Erika (ON HOLD)

Chapter Thirteen

It was Friday morning. Christian, Scarlett and I were getting read to get on the ship.

When the crew was finally ready, they let us board. Once we got on, an attendant showed us around. "Down below there are five bedrooms and a kitchen. The crew will stay in three of the bedrooms. Scarlett and Erika, you will be sharing a room, and Christian will sleep in his own room." She said.

Great, now I have to live in the same space as Scarlett. Even if it was only for two days. We went into our room and started unpacking. "So what's it like?" Scarlett asked. "What's what like?" I asked in return, trying to hide the fact that I was annoyed.

"What's it like to grow up in a village?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't really know how to describe it. I guess it's like living in a palace but smaller, and you actually have to do your own work." I said.

"It must be nice. You all seem so free."

I let out a scoff. "I was never free like the others."

"Why not?"

"I was seen as a criminal. Always had to wear a mask. It was pretty much as close to being in prison without actually being in prison as you can get."

She just looked at me with a confused face. I didn't expect her to understand. She was used to getting her own way and being able to whatever she wanted. She never had to wear a mask.
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"What's your next move going to be?" One of the crew members asked Christian. We were below deck in the dining area. The boys were playing cards while the girls watched. "Hmm, I think I'm going to keep what I have." Christian said looking at his cards. There was money in the center of the table. The men put down their cards. The crew members sighed while Christian had a smug grin on his face. He had won the round and was given some of the money from the middle.

I sat next to Scarlett and the female crew members. Princesses were not supposed to gamble according to Madame Ellie. It's not lady like.

I miss the days when I would play cards with my parents. My mom would put flowers that she picked from our garden in the center. We would play for petals instead of money. And sometimes when we had a little extra money to spare she would buy some candy from the market and use that instead. They always let me win whenever we had the candy because they loved seeing how happy I got, at least that's what my mom always told me.

Suddenly it felt like a knot had formed in my stomach. I miss my parents. I miss running around outside playing tag with my my dad while mom cooked dinner and watched us from the window. Every time I would look at the window during a game, I would see her smiling.

Maybe I was free like Scarlett had said. Sure, I had to wear a mask, but I was happy at home. My parents saw past my mask and loved me unconditionally. They didn't care what I did as long as I wasn't getting into any trouble. I could play card games, eat whatever food I wanted, and be as messy as I wanted. There weren't specific ways you had to eat food. Silverware didn't matter. I never realized how good I had it in the villages.

The room felt like it was starting to close in round me. Everyone's talking stared to jumble together, and my vision began to blur. "I'm going to get some fresh air above deck." I whispered to Scarlett. I got up and managed to find my way to the door without stumbling. I opened it and stepped out. I went up the stairs until I was finally above deck. I gasped for air.

Being in that room felt like I was trapped under water and I had managed to get to shore for some air. I stood at the end of the boat and watched it move along the water. I had never been on a boat before, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. It's a little crowded, but besides that it all right. I've managed not to get sea sick yet.

I looked up at the sky. It was a mix of a dark and light blue. It wasn't quite night yet, but it was no longer daytime. There was a crescent moon and the stars were starting to show. It was a beautiful sight, and it managed to calm me down.

I heard someone walk up the stairs onto the deck. A few seconds later I felt a kiss on my cheek and someone's arms wrapped around my waste. I didn't even have to turn around to know that it was Christian. "Why'd you leave? I was winning and you were my good luck charm. When you left, I started loosing everything." He said in a joking manner.

"I just wanted to get some air and look at the view." I said. "Is everything okay?" He asked me. I gave a little smile and nodded my head. "Never been better." I said. Truth be told, I had never been worse. I thought being a part of the royal family would get rid of my problems, not create new ones.

"Christian?" I heard someone say I turned around and noticed Scarlett walking up to the deck. "May I please have a word with you?" She asked. Christian nodded his head. We both stood there waiting for her to speak. "In private." She said looking at me. "Oh" I said quietly so they could barley hear. I walked below deck into Scarlett and I's room. I left the door open hoping I would be able to hear their conversation. I was standing in the door frame trying to understand what they were saying.

"Erika.....mask....ruin......me.....together....wedding." Those were the only words I could understand, but it was hard to figure out who was saying what. "It's not very polite to eavesdrop." I heard a voice from behind me say. I jumped and turned around. I didn't realize there was anyone else in the room with me. "Oh...ummm I was just ummm." I stuttered trying to explain myself. The women who spoke must have worked on the boat. Her clothes were so torn and dirty it looked like she was wearing rags.

I noticed she was standing by our fireplace with a miniature shovel in her hand. She must be in charge of putting coal in the heaters. That's why she was all dirty. "I can't blame you though." She said. "You never know what Scarlett is going to say. You have to watch your back when you're around her." She added.

"You know her?" I asked.

"I've had the displeasure of serving her before, yes. In fact I was working on the boat she took to get to your kingdom." She said.

I snuck my head out the door to see if anyone was in earshot of the room. I then closed the door and brought my voice down to almost a whisper.

"Tell me about her. What's she like?" I asked wanting to learn some more information.

"Devious is the only word I can use to describe her and her mother."

"Her and her mother? Devious? How so?" 

She looked around the room to make sure no one else was there. I thought it was silly, but then again I didn't know she was in here just a few moments ago.

"They've come up with a plan." She said in a hushed whisper.

"A plan? What kind of plan?"

"I'm not exactly sure, but I knew it involves Christian. They don't like the fact that you are engaged."

This does not sound good. It does not sound good at all.