Royals

Chapter 12: collin

The world spun as I forced myself up from the ground. I touched the cut he made on my left cheekbone. My fingertips with almost dry blood on them.
   I stood up tall. How could this have happened?
   My head turned to the couch as tears dropped and fell down my face. As soon as they came, I wiped them away. I knew what I had to do now. The heels of my palm covered my eyes.
   My feet stumbled across the floor to the couch. Inside my stomach tightened. Butterflies danced in my stomach. I didn't want this to happen.
   I didn't want to be the new one on the throne.

   "I love u father and I'll do my best....." I whispered and ran out of the room.
   I slowed down and tried to think of something. Something to say when I got down there for when they would ask where is our father. I couldn't just blurt out 'Oh our father is dead.' Especially not if my mother is there. She was took for what seems like forever, but it was only a month. My mother only got to see him for not even a day...
   After thinking about this I had reached a staircase. Did I have to go downstairs? Yes. Well maybe not, I could always hide in my room...
   What choice do I have. I have to. They are my family and they must informed.
    I heard footsteps from behind before I took a step down. Without turning I knew it was my father's personal guard, Arthur. I turned on my heel not wanting to, but I did.
   "He's—"
   I interrupted, "Don't." He shut his mouth quick. "Just don't.." My gaze fell to the floor not wanting to cry. I am almost eighteen and I will be the ruler.. And I will not cry.
     "Forgive me your highness. Shall we go down the stairs to see your family?" Arthur asks softly.
      I sigh heavily and nod. Turning slowly towards the stairs again.
    We made it down all the way to the throne room. My hand trembled as I reached out towards the door. I could just bolt and leave my family... Except I was not my sister. Isabella. No matter how much I love her as a sister, she's always way over her head. Just like our mother... And if i turned my mother down, it would still be bad.
    My father and mother always said, never run away from something that is hard.
   Arthur putting me out of my thoughts, patted my back. Giving me some kind of support. Even though as soon as I walk through these doors, things will never be the same. Not ever again. Everything is going to change. My hands grab the door and I pull it open.
    I breathe heavily as I walk in. There they sit watching me nervously. I can already tell Izze is the most nervous. She saw most of it and saw my cut on my face. Her face melting away with every inch I come closer.
   My heart is pounding in my ears. It feel like it might shake the whole kingdom into ruins. I stop steps from the thrones. Inches from my two sister and mother.
     My palms feel sweaty and the world feels like it's turning again. This is not going to be easy.... I gulp and try my best to speak.
   "Um hello mother. Adrianna, Isabella.." I nod in their direction.
   Adrianna shifts uncomfortably in her throne as she gazes to Arthur. I know what comes next.
    "Where's father..?" She manages to get out. Isabella sits there silently, her face went pale.
    What startled me more than her face and Adrianna's question was our mother. Her chair almost toppling over as she gets up. I take a step back as she comes my way. Oh no... I flinch as she approaches although I shouldn't be scared of her, she's too kind.
    To my luck she walks right out of the room shutting the doors behind her. I face my sisters alone. A stare is all I get from them. Adrianna's is more of a death stare.
   She's the next to get up and she walks right up to me. "how could u let this happen?" She mutters to me. Then she brushes against my shoulder as she leaves. Arthur leaves right after her.
   Now it's just me and Isabella. I sigh and slump down in my throne. I stare at the throne that will be mine one day. Soon, too soon probably.
    Isabella gets up and sits in our mother's chair. "He's gone isn't he?" She asks staring at her palms.
   "Yeah, he really is....." I murmur.
  Izze gets up and hugs me. I can already feel the tears on my neck from her. "It'll be okay, Collin." she whispered.
   Now I leave. I stand up so quickly it shocks her and I slam the door behind me. Honestly I really felt bad leaving her, but I did.
    I march up the stairs dodging servants as I pass. They only look at me for second. They probably all know. I didn't care because I am the only one taking his place. So they could stare all they want.
    When I entered my room I threw myself on the couch only for a short amount of time though. There was a small soft knock on the door.
   I grumbled, "Go away Izze." I knew it, she's just trying to make things worse.
    The doorknob turns and I groan sitting up.
  "I'm sorry to bother you, I just thought you needed company." A voice said walking in.
    My gaze traveled to two feet in black flats. I looked up to see Nora. Her hair braided in two French braids. Her glossy blue eyes shown when the light hit them. Then her blue dress as always made her eyes look even brighter.
    I stood up quickly. "Oh I'm sorry I thought—"
   She laughed, "It's alright at least you aren't like your mother making loud noises from her room..." My eyes dropped and the light from her face dropped. Nora stepped forward.
    "I'm so so so sorry Collin...I wish I could've done something." Nora whispered.
    My face went up and I tried hiding the sorrow. "It's alright because I will get the chance to be king and everything. You know, rule the kingdom just like my father."
   As soon as I left those words to be free I sunk back down. Why.......
    "I'll leave you be..." Nora said turning for the door. I was about to tell her to wait, but she was gone.
     What is wrong with me.....
   I stare out the window. Watching the tree branches blow in the wind. Almost all day I sat there on the couch. It was almost dinner. Adrianna knocked on the door and told me to come down for dinner. I didn't answer, I didn't want to.
    Another day went by, and another. I was still in my room. The maids of course still brought meals. Leaving them on the table outside my door. I'd race over and quickly grab it and shut my door.
   One day I went to grab the food after he maid left, my sisters were sitting by the door. When I opened the door they looked up at me with concern. I slowly grabbed the food and shut the door behind me. Crumbling to the floor. Suddenly not feeling hungry.
   
