The Princess of Darkness

Chapter 16: The Infirmary

Alex's POV

Elizabeth had been lying on that small infirmary bed for three days now. Her largest movement happened the day before when her mouth twitched slightly, but that was it.

The elimination ceremony had been postponed until the next day, and if Elizabeth didn't wake up by then, she would be eliminated no matter what.

The black marks on her arms had come back, and they danced about her skin like snakes intertwined with one another. I had known what the marks were the minute I had seen them, they are the marks of darkness.

They are the marks of the rulers of the darkness. 

I had made sure that neither my mother nor my father had seen the marks, because they surely would've executed Elizabeth, and I could not have let that happen.

Anyways, I have been spending my days as I should. My mother makes me eat lunch and dinner with the princesses but for the rest of the day I am free to wander about the gardens and sit by Elizabeth's bed.

I have begun to wonder who I will eliminate. There are nine girls left and I have gotten to know them all well.

Janet Halston loves to bake. She once asked me if she could use the kitchen to bake a cake and I must say that it was one of the best cakes I have ever tasted. Janet is sweet, and my mother likes her. I think that she will stay.

Millie Norhany is a little bitter sometimes and she doesn't get along with many of the other princesses so this might be her last day in the castle.

Heather East has been a wreck since her sister got sent home so I think it might be best if she could see her again. She is extremely funny and talkative when she isn't thinking about her sister, so it will be a shame if she leaves.

Anya Bluew is a very pretty and petite girl with a nice smile, but her personality is as bland as my mother's cooking. The people love her though, so I'll probably let her stay until the beginning of the official Choosing.

Delia Greavey is mean and unpleasant so I will not mind eliminating her tomorrow.

Olivia Shwartz and Martha Burke are both sweet and they kind of rely on each other so I don't want to keep one and eliminate another so they will both definitely stay.

Lastly there is Morgan Amora. Morgan is very sweet to me but Elizabeth and her don't get along. She will definitely stay until the official choosing because if Elizabeth does not wake up, I will need someone to make things easier for me. Selfish, I know.

Once I made my decision on which girls I would be eliminating the next day, I wrote the names down and brought them to my mother.

She thanked me and sent me to my room to go to bed, but instead I went back to the infirmary.

I must have fallen asleep at Elizabeth's bedside because I woke up in a small wooden chair in an extremely uncomfortable position. 

Elizabeth's POV

I woke up with Alex in a chair next to me. He was adorable with his hair messed up and his eyes closed. I looked around and realized that I was back in the infirmary. Then a flood of memories came back to me. The escape plan, my blackout, it all came back to me, and I became frightened.

What had happened?

Then I saw the black marks on my arms. I screamed so loudly that my lungs burned afterwards.

Alex's eyes fluttered open and he bolted out of his chair. His eyes were alert. He fixed his gaze on me. His expression became soft and he sat at the end of my bed.

"Good morning Elizabeth." He said with a smirk.

I smiled weakly. "What happened?" I asked him.

Alex ran one of his hands through his light brown hair. "Um, well..." He paused. "There have been some things that I haven't told you."

"What things?"

"Well, the marks on your arms aren't just randomly there." He paused and his cheeks flushed.

"Then what are they?" I asked.

"They are the marks of the royal family that rules the Realm of Darkness..." His voice trailed off.

"What?" I whimpered. I jumped out of bed and approached him. The room was spinning. I took a second or two to compose myself, but then I stared him down. "What is the Realm of Darkness?"

"Well, the realm of darkness is a place miles and miles from here. The people there control death, destruction, and magic. They aren't the same as us. All of the people that live in the realm are covered in these black marks, they all posses magic and their royalty can control sickness, the outcomes of wars etc."

"What?!" I exclaimed. Louder this time.

"Look it doesn't matter right now. Since your awake, you won't be eliminated today and it will be okay. I promise."

He stepped closer and tucked one of my loose hairs behind my ear.

I instantly forgot all of my anger and confusion. I even forgot my vow to forget Alex and run away. 

I did remember not to kiss him. I turned away from him. His hand brushed my arm, and index finger stroked my cheek lightly.

I frowned at him. He was still smiling, but less than he had been before.

The door opened and I repositioned myself on the bed. I pretended to be asleep and Alex sat back in his chair casually.

It was the nurse.

"Oh hello your majesty." The nurse curtseyed.

"Hello Annabelle." He stood up. "Elizabeth is doing fine. She woke up just a couple minutes ago, she's just resting now.

The nurse checked my temperature and when I opened my eyes, she confirmed that I could stay in the choosing as long as Alex didn't eliminate me of course.

Seconds after the nurse left I began to sit up but suddenly I was pinned down by Alex.

He smiled at me but I just kept shaking my head. I didn't even know why. My mind just kept telling me to not get sucked back into this again. Alex looked hurt and his dark eyebrows knit together. 

Morgan Amora walked in.

"Alex, a guard told me to see if you were-" She paused when she saw us.

This time we hadn't been fast enough to separate and Alex was only half way off the bed when she walked in. This time nothing had even happened, but that didn't matter to Morgan.

"ALEXANDER!" Morgan screamed. "How could you!? You tell me that you love me and now you're with her?" She ran out and slammed the door behind her.

"Morgan, wai-" He was cut off by the sound of the door cracking against its frame.

"You told her you loved her?" I whispered.

"No I-"

"Look, I don't mind."

I sucked back a sob.

"I'm actually happy for you." But I wasn't.

Even though I wished I was.

I hoped that I would get eliminated that afternoon.

*****************************

 

Wow, that was a lot in a chapter! I know that it's been a while since I posted but I'm really busy! Forgive meee :) Comment which girls you want to be eliminated and vote for this chapter!

I hope that you have a lovely day!