Ever After High AU: Book 2 - Hearts and Thrones

Chapter 12 - A Darling Escape

Darling POV

Darling was just getting out of Kingdom Management when she felt her Mirrorphone buzz with a text alert.

She felt something a kin to worry worm it's way into her heart. Ever since Blondie blasted to all of Ever After that Dexter and Ashlynn had "turned Rebel" and helped get Milton and Apple "kicked out" of Ever After High, she has been waiting for the other Glass Slipper to drop and the news of her and Rosabella's involvement becoming public knowledge.

But when she looks at the message, her blood goes cold. It is a message from Dexter!

I am in the carriage on the way home. Dad is pulling us out of EAH. I'm sorry

Darling's breathing quickens. "No, no no no no! - This cannot be happening!" Darling knew what coming home would mean! Her, back in the tower, the staff constantly watching her like hawks, her mother picking out every outfit, activity and thing she does - everything she reads, eats and does! She can't do it again!

Darling takes a sharp breath in. She will not go back to that life. There has ti be someone who will help her - right? A teacher? All of the Royal teachers will just brush her off - wait!

"Of course!" Darling ran through the halls until she reached the Damsel-In-Distressing classroom, relieved to see that Madam Marian was already in there setting up for class. The Rebel teacher looked up in surprise at the sight of her.

"Ms. Charming! What a surprise! What are you doing here so -"

"My dad is pulling me and my brothers out of Ever After High and I do not want to go with him, please help me!" Darling cut her teacher off. She knew it was rude and unladylike, but she didn't really care at the moment.

Madam Marian's eyes went wide with surprise and then steely with determination. She quickly walks behind Darling a closes and locks the classroom door before guiding her sit down on a chair. The Rebel teacher looks her directly in the eyes, asking the next few questions very seriously.

"Darling Charming, do you feel like you would be in serious physical, emotional or mental danger if you return home?"

"Yes," Darling said, then added seriously, "Mainly emotional and mental danger."

"Will you try something possibly dangerous if you are forced to return home?"

"Yes, I will try and runaway. I should also add that that would involved climbing out of a very tall tower and that my family's castle is located very far in the mountains," Darling clarified, "I also would not care if I got seriously hurt in this escape attempt, I would just want to get out."

Madam Marian looks a bit startled at this, but quickly steels her expression again before asking, "How did you know you father is coming to get you all?"

Darling took out her Mirrorphone, showing her teacher Dexter's text message. "He would not have sent that if it were not true and if he was not scared," she explained.

The Madam's eyes creased with concern, "Do you have any other family members that you would feel more comfortable with?"

"No," Darling immediately replies, "any family I have will quickly tell my dad that I am with them and they will allow him to take me with him even if I say I don't want to go."

This seemed to be all Madam Marian needed to hear. She tells Darling to stay in the classroom with her for a moment while she makes a quick phone call. Darling sits down on the plush seat and as she nibbles on some leftover teacakes, the reality of what is happening hits her like a falling beanstalk.

Her father is coming. To take her home. She doesn't want to go home though! While all the other Royals were nervous about leaving their castles and living in the dorms, Darling could not wait to leave her "secure" and fortified tower - even if she was gonna be living in a swamp. 

She was not sure if it was a consequence of the war, but her family was always over protective of her to the point were it was suffocating! They always acted as if she was too delicate, too soft, too weak to do anything herself or to be let outside alone. Dexter was he only one who treated her like she was capable of anything, like she was an equal to him. Even when their father would punish Dexter for trying to teach her how to wield a sword - just in case the castle got broken into and she needed to defend herself.

Unsurprisingly, this just made Darling grow more trustful of Dexter and less of her father.

Darling is brought back to reality by Madam Marian's hand on her shoulder. "Come with me, Ms. Charming, we don't have much time."

Madam Maid quickly and quietly leads Darling down to the basement classrooms that typically host the Villain Classes. Darling is thankful that there is no foot traffic since everybody else is in class at this hour. They soon arrive at their destination - the General Villainy classroom. Madam Marian knocks on the door 3 times and Mr. Hood-Badwolf opens up and quickly ushers them inside.

"Thanks for this, Brawley" Madam Marian tells him, "I know this is last minute -"

"Don't even think about it, Marian," Mr. Hood-Badwolf gently cuts her off, "I know you would do the same." He looks at Darling and gives a gentle smile.

"What is the plan?" Darling asks, surprised by her own calmness. She can feel her heart pounding and blood rushing through her but she is not panicking and she has no doubt that the teachers have some kind of plan.

Mr. Hood-Badwolf quickly grabs his coat, explaining quickly, "King Gareth has offered you Emergency Asylum in his home and kingdom. I'll explain more thoroughly on the car ride."

"In his home and kingdom." That is all darling needed to hear. She rushed forward, but quickly stops and turns to madam Marian, thanking her.

Her teacher gives a soft smile, "Nothing to thank me for, dear. I'm a teacher, it's my job to protect you. Stay strong." 

Darling smiled and Mr. Hood-Badwold pressed a secret button that revealed a hidden corridor. It was old, no lighting so Mr. Hood-Badwolf lead the way with the Candlelight App on his Mirrorphone as Darling followed close behind. Th corridor seemed to first go straight, then up wards. When they finally emerged from the tunnel, Darling found that they were in a large garage with a few dark colored cars. Mr. Hood-Badwolf opened a dark gray Land Cruiser and Darling hopped into the back seat where the windows were tinted so that no one could see into them. The second she was buckled in, Mr. Hood-Badwolf speed out of the garage and down the road.

Once they were firmly off the school's property, Mr. Hood-Badwolf began to explain.

"Your answers to Marian's questions convinced her that you would be in danger if you returned home, so she started making some calls. Gil - uh, Headmaster Giles Grimm could not do anything about your father pulling you and your brothers out of school, but he could authorize you to go somewhere with another teacher. Marian was not able to take you, so she called me while the Headmaster called King Gareth, who granted you Emergency Asylum in his kingdom, which is where we are heading right now. This is just until they can get the proper paperwork through and you can be granted full-asylum." He looks through the rear-view at Darling, his eyes soft, "I know this is happening really fast, and this is probably kinda scary but..." he trails off, probably unsure what to say.

"Honestly," Darling sighs, leaning against the window, "I was more terrified about going home than I am right now."

She sees Mr. Hood-Badwolf pinch his lips together, concerned and sadness written plainly on his face. He looks back at Darling through the mirror and says, "I promise, you are safe."

Darling smiles as she realizes she believes him. Suddenly, a belated thought occurs to her. She quickly rummages through her bag and pulls out her Mirrorphone, turning it to Airplane Mode before shoving it back into her bag. She knows her parents Tracker Apps on their phones and she could not let them know where she was.

Darling breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that she would not be locked in her horrible, old tower. At least today, but that was good enough for her. She let out a huge breath and finally relaxed.