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Chapter 7

The week flew by helping Lily make every detail for the birthday ball perfect, that Jane hadn't managed to speak to Alex about the thing that had happened by the cove. In fact, she had only seen him at dinner, and even then he had avoided her looks.

She missed him, missed his touch, missed talking to him. She knew how it must have looked to him though, her pulling away must have looked like rejection, and it killed her that he thought that.

The feelings she felt with him were indescribable, like pure magic. Every time Jane was alone, the memory of it made its way quickly into her mind, making her blush every time. She wanted him so badly it hurt not to be around him all the time. She felt incomplete. As if he was her other half, after all this time she had finally realized.

It was the day before the big ball, and Jane, Charlotte and Lily were on the way to the dress shop to buy a new gown for the ball.

Charlotte was blabbering happily as the carriage bumped along the road to the town centre. Lily replied her casual "How lovely." To Charlotte every once in a while to keep her entertained as if at least one of them were listening.

Meanwhile, Jane was looking out the carriage curtain as the rain blasted away. It was a horrible day, full of dark gloomy clouds overhead, the sun not in sight.

She was thinking about Alex as she generally did nowadays. She couldn't seem to think about anything else. He had consumed her every thought...

"We have arrived your highness." The driver said, opening the carriage door and holding a hand out for Jane first.

She took it, and with a nod of gratitude stepped out onto the uneven ground of cobble stones. The Queen and Charlotte followed on after.

"This way girls." The Queen said, ushering them towards a white wooden shop which held fabrics on wooden tables in the window. Above the white wooden planks of the shop,
'Freddie's Fabrics'.

The shop was jam packed with all the different fabrics one would need.

Almost immediately they both heard a high pitched squeal from the other side of the shop.

"I found it, Lily! This is the one!" Charlotte explained holding the fabric up excitedly. She turned to the small old man who was peering up at Charlotte through his small glasses and started blabbering to him about design and sizing.

Lily and Jane looked at each other with Lily rolling her eyes at Charlotte, and mouthing to Jane,"I will take care of it."

Jane nodded with a smile in reply and wandered over to the table of fabrics which stood in front of the window.

As she was looking at the many patterns she caught a swift movement from the corner of the window, outside. Her heart drops when she nears closer to the window and the head appears again right in front of her and she manages to hold in a scream.

It is the same man as I saw at the beach! Jane thought, and without second consideration of the danger she could be in, she snuck out of the shop quickly, while Lily and Charlotte were busy with the tailor.
I need to know why he is following me. Jane explained to herself.

She had quickly walked out of the shop and down to the window where she had seen the man, except no one, was there.

She continued to walk a few steps further, and as she was about to pass the alley which lay next to the shop, a big unfamiliar hand grabs a hold of her wrist and pulls her into the dark alley, and before she could think to scream a matching hand covers her mouth.

Oh no oh no, Jane thought with dread filling her stomach making her want to throw up. How stupid could I have been, walking out of a shop unprotected to confront a man I know nothing about, except that he has been following me??! Oh God protect me. She thought as she is laid against a wall gently.

For the first time since the big hand had grabbed her wrist, she opened her eyes to face her captor and suddenly wasn't as scared anymore 

He wasn't as old as she had originally thought. In fact, he could have almost have been the same age as her, if it wasn't for the age of his eyes, and the way his body was built.

His powerful hand was pressed up onto the wall behind her, keeping her in place. His green shimmering eyes, oddly similar to hers, tore their way into Janes as if searching for something. 

With her new found bravery, Jane found the words to ask this young man the question she had been wondering about.

"I've seen you before, down by the rocks on the beach." She waited a moment to see a reaction, but was disappointed, all he did was stare into her eyes with his own dark brooding ones, as if not even have heard her. So she began again, "Why were you watching us? Who are you?" 

At this, his eyes seemed to soften into hers. He removed his hand from the wall behind her and straightened up. For a moment, Jane thought she saw a flash of hurt in his eyes, but almost immediately, the brooding expression returned.

"Elvira, it is time to help us, to know who you rightfully are, Princess you can trust me." At this, he took her slightly shaking hand in his.

His voice was soft as silk, but it wasn't that, that made Jane go weak at the knees. It was the connection she felt from this stranger when he caressed her hand. It wasn't the type of connection like she had with Alex. This was something different, there was something behind this, like familiarity...

Jane sucked in her breath and scrunched up her eyebrows in confusion. "Who are you?" She asked, removing her hand quickly from the mans grasp. "What do you want with me?" The last question came out more of a whisper.

The man looked at her, but this time softly. "The Order is rising again Elvira. You were put here on purpose as our last hope to regain the power which is rightfully ours. Return back to us, back to your family! We will return to our rightful place on the throne."

Janes fear immediately returned, this man was talking about overthrowing the King, her family. He was dangerous, his words were threatening not only her but the people who took her in. She knew only one thing to do. Leave, and as quickly as possible.

Jane removed herself from the wall and proceeded to walk back towards the main street. "I am sorry, you must be mistaken. My name is Jane, not Elvira, I don't know what you are talking about, but I am not who you are looking for-"

"Elvira, no, you must understand!"The man said reaching for Janes' hand again, but this time she jumped back just in time.

"I am sorry, I must go." Her heart was beating in her chest, too loud for her to hear what the man was saying, and then a comforting voice sprung to her ears.

"Jane, what are you doing out here?" Jane immediately sprung around at the sound of Lily's voice, her heart slowing down.

"Oh, Lily! This man he well he-" Jane started, but upon turning around to point her harasser out, there was nothing to be seen. The strange man had gone, and it had left Jane speechless. 

"Oh come on Jane, you still haven't picked out your fabric," Lily said ushering Jane back into the shop.

Charlotte, however, stood there staring at the alley, and then back at Jane. 

There's something not right about this. Jane is the perfect one, she doesn't act like this, Charlotte thought, but a horrible smile was appearing on her face.