Beauty

Chapter 5

I run down hallways, sprinting past doors until I find a solemn and lonely little cupboard and climb in. It is only a broom cupboard but, I feel safer in it than outside in the castle hallways. 

I lean against the wall slowly sliding down with each sob. All I want is to be a normal girl not have to impress every man that sees me, (that counts as only a few) or some day rule a kingdom. The only friends I had barely knew me, the me they know is made up of lies. 

The true me might have to marry a prince who has never even met me, and has only heard of my beauty. Beauty, is not a gift it's a curse why can't everyone just leave me alone.

I wish I could stay in here foreve and never come out, grow old with no one knowing about me besides my parents and maids.

After a while a tentitive knock rang on the door. How long had it been since I was in here? Hours, minutes, days? I slowly stand up and open the door. Outside stands my lady's maid, Margret.

"My lady." she says and bows down.

"How did you find me?" I ask slowly wiping hurriedly at my tear stained face.

"I know where my Mistress goes when she's sad." she answers turning a little red. It is true I come here often these days.

"Oh, well thank you." 

"It's my honor ma lady. Oh, and I almost forgot The King and Queen request your audience." she says before bowing and walking away.

 I run towards their room trying to wipe away my tears and flatten my hair. I get there breathless, and knock while catching my breathe.

"Enter." I hear from behind the door. I open it to find a ruined room, I gasp seeing the perfect china shattered across the room. The curtains ripped and shredded, the love chairs and table are over turned and stained with some thing.

"Mom? Dad?" I ask looking around the room.

A wimper sounds from across the room, my mom is sitting on the floor, rocking back and forth crying in her knees.

"Mom! What happened? Where's dad?" I ask running over to her and helping her up. It tears my to see my mother like this, she's always so stronge.

"H-h-h-h-e-e-e  i-i-i-s-s-s  g-g-g-o-one." she manages. A tear escapes her eyes and falls to the floor.

"What do you mean?" I ask looking at her shocked then think better of it and start patting her back. It won't help her if I start being sad too. But, what does she mean? He's gone. Did he leave us?

"T-h-h-ey c-c-c-ame. And t-t-took him aw-w-way." 

WHAT???? I scream inside me. They took him. How could they just take him! If my mom isn't in this situation then I would've screamed that but, she is delicate.

"How? How did they breach the borders?" is all I can manage without losing it and bursting into tears. I can only just manage to contain myself for my mom's sake.

"T-t-they j-j-just b-b-urst t-t-through the w-w-w-indow." she says before collapsing into another round of tears.

"I-I'll alert the guards."

"No need, th-h-hey are long gone. Honey you anyways don't even know where they are." she says giving me a weak smile. I could see right through her, she is refering to that it could have been me if I weren't so heavily protected.