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-Prologue-
I was that girl who had everything, but wanted more. I was the one person everyone wished they could be. I was the social butterfly we all know. I was a good kid. I lived in the house that always had the parties. I was the child every parent wanted.
Key word here is “was” I'm telling you being what everyone wants sucks. I hated having everything and still wanting to know and have more. I hated how everyone wanted to be me the gossip would kill me. I hated being around so many people all the time and not having time to my self. I hated how big that house was and I hated all the parties with all the other stuck up people I had to be with. I hated always being the good kid in the group. I hated everything about my old life.
In my old life, I was never good enough for my parents. Mainly my mother. She always wanted me to do everything perfectly. So much to the point that I had to blink a certain way. I was never out of her sight till night when we went to bed. Or at least when she went to bed. Back then I had to live a double life. One of the high and mighty kind and the other at the bottom of the latter. The bottom was much more fun than the top let me tell you. Back then I could be who I wanted any time I wanted while at the same time staying the same person to everyone else.
At home I was Jennifer Charlie Tipton. On the streets I was Charlie the unknown. Jennifer could only be a prissy who would only take her tea a certain way and who was only interested in the latest gossip and fashions of the old world. Charlie wanted to get down and dirty. I honestly thought at times that I had a split personality with two different made up people while I watched them fight for the same body.
One day I had enough of life on the top rung of the ladder. I wanted out, I wanted to do my thing. So I cut my long blond hair to a boys cut got some boys cloths and in raggedy condition too so as to not stick out. I left my house and became a lost boy, so to speak. I did the things most people didn't dream of doing, or even knew existed. In the night I became a runner. By that I mean I did rum runs. I and a group of other orphaned boys would at night go to air ships and take creates of rum back to our house of operations, then from there some of the older orphans would go from house to house selling the illegal substance. Seeing as every Sky Island of the world was a dry place because many people who lived on the sky islands where pilots and our governments didn't want them under the influence. But times have changed and now a lot of people aren't pilots and so they want the liquor.
But for some one to fully understand my story I have to start from the very beginning of my life. So allow me to explain to you the hell which I had to call a life before I became who I am now.
I am Charlie. I am a girl.

- - -

“Jennifer sit up straiter. I cannot have you sitting like that when we have a ball this Saturday. And do not even begin to start making those faces you love to make.” a snoody old woman said.
“Sorry Mother.” I responded. “I'll try harder next time.”
“You better or I will pull you out of society.” the old woman said.
I had no response to give that old hag. I stopped calling the woman my mother. No woman in their right mind would treat their own child like they where worth so little as a pair of shoes that only get muddy over time. I in the past year or so decided I wouldn't think of her as my mum. I would call her that, but I never ever would put any more emotion behind my voice when talking to the old hag.
“There has got to be something you can do with that hair of yours. Its always a mess. I cannot believe that you run around with it like that. Oh and thats another thing. You are too out going and you need to stay home more often. I am going to limit the time you spend out of this house. Of course you will keep your horse lessons but you will not be making so many trips to the ports anymore.”
“But mum I barely go out there as it is. And Marie can do it why can't I? I don't see this as very fair. How will I have any gossip to share with the others if I can't get something by going down to the docks?” I froze in place. I knew I hadn't slept good that night because the run I had to do was bigger than normal but I normally could keep a hold on my tongue and speak like a “proper” person. But today was not my day. I let my self slip by adding terminology only used by people in the lower ranks of society.
“What is wrong with you child! How dare you speak to me like that. You will leave my sight now! And don't come out of your room till I say you can.”it had yelled at me.
I hastily got up out of my chair and briskly walked away. I didn't want anything to do with her anymore. But of course I wasn't about to do what she told me so I went to my father. As much as I hated him for letting that old hag get away with what she does I still loved him. He was the one person I could go to now a days. Ever since brother left for school I have been spending more and more time with him.
I headed to the library to find him. My father took pride in his intellectual achievements. Top of his class and a council member too. I keep telling him he should run for mayor of the small town we live in but he says it would take time away from reading his books. My father always knew what to say to me when I needed some help.
When I got to the library I saw him standing out side the massive doors with his hand on the door with a look of longing aimed at the doors. I walked up to him and glanced to see the key to the library in his hand.

“Father what is wrong?” I asked.
“Charlie. I” He paused. “I can no longer venture to this world beyond the doors. Its now forbidden ground for me to walk on.”
“Did that old hag do this to you? Is she not letting you in here?” I nearly screamed, my blood was boiling.
“I am afraid your mother thinks lowly of me because I do not spend time in public like she does. So she took away my kingdom.” He said quietly.
“Father! You can't let that Hag do this to you! This is your house you should set the rules and do as you please! She has no right to do this to you!” I was clenching my hands, oh how I wanted to throw that old hag out of this house!
“Charlie. I can't do that. I made a promise long ago and I cannot break it now. Let me see your hand.” he said facing me.

I could see the pain in his eyes. Over the years my father has aged greatly his hair was starting to dull from its once bright honey color. His eyes now gray and he wore a pair of glasses because his vision was deteriorating at a fast pace. He was not old but anyone if they didn't know him would think he was. He was unlike the hag he was kind and gentle, his voice quiet and calming. He always knew how to make me feel better and save. I gave him my hand and he slowly shoot his head.

“Your other hand.” he said.
Slowly I reached out my left hand, when I had joined the runs I was branded so that I wouldn't go back on the group and rat them out. It was a brotherhood of sorts. My father knew exactly where to look pushing up my sleeve a bit and looking at the inside of my wrist to see my mark.

“By the brotherhood of the docks in this oath you can not tell a soul. If this oath is broken be your soul to hell as all the others who have broken and lied under the name of an oath. Charlie of the Docks take this key and never let it go. An oath to keep this place as a safe haven in times of need. Never to allow anyone into it unless deamed worthy of such joys. Do you keep this oath?”
“As a child of the dock I swear to keep this oath.”
“Do you swear?”
“I swear on my life no one will know of this place.” I said. My father then showed me his brand. I couldn't believe my eyes. I knew it was odd for him to know the oath of the docks but for him to have been one as well I could not begin to imagine my father of days long past. I silently let tears fall from my face.
“Tears do not suit one of the docks. And they certainly do not suit my daughter's face.” My father said smiling warmly as he placed the key in my hand. Then he left.