by J. E Hanson
Mr. August slaps my ass hard, and it stings a little bit. He pulls my attention over to my bathroom, and I want to go off on him. Christian has a television set above my garden tub, and another one in the shower. My bathroom, in a way matches his, except he put a vanity with mirrors in my bathroom. There are rows and shelves of makeup in all variety of colors, built into the walls. There’s also fingernail polish of every color, with every style on the other wall. The perfumes line up below the polishes. I could sit in my bathroom, and drink coffee in here. “You have officially lost your minds. It is, so unbelievable that you did this! Are you insane? What were you thinking? Now, I have a laundry chute in my bathroom, and two television sets. Are you guys insane? I mean really… this is truly insane.”
The Enforcers have guilty looks on their faces, but Louie steps forward. “You’re our princess. I’m just going to say this. Enjoy it, girlfriend. Let us spoil you for a change. We have put you through training hell… well, all of us except for Alex. A princess needs everything, so suck it up! Be the grateful princess that we know you are, and just say thank you. You just need to get used to it.”
“I’m extremely grateful, and I’m so thankful, more than any of you will ever realize. I will thank all of you a million times over, and I’m absolutely speechless.”
“There’s a little more, to show you,” Sam interrupts me. Sam shows me the bed, and he makes me lay on it. Above my head, there’s a mirror canopy. My bed feels extremely soft, and the pillows are the same as Christian's pillows. Leo hooks up a stereo for me, since I’ve fallen asleep listening to my iPod a few times. They add an alarm clock too. Sam shows me how to work all the controls, and I believe he’s nuts, to build it into the bedframe. They gave me a built-in DVD player. Sam reveals another wall of a healthy stocking of videos. All of the videos are either blue-ray, or regular. I have the new 3D DVD movies. They are officially off their rockers. Sam escorts me outside, to show me the two balconies on both sides of my bedroom. There’s a table with an umbrella on both sides. I have hammocks on both sides too. There are crimson and pale rose bushes. Sam built flower boxes into the concrete banisters. My floor has ivory shag carpeting, and it has a large bearskin right by the fireplace. Sam designed cherub with naked Greek statues inside the alcoves. I glance up and see a large portrait hanging above my mantle. The picture is of us, dancing together at my Coronation. That is my favorite picture of us.
“Willow takes excellent photos. I made sure she caught all the shots from your Coronation,” Christian informs me, and he sounds a low whistle. The Enforcers respond, by slowly leaving my new bedroom. Ian glances at me worried. I give him the two thumbs-up sign. Christian pulls me in his arms. I stare into those gorgeous ultramarine eyes of his, and lust takes over. He pulls me down on my bed, and my lips thank him for everything.
Christian pulls me back up to talk. “We need to talk about who you saw in the forest. I know you believe it was your sister, but we searched the area. We still believe she is dead. I know you are still grieving over her, and this is just the grief taking over. I love you, and I want to make it clear to you that we thoroughly searched the scent, and it does not match your sister. Please, try to understand, that this was some form of trap.”
I want to scream at him, but I know deep down inside—he’s right. I need to give up on ever seeing her again—or recovering her body. He allows me, to cry in his arms. He comforts me in his arms, and holds me tight, while I allow the river of tears flow. I know that hurting me is the last thing he would ever do to me. He isn’t cruel like that.
Chapter 16
The last week of October was grueling, but November, with Alexander was much worse. I finished facing the worst training session thus far. I’m at the end of Alexander’s session.
Both of the brothers taught me how to make smoke bombs, grenades, and silver bombs. They taught me which whistle is for what. They even showed me how they run the Enforcers. They even explain what reconnaissance is. The younger Enforcers have to fly in the air, to search for rogues. My head feels like it will explode from digesting so much information. Papa has to issue edicts—or orders. To keep Papa in check, the Supernatural Board of Meropis has to approve all his orders. He needs seven out of the twelve board members, to okay his laws. Papa signs off on new vampires, but the board has to approve it. Papa issues warrants for vampire arrests, but the board has to approve it. This is the ultimate board, who stands over all the kings and queens from each supernatural group. I can see why they’re in place, but this slows the Enforcers down, from waiting for the board, to get around signing off on the orders.
