Little Red

Chapter 2

Today's the day that I become oriented, and enter the royal family. Logan and I are to be married tonight under the beautiful constellations that glimmer brighter than any oil lamp in the palace.

It's a ritual that I cannot see Logan until we greet at the altar, so I decided to visit town. The forest is no longer a safe place for me, not since I saw what Vince and the pack were capable of. Actually, the truth is, I'm afraid to see them again.

Maybe it's time I start my own life...

Scanning the wardrobe for a dress, I pull out a long, snow white ball gown. It fits perfectly at the waist and it barely scraps the floor. I let my hair fall loosely, even though the king hates messy princesses.

I begin walking downstairs, putting on my matching shawl. Two guards escort me to a carriage, and we take off for town. It doesn't take long, but the Prince insists that I travel by carriage everywhere I go for protection reasons.

Stepping off, my sparkly heels click against the rocky soil.

This isn't me, I think silently, looking at the people admire me from afar. Many children gather together, pointing with big grins on their faces. I turn my attention else where. A vendor looks down sadly at her produce. I walk to the vendor, her baggy clothes and dirty skin make me remember how it was like to live with grandma in poverty. We starved most of the time, especially in winter when our crops died off. My stomach churned, so in sympathy, I take a shiny red apple into one hand.

"How much?" I ask. Money is such a burden.

"Free in curtsy." The lady bows over and I shake my index finger.

"No, no. That won't do. How much?" I smiled brightly.

She told me her price range, and I paid for two dozen, just to help out. Walking away, the guards and I began scavenging for more delicious fruits from the variety.

Maybe I could make a delicious salad for lunch with the colorful assortment.

---

The sun began to set, and I was needed to the palace immediately. Racing off, we made it to the castle in under 10 minutes.

Some of the king's maids fixed me up by doing my makeup, fixing my hair, and most of all, helping me slide my thin body into the thick white gown.

When everything was complete, I stared into the mirror.

Logan was my true love, but I did not belong in a castle. I scoffed, and the maids looked at me curiously.

It wasn't long before the ceremony commenced.

They began leading me to the ceremony, which was held in the biggest church in the village, just off of main market. All the seats were taken by many people I didn't know to name, but one individual's elegant bloodshed eyes, that quickly turned blue, caught my attention.

I didn't speak to him; instead, I began walking down the aisle with the king at my side. His elbow interlocked with mine, and I saw Logan, happiness spread lightly across his childish face. His hands met at his tailbone, making him stand straighter than straight.

Once I reach the altar, I turn to face Logan. The priest begins us off with the introduction prayer, then the vows. I look back frequently to the stranger with blue eyes, then focus my attention back to the priest.

"Do you, Audrey Nash, take Prince Logan to be your awfully wedded husband?"

This isn't me.

I begin running, picking up speed with each step.

---

I wake up facing the dark night sky. The guards shout in the distant. I'm laying on a rock.... Behind me, Vince is sitting upright, looking at me in the eyes closely.

I shoot up and grunt. "Who are you?!' I shout, pointing at Vince and he whimpers.

Finally, an arrow is shot and hits Vince directly in the side. Thick, warm blood covers my greasy hands, and I tried to hide my sobs, yet it's too late. A massive hand covers my mouth, and he smells of wine. Dragging me away, I kick furiously at him to drop me.

"I'm the huntsman." His deep voice interjects. "I'm supposed to kill the wolf and return you to the king." He politely explains as I get tired. He takes me to his stead, and races off. Since he's off guard, I jump off and begin running to find Vince. But Vince's corpse does not lie where the blood settled into the dry ground.

However, my red cloak lies in that spot and I wrap it around my neck securely. Then something takes my hand at a very fast speed and tries tugging me in the opposite direction in which I ran away from the Huntsman.

His blue eye's sparkle like the clean lake water rushing nearby.

"Vince." I wrap my arms around his waist, finding the spot where he was shot.

"Red." He replies, his human lips kissing my nappy ball of hair.

---

When we stop running, Vince explains how he can transform into either form whenever he pleases. Leaning my head onto his shoulder, I begin to ask.

"Are you going to make me marry such a coward?" His expression becomes blank for a second as he processes my question.

"No. You are going to marry him for your own sake, and cherish the little moments you guys have together. Then you're going to have kids who will overtake the thrones when you pass." He responds, not looking at me. He grunts. I cut a piece of cloth from my gown and apply it to the wound.

"I'm going to get water to wash it out. I'll be back." I waved off.

I sped off, looking for the pond I'd seen when out here with the pack. When I found it, I filled the small canteen until It looked partially full.

Something knocked me off my feet bitterly, causing me to lose consciousness.

Whoever it was carried me off and threw me into a small, chilly room.

Oh wait.

That's called a jail cell.

Logan stares at me, leaning against the bars, red eyes and pink faced. He looks flustered.

"You stupid, ignorant little girl!" He slams his fists into the bars. "I should have you killed for all the pain you've caused!"

"I'm sorry." I cough, my hood covering my blushing face.

"Sorry won't do. I'm going to kill those beasts you call "Family"." He takes out his sword. "They did kill your parents...didn't they?" He puckers his lips. "I love you." He jokes and I turn my face away, too pained to even speak. That's when I remember Vince's struggling emotions, fighting away at the bloody mess from the arrow. I promised him I would return.

It was quiet again, and tears fallout from my weak eyes.

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