Prince Byron closed the gap between us and kissed me on the cheek. “I have to go, but I’m not leaving,” he said before getting into the back of the limousine and driving off.
I remained in the driveway shivering from my lack of a shawl in the crisp evening air. Bethany was at my side shortly after. I gave her a weak smile and glanced back at an empty front landing.
“What happened?” she asked.
“One of us still has a bright future ahead of her,” I said, laying my head on her shoulder and beginning to cry.
“Then there’s still time,” she said, always the optimist. “Crying won’t win the Prince’s heart.”
I started to laugh. “Don’t let it go to your head, but I think you’re the frontrunner now.”
“How could that not go to my head? That’s awesome! I’m officially sorry for you though.”
“You better be!” I said and slapped her on the arm.
The tears were still flowing but we now were both laughing, which briefly lessened the sting of the evening before the reality set in of what the next few weeks would ultimately require.
Together, we went inside. We weren’t about to wait for the Prince to return this evening; I just hoped he’d keep his word and come back at all.
I retreated to my room and Bethany to hers. I kicked off my shoes, collapsed face first onto my bed and cried. I had woken up on such a high—a confusing high—but a high nonetheless. Mere hours before, I’d had some semblance of control for the first time in my life and now it had been ripped away again. I screamed into my pillow and cursed the things going wrong in my life, which presently felt like everything.
Trying to get my sobbing under control, I reached for the phone and called Kimera, who arrived at my room promptly.
“What’s wrong, Miss Victoria?” she asked, taking a seat beside me on the bed. She brushed my damp hair out of my face and wiped my cheeks with the soft fabric of her sleeve.
“Can you get Kale back here?” I asked. “Discreetly?”
She didn’t answer right away, but when she did, it was a single word whisper. “Yes.”
She left and Kale arrived with another tray of ice cream about an hour later.
He took one look at me, set the tray down on the nightstand and joined me on the bed. “What happened?”
“How’s Mina? She did get there safe, didn’t she?”
“Of course. I gave you my word. That’s not why you called me here again after we swore to try and be more careful. Are you going to tell me what happened?”
I had called him there because I needed to tell him, but now he was sitting beside me with those anguished and quizzical eyes, I didn’t know if I could. The only way I could manage to get the words out was by looking away. “Those of us not chosen will be killed,” I finally said.
“What?” he asked. “Where did you hear that?”
“From the Queen. Six of us will be killed when this competition is over. The Prince will choose one of us, who will live happily ever after and the rest of us… will be killed… erased.”
“What do you mean erased?”
“We shouldn’t really exist—we don’t really exist,” I said, afraid to continue. “Haven’t you noticed how similar the seven of us look? We’re all the same age. All the exact same build. Haven’t you ever asked yourself why?”
“The Queen had had a difficult time conceiving Princess Amelia. That’s become common knowledge. I heard she had numerous eggs implanted into surrogates—like your Duchess—so you’re all twins. All pretty identical. I admit it’s uncanny.”
“We’re all girls.”
“That can be controlled, per the Queen’s request.”
“Wouldn’t she have wanted boys? And you’ve seen us together. We’re all completely identical. Isn’t that strange?”
Kale shrugged. “I guess. But the world’s a strange place.”
I wiped my wet cheeks again. “What if I told you we were more than twins?”
“Meaning?”
“What if I told you the seven of us were clones?”
He stared down at me, trying to read my expression. “Are you being serious?”
“I guess there were originally eight of us, but one died,” I said.
“If you’re all clones, then you must be cloned from someone…”
“Princess Amelia,” I said and waited for his reaction. When he didn’t respond right away, I added, “That’s it—now you know my big secret. I’m part of the Queen’s confidential science experiment. And I have a one in seven chance of surviving past the next few weeks.”
Kale’s gaze was far away. He looked the way I felt when these bombs had originally been dropped on us. “I can’t believe I didn’t put all this together earlier.”
“Put what together? How could you have known?”
“Where’s Princess Amelia now? I haven’t seen her since I got here. Is she really in remission?”
“She’s dead,” I said. “The winner of this twisted game will be announced to the Kingdom as the real Princess Amelia. It’s all so messed up.”
“If the Kingdom knew about this, there’d be a revolution,” Kale said.
“I don’t want to be the cause of a revolution.”
“You wouldn’t be the cause. The Queen would be the cause. You’d be the face of change. The catalyst.”
“Or cursed as an abomination.”
“No,” Kale said. “I don’t believe that.”
“I’d understand if you’d want nothing to do with me now,” I said, hiding my face under an outstretched arm.
“This doesn’t change how I feel about you,” Kale said, placing a hand on my back.
“How can it not?” I asked. He was taking this far better than I’d expected, especially since I was still trying to get my head wrapped around all this craziness.
He kissed the side of my head, and the gesture reminded me of how sweet and gentle he’d been with Mina. “I look at you and don’t see you as anyone other than the beautiful girl I first met. Now, how about coming with me and getting away from here? I’m sure the Queen is going to be increasing her security, but if we move fast…”
I shook my head. “I don’t want to do anything rash just yet. Everyone’s pretty upset right now and I don’t want to just abandon them. I may be able to convince a few others to come with us.”
