by CATT
Rachel spent the rest of the day taking care of Adam. Even when he would tell her to get away from him and leave him alone that he didn’t want anything to do with her. Rachel would tell him she understands, and she is sorry, but she won’t leave his side.
By the next-day Adam is starting to feel better. He still looks like shit. The cold rags Rachel had kept over his face yesterday, and all night last night had helped with the swelling. He can open his eyes at least. He has also mellowed with Rachel. We are sitting on cushions discussing different ways to escape when three of the tree people come in.
They walked over to me and said something I didn’t understand. I sat there looking at them trying to explain to them that I didn’t know what they were saying. One of the tree people grabs my arm. When I try to jerk away the other two grabs hold of me and pulls me to my feet. They dragged me to the bathroom. Rachel and Adam both try to help me but the two guards from the door come in and hold them down.
CHAPTER 39
In the bathroom two of the tree people start removing my clothes. The third one turns the water on in the tub. Finally understanding they wanted me to take a bath I push their hands away and start undressing myself. Lucky for me I had gym in school, so I wasn’t the modest type when it comes to undressing in front of people I didn’t know. When I sit down in the tub once I’m in the tub one of the tree people starts taking my hair down while the other two starts washing my body, I become modest really fast.
With my body and hair washed I step out of the tub, and the tree people dry me off and wrap my hair in a lush towel. They then make me sit down in a chair. While they rub my arms and legs down with some kind of lotion that smells better than anything, I’d ever smelled in my life. It also has sparkly things all in it. My whole body is glittery by the time they are done. They bring out the makeup, and one of the tree people applies it to my face. I sit there not understanding what is going on. After the tree people were happy with the makeup, they move to my hair. They use some kind of magic to dry my hair and make its long thick brown, red mass lay in ring-let’s all the way down my back.
Then they take small flowers of all different colors and weaved them through my hair before finally dusting my hair in what I guess you would call fairy dust. One of the tree people takes a lid off a box and pulls out one of the most delicate, and beautiful dresses I’ve ever seen in my life.
The dress is off white. It looks like something that came from the eighteen hundreds. The whole dress is made of lace. With little flowers embroidered all in it. It’s sleeveless and hangs off each shoulder. It swoops low it the front, and back, with a zipper running up the side. One of the tree people unzips the dress and motions for me to step into it. I stand up and put my feet through the dress making sure not to step on the delicate fabric and two of the tree people pull the dress up and then zips it. The third tree person takes a pair of off white sandals out of the box and slips them on my feet.
I walk to the mirror and freeze. My breath caught in my throat I can’t believe this is me. I touch one of the small flowers that have been weaved through my hair. I look beautiful and delicate like the dress. Not like the kick ass World Keeper who wears tight black leather clothes all the time and keeps her hair up so it doesn’t get in her way.
The tree people start pushing me towards the bathroom door. I open the door and walk out. Rachel and Adam were sitting in the same place they had been earlier watching the door when I open it. Their mouths drop open. Adam stands up and comes toward me.
“You’re beautiful. I mean you were beautiful to begin with, but now you look like an Angel of some kind.”
"Thank You" I say smiling and see a blush rise to his bruised cheeks. The tree people push me towards the door, and Adam calls out asking them we’re they are taking me. The tree people never acknowledged Adam had ever spoken. They just push me on out the door. I can hear Adam still yelling when the door shuts behind me.
The tree people lead me to a field not far from where we're being held that is set up with a table and two chairs. Candles are burning everywhere it is magical to look at. Prince Osier walks into the clearing and comes to my side.
“Aw Princess you are the most beautiful thing I have ever laid eyes on in my life.”
“Thank You” I said as I look at him. He is dressed in a white suite with white shoes his blonde hair hanging almost in his eyes. He is very handsome. I’m starting to get a really bad feeling about where this leading.
“I thought you and I would have dinner together this evening Princess while we talk.”
The Prince takes my hand and leads me to the table. He pulls my chair out for me before he seated himself. While the tree people brought the food, I sit quietly as the Prince continues telling me how beautiful I am. I am tired of hearing the Prince talk and I know anything he says is a lie. If he is being nice, it was for a reason. After the tree people leave, the Prince unfolds my fork from its cloth napkin and gives it to me telling me to eat. I take the fork and look down at the food. There is fish of some kind with little potatoes with Italian green beans. Everything looks great I just don’t have an appetite.
The Prince ate his food while talking the whole time. He acted as if he didn’t notice I wasn’t eating. When he was through, he wipes his mouth with his napkin before throwing it on his plate. Then he asked me why I didn’t eat. I tell him I wasn’t hungry. All he said was “you missed out on a great meal”.
“When can we go home?” I asked.
“Aw Princess hadn't you already figured it out you are home.”
I glare at him “I don’t know what you’re talking about this isn’t my home. You can’t continue holding us here. When my parents find out, I have been held against my will and my powers were taken away they will make you pay.”