    It was June 9th and I still was in my room. A soft knock startled me from my sleep. I shot up in an instant thinking it was the maid.
    I walked over to the door and opened it. Instead of the maid with food, Izze was there.
     I sighed, "Izze can you please go."
   Then she crumbled to the ground and fake sobbed. Just like she did when she was younger and I pushed her away.
    "But but but but...." She continued.
   "Fine!! Come in." I almost yelled.
Izze smiled and walked in and sat on the couch. Making herself at home in my room.
   I sat down across from her, arms crossed. She looked out the window and I gave her a stare. Waiting for her to tell me why she was here.
   Izze then looked at me. "Mother was wondering if you were somewhat alive in here. She asked me to check on you." Her eyes grew solemn. "Please Collin we have to all move on. We did. I know that's crazy but you got to!"
   "You don't understand Isabella!" I jumped up and she did too. "I have to be king. I have to do all these things, I don't want to do!" I yelled.
    "I get it. It's hard. We all got to get through it. I know you will because you're brave."
     I sigh. My sister was not wrong. All truth. Most of the time.....
    "Fine. I'll come out, but no big things yet." I tell her. Isabella nods and leaves quickly.

   I get dressed and walk down the hall. Every person I passed bowed to me saying 'good morning your Majesty.' Izze is going to pay, this was a surprise. I'm not the king yet. I should still be 'Your Highness.'
    I nodded back to each one and kept walking. Taking my time down the stairs, I ran into Nora again. She didn't say anything but bow to me.
    The throne room doors were open, surprisingly. Another surprise, izze....
   I walked in. My mother, Adrianna and of course Izze. I gave her a look she knows well. She told me none of this, but I got that.
    All she did was give some sort of smile. Not really much of a smile though.
    "Collin. May I talk to you outside?" My mother asks. I skid to a stop. Nodding slowly. She nods and gets up. My eyes dart to Isabella, then Adrianna. They both have now nervous looks.
    My mother and I walked through the dining room and outside into the garden.
   "Come, to the pavilion." My mother says over her shoulder. I step up my pace to keep up. What is her rush?
     When we reach the pavilion, I notice a paper on the table. It had names that I couldn't get a glance of before my mother snatched it away. It startled me. What is going on....?
   "Not yet, we haven't discussed it all yet. More less anything." She says in an abnormal tone.
   "What's going on?" Is all I can blurt out.
 
  Her head drops.
  Her eyes, lifeless.
  Fear replaces it all. Fear for me...
  

   She looks up now...

  "I'm so sorry."
   "Sorry for what?" I ask, confused.
  "You have to betroth to someone before you turn eighteen , this November..."