My Kingdom

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Lady-In-Waiting Maddie's P.O.V.

"I just don't know what to do!" I rant to Darwin. "Everyone seems to have their place and have something to contribute to finding her. I am useless." I fall back on his pink fluffy bed.

"You're not useless." Darwin says trying to comfort me. "You found out who took her and when."

"But I let it happen." Tears threaten my eyes again. "If it wasn't for me, she would have been safe."

"That's only half true." Darwin says. "He would have found a different time to take her. You just made the process faster."

"If that was supposed to help, it didn't." I answer rubbing my eyes.

"Okay, then, just think of anything to help. Anything you can think of, and don't think twice. Just do it." Darwin offers.

"That's great advice to get us both killed!" I yell.

"Lower your voice." Darwin says. "Yelling isn't going to bring Bridget back."

"I know." I stand up. "Do you want to come with me to talk to Emily?"

"Yes, I need to talk to her." Darwin jumps up and lets me jump on his back. He flys us through the palace to where Princess Emily is. Once we enter the library I get off Darwin's back.

"Maddie!" I hear Christine yell as we enter the room. I didn't see her in here. She takes one look at me and hugs me tightly. "You look horrible."

"Thanks?" I answer back unsure of how to answer that. But I don't blame her for saying that. I probably have bright red eyes and make up running down my face.

"Sorry." Christine says looking away. "I didn't mean to offend you."

"I'm glad that you came." Emily interrupts, walking over to me. "I didn't want you doing anything rash." She grabs my hands. "There is nothing you can do to help Bridget. I'm so sorry, I know you want to help. You need to let the guards and me do our job to get her. Don't do anything stupid. Don't go outside or trust anyone except the guards I assign you."

"What?" I argue. "There has to be something!" I raise my voice.

"No, there's not." Emily shakes her head. "I'm so sorry. We will do everything...."

"No!" I interrupt. "I need to be good for something around here! I refuse to just sit here!"

"Holden, Gregory." Emily yells. I look to the door and see them both walk in. "Take Maddie to her room and make sure you watch her! She isn't allowed to leave her room."

"Yes, Princess." They say in unison. They each grab one of my arms and drag me out of the room.

"No!" I yell while fighting to get free. "I refuse! Emily... Please!" I plead looking over at her.

"Your safety is important to me." Emily says. "This is for your own good."

I scream and kick while getting dragged out of the room.

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I refuse to get off my bed. I lie there and I don't move. I think about Bridget and how I'm not being productive at all to help her. There has to be something I can do! Anything!

"Are you hungry?" Gregory asks breaking up the silence.

"No." I answer as plainly as possible.

"Are you thirsty?" He asks.

"No." I answer again through gridded teeth.

"Are you..."

"No!" I yell interrupting him. "I'm not anything! Leave me alone!"

"Maddie..." Holden walks over to me.

"Leave me alone, unless you want to help me get Bridget." I say hugging my pillow.

"You know that it would be a bad idea. It would kill you both!" Holden says holding back his frustration.

"I don't care!" I yell. "I want her safe, here, in the palace! And I will do whatever it takes to get her back."

"That's what scares me." Holden sits down putting his face in his palms.

"Maddie, I agree with Holden." Gregory says. "You need to think before you act. You're actions could get you both killed. And trust me, I want the princess back. But if it means her safety... Then she will have to wait a couple more hours."

"I want Darwin." I demand. They both look at me confused. "Someone get me Darwin. I need to talk to him."

"Maddie..."

"Now!" I yell. I know I'm being rude but it's important.

"Okay." Gregory gives in. He walks over to door and yells for Darwin. In about a minute Darwin arrives.

"What is it Lady-In-Waiting?" Darwin asks slowly walking in.

"Darwin," I smile. "Do you remember the advice you gave me earlier today?"

"The one about not thinking twice about what to do?" Darwin whispers. "That was bad advice, don't take it."

"No, Darwin." I say so Holden and Gregory can hear. "That was great advice." I sit up and run.

I run straight for my window. My room is large so I have a lot of running space. I hear shouts behind me but I don't spot. I have to rely on Darwin for this plan. Of he doesn't understand, I might end up killing myself. But that doesn't slow me down. I keep running. Then when I get close to the window, I brace myself and break right though the window.

I start falling. I don't think about anything other than that this is for Bridget. She would be extremely mad if she found out my plan. But I have to do it, I don't have any other choice. I fall and see glass falling around me. My room is on a high level so I have a lot of distance between me and the ground.

The next thing I know I hit something big and scaly. I clench onto it open my eyes. I see my room behind me. The glass is everywhere and Holden and Gregory are looking out the window.

"You're lucky I had enough sense to catch you!" I hear Darwin say to me.

"How did you know where I wanted you to take me?" I ask ignoring his comment.

"It was pretty obvious the second you took off in a dead sprint." Darwin laughs. "I didn't bring you back because I knew that if I didn't bring you, you'd end out killing yourself trying to get out of the palace."

"That's probably true." I admit. I lay down on his back and relax the rest of the way to the Land of Almost Here.