~~~***~~~
Now, we’re at the end of my training schedule. The last week with Alexander was supreme torture. The weather turned ice-cold. We are sitting in the middle of November. I hate going outside, when it has this type of ice-cold rain. This type of rain happens all the time in Kentucky, during this time of year. I could easily give up, and go inside, but the Enforcers depend on me. This ice-cold hits you like tiny razors. I know I will be sick with a cold soon. I typically never become ill, but when it happens, I turn into a huge baby.
The last obstacle course is today, the eighteenth of November. Christmas is next month, but not all of them celebrate Christmas. Alexander, Christian, and Erik only celebrate Winter Solstice. Charlie, Brennan, and Brannon don’t celebrate any holidays—or festivals. The only ones who celebrate are Sam, Tommy, Louie, Zane, and Ian. I reminisce last year with my sister.
I remember the previous Christmas as if it were yesterday. My sister and I celebrated with a real tree, and our corny decorations that we used throughout the years. We make popcorn and always use it as a garland. Our childhood ornaments from birth to adulthood, decorated our tree.
~~~***~~~
Now, I’m about to enter my final test. I take a deep breath, and the bitter chill fills my lungs. The cold air stiffens my body. The Enforcers stand outside wearing sweaters, sweatshirts, jeans, and boots. The air feels brutally cold, and I hate the miserable rain. The Enforcers stand underneath their umbrellas and watch. Even my boyfriend canceled his important business meetings for this day. At least they are wearing warm clothes. Willow’s camera is ready to go.
They give me a time trial, and I have to beat it. I have to complete it for my own satisfaction. Alexander holds one of his guns high in the air. I have to avoid any obstacle that could disqualify me. My eyes close and Alexander’s gun fires. I run for my life through the sand and duck under all the barbwire. I swam in the ice-cold water, to grab one of the dummies, and I brought it to shore. Now, the dummy lays in the sand. The bike stands close to me, so it’s time to ride the bike. I still make excellent time, by quickly accomplishing the two laps around the track. The next obstacle course is in the forest. There’s more barbwire, to crawl under and jump through, but I still make excellent time, by flying on the zip line. Unfortunately, I land hard in the mud. The mud hurts worse, when it’s a solid mass, and there’s no give with hard mud. My body makes hard impact, and this will leave a nasty bruise. My body ignores the pain, as I move through the tires. I duck just in time from the swinging buoys.
I make it inside the training house in record time. In this building, the Enforcers have to pass these tests, before they are part of the group. I manage to do a split, and barely miss a fake rogue. I have to rescue the other eleven Enforcers. The second one I found is Ian, and his dummy makes brings out a small chuckle from me. I shot the rogues with my guns and threw Ian's dummy outside. After making it to another part of the obstacle course, I drug out makeshift Tommy and Sam. I use my swords in this room. I still struggle with climbing the ropes, and this slowdown will cause me to lose time. So far, I’ve rescued only four Enforcers. I hit the floor in time, after completing a round kick. Brannon's dummy is the next one to pull out. I’ve already rescued his twin brother Brennan from the water, at the beginning of the obstacle course. At this point, I’m down five Enforcers. The hardest part is coming up soon. By luck, I rescue both Lou
ie and Leo. In the next room, I have to disarm a bomb. Disarming a bomb feels incredibly nerve racking. I drop to the floor below me and it hurts. I can feel a cut on my leg from hitting something sharp on the way down. I threw Zane’s dummy out the bottom window. Zane’s dummy makes me laugh. The others gave his dummy, zebra striped thong. I move quickly, to the next challenge. Charlie and Erik have riddles attached to them. It is hard to distinguish, if they are rogues—or Enforcers. The scents of their colognes aren’t helpful either. Charlie switched out his cologne, to divert me from his scent. I kill the rogues holding them hostage, and toss them out the window.
