War of Faeries

Chapter 17

Henry's face fell at my words. I wanted him to do the one thing that could get him into trouble with his fiancé. I couldn't blame him, I knew asking him to complete this task would be a stretch, but so is me forgiving him.

"Valarie..."

"I understand if you cant." I say wrapping my arms around myself.

"Its not that... its just I wasn't the one who put Mrs. Cora in the prison cells. Elenore was."

"I know that... I just thought that..."

"I will see what I can do. Mrs. Cora doesn't belong in there anyways." he leaves my room without another word. Determination written in every step. He had a task to complete, and forgiveness to win.

"What happened to Cora?" Shannon asks.

"Elenore locked her up last night, then I left the palace before I could kill anyone."

"But... why?"

"Elenore found out that Henry and I were dating... if you could call it that. "

"That girl has a temper, and doesn't care what she does to others." Shannon shakes her head and I smirk. I could only wonder what they said of me- or what others said of me. I haven't really made the best impression around here.

"I have to go check on something. I'll be back later." I say closing the door behind me.

****

"Ill admit I didn't think I would see you around here again."

"I don't know why I wouldn't come back."

"Last time you were here things didn't go too well."

"Last time I was here Max, I was trying to hide from Henry."

"You aren't trying to hide from him know?" he asks confusion written all over his face.

"No. I am not. I thought I would check up on you. I know that you have your job still and everything, but I just wanted to make sure..."

"I appreciate it. I really do. Most people would have just continued on with their lives."

We sit in silence, neither one of us knowing what to say or do next. I came here to make sure Henry hadn't mistreated him in the past couple of days, and now that I got my answer I didn't know what to do next.

"Are you really going to compete in the competition?" he blurts.

"Yes. I have to."

"No you don't. You chose to sign up for the competition. But I am afraid you signed up for it without knowing where the competition is being held this year." he says crossing his arms.

I looked around his room. It wasn't much, just big enough to fix a bunk bed and a desk and a closet. There was a separate room that branched off to the bathroom and laundry room. It wasn't what I was living in now, but it isn't the worst. I have lived in far worse places. I cross my leg over the other and lean on my hands for support. I am sitting on his bed while he stands in front of me.

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" I question, proving his point further.

"If you knew where the competition was being held, you would understand why so many people have been wary of even considering Henry's proposals this year.

"The competition is being held in land van de doden this year." I tell him nonchalantly.

"Never mind, I guess you do know where the competition is being held." He looks down at the floor before looking back up at me. "How did you find out? That information is on a very need to know basis."

"Henry told me. Or what he said about the environment of the competition."

"Does he know? I mean does he know that you know where the competition is being held?"

"I don't see why me knowing matters?"

"Henry has his reasons for everything, no matter how bizarre they may be." Max says looking up back at me.

"So, what is his reasoning for keeping me out of the guard cafeteria?" I ask quirking my lips up into a smile.

"He just wants to keep you safe. That one is easy. Not all the guards are... trustworthy."

"Not like you." I deadpan, which brings a smile to his lips.

"You can say that I guess." He puts his hands in his pockets.

"You look nice-outside of your uniform I mean."

"Thanks."

"Hey Max, You would never believe what Matt and I did today-" A kid no older than twelves says bursting through the door. Smile written all over his mouth, a smile that drops once his eyes land on me. I smile at him, hoping that he will warm up to me, but I see the hesitance in his eyes, he looks so similar to Max it is uncanny.

"Hey Justin. This is Valarie-"

"Princess of our land, I know. Why is she here? Like why is she in your room?"

"Umm..." is the only thing that comes out of my mouth.

"Wow Max, making claims on the Princess already?" Another man says walking into the room.

"My brother isn't that cool." The boy mutters.

I cross my arms over my chest, not liking that the stranger is starting at me. He isn't staring in a leering way, but the attention still enough to unrattle me. I glance over to Max to see if he can help me out, but he seems unaware of my discomfort.

I stare back at the stranger, taking every inch of his appearance in. Sandy blond hair, sharp facial features, warm brown eyes. His eyes lock with mine, and a smirk appears on his face. I look away, back at Max to hear what his answer to the strangers statement is going to be.

"She was just checking up on a few things."

"She can go to Henry or Anthony for that."

"No one wants to talk to either of them." Max shrugs, as if me talking to him is nothing out of the ordinary.

"I should get going. Henry is most likely looking for me anyways." I get off the bed and make my way past the stranger, and past the boy-Justin.

I may have gone to Max to make sure everything was okay, but I also got my suspicion validated. The competition would be held in land van de doden. The land of the dead. A land that not even I dared to enter when I was working with and for Sebastian. No one went in there alive and came back out. Not in one piece that is. The people who survived visiting that land had their brain fried so bad that they weren't worth saving.

I was almost out of the guard area of the palace when I heard someone call after me. Someone running down the hall to catch up with me. I turned around to see who it was.

"Hey Princess, wait up!" It was the stranger, the guard that was with Justin.

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So thoughts on the stranger? Let me hear them. He is going to be an interesting character to write thats for sure.