Mermania

Thankyou Your Highness

Crunch of the snow as my attacker pursues each step slow and labored. "Tonight, there is a ball in honor of Peter's sixteenth birthday tomorrow. I do hope you will both join us. I would be honored to introduce you to my court," The empress offers gracefully, brushing the breadcrumbs from her bodice. "I know, I know," I said having already ignored the first phone call from him. I was not looking forward to that conversation. "Please tell me I'm not going to be executed right now." Rema grabbed Greger's hand and begged. Her feet slowly inched backwards. Rema wanted off the balcony and away from his royal family. She had no desire to be associated with them, nor did she want the people to think of her as their future princess. Even though she was going along with Lennek for now, she did not intend to marry him. "Oh, right!" Katie and I quickly left the room. Lydia followed us out. Evan and Darren stood in front with David. I'd never seen Evan in a tux before. I stared until Katie elbowed me in the rib. What if Craig was unfaithful ten years ago? No_ any man could be unfaithful if he let his guard down, but Craig never had. I would have known, she thought with a touch of good humor. He's such a terrible liar. "And the kids?" Mom inquired. Eddie's face fell a little. "I had a good arm, too," he said. "My coach thought I might have been able to pitch in high school, maybe even college. But my father, he _well, I realized one day that I was playing baseball to try to make him love me, and it wasn't working. That was the day I gave it up." "That's good to hear," she said, resuming her study of her fingernails. "Now, I want you to go to your room and do your homework. But feed Paws first- you forgot to feed him again this morning. He was disappointed. "Mako ran up four flights of stairs and down an empty corridor. At the tapestry depicting a castle shrouded in clouds on a mountain top, he shoved it aside and entered the secret passageway. Darkness and a musty smell engulfed him. Feeling along the rough walls, he counted as he moved through the tunnel. After thirty paces, he turned left. Then at fifty paces, he stopped. There was supposed to be a door directly to his right. His hands came across splintering wood, and he pushed the door open a couple of inches. Mako peered into the royal wing. It was silent. Slipping out of the passageway, he unsheathed his sword and entered the main sitting room, which was used only by the royal family. There were two paramedics at the door- one male and one female. Each held a medical bag. Could I? I would probably wonder what I missed, but life without Evan? A day here or there would not be enough. Could I just leave him, as David left my mother? Would he be willing to have me just a few days a year? Would I want him to? Rema refused to meet his deep, brown eyes that reminded her of the forest's dirt flooring after it rained. She needed to keep her head on straight. "Your kindness is much appreciated, Your Highness," she said condescendingly. Rema refrained from saying that she wished to return home for fear it would give him leverage over her. Officer Garrenton swung herself into the driver's seat, barely waiting for Craig and Kara to settle in behind her before she flipped on her lights and listen and sped the three of them away. I didn't recognize the voice on the other end of the line. It was a deep baritone. "Sure," the big man answered. "They might have been the same age as my own kids, could've played together. Why do you ask?" Aunt Maya's breathing was strained. Rema hoped her aunt would make it to the cave. "No, I'm not." He tried again, bringing his forehead to mine with one hand touching the back of my neck. His words were soft. "I just...love you." With black-gloved fingers, the figure picked up the badge. A touch of justice, the figure thought spitefully as he inspected it. Fate took his badge from him. How ironic that the figure- no entirely law-abiding citizen himself- would be troubled by the sins of an officer of the law. But to Robin Hood, justice meant something, and those who enforced the law were expected to abide by it themselves for the good of society. Albert K. did not live up to that expectation. I knew how much David loved my mom. I didn't doubt his sincerity at all. I thought about the seals that surrounded him this morning. "Who were the other seals? Were my aunts there?" "Will you be going to the reception?" I asked, trying to address both of my aunts. It was difficult, since Brigid was scanning the room, her eyes on alert. Never, thank goodness. But of course, Sara didn't say that out loud. Curtains aside. Squinting into the morning sun, she gasped. The view was breathtaking. King's city was "Sure, all right," Dad chuckled. "See you in the morning." Sara's stomach screamed for food, but still she hesitated. She desperately needed to get to Xanthus. However, she would need her strength for the journey ahead. "Okay," she said. "But then I must go." Ula didn't say anything. She was staring into the fire. When she turned to me, her eyes were teary. "Meara, I have something to tell you..." Then the vows were over. They were officially husband and wife. When invited to do so, David tipped my mom back and kissed her passionately. I had to look away, and when I turned, I caught Katie's eyes. She grinned. I looked at Evan, and he smiled back. With a gulp, he handed her his baseball glove. "Go to your room!" she commanded. "And when I look in there, you had better not be under your bed!" The other cop winked at me with a grin. Confused but happy for a possible ally, I let a smile slip in return, while Hero-cop flipped through a notepad. Kara huffed. "I'm talking about how you've been gone every waking moment, out looking for Rhonda Lerwick, and now Bill, or Bert, or whatever his name is!" She was yelling, with Craig sitting just a few feet across the table from her and Zach right there watching, but she didn't care. "Knew what?" "Ula?" I leaned forward and touched her shoulder. "No," she said.