“Escape will literally get harder by the hour. And a bigger group—I don’t know if it’s a good idea,” Kale said.
I thought of how I convinced Prince Byron to stay and couldn’t simply do the same to him without feeling like a complete hypocrite, even though he wasn’t the one putting his life on the line. I didn’t want to make any decisions right now. “I can’t leave tonight, but… what would be a good—safe time and place to meet you tomorrow?” I asked, hoping he wouldn’t follow up with too many questions.
He thought for a moment and simply said, “Noon at the stables.”
“That gives me time to talk with a few of the girls first,” I said. “I know something has to be done… and time is short.” I rolled onto my side to look at him. “I wish I could remember you from before. Maybe everything now would be different.”
“Yeah. I know.” I could tell he wanted to say more, perhaps try to further convince me to leave with him right now. But he didn’t.
Tomorrow would be a new day with all new sets of complications.
CHAPTER 34
“I saw the Prince this morning,” Bethany said while we were together at breakfast. “Whatever you said to him seemed to have worked.”
“Which is good news for one of us,” I said.
“But we don’t know who. So right now, each of us has the same probable chance.”
“You all do.” Piper had joined us halfway through breakfast.
“You have as much of a chance as any of us,” Bethany said. “Well, Eleanor, not so much.”
Bethany and I laughed, remembering how Eleanor had repeatedly thrown herself at the Prince with
out much physical reciprocation. But Piper didn’t even crack a smile.
“He’s not right for me,” Piper finally said.
“Tall, dark, and handsome isn’t right for you?” I said.
“I’m not denying his attractiveness and he seems a genuinely nice guy, but we don’t have that special something… a true spark. I don’t feel it. It won’t work out between us.”
“It sounds like you’ve already given up.”
“Some relationships start slower. It doesn’t necessarily mean there isn’t or will never be a spark. You should still go for it,” Bethany said. “He could still choose you.”
“Don’t you understand? I wouldn’t want him to,” Piper said. “I’d be denying him the great love story he may find with any one of you. Our relationship would be a lie. I couldn’t do that to his true love. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.”
“So, what are you saying?” I asked, lowering my voice and leaning in closer to her and Bethany.
“I don’t know,” she responded. “I don’t know what I can do.”
Kale strolled into the room with a dishtowel draped over his shoulder. “Can I get you lovely ladies anything else?”
“I’m stuffed,” Bethany said.
“I’m fine,” Piper said.
“No, thank you,” I said, giving him a knowing smile.
Kale smiled back before disappearing into the kitchen. I watched him leave, thinking about what I’d asked of him last night—along with what I planned to do next.
“What’s going on between you two?” Bethany asked.
“Nothing,” I said.
“I mean everyone’s heard the rumors.”
“And I already talked to Prince Byron about him,” I said. “It’s nothing.” But I knew I’d have to tell them more very soon if my plan had any chance of working. “What are you guys doing around noon?”
“Nothing planned,” Bethany said.
“Probably swimming or napping,” Piper said.
“Okay, well; postpone those activities,” I said. “Meet me out by the meadow fence near the stables at 12:15. I have something I’d like to discuss with the both of you.”
“Why can’t we just discuss it now?” Bethany asked just as Danielle and Jane entered the dining room.
“It’s… umm… not for mixed company,” I said, eyeing the girls taking seats at the far end of the table.
They eyed me back with the same intensity and contempt.
“Let’s go outside now and talk about whatever it is,” Bethany said.
“Yeah, don’t leave us in suspense,” Piper said. “I don’t need any more on my mind.”
“Let me get a few things in order first,” I said. “I don’t mean to keep you in suspense. Can you both make it or not?”
Both girls agreed to meet me at the time I’d requested.
I WANTED to meet Kale as early as I could, so I went to the stables at a quarter before twelve. He was already there brushing Misty.
“I think she likes you,” I said, leaning forward on the gate.
“The feeling’s mutual,” he said.
I entered the stall and patted her neck. Misty greeted me with a snort.
Kale stepped to me and met my lips with his. “How are you doing today? I hated seeing you like that last night.”
“I’m feeling slightly better today and trying to stay positive, keep an open mind and give myself a purpose,” I said.
“All good things. So, what’s your new purpose? Is that why you wanted to meet with me?”
“Yes,” I said. “One of the girls, Piper, definitely wants out.”
“And you want me to smuggle her out like I did Mina.”
“Yes.”
“Will you be coming with us this time?”
“I’m not sure yet,” I said. “I want to present the opportunity to Bethany as well.”
“The more people are involved, the more dangerous it will be. As predicted, the Queen has increased security since yesterday and she’s probably not done. It’s getting harder.” Kale was getting noticeably agitated.
“So, are you saying you can’t do it?”
“No. The Queen can’t lock me in.”
