A Twisted Fate

Chapter Six

"No," I said flatly, "I am not going back to the palace, I've had enough of Maxon for a lifetime." 

Marella chuckled and said, "oh dear, you've been through so much. I will not have you go back to Clarkson. Instead, you will check and correct our maps and help us make a detailed list of all the poorer families in Carolina."

"Why?" I asked instinctively, "are you planning to do something to my district?"

Marella let out a bark of laughter, "no, no," she told me, "we know about a storehouse that has plenty of food in it. We have a schedule to go from nearby province to nearby province and give anything extra to the poor."

I nodded, these rebels weren't as bad as Maxon said they were. If I ever did see him again, which I was not going to after he got engaged to Kriss or whoever, I'd tell him all about this and how he could make everything change.

Instead, I walked away from Marella to change into a beige t-shirt and jeans and put on a leather jacket. When I got to the bunk I was sleeping in, below Georgia's, I saw someone had left a magazine on my mattress.

On the cover I read, Prince Maxon Schreave is saddened...by the remaining ladies or the ones who got away. Snorting I flipped through and saw several pictures from dates, even a few ones I'd rather have not seen.

One of them was of me...someone caught me sobbing on camera and there was a smudged caption underneath I couldn't read. Another was of him and Kriss holding each other and kissing. I was disgusted to see that in one Maxon was pushing Celeste up against a wall, her dress was loosened and they were kissing too. 

I read below and saw that it said,

  Maxon has discovered what it is to truly love after the vanishing of America Singer. Lately after Lady Elise, and Lady Natalie have been removed it's down to two fine ladies. But grief-stricken as he is will he ever choose a bride? 

                        -King Clarkson

Of course, he would write something about his son loving someone. Probably just to annoy her, even if he didn't know where she was.

But below that an even more interesting story said, Princess Daphne, is coming to Illea! Will she win over Prince Maxon's heart? 

I gasped, first he pretended to love me...then he replaced me with the princess he swore to never marry when I confided in him. I started to cry and that sent me to sleep.

When I woke up everything was bright. I went outside and the wind was whirling tents around. It wasn't that bad but I saw a few rebels struggling to nail their tents to the ground. 

But it arched my hair and tickled my neck, the sun was still warm too and it made my head hot. The weather was refreshing and I loved it. I went to Marella, she was scattering letters all over and I asked, "what's going on?"

She grimaced before saying, "just business," before going back to whatever she had been doing. Then she placed a letter in my hand, "it's for you," she whispered.

I looked at it and in wonderful penmanship, it had Maxon's name. How did he find me? I gasped, running my fingers through my sleek red hair, he'd wanted me gone so I'd be gone. "Excuse me, Marella," I asked soothingly.

"Yes?" My new boss responded, "what is it dear?"

I pushed back quite a few accusations before asking, "is Maxon coming here?"

When Marella nodded I felt like screaming. I only wanted freedom and peace, Maxon took that away from me, and if he wanted to talk? Well, he could just give up on that because I had no desire of going near him ever again.

"When?" I asked. 

Marella looked around before whispering, "at noon."

I gasped again. From what I knew it was almost afternoon and that meant Maxon would be here soon. "I'm going for a long walk to get used to these forests," I told her, rushing off so I could leave this camp.

When I got into the forest I roamed for a bit, before realizing I still had the letter in my hand. I climbed a tree, sat down, and started to read.