The League

Chapter 2

"The names are in alphabetical order, there's no other explanation for the way they are called." The chancellor explains in a clipped tone and begins.

"Alani Anders." Of course... I watch as the snobby girl walks up to the stage, smiling her brightest, sweetest smile and accepting her letter to the League. Fake. I wonder briefly if anyone else can see through her facade.

"Presley Aynes." A pretty blonde follows Alani and I hope she's as nice as she looks. "Horizon Brewer... Emmalee Butcher... Adrianna Byrd..." Two brunettes and a cappuccino skinned girl follow next.

"Phoenix Carrington.. Reagan Crews.. Shiloh Cutter.. Paxton Firman.. Seraphina Floresca.." Name after name is called and I clap for my friend as she stands and begins to push her way toward the stage. I wonder how-

"Addilyn Freimark..." My thoughts are cut short and I plant a smile on my face. I swallow the ball in my throat and follow Seraphina on stage. The names continue as I move towards the tall man handing us our letters stamped with the royal insignia.

"Remy Gable.. Brylee Graham.. Blair Hadley.. Galaxy Hughes.. Fidelity Hynson.. Ziv Johnson.. Jazz Lane.." Somewhere between the names and my clouded thoughts, I bacame very aware of the crowd cheering for us and the eyes and cameras on our faces. The names seem endless when you're standing in front of hundreds of people.

"Kiara Lennox...Ravyn Marsh... Mirabella Newton... Robyn Novak... Naomi Pollock... Everleigh Ramone..." I smile as my friend approaches us. "Caterina Rush... Ariella Starling.. Lilyanna Tilden... England Turton... Sage Wells... Maple Young..." The crowds clap as the last girl makes her way up to the stage to accept the last demoiselle letter.

"Thank you for your patience ladies and gentlemen. Now I'll begin with our bachelors." Just when I thought we were done...

"Ripley Abernathy... Axel Buford... Treyton Chandler... Colter Delavan... Xavier Fernsby..." The first five are all dark haired, except for one blonde, named Axel, but all are handsome. Not bad.. At least I have eye candy for this mess...

"Vaughn Geltz... Flynn Kerrigan... Hollick Lothridge..." I watch as the three handsome bachelors climb the stairs and clap for my friend. Hollick and I have been friends for years and I can proudly say he's my guy best friend today.

"Cordell Minton... Gatley Pimble... Maxton Prenatt.. Benson Rhodes... Judson Stentz... Harper Sullivan.. And last, but not least, Holden Warrington." The final guys are all equally as attractive as the first few, but I don't know all of the bachelors, nor all of the demoiselles as I look around me.

"Now, I proudly present to you, the League!" A shot sounds as soon as the final words are spoken and the crowd members start screaming.

"Move, get them out of here, now!" The man who gave us the letters is now screaming and pushing men in dress suits toward us.

"Sorry, ma'am, but I have to get you out of here." I'm pushed along with a few other girls to the back of the stage, but not before I look back and hear a few more gun shots and watch a man crumple to the ground. I catch a glimpse of the man who made the deadly shot and my blood runs cold.

"What's going on? Why did he shoot that man?" I'm hysterical now at the sight of the man in the dress suit- the same suit this man is wearing- shooting another man.

"Ma'am you need to calm down. I don't ask questions, I just do my job." He finally slows down and bends over, his hands on his thighs as he paces himself. He lifts his hand and opens his dress vest and shirt, revealing a bullet proof vest. There's blood coming through it slightly on the left side of his torso.

"Why'd he kill that man?" I finally ask. I don't know if I should trust him or not, nor do I know if he'll even answer my questions, but I ask anyways.

"They're rebels. They hate the monarchy and they want it to be destroyed. My job is to protect it."

"Are you going to be okay?" I ask. I'm scared and I'm pretty sure he can tell.

"Yes." He keeps his answer short. He pulls me again and we make our way to the train station. "You've got to go, now. Your stuff has all been boarded." Other demoiselles and bachelors are already being loaded, so I nod and climb on the train. When I look back, the secret service agent has disappeared and I'm urged forward.