Hidden Secrets, Hidden Past, Hidden Lives

Chapter Fifteen (Sam)

Sam was blown away.  He never realized that the princess was so angry and hurt. 

"Come princess.  I think you could use a rest," he said.

"Okay," she said, following him out of Brian's room.

Once they were in a safe place, where no one could hear them, he said, "Are you okay?  I never realized what you were going through.  Have you told anyone how you feel?"

"No, I haven't.  I'm not allowed to discuss...this...with anyone.  Erik doesn't like to talk about it either. He doesn't think it's that big of a deal."  

She wiped her eyes.  She gave Sam a look that frightened him a bit.

"Thank you."

"For what, princess?"

"You are the best thing that has come into my life.  You are truly the only friend I have."

Before Sam knew what was happening, she embraced him in a hug...and kissed him on the lips.  He could feel his eyes getting bigger and his face turning red.

She blushed too. "I'm so sorry.  I don't know what came over me."

"It's...okay," stammered Sam.

She blushed again.  Sam could feel his own face turning even redder.

"So...what else can we talk about?" asked Sam.

"Well...how old are you?"

"Nineteen.  You?"

"I'm eighteen, but my birthday is in two weeks...though no one will know about my birthday.  All everyone talks about around here is the wedding."

"For someone who is about to get married, you aren't that excited."  Though he said it, he was already aware of the circumstances at hand.

"I don't want to marry Erik!  Was I not clear a moment ago?  I have no choice in this matter.  Every time I think of the day I was kidnapped..."

"You were kidnapped!?"

She swiftly placed her hands over her mouth.  "I have said too much."  It looked like she was about to cry.

Sam embraced her, stroking her hair to calm her.

She laid her head on his shoulder.

What is happening to me?  Why do I feel so strange?

He started to feel tears soaking into his shirt.  He just held her until she stopped crying.

Sam suddenly let go of her and looked around the hallway.

"What is it?"

"I thought I felt someone looking at us and then I thought I heard footsteps."

She looked around too.  "I don't see anything...or anyone."

Sam wasn't so sure.  He really thought someone was spying on them.

"Why don't I take you back to your chambers princess.  You've had a rough day."

"Alright."

They walked down the corridor and turned down the next one.  They had almost reached the end of the corridor before Sam heard someone shouting at them.  They both turned around to find Erik heading towards them.

He is moving rather quickly.  I wonder why.

Erik gave them a smile, which sent shivers down Sam's spine.  He could sense a darker side to Erik from what he had learned so far.

"Thank you, my good man, for watching over my princess.  I will take it from here," said Erik coldly.

"It was no trouble at all Prince Erik," said Sam, "and by the way, the name is Prince Sam."

"Yeah, yeah.  Of course.  Now off you go," said Erik.

Was it just Sam or was Erik...jealous of him?  Sam had to fight off the laughter that tickled his throat.

"Then I will see you later princess," said Sam.

As soon as he rounded a corner and knew he wouldn't be seen, he stood as silent and as still as a statue; he even made his breathing quieter.

"What were you two doing together, alone in a corridor?" asked Erik.

"Nothing," she said.

The last sound he heard was a strike on someone's face and a girl's soft cry.  He ran as fast as he could in the opposite direction so he would no give in to the fury growing inside of him.