The Princess of Darkness

Chapter 18: The Note

Ok so I usually do these little personal things at the end of my chapters, but I feel like people might actually read them if they're at the top so here goes nothing. Okay so in my last little note I explained that I forgot the password to this account and when it reset I could no longer login. Now, since I was finally able to login, I did, and I wrote the last chapter. What I didn't realize was that my new password (which was very complicated) did not get saved and every time I clicked the "reset password" button, it would do nothing at all. So instead I just gave up and tried to login every once in a while and FINALLY IT WORKED!!

So here's the next chapter yay! Sorry to keep you waiting!

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Elizabeth's POV

It had been a long tiring evening.

After the elimination ceremony ended, and the announcer had explained to the crowd that I was (sadly), not going home, I was escorted to my room by five guards. Five seemed like slightly too large a number for a sixteen year old girl but I mean whatever helps you sleep at night Alex.

The walk was long and awkward. The guards seemed fairly bored and I kind of wished that Michael had been assigned to escort me, but he had been avoiding me for quite a while now. Once I was in my room, my ladies asked me if I was all right. I though of telling the truth and just crying right there in front of them, but instead I just said yes and burried myself in my bed's soft sheets. I had never noticed just how comfortable that bed was. I was soon deep in a dream.

In the dream I was floating.

I was somewhere in space. Stars and comets raced by me like wild horses, and planets spun around me like marbles. Light was everywhere and I smiled. I saw the faces of my parents and my sisters. I was so happy.
The dream was amazing for a moment, but then it became a nightmare. The stars rushed towards me and burned my skin and singed my hair. Planets slammed into me and bruised my arms and legs. The air became too thin to breathe, and when I screamed no noise escaped my lips. Just as a comet was making a direct path to my head, I was ripped from my dream.

"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" A voice was yelling my name, and someone was shaking my shoulders.

"Hm...um...what time is it?" I asked groggily.

"Two A.M." Amelia answered. She was the only one of my ladies who ever stayed the night.

"Two A.M.!" I shouted. "Why on earth would you wake me up so early?" It sounded more hostile than I had intended. Amelia shrunk back.

"I'm so sorry, Eli-My lady. You were screaming in your sleep. I thought it would be best to wake you."

Once I realized that she was just being her kind self, I softened. "Thank you." I said tenderly, and I smiled up at her. Amelia was quite beautiful, her eyes were round and bright, and her lips seemed to be fixed in a permanent smile.

She handed me a cup of water and then left the room. I stared at the ceiling for a while, and then I fell into a dreamless sleep.

When I woke up my clothes were lying on the foot of the bed. There was a small note placed on top of them, so I picked it up and read it.

Elizabeth,

Again, I am so sorry about waking you last night, but all of the servants to the princesses have been dismissed. We will still be in the castle of course, but we will no longer be allowed to speak with you. You have been so kind to us, and on the behalf of us all, Thank you.

-Amelia

My heart sunk. I wished that I had at least been able to say goodbye. Maybe I could get the prince to let me see them. I quickly dismissed that thought, I was finished asking for favors.

A few moments later a guard knocked on my door and handed me a schedule. On it were the entire week's plans, and I was overwhelmed by them. Breakfast was apparently in one hour so I had time to figure out how to get into the dress that was layed out for me.

The dress was simple. A little strapless white dress that was tight at the top but fanned out at the bottom. I believe that Jennifer had called it a B-line dress, but I wasn't sure. The dress was easy to get on because the zipper was on the side instead of the back. The real struggle was my makeup. I considered not wearing any, but then I remembered that I would be on camera for the majority of the day and well, a little makeup couldn't hurt.

I did my best. All of the makeup was lined up on the bathroom counter in sequencial order, so I had no trouble applying it. The mascara went on clumpy but I recognized the brush for eyelashes and soon they looked fine. I pulled my hair back into a messy bun that hung off the back of my head like a dead fish.
Once I was finished, it was 8:15. Breakfast was at 8:30 but being early was never bad here.

I wasn't the only one in the dining when I got downstairs. Morgan was talking to one of the queen's friends like she was an old friend. Laughing and smiling with their little thing glasses of fresh orange juice and their tiny pastries. My stomach growled.

I sat down in my seat and waited for other girls to show up. A few did and it became less awkward. I talked to Olivia about the prince (who was her favorite thing to talk about), and she gushed about how adorable she thought he was, and how he had given her roses the other day. I smiled. Maybe she could marry the prince. Anyone except Morgan would be my top choice.

Finally, once all of the princesses were seated, the royal family arrived. The king and the queen first, and the the prince. He smiled politely and then sat down at his seat at the end of the table. Our eyes met but he quickly looked away.

Breakfast was long and boring. Most of the girls had minimal makeup on like me, and a few hadn't even managed to zip their dresses up to the top. I did Olivia's for her, but Martha Burke refused to come near me so hers remained partly unzipped.

After breakfast, we all left the room in a line. I was last and before I could leave the room the door shut in front of me. I turned at the handle but it was locked. I knocked on the door as loudly as I could but no one came.

I thought heard someone laugh but I couldn't be sure. Great. Just great. I was locked in the dining room. I tried the door a few more times but nothing. Then I heard another laugh. Clearer this time. I walked to wear the sound had come from. Their was a small door on the left side of the room and I opened it. Only to find Alex inside grinning.

I had no idea when he had gotten in their so quickly or how he had locked the door without me seeing but I was furious.

"Really? Are you a toddler? Do you thing this is funny?" I shouted. He nodded and I scowled.

"Look," He said. "I just wanted to talk."

"Well I certainly do not want to talk to an immature prince who locks girls in dining rooms and doesn't even apologize."

"Sorry." He said and then he smirked. I rolled my eyes. "Okay, I just wanted to know one thing." He looked nervous. I almost felt bad. "Do you hate me?"

This question frustrated me even more. "Are you kidding me? That's what you locked me in a room and nearly scared me to death for? Do you hate me? You are so oblivious! If I hated you, I would have smacked you already and I would never have let you kiss me. I would never have spoken to you. You would have sent me home in a second. No, your highness, I don't hate you, but if you ask me stupid questions like this, I might be forced to change my mind. How stupid can you-" He pressed his lips to mine and I forgot what I had been trying to say.

Every sentence I tried to form dissolved in my mouth.

Every word I had ever learned drifted from my grasp.

Everything I had promised myself I would do if this happened was no longer an option.

My mind could only for one thought, and one single thought only.

I was in love with the prince.