The Kings Love

Stressed

( Jasmine )
( Day 67, December 28th )

I was moving. Not like I was walking but like I was in a car or something. I forced my eyes open and immediately closed them back as I was wrecked by the crushing headache. Shit, the last thing I remembered was my mothers fist hitting me over and over then there was just black. I gingerly opened my eyes again and saw that where ever I was, it was pitch black and the oxygen supply seemed dangerously low. I was definitely in a moving car though and when it seemed to hit a road bumper, my body rose and hit metal. My eyes widened completely as I realized I was in the fucking trunk. These sons of bitches put me in the trunk?! Ugh, just fucking great! It was a good twenty more minutes by the time the car came to a stop and I was on my way to losing every last shred of my mind. I wasn't claustrophobic but being in such a small space as that was pushing my oxygen far to low.

The top of the trunk opened and light blared down on my eyes, momentarily blinding me. When my vision refocused, my eye sight landed on Hiro and a sneer instantly came to my lips but he just smiled mega watt bright at me.

Hiro: "Have a relaxing drive? Come on, time to see your new home." He grabbed me by my shoulders and yanked my body up, pulling me the rest of the way out. He placed me on my feet and I dropped to the ground immediately. Not having stood or eaten for days left my legs weak and unable to hold my weight up. Hiro smacked his teeth, muttering weak underneath his breath and bent to lift me onto his shoulders. I felt sick being up like that and wiggled to get out of his hold.

Hiro walked into the living room of a home and dropped me on the floor, his sneer evil enough to rival that of the Devils. He sat down on a dark brown sectional sofa, staring down at me like he was some fucking king.

Hiro: "You know, for someone who hasn't eaten in a week, you still weigh a ton. You can stand to lose some pounds, maybe you should just stick to this non eating thing." His laugh was cruel and I flinched at the words, reminding me of when I first came to Parisih inside the dressing room. My insecurities slapped me hard like a vengeful bitch and I sucked in a ragged breath. I was hurt but my lips refused to allow the insult to go unchallenged.

Jasmine: "You know, you have an awful lot of insults for women but I can guarantee you would never speak to a man that way. Tell me Hiro, how is it having Candice's strap on so far up your ass? Cause I can tell you're not the one wearing the pants. Just the one with the gun." His eyes turned black as night and when he stood up, he pressed his boot down on my stomach with enough force to knock the breath from me. I wheezed out and he put more weight on his foot.

Hiro: "I can't wait til I get to silence that annoying little mouth of yours completely. Just a few more days and I could lay waste to you my damn self, you fat slut. What the fools saw in you, I'd never know. I'd be doing him a favor when I get rid of you." With one more push to my abdomen, Hiro pushed off and walked away from me. Tears slid down my face not from the pain but from the words. I pushed the sadness down to the depths of my mind and tried to sit up. It took a few attempts but finally I was able to get myself into a sitting position.

My eyes scanned the living room and there was a huge flat screen tv on top of a brown stand that had a built in electric fireplace. I was sitting on a huge red and gold Persian rug that sat upon a wooden floor. There was a scattering of potted plants around the room and a window twice the size of me along the wall, showing the outside world. I was able to make it on my legs and walked slowly to the window by holding on to the sofa. I tried to open the window and when it wouldn't budge, I looked down to see that it was nailed shut. Footsteps behind me made the hairs on the back of my neck stand and I slowly turned to see Candice. She was wearing a figure hugging white shirt dress and Gucci boots. I felt so ugly in my days old tights and tank top, I just knew I couldn't hold a candle to her.

Candice: "You should really eat. I knew you were stubborn but this is ridiculous. I thought you were a fighter but you already gave up on life. You don't deserve to be at Laurent's side." She set a bag of McDonalds on the glass coffee table in the middle of the rug and took a seat on the sofa. I eyed the bag and felt the need to survive override the want to give in. I took a seat on the small side of the sectional and begin to eat, watching Candice as I did so. It hurt to chew with the marks my mother created before and it burned my throat to swallow. But before I knew it, I polished off three burgers and two large fries. I felt sick, my stomach twisting into knots and it took everything to keep the food down. Candice eyes narrowed but she kept quiet.

Jasmine: "You say I don't deserve to be at Laurent's side but what makes you so amazing that you can say what I deserve or do not deserve? You kidnapped me and beat me so what qualifies you to be at his side? A child that isn't his? The murder of his ex wife? How about being the one who scarred her own sister for life? You are evil incarnate and you have no right to say anything about my position at Laurent's side. You just hate that he finally saw you for the monster you truly are." I was winded and exhausted by the time I finished talking and I could feel sleep overtaking all my alert motors. Candice had an weird look in her eyes and she stood, walking toward the hallway. She stopped at the wall and her hand gripped it so tight, her knuckles turned white.

Candice: "yes I have done a lot of vile and evil things, all to be at the side of the man I loved. There are some things I regret but I can't take back the past so I will never apologize for it. You don't need to understand me, I do what I feel should be done for me. Anyways, you have free reign of the living room but do know that all the doors have locks on them only able to open by key and all other openings in the house are nailed or bolted down. There is no escape for you Jasmine. Welcome home." She left into the darkened hallway and I just sat there. I wasn't surprised about the locks and being confined to the living room. At least I wasn't shackled down anymore. I laid down on the sofa and let oblivion take over again. I dreamt of chocolate pools and grapes.

( King Laurent )
( Day 68, December 29th 12 am )

I watched the clock strike twelve and signify another day of Jasmine being gone. I was going crazy and I was snapping on everyone and everything that dared come into my line of vision. I gently caressed the bracelet in my hand and Jasmine's smiling face flooded my mind. My caress on the bracelet turned to a crushing grip as her smile morphed into a silent scream of pain and terror. I knocked the vase that was on the desk I was sitting at on the floor with so much force that it shattered into miniature pieces. I pushed up from the chair and it fell to the floor with a loud clang. I needed to get to her, I refused to believe she wasn't still breathing the same air as me.

Before I could get worked up again and destroy more property that wasn't mine, Curtis walked into the room, his gaze landing on the broken vase.

King Laurent: "Got a problem traitor?!" My voice sounded foreign even to me in its broken rage and Curtis lips thinned as he bit down a slick retort. That was smart of him because the way I was feeling, his head would've been rolling all the way down the Miami strip. He cleared his throat and spoke calmly and rationally.

Curtis: "Not at all your Majesty. I came here to report to you about what I leaned visiting some of my navy connects here." My patience was at an end and I snapped at him to hurry up to which he stood a little straighter.

Curtis: "Well you see your Majesty, I had completely forgotten that these were the very same men I had asked to protect Jasmine's siblings. After speaking with them, I think it's best if we go and talk with Jasmine's mother. I think the woman could help us. I'm not sure how but it's worth a try right?" Curtis spoke in a hopeful tone and I released a dejected sigh.

King Laurent: "Very well, find her mother and we will go and speak with the woman. Talk to me when she is found. You're dismissed." A curt nod from Curtis and he was gone. Something felt wrong about the meeting with Jasmine's mother. Not like a wrong like I shouldn't do it but like a wrong that felt like Jasmine's mother wouldn't survive a meeting with me. Only one way to find out why I felt like this.