Emergency Princess (Under Editing)

Chapter 8| The Mystery Man

8| The Mystery Man

Thanks to everyone who still reads my crazy A/Ns. I hope you are enjoying the story. Very short chapter, but still a double update.

ROSE'S POV

I heard voices.

"...under no circumstance is she allowed to escape, but don't hurt her. We need her alive, at least for a little while longer."

"Yes Sir," said a second voice.

"I'm going out for a walk, waiting for her to come to is rather taxing. Keep an eye on her, will you."

"Of course Sir."

Then, I heard footsteps, growing fainter and fainter till they completely faded out. A foot kicked my limp body and I winced. It hurt, a lot. In fact, every part of me hurt.

"Wake up, you twit," muttered a coarse voice.

"Stan, the boss said don't hurt her!" cried a third voice.

"Ah, shut it Rockley. He's not here to see, is he? And it's not like she can snitch, can she?" Stan cackled, but it soon turned into a hacking cough. I had had enough; I wanted to see my captors. I blinked once, twice as my eyes adjusted to dim light.

"Ah, so I see she's finally awake. Welcome to the party, Your Highness." The last two words were practically spat in my face by a tall lanky man, Stanley, as he mockingly bowed in front of me.

I glared at him. "My grandfather will rescue me. I am the Crown Princess of Maldonia. This is treason, and when you are caught, as you no doubt will be, you will be sentenced."

They both laughed as if I'd told an extremely funny joke.

"What do you find so amusing? Treason is no small joke, I assure you," I said genuinely confused.

"Ah, little girl," laughed the stout man, Rockley. "There is so much you do not understand. You and I are merely pawns in a much bigger plan. The Master has greater plans, far greater than your tiny mind could ever hope to comprehend."

"What are you harping on about?" I asked. I tried to stand, but my legs gave out, and I collapsed, which sent them into spasms of laughter.

"I will be free soon you know."

"You are weak, girl," sneered Stan. "You put on airs and graces, but under all the pomp you are but a little child, trying to act like an adult."

His cold brown eyes cut into mine, and I felt myself involuntarily shiver.

"I am not weak," I declared, lifting my chin, and pulling at the restraints that kept my hands tied. "I am Princess Rosa Katherine Elisabeth Chateaubriand. And I will get out of here, you mark my words."

"But that's all you are, all words, no action. Your words are sharp enough to hurt people, and that's all you use. Well, news flash, girlie, sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

"What are you, a psychologist?" I spat at his face, narrowing my eyes at him. I tried to cover up the fact that his words pierced me like a sword. He had read me like a book, and I didn't like it, not one bit. My mind wandered.

"I think, in your case, a psychiatrist is more appropriate," he retorted.

I bit back the insult I was about to hurl at him. It wouldn't do me any good to get on the bad side of my kidnappers.

Just then, a man clad in a large woollen cloak walked in. His boots were large, and caked with dirt. His face was covered by a wide brimmed hat, but I was able to make out eyes, eyes that I recognised.

"It's you," I breathed. The guard who had kidnapped me.

"Yes, it's me. Did you miss my company?" he drawled sarcastically.

"Hardly. I'd rather jump off a bridge than stay in the same room as you."

"Oh honey, if you don't watch your attitude, that can be arranged," he said, in the same saccharine tone. Somehow, it scared me more than Stan's harsh one.

"What do you want with me?" I asked. He flicked my nose.

"Sweet cheeks, this isn't one of those cheesy novels or movies that you watch. I'm not just going to blurt out my plan for you to foil it. Although from where I'm standing, you seem rather...well shall we say, incapacitated."

He chuckled, his voice cold as shards of ice. I tugged at the rope that bit into the tender flesh of my wrists. That was surely going to leave a mark.

"You deserve to die." I spat at him, the glob of saliva landing on his shoe. He narrowed his eyes at me, and I gulped. Maybe I'd gone a little too far.

"I dare you to repeat yourself," he hissed, his nose almost touching mine.

"You. Deserve. To. Die." I enunciated each word carefully, caution thrown to the winds. Not my wisest decision. I felt a blinding pain as my head snapped to the right. I looked up, strands of hair falling into my eyes to see him smiling smugly. My cheek stung, and I was pretty sure there were five red welts forming there

"I cannot , and do not, tolerate impudence. You are lucky that you are needed, or else you would be fish food before you could blink. Never speak to me like that again. I will be respected. Understood?"

I nodded, willing the tears away. I needed to be brave, to keep my head up.

"Use your words," he chided, as if he was speaking to a child.

"I understand."

"Good. Was that so hard? I, for one, am very glad we see eye to eye on this matter. It would be very inconvenient to have to take you out of the picture before the fun has even begun. Right?"

I wasn't able to answer, as he turned around before I could, and walked out of the small door in the side of the large building.

"Stan, Rockley, come. We have work to do." The two men scampered after him, but not before Stan shot me a victorious look. They closed the door behind them, leaving me almost in darkness, my only source of light being the moonlight filtering through the narrow windows.