Once again, I have to climb another rope. I laugh at Christian's dummy. They made sure he’s naked, and they strapped him with a pair of balls. They gave his dummy a very large makeshift penis. I toss his dummy out the window, and that’s when something hits me from behind. They pull out five surprise fake rogues to jump me. My swords split them in half. To save time, I accomplish a few backflips. I jump over the last rogue, and untie Alexander's dummy. I have to carry his dummy out. After I pick his dummy up, it triggers another scene. I have to use a smoke bomb in this scene. Alexander's dummy is the last, to throw out the window. The end is in sight with a brick tower to climb over. There’s a rope waiting for me, and it’s hard to grip the rope without gloves. I start to tire out by this point, but keep fighting through it. I want to give up, but I’m right at the end. I don’t want to do this over again. I move up by using my feet, and I keep the rope between my legs. Hand over hand as I climb the tower, to stand on top of it. I flip backwards into a huge inflatable float below, to stop the time.
I’m so dead tired, by the time I finish. I remain on the inflatable bag—spread eagle. My breath slowly escapes my lungs. I hope and pray that I beat the time. Every part of my body has bruises or cuts. I’m so glad that I covered my naval ring, to keep it from rubbing up against the ropes.
Alexander stands right over me with his umbrella, and stopwatch. “You completed it, and in record time too. Congratulations Princess, you’re unofficially an Enforcer.”
I was hoping for fireworks and a parade, but this will do instead. My eyes close for a brief minute to catch my breath, and I reopen them to see that Christian is grinning from ear to ear. He holds out his hand to me, and I take it with gratitude. Ian holds out his umbrella for him.
Chris brought me a warm wool jacket, and he places it over my shoulders. “We need to get you inside, to warm you up right now.” Christian carries me inside the castle. He sits me inside my bedroom, and compliments me. “I am extremely proud of you. I would ask, if you want to have sex with me right now, but that might be a bad idea.”
I sit on a few towels and I’m shaking. The adrenaline starts to crash. Sophia rushes inside, to help me out. Chris pulls my wool jacket off. She yanks my clothes off, and he turns away, to put another log in the fire. She quickly wraps the softest towels around me. All my undergarments are off. I change the bandage, to hide my naval ring.
My body has to thaw out first, before I take a shower. They want me, to be fully dried, and not shaking, before they allow me, to take a shower. There are no signs of mud on my rug, since she placed plastic down, and towels to catch it.
The two hours pass by. Chris nods at me. “You may take your shower now.”
A hot shower is the most invigorating feeling in the whole world. I thoroughly clean out my piercing with more solution. Everything that’s dirty slides in the laundry chute. My bedroom has no stains anywhere. Sophia has everything back in order, with no signs of the obstacle course from hell.
Christian already has a few more logs in the fire. He props his body on my pillows, and he teases me at the wrong time. This is the one time; he makes sure he’s naked in my bed. He has only an ivory with gold trim sheet draping loosely over his hips. Christian also makes sure that I notice his bare hip, and the top of his thigh. He strategically uses the sheet, to cover his manhood. I normally would love the sight of a naked man in my bed, but I’m too tired, to lift my legs on the bed. My robe lays over the chair, and my slippers sit on the side. I barely crawl in bed, and curl up next to him. I think I kissed him, and told him that I love him. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I fell fast asleep.
~~~***~~~
The next day, I woke up to an empty bed. On my nightstand, sits two dozen ruby red roses. I roll over to the roses, and pick the card out of them.
The card has a note inside and it reads exactly this, “I tried to offer you sex, but you fell asleep on me. I wanted to make love to you, but after you finished your training yesterday, you were too tired. At least you told me that you love me, and you kissed me goodnight. I love you too, and I will return in a couple days. I promise to make it up to you.”
I’m not happy that he’s not here, but that’s what happens, when you fall in love with an important business executive. Staring at the picture of us, gives me another fantastic idea. This might just push him over the edge. He needs to feel my wrath, so he will stop teasing me. I love karma, and karma wants to come out and play with Chris.
