The Defias

Chapter 3

   "Jake. We need to talk." Father glanced at the girl then stepped outside. I followed him out of the room and leaned against the door.

   "Yes?" I knew it had something to do with the royal mark on her.

   "We both know that she doesn't belong here. She's supposed to be in the palace." I felt my heart drop. "But Jarrod isn't going to just let that happen. So I want you to keep an eye on her from a distance when she's returned." My heart rose back up. "But you aren't allowed to talk to her." Fuck. I sighed.

   "Ok. What do you want me to do?"

   "Take her home. But don't let anybody see you."

   "When?"

   "Now."

   "Jake?" I heard the girl and glanced at the door. Father left. I opened the door and walked over to her.

   "Yes?" She sat up and held her arms out and I took a step closer to her. She wrapped her arms around my neck and buried her face in my neck. I looked down at her and sighed.

   "What's wrong?" Her grip around my neck loosened and she looked up at me. I grabbed her arms and untangled them from my neck. She sat back down on the bed and hugged herself. I kept a straight face and walked over to the drawer, grabbing her necklace from it and putting it on her. She was still wearing the blue dress. I grabbed her and dragged her to the bathroom, filling the tub with warm water.

   "I'll be back in ten minutes." She watched me leave sadly then quickly took her bath. I grabbed a new dress out of the bag and lie it on my bed. It was a soft purple. A smile tugged at my lips and the girl walked out of the bathroom wearing only her undergarments and a towel. I blushed and threw the dress at her. "P-put that on..." I quickly turned away from her and she walked behind me, wrapping her arms around me. I blushed harder and quickly unwrapped her arms from me. "P-put the dress on..."

   "Did I find your weakness? A half naked girl makes you that uncomfortable?" I blushed harder and she rewrapped her arms around me, just around my neck. She then pressed her body against mine, the towel falling away. I blushed harder and she kisssed my ear, her hands sliding down my back and around my waist. I twitched and turned, pushing her away from me. She fell and landed on the floor, by where she had dropped the dress. She looked like she was going to cry. I quickly left the room and closed the door behind me. A few minutes later, the girl opened the door, scowling and wearing the dress. I turned to her and she continued scowling. She lifted her chin and strode away from me. I sighed angrily and stalked behind her.

   "What was with that little stunt?" She glanced over her shoulder at me and continued walking. I scowled and grabbed her arm, throwing her over my shoulder and jumping onto the roof, running towards the palace. She started kicking and I turned sharply, causing her to cling to me. I arrived a street away and dropped into the alley.

   "I hate you." The girl slowly regained her balance then glared at me. I shrugged.

   "Walk to the gate and ask to see the queen. If they ask why show them the mark on your neck." She whirled around in a flurry of purple and strode off.

   "It was either you or your trust," she whispered, glancing back at me. I barely heard her. I watched as she disappeared around the corner and I jumped up onto the roof of the building that would overlook her. She walked up to the guards and they let her in. I jumped across roofs to where they were flush against the gate and I jumped over, into the trees. I jumped from tree to tree alongside her and sat in the tree that overlooked the throne room, where the girl was escorted. The queen took one look at her and apparently instantly knew who it was. She pulled the girl into her embrace and rushed her to the kings room. I continued watching her, following her around the castle. When she was escorted to her new room, I sat on her balcony railing, watching over her as she slept. I watched as a cleaning maid came in and looked around the room, looking for a mess. When she didn't find one, she walked over to the girl's water pitcher, dumping some sort of powder into it. The powder looked to be pinkish purple. She looked around and quickly left the room. I made sure to memorize what she looked like. I then quietly opened the balcony door, grabbing the pitcher and slowly opening the door to the hallway. There was nobody there so I threw the pitcher as far down the hall as I could, hearing a quiet yet satisfying shatter. I closed the door and heard the girl shift, the bed creaking slightly. I froze and listened closer. She yawned and rolled over, curling into a ball. I sighed quietly in relief and walked over to her. She made a pained noise and curled up tighter. I gently set my hand on her shoulder and she slowly loosened up. A smile tugged at my lips and she started waking up. I took my hand off of her, and retreated back to the balcony, closing the door. She slowly awoke and got up, walking towards the balcony. I panicked and jumped up onto the little roof above the balcony. I heard the glass door creak open and an airy yet disappointed sigh.