by Amy Richie
Defeated, I sat back in my seat to do some more waiting.
What were we waiting on? Leo said we would leave immediately, so why were the six of us still in this room - ducking away from the stiff glares of the Guardians?
"The Queen will tell us when it's time to go," Leo explained gruffly. Maybe he thought I was impatient after the many clicks of my tongue.
I shrugged one shoulder.
The door opened but no one had to turn their heads to see who it was - we were already staring at it, waiting for it to open.
"The Roves are ready now," Lady Anne said quietly, then left again without another word.
I moved to get up but changed my mind when the others stayed seated. Hadn't they heard her?
"It's time." Leo moved first to the door. "Say your goodbyes in here."
"Goodbyes?"I asked, uncertain what he meant. Was this another death threat?
"To each other."
"Right." Of course.
The mood was too tense to have a proper goodbye. All my senses were focused on the open door and Leo standing beside it. I barely even glanced at the other two before we were leaving.
I walked behind Leo back out to the front of the Palace. I couldn't stop the memories of the last time Leo had led me out to the waiting Rove.
It was exactly like this, then he shoved me inside the Rove with an invisible man. How did they know that wouldn't happen again? Or something else? How did Leo know this was safe?
"I'll be riding with you inside the Rove," Leo told me firmly.
"I thought only Princesses could ride in them."
"The white ones," he corrected, pointing out the trio of sleek black vehicles.
"Right," I nodded quickly. "That would be better." I turned my feet towards the first Rove, right behind Leo.
"I don't think we should separate," Mattie whispered, pulling lightly on my arm.
"I don't think we have a choice," I hissed back, fully aware of Leo watching me with his hawk eyes.
"I thought we were like...princesses or something," she whined. "Doesn't that mean they have to do what we say?"
"I don't think that's how it works here," Bonnie replied before I could. She smiled weakly.
"It was..." I stopped, not sure nice to meet you was the right thing to say.
"I'll miss you," Bonnie said.
"I'll see you again soon," I promised, not entirely sure if I would be allowed to keep my word.
"Thank you for saving me." She wrapped her thin arms around my neck and pulled me close.
I had never been much of a hugger, but I allowed the gesture without a fuss.
"I think Marvin is ready to leave," she grinned at Mattie. Was that her Guardians name?
Mattie rolled her eyes, "Marvin," she grumbled.
"Mattie." My lips turned up into a semi smile that didn't come close to my eyes.
"I'm still not sure about all this," she insisted, pushing her lips out.
Fear rolled off of her and momentarily washed over me. "You won't be alone; Marvin will be there with you."
She glanced over her shoulder where Marvin stood sentinel just a few feet from her. "I guess," she shrugged.
"Good luck, Mattie."
I stepped up on the Rove and situated myself comfortably in the middle of the large seat. There was so much more room in this than the white one I had left the Palace in last time.
Leo got in across from me, still not looking happy. "Ready to go?" He asked me.
With a rush of excitement, I nodded.
Chapter Twenty Seven
Leo's lips were pressed so tight together that little white lines were spider-webbing down into his chin. Tense waves washed out and all over the inside of our small, shared space.
“It won't take long to get there, right?” I asked nervously, not looking forward to a long journey with him in such a bad mood.
“No,” he grunted his reply.
He leaned forward and pressed a series of numbers on a small control panel. Satisfied, he sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. His gaze remained resolutely on my face.
Did he think I was going to disappear? I shifted uncomfortably and tried my best not to look at him. There was plenty to see outside the window as the Rove rose higher and higher. For some reason, I wasn't able to relax.
I caught my lip between my teeth. Leo sat across from me, his jaw tight. He wasn't saying anything so I wasn't sure if I should either. Maybe these things were bugged. People could be listening to us right now, I thought wildly.
“Kalliope.”
“Yes?” My head jerked at the sound of my name.
“I want you to tell me everything that happened to you after we left the Palace.”
“Everything?” He said it wouldn't take long to get to Tontine. I didn't have time to tell him everything.
“Did you see the man who took you?”
“Yes,” I said slowly. “He said he was taking me to see his master.”
Leo's eyes narrowed.
“Obviously he was working for someone. I didn't see this guy's boss, he could be anywhere.”
“You don't have to worry, Princess.”
“The Queen told us we need to be careful,” I reminded him.
“We will tighten the security around you,” he vowed through a clenched jaw.
“Do you really think they'll try to get us again?”
There was no hesitation. “Yes.”
Something the Queen said nagged at me. “The Queen said...” I hesitated. I didn't want to sound like I was paranoid or a baby that couldn't take care of myself. “She said they wouldn't stop until we were dead,” I finished in a rush.
Leo nodded.
“I don't think he's trying to kill us.”
“What makes you say that?”
“He could have killed us anytime, or even used one of those other guys to do it.” We were completely at his mercy, just three scared girls against all those men with the angry snarls. It didn't make sense.
“How many men were there?” Leo's eyes were narrowed again.
