Royals [Harry Styles AU]

Chapter 1

I mentally scold myself for wearing noisy shoes as I creep down the cobblestone staircase. My fingers trace along the stone walls, wet from water dripping from the ceiling. With each step my heels click on the stone and echo throughout the stairwell. Every time I hear movement I freeze. I can't be caught down here or else my parents would never allow me anywhere without a personal escort.

I carefully check to make sure none of the guards are around when I reach the bottom of the staircase and then quickly race down the hall. My destination is at the end and every cell between the end of the hall and his is filled with criminals. They whistle as I hurry pass, skirts rustling with every movement.

"Bo?" Harry pushes off the wall where he is sitting and crawls over to the cell door when I reach him.

"Hey." I sink to the floor and reach through the bars for his fingers, my grey dress pooling around me.

"If I was a good boyfriend I'd be scolding you for coming here, but I'm selfish and want you to be here." His voice is weak.

"Even then I'd come visit you." Harry smiles weakly. "How are you?"

"Happy to finally see some sunlight." Harry's fingers reach through the cell bars and intertwine with mine. I roll my eyes at his cheesy line. "But, otherwise all right. I've been in here just a week and I'm already used to the moldy food. That bad?"

"It's bad if you don't eat it. I can't keep sneaking you food. I'm going to get caught and then you'll actually have to eat it." I reach into my dress pocket and pull out a small bundle of cloth.

Harry's green eyes light up. "How'd you know I'm not eating the prision food?"

"I'm not an idiot, Haz. In just a week you've already become weak and you've lost a lot of weight. And I don't want my boyfriend becoming flabby." I unfold the cloth and hand the small chunk of bread from inside to Harry.

He greedily takes it and immediately shoves the whole chunk into his mouth. Although it's a few days stale he sighs as if it's a fresh piece straight from God himself. "I am not going to get flabby." He says after swallowing. "Any chance you have a little more?" He asks hopefully.

I brush a few fallen crumbs from my dress and shake my head. Harry frowns for a moment and then reaches through the cell bars again. "Thank you."

"It's the least I could do. You're here because of me anyways." My fingers cup his hand against my cheek.

"I'd rather be here then have that bastard think he can have his way with you." Harry's fingers tighten around mine.

"He hasn't tried anything since the ball." I instantly regret the words as soon as they slip from my mouth.

"What do you mean since the ball? Have you been seeing him?" Harry visibly struggles to control his temper.

"He has requested my presence every day since the ball. I can't deny him, believe me I've tried. He threatened to have you killed if I didn't meet his requests." I rush out, worried Harry would throw a fit and cause attention to be called to us.

"What kind of requests has he made?" Harry's knuckles are white from gripping the metal cell bars.

"Just that I meet him everyday for lunch and dress in whatever he gives me. That's all, I promise." I reach for him through the bars, but he pulls away and stands up, pacing the small confines of his cell

"So that's why you've been coming dressed so elegantly. Are these dresses all he gives you to wear for him?" Harry holds his breath as he awaits my answer.

"Yes, that is all." I say.

"What is this?" Harry's eyes focus on the outrageous engagement ring Louis had given me. I despised the damn thing and could barely stand to see it's overly obnoxious diamond settled atop the glittering band.