alive ↠ hs

.23

Saige's POV

I grabbed Asher's arm and roughly pulled him back to our room, where I closed and locked the door.

He turned to me, his eyes wide with wonder. "What's the matter?"

"We need to get out of here," I said, pacing around. "I can get to the armory but I only have my knife-"

"What happened?" Asher said, his hands laying on my arms, calming me.

I sighed heavily, looking at him. "They want me to be their 'princess.' Like this is fucking England or something."

"What?" he asked me. "What does that mean?"

"I told them I would do it, that only if you got the job they wanted, it was good," I said quickly. "Until he told me I had to marry the prince, this random dude, I wouldn't do it."

I looked up at him, curiosity and disappointment in his eyes. "What does this mean?"

He wanted to be here, he wants to be apart of this community. To feel safe.

"I'm going to do it," I said, pulling my shoulders back. "To stay safe."

"Saige, you don-"

"It's okay." I said to him.

***

The next day, they made me rise early and start this "training."

I had not felt anything in months, I had to go through with this for Asher. So he could be safe here.

I mean, how hard can it be?

Queen Melody stood in front of me, her fingers intertwined in front of her. "Where should we start?"

King James looked at her and smiled before turning to me. "Let's do something about your attire."

Starting easy, I was okay with that. Just a change in clothes.

They stripped me down to my undergarments, staring at me in the mirror. It wasn't horrible until their eyes fell on the scars littered across my body. I pulled my arms around myself, trying to cover them.

Melody grabbed my hands, prying them from my body. "First thing you'll learn is to have confidence in yourself. You're beautiful, Saige, appreciate your body."

I ignored her words as she stepped away. They pulled the corset over my body, pulling tightly at the strings as I choked on my breath.

"Jesus, are you trying to kill me?" I said, clutching my ribs as they pulled tighter.

"Secondly, you will learn how to speak like a lady," Melody smiled at me. "You will speak thoughtfully and respectfully to your superiors."

"If I'm supposed to be a princess then I shouldn't have an superiors." I snapped, meeting her eyes.

She took a step closer to me, her eyes piercing mine. "King James and I are your superiors."

I rolled my eyes as she turned away from me. They put a red and gold dress on me, the sleeves falling off my shoulders.

After they dressed me in this awfully large and uncomfortable dress, they sat me down and caked my face with makeup.

Once completed, they pulled out a pair of heels, just as I opened my mouth to oblige.

"Oh god, I've only worn a pair of heels once and it was awful, please," I begged Melody. "Don't you have a pair of flats or something?"

"You must wear heels."

"C'mon, no one can see them anyways," I said to her. "I'm tall enough, a pair of flats should be fine, please?"

She huffed before agreeing, sending the servants to get them. One of the female servants who did my makeup also did my hair. She pulled half of it back, putting a gold jewel to hold it back. 

Once I looked in the mirror, my entire outfit complete, I was completely shocked. It didn't look like myself. At all.

The dress had covered the scars the man had given me. The makeup has covered the red, splotchy skin on my face, the dark bags underneath my eyes had also been covered. My usually cracked and bitten lips were now full and covered with a light red, almost pink, lipstick.

I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen myself in makeup. 

A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts as King James came through, Asher and Jay by his side.

"Holy shit, S, you look hot." Asher smiled as a laugh escaped my lips.

"That she does," Jay said, taking my hand and pressing his lips against my knuckles. "You look lovely, Saige."

I pulled my hand away as I cringed at the feeling of his lips against my skin. I turned my attention back to Asher, who I was desperate to break the awkward tension.

"Anyways," Asher rolled his eyes as he turned to me. "You look absolutely stunning, I think I might be attracted to you."

I shoved him harshly, laughing again before catching myself, my laugh turning into a cough.

Melody talked for another hour about ettiquette and ethics of being royalty, but most of the time I wasn't listening, tuned her out.

I stood up after the lesson. "Could I take a trip outside the walls? Fresh air?"

"Of course," James nodded. "Promise to come back?"

I nodded, changing into my other clothes before taking my knife and heading outside the walls.

Once I was outside the walls, it was easier to breathe. Easier to feel apart of my environment. Fit in.

I turned around at the sound of twigs breaking. I grabbed the knife from my belt, turning around. Their back was turned to me.

I took in the back of the figure as my heart dropped down to my feet. The brown curls fell on his head, a gun strapped to his armor clad body.

I swallowed thickly as I took a step forward. "Harry?"