“More than a few,” I shrugged. “I think he was trying to stop us from getting married. I guess it's some kind of law that the Princess's have to get married.”
“Within seven days,” he confirmed.
“Yeah, he must have been trying to stop that.”
“No matter what their intention might have been,” he began distastefully, “they did not succeed. You will marry Prince Aiden.”
I fell silent again, still not sure about the whole marriage thing. Once I got to Tontine and could actually talk to Prince Aiden face to face – I was sure we could figure something out.
Surely we wouldn't have to really get married. Who would know anyways? We could just tell people we were married, then come up with a plan.
Marriage wasn't necessary, considering the situation.
Even while I was still trying to come to terms with my upcoming marriage, the Rove began to slow down and excitement welled inside me – replacing the unease. We were almost to Tontine.
“We're there,” my excitement spilled over into words.
“Yes.”
Even Leo's less than enthusiastic response wasn't enough to dampen my joy. “Tontine looked huge from Kluff,” I continued to gush.
“Tontine is the largest planet in the Zar Galaxy.”
“Is it as big as earth?” I was barely holding myself back from bouncing on the seat.
“It's a little smaller, but not much.” His lips twitched slightly, as if he were fighting back a smile of his own.
The Rove landed on Tontine with a soft thud. “We're there,” I squealed, unable to contain myself.
Leo smiled, this time for real. “I think you will like living here.”
“It has a ...” It was hard to put into words the pull I felt for this planet. Anything I could think to say wasn't good enough so I let my words die away.
“Kalliope.” Leo put his hand out to stop me from pushing the door op
en button myself.
“Yes?”
“Things are going to get hectic, may even be a little chaotic for these first few days.”
“Ok.” Just open the door already.
“A lot will have to happen in a short time.”
“I understand.”
“We might not get many chances to speak privately.”
Privately? I pulled my hand away from the door.
“I just wanted to say...” he hesitated, making me feel uncomfortable.
Was he going to start yelling at me now? After everything I had been through over the last few days?
“I wanted you to know...”
Or was this some sort of love confession? Please don't be that.
“Princess...”
Just hurry up and say it already!
“I'm very proud of you.”
“What?” Did Leo just say he was proud of me? That wasn't what I expected. The man was always so serious, I didn't think he could give such compliments.
“You managed to get yourself and the other two back to the Palace safely; without any help.”
“Well, Bonnie did this weird sort of singing thing.” It wasn't me that saved us.
“I think you are going to be a great leader, maybe the best we've seen in many years.”
What was I supposed to say to that? “Thanks,” I muttered, feeling my face heat up.
Leo stepped out first when the door swung apart. I was close behind him, eager to get my feet onto the ground of Tontine. I wasn't disappointed by the experience.
My heart lurched pleasantly as I scanned the skyline of Tontine. Back on Kluff, my planet had taken up most of the sky. Here – Kluff looked small; much like the moon appeared back on earth.
The palace looked more like a castle, just the sort of place I would imagine a Princess living. All around the castle was rolling hills and forest trees. It was a perfect little bubble of peace. Smiling, I wrapped my arms around my stomach.
“Kalliope,” Leo's voice snapped out, invading the happy bubble that had formed around me.
“I'm coming,” I grumbled, not looking his way.
“We need to get into the palace now,” he insisted when I took my time joining him on the path to the front door.
“I know, I'm just looking.”
“You'll have time to look later.”
I ignored him.
“Leo,” a feminine voice called out. “You've arrived.”
Turning quickly on the spot, I almost fell and had to readjust my feet. I scanned the walkway and my eyes immediately fell on a severe looking woman who was standing just outside a tall door.
Her light brown hair was piled high on her head, her pale face came to a point at her chin, she wore a flowing dress of dark green, and her arms hung loosely down her sides.
I hurried to Leo's side.
“Kalliope Harris,” he nodded to me, “meet the Princess of Tontine – Beatrice Hunt.”
I ran my tongue lightly across my bottom lip. Was I supposed to say hi? Pleased to meet you? Give a bow?
And I thought I was the Princess of Tontine.
Chapter Twenty Eight
Lady Beatrice didn't smile as she scanned me slowly from head to toe. "You are late," she announced stiffly.
"Um..."
"You've made us all wait for you." Her nostrils flared.
"Not on purpose." I glanced back to Leo, who was offering no help whatsoever.
"Will this be normal behavior from you?"
"We...we were kidnapped," I tried to explain.
"Children are kidnapped," she shot back.
"They locked us in a room."
"And it took you this long to escape?"
The lines along my forehead smoothed out as shock took over my dismay. "There was no way out. We had to break down a wall...they..."
"Enough." Lady Beatrice cut my stammering off with an upraised hand. "This is not a time for excuses."
My mouth fell open. Was this lady serious?
One of her perfect eyebrows shot up on her creamy forehead. "Is there something else you'd like to say?"
"No." The voice that came from my throat didn't sound like my own.
"Follow me." She actually snapped her fingers close to my face.
Baffled by her obvious dislike of me, I glanced to Leo for help. He was as stern as ever.
