with Raven having eyes and ears everywhere,” He whispered.

“Relax Hunter, I bumped into them I couldn’t just run off without apologizing, also dummy their names are Lucy & Rose they could be who we’ve been looking for,” Ella whispered back.

“They don’t have a gem or gems of any kind it is not them.”

“Um, excuse us, but you both suck at whispering, and we can hear your whole “secret” conversation, also is this what you are talking about?” Lucy asked as she walked over and pulled her necklace out from under her shirt.

“Where did you get that? And are you crazy do not show that off in public!” Hunter shrieked, covering the necklace.

“Whoa, hands-off buddy,” Lucy barked, swatting his’s hand away.

“Lucy was it?” He asked, eyeing the short girl.

“Who is asking?” She asked, arching her eyebrows.

“Hunter Woods, Prince of this kingdom you are in right now intruder.”

Lucy chuckled, “You, a Prince; you do not look like one with that black leather jacket, and simple blue jeans. Aren’t Princes supposed to be wearing fancy pants suits all the time?”

“Not when they are undercover,” Ella answered, cutting into the conversation.

“Ella do not tell the intruders we are undercover,” He sighed, putting his hand to his’s temple.

“They are not intruders I am telling you they are the Lucy Le Heart, and Rose Ann Marie we have been looking for.”

“Once again right here,” Lucy pointed out, raising her hand.

“Uh, why are you looking for us?” Rose asked.

“Yeah, how do you know our full names?” Lucy added.

“We know your names because you two are the protectors of the Heart gems,” He shared with the group.

“What the hell are the Heart gems?!” Lucy shouted.

“They are the necklaces that brought you two back here,” Ella added.

“What do you mean brought us back?!” Lucy demanded, causing people to stare at the group.

“Shh, we can tell you more, but it’s not safe to speak of the gems out in the opening. If you would follow us to Ella’s castle we can explain everything; and how you two are involved,” Hunter informed as he reached for Lucy’s hand.

“How about no, we are not going to follow you two random magical people, this is how almost every murder show starts!” Lucy shrieked, pulling her hand away.

“Please, stop shouting you are causing people to stare,” Hunter suggested.

“Also, we are humans just with special abilities and advance technology,” Ella explained.

“So, do you guys use cell phones then?” Rose asked.

“Sometimes, but we usually call through our gems,” Ella answered, “We can explain more if we get out of here.”

“So, what do you two say?” Hunter asked.

“I am in if Lucy is,” Rose replied.

Nope, we barely know them we are not going anywhere.”

“Aw, come on, Lucy their agenda is positive give them a chance, and come on it is a real-life castle too,” Rose begged, getting on her knees “PLEASE!”

“We live in Europe you can see castles all the time Rose!”

“I promise you we are the good guys,” Ella declared.

“Yeah, we will explain everything if you just let us,” Hunter added.

“Fine, but I am watching you,” Lucy stated as she stared Hunter down.

“Same here,” Hunter replied, walking away.

💖

“Always bet on the klutz to trip and fall in the mud,” Lucy laughed as she walked into Ella’s medieval, stone castle that stood on top of a cliff surrounding the beautiful forest.

There was a long walkway that surrounded the tallest arches Lucy & Rose ever seen. The arched pillars were made up of small crystals and reflected beautifully onto the amazing Ghiberti bronze door that was decorated with tiny stars detail around the frame.

“You would not be the same Lucy if you were graceful,” Rose added from behind her, squealing as she looked in every which way so she didn’t miss out on any detail of the enormous castle, cliff, and forest.

“There is a washroom down the hall inside the critical room where you can rinse off. I will bring you towels and a change of clothing in a second,” Ella explained.

“Ok thank you,” Lucy said as she rushed down the arching hallway.

Tea?” Ella asked holding out cups.

“Sure, thank you,” Rose replied, taking a teacup.

“Of course, make yourself at home, and you come with me.”

Ella grabbed Hunter’s arm, forcing him off of the sofa.

“Jeez, Ella I wanted to talk to the quiet one and gain her trust. She can put a good word in with the stubborn one.”

“Look, if we want to gain their trust and help, then you and Lucy have to stop being at each other’s throats.”

“But—”

“I get it you two bump heads because you have similar personalities, but we need their help, so go bring her some towels, a change of clothing, and talk to her. She will not trust us until we show her that we are not a threat.” Ella demanded, shoving the supplies in his arms.

“Ugh, fine.” He sighed.