The Soot Princess [Hiatus]

47- Ten

Eevon

The covers were flung back and hands haul me to my feet that were still tied within my tennis shoes. My body felt heavy as the fatigue had settled into my bones. The same bones they were trying to move.

"Guards!" I heard one of the boys call for. I heard a rush of running feet come in the room. "Two of you can take her."

"She seems drunk," one of the men that grabbed me replied.

"Great."

"I'm not and I can walk on my own." I tiredly shook off their hold. My feet sent needles up my legs in complaint to the motion. I led the way through my bedroom door and stop. They looked at me questioningly. "Well, where are we going? I don't know this place nearly as well as you do," I grumbled tiredly.

They walked off to my left and I followed them as if in a trance. I tried to stifle a yawn, but was unsuccessful. If only they hadn't rigged my alarm to go off at five am.

"You are not the only one who is tired little missy," the guard chided me. "A lot of people spent what was going to be their leisure time, looking for you."

"What? Me?" I questioned. "Why?"

"You weren't where you were supposed to be,"James spoke curtly.

"I was never told I had to be anywhere after school today. "

"What about dinner?"

"That was not something I determined mandatory," I replied.

"Just shut up, girl," a guard gripped my arm again.

"Stop!" I tried to pull away.

He tightened his grip. "Don't struggle. You are going to see the King, His Majesty. I suggest you curb that tongue of yours or you will get one of the famous lashings. I wouldn't wish that on anyone."

I stopped fighting his grip so much. What could be so bad about a spanking that even a tough guy like him would be frightened? I mulled over this question in my mind. It couldn't be that bad...

I decided to put it out of my mind and try to remember where I was going, but my sleepy mind didn't want to obey. It really was like I was drunk. I hope I don't do anything stupid due to my sleep induced state. We took a turn down the side hall and everything looked vaguely familiar, but at the same time I had no idea where we were headed. I was dragged past an open door way, where inside was an empty meeting room. I glanced at the number plate, 280.

They pulled me into an elevator and went up to the second to last floor. The elevator stopped when it reached the desired floor and a keypad appeared. Mason punched in a code, then the door opened in to an office. The same man I had met on my arrival and occasionally was invited to join the family for meals with sat behind the desk, which was the only piece of furniture in the room except for a wall-to-wall bookcase and a set of chairs. Everyone bowed, and I was forced to alongside them.

"Rise," he spoke.

"Father, I have brought the rule breaker," Mason said.

"Rule breaker is a little heavy, don't you think?" I heard a recognizable voice and behind me stood Dean, leaning causally against the wall.

"She broke the rules..." I heard an argument start to brew.

"Enough," the King spoke. "Mason, thank you. You are dismissed."

"Yes, Father," he bowed curtly and left.

"As are you," he motioned to the guards holding me.

"But, Your Majesty, the girl is a threat to your life," one protested.