“I have not taken your power's Princess. The Fairy Realm it’s self does that. When our ancestors created the Fairy World, they added an incantation that anything entering our world would leave its powers on the other side. It’s a protection thing. I'm sure you understand considering that on the Keepers’ World you have to be holy before you are allowed entrance.”
“Yes I can understand that, but you are holding us here against our will.”
“Aw but my Princess I do not wish to hold you against your will I wish to marry you.”
I sit there frozen by his statement. I can’t believe what he had said. When I could talk again I asked, “Why would you want to marry me, you don’t know me?”
“I know everything I need to know. You are the Princess of the Keepers’ World with powers beyond any other. You are holy so when we have children they woll be half holy and able to enter the Keepers’ World. That is all I need to know. The fact that you are more beautiful than any creature I’ve ever seen is a bonus."
“You’re CRAZY!” I scream.
“I think over time you will come around to my way of thinking. Until then, however, you will have to stay locked in the lodge.”
The Prince then stands up takes my hand and places a kiss on it before walking away. The tree people are at my side a moment later to take me back to the hut, I don’t really remember the walk back. All my mind can think about is what the Prince had said and how the Hell I’m going to get out of this! Walking into the hut, Adam meets me at the door and asked if I’m alright. I assure him that I’m fine, but didn’t offer any explanation as to where I had been or what had happened.
Stepping around Adam, I stop cold looking at the person leaning against the far wall staring at me. I run and throw myself at him. My arms going around his waist I start crying. His arms go around me holding me as he kisses the top of my head. Assuring me that everything is going to be alright that he is here, and I am safe. Pulling myself out of the safeness of his arms I look up into the beautiful eyes of my Greek God.
CHAPTER 40
“How did you get here?” I enquired with my hands still on his waist.
“You didn’t think I’d leave you here did you Princess?” He s
aid with a half-crocked smile playing on his beautiful mouth.
“Really how did you get here? I know they changed the incantation, as soon as they found us.”
“I have my ways” he said still smiling.
I hugged him again telling him how glad I am he is here. Dominick’s arms went back around me pulling me close to his body. I lost myself in his strength and the smell of his body. We stayed that way for a long time, before I pull away to look at Rachel and Adam, whom are both staring at us. “So I take it, you guys have already met Dominick?” I asked without letting him go. They both told me the tree people had brought Dominick in right after I left, and they had spent the last couple of hours talking to him. Glancing back at Dominick, I see he is staring at me again with the same strange look he had, had when I first walked in the hut and noticed him standing in the corner.
Deciding to ignore the look, I remove my arms from around his waist and take his hand to lead him over to my cushion and sit down, pulling him down beside me. I need to touch him I can’t keep my hands off him. He is my life line to home and everything I miss. Plus he’s my Greek God, and I crave his touch. He sits beside me. Puts his arm around me as he lay’s back on the huge cushion. Without hesitation, I laid against him. My head on his chest the feeling of comfort overwhelms me. I feel as if I am home at the place I’m meant to be when I’m in his arms. Dominick’s other arm goes around my waist his hand resting on my stomach as he kisses the top of my head again. I sit there in the safety Dominick’s arms and listen as Adam and Rachel tell the story about how this had all started. Finally, they ask Dominick if he has the incantation to get us out of here.
Dominick starts telling how he had found a fairy and caught him with the Whoops. It’s the first weapon I had ever seen and I remember how stupid Lisa looked showing me how to use it. She was slinging that thing around in the air like a woman gone mad. Going around and around like she had lost her ever loving mind. Dominick said the fairy told them the incantation for entering the Fairy Realm. I’m almost positive he left out a lot of details on how he made the Fairy talk. I felt a chill run through my body just thinking about it.
Dominick must have felt me shiver because he tightened his hold on me and kissed the top of my head again before he continued talking. He really had my attention when he said that he and Case both came to the Fairy Realm. I push myself off him. When I sit up, I asked him “where is Case?”
“I don’t know when we came through the door we somehow got separated. I was looking for him when those stupid creepy ass little things jumped me. I figured out I had no powers the hard way. Anyway after they captured me, I figured they had gotten Case too. Now that I’m here and see they have us all together, I’m thinking they don’t have him. More than likely they don’t know about him. Think about it if they had captured Case, they would have brought him here just like they did me.”
“I think you may be right.” Adam jumped in to say.
“So for now the best thing we can do is keep our mouths shut and do whatever the fairies, and those creepy little things want us to do and not mention Case. We need to give him time to come up with a plan to get us out of here. We can’t let on that I didn’t come through that door alone. Do you guys understand”? Dominick asked looking at Adam and Rachel.
As I listen to what Dominick said. I feel relieved knowing that Case is out there, and the fairies hadn’t gotten him. I know Case will get us out of here. It will just take him some time to do it. “I just hope he doesn’t get caught before he has time to come up with something.” I said feeling relieved now that I know nothing had happened to Case. I lay back on the cushion again. Dominick put his arm back around my neck as I lay back, but I didn’t lean into him this time nor did I offer to lay my head back on his chest.