Another shower warrants me; to make sure all the dirt is gone. I apply makeup and undergarments. It is hard, to decide what to wear. It probably takes me a whole hour to decide. My outfit today, is an ivory sweater dress, with ivory pumps to match. I track Willow down in the library. There’s a man holding her close to his chest. This man is bald, with deep bronze skin. His protruding muscles seep out his arms. He remains extremely respectful, to both Charlie and Willow.
Charlie and his girlfriend are laughing with them. I enter the room with my stupid tiara. The Enforcers make me wear it at all times. They are normally here, so they never have to bow, but everyone else has to bow. There’s nothing like making a subtle entrance. I gesture for them with a signal to rise from their feet, and this is incredibly annoying. I saunter over to Willow, to shake her boyfriend's hand.
My phase one of torturing Chris commences, “I wonder, if you wouldn’t mind taking pictures of me.”
Willow smiles and grabs her camera, thinking that she’s taking normal pictures of me.
My head motions no. “I’m trying to… let’s just put it this way. I want to take a different type of picture, if that’s possible.”
“Do you want me, to take pictures of you with your tiara for a royal pose?”
“I want pictures without my tiara on. I will inform you upstairs in private, if you don’t mind.”
Willow eagerly follows me upstairs. “What do you have in mind, Princess?”
I shake her boyfriend's hand, and thank him for allowing me, to steal his girlfriend from him. After she walks inside my bedroom, I carefully shut the doors. “I know this is asking a lot from you, and this is probably way out there, but I want to take provocative pictures, to entice a certain someone. I have access to my funds, and I will gladly pay you for your time, and the pictures. I just want to show him my appreciation for everything he’s already given me so far.”
“You want to give pictures of yourself to Chris? What kind of pictures, do you exactly have in mind? How provocative are you willing to go?”
“I want naked shots, to give only to Christian. I would like to have shots taken tomorrow, and I want to give these pictures to him, by Christmas time. Are you willing, to do this for me?”
“I have perfect ideas and spots. We will need to leave first thing in the morning. You will have to take your sunshine pills. I know the perfect setups, and I will have my human counterpart snap a bunch of pictures during the daytime. I will finish the shoot at night. So, pack sexy lingerie and clothes. I can arrange for Chris, to be gone the next day, in case we need to retake shots.”
A couple of bags are neatly sitting by the door. I bribed Ian and Zane, to keep quiet. Instead, I wound up with Leo, Brennan, Brannon, and Louie following me. They board the flight with me to New Zealand. Brennan and Brannon also have an underground hideout in New Zealand. I have already taken the pills, to enter the daytime. My human bodyguards watch me
along with the human counterpart to Willow, and her name is Janet.
Janet takes me out to a field of wildflowers. My nerves are all over the place. She hands me a small ivory see-through skirt. I have to look confident in my poses. The makeup artist helps me with my face. They make sure they have plenty of boob shots, with nothing hiding the girls. I love the wildflower photo shoot. They bring in a white stallion next, and help me mount the stallion. I pose for few more shots on the horse, and I love taking these poses. They make it, to where my locks flow wildly down the body of the stallion, while I hold on to the white stallion’s neck. We shoot waterfall poses and sand poses. Some of the pictures, I’m completely naked. A few of the shots have sexy nightgowns to entice him.
Willow wakes up and the Enforcers take over, from the human bodyguards. Willow grins when she notices that I’m wearing a robe to hide everything. Willow turns to the Enforcers. “I hope you boys don’t mind, but please turn your heads. These next few shots might be a little out there.”
Ian pulls his shades up. “I thought these were going to be the normal cute little princess pictures with her tiara.”
“I have the next scene ready to go—shall we?”
I follow her into a large cabana. There are ivory sheer curtains hiding the cabana. The men have to follow me, but remain behind her for protection. The Enforcers stare in horror to see a bed with ruby roses all over it.
Willow shocks them. “Okay, Jeannie, take it off, girl.”
Ian threw his shades. “OH, FUCK NO!”
They’re too late. The robe drops to the ground, and the bed filled with roses gains a new occupant. I smile with amusement. Brennan and Brannon turn their heads, to respect my privacy. Leo and Louie gape at me with shock on their faces.