“Good. Then will you do it?” I asked. “She’s my friend and I don’t want to leave her out.”
Kale returned to brushing Misty’s back. He walked around to her other side, but I didn’t follow him. I gave him his space while he thought through what I was proposing.
“You have to agree to go too,” I heard Kale say. “Or no deal.”
“I’m trying to help these girls and you’re giving me an ultimatum?”
“And I’m trying to help you,” he said, making his way back around to face me.
“That’s not fair.”
“What part of this is fair?”
I ran both hands through my hair, pacing around the stall. I was making Misty nervous and had to stop myself to keep her calm.
“I’m in,” I said, stopping before Kale.
“Then we’re in business,” he said.
I looked at my watch. “Wait here. I’ll retrieve the girls.”
Bethany and Piper were waiting by the wooden fence to the meadow. Piper was sitting on the top horizontal slat while Bethany paced before her.
I strolled up to them and got right down to business. “What we discuss here must stay between us,” I instructed. “The only reason I’m bringing this up to you at all is because I consider you both friends in this demented competition. Do I have your word?”
“I’m not going to say anything,” Bethany said.
“My lips are sealed,” Piper agreed.
“Piper, you were saying earlier that you didn’t know what to do since your relationship with the Prince wasn’t going anywhere. What if I told you I could get you out of here—provide safe passage to wherever you want to go in the Kingdom? And Bethany, this offer is extended to you as well.”
“I appreciate it. I really do,” Piper said, and continued without pause. “But I can’t leave.”
“What? Why not?” I asked, taken aback. I certainly hadn’t expected to be turned down.
“I know you had a difficult childhood, but I had a very loving and supportive family.”
“Well, you can go back to them. They can help hide you if the Queen comes looking. I don’t see the problem.”
“You do understand our families are part of the competition as well, don’t you?” Bethany asked.
“They are?” I asked.
“They are betting their statuses on us. The winning family will get a title promotion, to Archduke and Archduchess—like the Queen’s extended family in the lower wards—and all the extra perks that go along with it. Families of the rest of us, provided we play the game to the Queen’s satisfaction, should be left alone. But families of insubordinate contestants could potentially lose everything. I couldn’t do that to my family.”
“I couldn’t either,” Bethany said. “I don’t want to dishonor them.”
“Wow… Okay,” I said, not sure where to go from there. “Then I guess we’re all really doing this.”
I leaned against the fence and looked out at the meadow. It was such beautiful land, on a beautiful day, that it seemed everything was as it should be. But I knew otherwise. This beautiful façade couldn’t mask the fact our days were severely numbered.
“What are you girls talking about?”
I turned around and saw Danielle approaching from across the garden.
“Just admiring the scenery,” Bethany said.
“Have you seen the Prince today?” Danielle asked. “I haven’t and sure hope he hasn’t run off on us.”
“I saw him briefly this morning,” Bethany said.
“Then there’s hope.” Danielle smiled, but it didn’t feel sincere. She stood awfully close to Piper, who was still seated on the fence like she was ready to knock her off at any moment.
“I should go,” I said and started backing away. “I’ll see you girls late
r.”
I glanced back several times as I made my way for the stables. All three girls were still where I’d left them. When I stepped inside, Kale was in the next horse stall, cleaning up.
“You’re alone,” he said, almost sounding unsurprised.
“I was wrong,” I said. “No one seems to want out of this place.”
“It’s not easy to give up once you get a taste—even with your life on the line.”
I walked up to the gate and he met me on the other side. It felt like I was visiting a prisoner, but the one jailed was actually me.
“It wasn’t that,” I said. “They talked about our families being involved with the competition too, and they didn’t want them to lose everything they have over us—or something like that. They had good childhoods. I couldn’t fully relate.”
“So, what about you?” Kale asked, gripping the top of the gate, his arm muscles flexed.
“I don’t know,” I said. “What if something goes wrong? I don’t want to get you in trouble either.”
“We’re not talking about me,” Kale said. “We’re talking about you. I want you to be safe. Are you still coming? Don’t back out on me now just because the others aren’t coming. This was never about them.”
“I know.” I could see the pleading in his bright blue eyes and wanted to make that look go away. I didn’t want to disappoint him but didn’t want to disappoint the Prince either. He had stayed. He had stayed for us. And I’d like to think it was mostly because of me.
“I know’s not an answer.”
“I know,” I said again. “I mean I know it’s not an answer. I want to go with you. To see Mina. But I can’t lie to you—I’ve made a good connection with Prince Byron. I also want to know where that could go.”
“There are six other girls saying the exact same thing.”
“Five,” I corrected. “I know! I don’t want to make the wrong decision.”
Kale ran a hand over his short hair and stepped away from the gate. He paced to the rear of the stall and back, and then placed both hands on top of the gate. Our faces were only inches apart.
“This shouldn’t be a hard decision,” he said softly, leaning in even closer. “This is your life.”
But before I could reply, we both turned our heads to the sound of snapping twigs.
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