That Kiss (Revised)

Chapter Seven - "Your Brother is alive"

Hi, hope someone is reading and enjoying this! If so, leave a comment with your predictions. It's always fun to see what people thing will happen, and how surprised they are when they're so, so wrong! (;

-K

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                Savannah was twirled around the ballroom for what seemed like hours. Many people approached her with congratulations and she did her best to kindly accept them and then excuse herself. She hadn’t seen Joey all evening and it was really starting to worry her. Had he been discovered?

                Edith, who hadn’t stopped beaming all evening, pulled Savannah away from her current circle of strangers. “Wonderful, isn’t it?” her breath stung Savannah’s nose. Just how much had she had to drink tonight?” “Just wait dear, in six months’ time we’ll be back on top. It’ll be as if last year’s failure was completely erased and we’ll finally be given the power we deserve.”

                This intrigued Savannah. Last year’s failure? Power we deserved? “You think so?” she pressed. Maybe she could get a little information out of her. Edith’s eyes shone mischievously as Edith pulled her by the wrist out of the ballroom and into the foyer they had originally entered.

                “Of course! I tried to tell your father his plan was going to fail. If we wanted the crown we’d have to pursue a more tactful and complex approach.”

                “I couldn’t agree more.” Savannah lied. So Edith wanted Savannah to take the crown.

                “You,” she tapped Savannah’s lightly in the center of her exposed chest. “You are the key to our success.” Another tap,” You are going to bring glory to our family.” A final tap, “And you are the one that will take down the Nottingham’s once and for all.”

                Snug between silky sheets and a thick blanket, Savannah lay awake in her bed. Edith’s words repeated in her head, You are the one that will take down the Nottingham’s once and for all.

                Savannah squeezed her eyes shut. She hadn’t been able to find Joey before Edith whisked her away into the carriage and back into their mansion. Maybe he’d gathered information helpful to their situation. Not to mention she needed to share Edith’s motive.

                A light tapping on her window stole her attention. Slipping out of bed she dragged the curtains open slowly with her right hand.

                “Joey!” she whispered, fiddling with the locks until it released. Joey slipped in soundlessly.

                “Where’d you go earlier?! I turned around and you disappeared!” she shoved him hard on the shoulder. “I was freaking out! Not to mention got engaged to Michael who is a Prince!”

                He lowered his eyes for a moment. “I’m sorry. I was pulled away and sat at a table in the back of the ballroom. And I did see your engagement. Quite a way to end an evening, huh? I’m guessing Michael isn’t our Michael?

                Sadly, Savannah shook her head.

                “I didn’t think so. But, on the bright side I was able to charm a couple ladies into getting some information. Ladies of this age love to gossip.”

                Savannah scoffed. “Charmed?”

                “Well apparently your family is new here. They moved about five years ago and since then they’ve been weaving their way into the castle. Some people have grown suspicious after your fathers attempt to bribe someone in the castle, but not many people have heard about that. You can thank your stepmother for that. She’s a smart one. As soon as she found out what your father had tried, she left him. She told him that the best option was to infiltrate from the inside. She wants to use you.”

                I nodded, “She told me after the ball.”

                “Basically, after your marriage to Michael, she’s planning to have the King and Queen killed. There is a small group of supporters thinking that the Nottingham’s have had the throne for too long, and want a new face for the kingdom. After that you’d take care of Michael and then boom, your family is the new face of Eddington.”

                Savannah slowly sat on her bed. Edith was going to kill Michael’s parents? It seemed at the ball that everyone liked the King. Hell, she even thought he was a nice man. He didn’t seem unfair or harsh. What really unsettled Savannah is that she was supposed to murder Michael.

                “There’s no way I can do that Joey,” she whispered.

                He sat beside her, resting his arm around her fragile body. “There’s more.”

                “What else could there possibly be?”

                “Your brother is alive.”

                Her heart sank. Donnie was alive? Her thoughts overwhelmed her and suddenly she felt ill. It seemed as though the world around her was spinning. As if someone was pounding a hammer against her brain. She sought relief that wouldn’t come.

                “Get out.” Her voice was barely audible.

                “Savannah--”

                “I said, get out!”

                Joey opened his mouth to object, but Savannah cut him off. “Dear God Joey, if I you don’t leave right now I’m going to scream. I want to be alone.” She knew she was being a bit harsh, but he’d just dropped a bomb on her world. A bomb he couldn’t quite understand. Her brother was alive. All that she wanted to do right now was run to him and never let him out of her sight again.

                Joey stood, leaning down and kissing Savannah on the cheek. “I know how upset this is making you. I just ask that you don’t do anything rash. We’ll find,” he paused unsure if he should even say his name, but decided it would hurt her more if he didn’t, “We’ll find Donnie in the morning, together. Goodnight, Savannah.” And with that, he slipped back into the crisp night.

                Savannah lay back, her thoughts still racing. Right now she swore she hated Joey, but he was right. If she ran around this house screaming for Donnie, her stepmother would definitely know something isn’t right. She had to be strong. A silent tear slid down her cheek. She pulled the covers back over her, laying on her back staring at the window Joey had just left through. Donnie was alive. Knowing that tonight would be a sleepless one, she let herself get lost in Donnie’s memory and prayed that this Donnie would be exactly like her Donnie. She wasn’t sure she could handle it any other way.