"It's time for you to meet Prince Aiden."
"Right now?"
"The two of you will be married in a few hours." Her lips snapped closed and she turned away from me in a swirl of dark green material.
My stomach swirled with a thousand butterflies. It was a strange thing, to know I was going to meet my future husband. To know that I didn't have a choice - we would be married that very day if everyone else had their way.
Lady Beatrice disappeared through the door into the castle but my feet didn't want to work. I stood rooted to the spot, listening to my heart racing in my ears.
"Go with Lady Beatrice," Leo urged in a whisper that came out in a hiss.
"But I don't..."
"Go."
Grumbling and twisting my face into a grimace, I forced myself to move forward. She wasn't too far ahead but I still found myself jogging to catch up to her.
Lady Beatrice set a quick pace through the palace that looked more like a castle. There wasn't time to look around like I wanted to. Every time I paused to see something closer, Leo was behind me - ushering me forward.
"You'll have time later," he promised on a hiss.
"Ok," I snarled back, irritated. Why was everyone pushing me around and telling me what to do?
Lady Beatrice stopped her fast walk through the castle in front of a large window that lit up the shadowed halls. She waited for me to catch up.
"I want to get a look at you," she explained, her tone still harsh.
"What?"
"Let me see your face," she demanded, grasping my chin in her cold fingers. She turned my face from side to side, not telling me what she was looking for.
"I..." I opened my mouth, not sure what I wanted to say, it didn't matter though.
"Prince Aiden is waiting for you," she informed me through tightly pursed lips.
Obediently, I nodded.
"The two of you will be married immediately."
So they kept saying.
She stared at me for a moment longer, then continued her trek to wherever the Prince was waiting.
"Here we are." She turned abruptly to face me right outside a rough wooden door. "He's waiting in here for you."
Eyes wide, I looked at the door as if I could see the Prince through the thick wood. "Oh," I heard myself reply.
"Go in and speak with him," she told me. "Some one will be back to get you shortly." She opened the door and shoved me inside.
The door closed just as suddenly and I found myself in a circular room, scanning for the Prince.
He was standing in front of the window when I walked in, with his back to me. He didn't turn around, even though I was sure he must have heard the door click shut.
Even without seeing him perfectly, I could tell he was a well built man. Honey colored hair hung down to his chin level, straight and powerful with the slightest wave - probably from wearing it pulled back a lot.
"Um..." Clearing my throat lightly, I hoped that he would turn around. It would be weird talking to his back the whole time. "Hello."
He stood very still.
I sucked in a breath of tense air and held it in puffed out cheeks. The Prince wasn't turning to talk to me. Either something outside the window was extremely interesting or he was nervous too.
Or maybe he was ugly.
Or maybe he was afraid I was ugly.
I ran my hands nervously over my pants. My stomach was still hanging out of my too short shirt, but there was nothing I could do about that now.
Without warning, Prince Aiden turned to face me. His expression wasn't as severe as Lady Beatrice's, but he wasn't smiling either.
> Dark set eyes were scanning me; his expression gave nothing away. I had no idea what he thought of me.
He certainly wasn't ugly.
"I assume you know who I am." He raised his chin subtly so that he was looking down at me.
"Yes," I confirmed, swallowing as lightly as possible, considering the nerves echoing inside my throat.
Maybe looking down on people was a Tontine thing.
"We'll be married today," he echoed Lady Beatrice's plans for me.
"That's...kind of..."
"No matter our feelings," he cleared his throat lightly, "we've been chosen for this destiny."
"What?"
"I've been chosen," he corrected with a nod. "You were born a Princess."
"I was thinking," my fingers twisted together, my nerves getting the best of me.
"Thinking what?" He snapped impatiently.
"I was thinking we should wait a few days before we get married."
His lips pursed. "Why would we wait?"
"To get to know each other a little." I shrugged awkwardly.
"It won't make a difference," he said in a deep slow way.
"What do you mean?"
"Do you think we'll fall in love in a few days?" His top lip curled up in a sarcastic snarl.
"No," I floundered. "I didn't mean..." He certainly had a way of making me feel uncomfortable.
"You need to go get dressed now," he ordered dismissively.
"What?" I glanced down at the outfit I was wearing. It was still the bizarre pants and small shirt the Queen had given me at the Palace.
"You won't be able to be married wearing that."
"I...I know."
"Go and get dressed," he waved his hand towards the door.
My forehead wrinkled with the downward motion of my eyebrows. "Did you just dismiss me?" I sputtered.
"If you prefer to think of it that way." Without another word, he turned again to the window - leaving me grasping to understand what was about to happen.
Chapter Twenty Nine
Looking back at me out of a full length mirror was a young woman I barely recognized. Keeping my fingers away from my perfectly stacked hair, I ran my hands down the length of the pure white gown I had been stuffed into.
It was cut lower than anything I had ever worn before by far, but it didn't make me feel self conscious. It was like I was suddenly more important than I used to be - so much more than a thief; just like Kris said.