I lay there and listen as they all talk. I was thinking about what Dominick had said about us needing to do whatever the Fairies or the tree people want us to do until Case finds a way to get us out of here. I wonder what he will say if he only knew what the Fairy Prince wants me to do. I got really cold so I rolled on my side and picked up the blanket that had fallen on the floor earlier that day. With blanket in hand, I went to roll back over when Dominick’s arms goes around me pulling my body close to his chest.
Leaving me with no other choice, I lay my head on his chest. He takes the blanket from me and covers us both with it before wrapping his arms back around me tightly. I can hear his heart beating. As I listen to his heart it donned on me that it’s beating really fast. Maybe that’s how a half Angels heart beats all the time it’s not like I can find somebody else like Dominick to ask. He is one of a kind literally. With my head lying on Dominick’s chest his arms are holding me tight I fall asleep.
CHAPTER 41
I wake up and find that at some point Dominick has rolled on his side. He is still holding me. My face is against his chest. There is no part of our bodies not touching. I try to move and Dominick tightens his hold on me.
“Where do you think you’re going Princess?” He whispers.
“I thought you were asleep."
“I’m enjoying holding you too much to sleep.”
“I’m enjoying you holding me to Dom”, I said using the nickname I used to call him that he acted like he hated so much.
“When I got here this evening and didn't see you, it scared me to death. Then Adam and Rachel told me that you were here but the little people had just taken you away Adam assured me they would bring you back sometime or the other. So I stood against the wall waiting to see you walk through the door. When you finally did walk in I was rendered speechless. You took my breath away. You are always beautiful, you know that. However, the way you're dressed and your hair with all the flowers in it. The glitter making your body and hair sparkle all over, you truly look like an Angel. I wanted to drop to my knees in front of you. Your beauty humbled me that much. Then you run and throw your arms around me hugging me. I thought I had to be the luckiest man alive.”
I lay there listening to Dominick’s words knowing he never speaks to me this way. This is more of the way Case talks not Dom. I’m not sure what I am supposed to say to him. Here is the most beautiful guy in the world, my Greek God. This giant of a man with black hair, deep chocolate eyes and muscles everywhere is telling me that I humble him with my beauty. How can that even be possible?
“I don’t know what to say Dominick.”
“You don’t have to say anything Princess.” I laid there with Dominick’s words and body comforting me as my eyes shut, and I fall back to sleep.
The next day I changed out of the dress and put my leather clothes back on. Sitting on my cushion I’m taking out all the flowers that had been weaved in my hair when Dominick comes to sit beside me. We talk, while he helps me work the rest of the flowers out of my hair neither one of us spoke about what Dominick said the night before. I’m glad that we lost all that awkwardness we had been dealing with before I left the Keepers World. We finish getting the flowers out. Dominick helps me up and we hold hands as we walk to the food the guards brought in a little while ago.
The front door opens up, and the same three tree people walk in that had dragged me off to the bathroom the day before. I felt my heart drop knowing what was about to take place. This time though they give me, a box that has instructions written on top of it before they spun around and walk back out the door. Reading the instructions I find out, I only have an hour and a half to get ready before the tree people will be back to take me to meet the Prince. The instructions also state that if I choose not to get ready, or if I was late, then my friends will be held responsible for my behavior.
Dominick asked me what was going on, but I didn’t answer him instead I run to the bathroom with the box in my hand. While I am in the shower, I can hear Dominick knocking. He wants to know what is going on. With my shower completed I dry off then wrap my hair in the towel. I wrap another towel around my body brush my teeth and am putting on makeup when I hear the lock on the bathroom
door being picked. I know it’s Dominick, so I continue with my makeup. I am adding my lipstick when the door opens, and Dominick walks in closing the door behind him.
“You going to tell me what the Hell is going on?” He demands. Looking at Dominick through the mirror I decide to tell him what the Prince wants and see if he can tell me what I need to do. “I’m getting ready to go meet the Prince.”
“What do you mean you’re getting ready to go meet the Prince? You look like you’re getting ready to go on a date.”
Giving him a sarcastic laugh I thought I am actually going on a date, but it’s not like it’s a date I want to go on. It’s a date I don’t have a choice, but to go on. Twisting around to face Dominick, I said, “In a way I guess I am.”
“What the HELL are you talking about” Dominick yells.
“It’s not what you’re thinking that's for sure.”
“Then tell me what it is then! Were you on a date last night too?”
“Yesterday evening the prince sent the tree people here. They were the ones that dressed me and did my hair. They made me look the way I did. Then they took me to a field, and the prince was there. He had arranged for me to be there and have dinner with him. After dinner, he told me that we were being held here because of me. He has some crazy plan about marrying me and our kids being able to enter the Keepers’ World. I told him he was crazy I would never marry him. He basically said if I didn't, we would never leave here, and we would continue to be held prisoner in this hut until I agree. After that I was brought back here. Tonight when the tree people brought me this box it had instruction with it telling me if I didn’t get ready to meet him before the tree people return to take me to him, then you guys would pay for my bad behavior. So could you please leave so I can finish getting ready before the tree people get back?” I twisted back around to the mirror.
