The Year 3000

Chapter 35: Change of Plans

Scarlett's POV

Previously:

The Rebellion was going to be set up for slaughter if I didn't do something about it. Foreseeing the future did no one any good if you weren't able to prevent it. Somehow, I needed to get word out to Luke and the Rebellion that the Kings knew about the attack.

But how?

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For that, I did not have an answer. Plus, that was only if I survived Harry's wrath about the attack. And that was a big if. I knew Michael had said he would leave Ashton, Luke, and myself out of it, but he had also said that other people had overheard me and Ashton talking, so what if they told him?

Harry would kill both me and Ashton.

Ashton.

I had to tell him the Kings knew about the attack! Maybe he would know what to do. I blushed slightly as I stood up. Plus, he deserved an explanation for me just suddenly running off like I had. I'd completely abandoned him. Glancing at the greenery around me, I slowly made my way back to the Palace, taking my time. Everything was all happening so fast. I rarely had time to enjoy the splendor around me. Even though I had been at the Palace for almost five months now, I still had yet to get used to the grandeur of everything. Letting out a deep sigh, the kind of sigh that fills your entire being, I carefully made my way back through the glass entrance doors.

I flashed to the servant quarters, to Ashton's room, where I figured he would be.

Turns out, I was right.

But what I wasn't expecting was for him to be on his knees, his head bowed down and his hands clasped tightly behind him, with King Louis towering over his figure, gripping his hair roughly.

It reminded me sickeningly of the position Luke was in when I drank from him. My blood ran cold, a shudder racking its way through my body.

No.

This was wrong. This was so completely, utterly wrong. Ashton was not supposed to be on the ground like this; submissive and helpless. He was supposed to be towering over the world, carrying me along in his hands. He had always been the stronger one out of the two of us. Seeing him down on his knees—for a vampire no less!—was earth shattering. It was as if my whole world had been flipped upside down.

Granted, I had known about his training to be a servant, but seeing it. It was a completely different thing.

I wasn't sure if it was my breathing or my heartbeat that made King Louis glance up at me from over his shoulder, but regardless, he did not look happy to be interrupted.

"What are you doing here?" he snarled, baring his teeth at me. I shamelessly flinched.

"I just came to see Ashton." My voice sounded high and weak in my own ears. I mentally scolded myself. Upon hearing me speak, Ashton immediately began struggling against Louis' grip on his hair, which earned him a good yank. Ashton yelped, his hands flying to his head.

I glanced away. I couldn't watch. It was too painful.

"Did I say you could get up?" Louis hissed, tightening his grip on Ashton. Ashton whimpered, a sound foreign to my ears. I hated it.

"No Sir," he managed to get out, his voice strained. My heart clenched. He sounded so scared, so like a little boy that I felt tears well up in my eyes. Helplessness overtook me. I couldn't step in. Louis would only punish Ashton more, and probably me too. I was positive Harry would allow it.