He slammed me against the wall, his face angry.
"Don't think for a second that you can try to get inside my head." He growled, breathing heavily. A moment of silence passed between us where I could feel the tension in the air. I looked down, afraid...
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A blaring three-chimed alarm knocked me clean off my bed. I rubbed my head gently, feeling a small amount of pain blossom under my fingertips. That was definitely going to leave a bruise. For a second, I forgot where I was, looking around at the unfamiliar room. Then I remembered.
Michael. Fera. My family. No matter how much I tried to fall asleep last night, my mind kept straying to everything he'd told me, leaving me only 2 hours at the most to sleep.
Surprisingly, when Michael first showed me to my room, I didn't look through any drawers or cupboards, but sat on the bed, thinking for hours. Now, I crossed over to the enormous cupboard laid out at the foot of my bed and opened both doors so I could get dressed for the day. What I saw was...slightly confusing.
On the left side of the closet, rubies and priceless gemstones of all different kinds winked back at me, beautifully embossed on gowns and dresses of fine material. I reached out to touch one of the articles and was met with the softest material I'd ever felt. Dozens of other dresses of the same quality laid there, waiting to be worn. Clearly, these were clothes fit for a princess. Then, I recoiled as if I had been burned by them. I'd seen movies with royalty. How many people had to work tirelessly just so they could make one dress for me?
On the right side, I was met with all my old clothes. Drab pants and plain black shirts stared back at me. I quickly pulled out my favourite cargo pants and a black long-sleeved shirt. I hugged them close to me, taking in a deep breath. At least I got to keep something from home. These clothes any day would beat princess clothes.
The stark contrast between the two sides of the closet stared back at me. Besides the beautiful delicacies, my clothes seemed faded and worn. Is this how my life was going to be like from now on? Going from a regular city girl who worries about if she's gonna pass her physics exam to a regal princess, multiple people dedicating their lives to protect her and make her happy.
I sat down on the bed, sliding on my cargo pants one leg at a time and putting my shirt over my head. I really hope no one expected me to wear princess clothes because I would rather do anything but that.
The door swung open, squeaking on its hinges as the girl from the interrogation room with the brown hair rushed in, a hurried look on her face.
"Liv," I said under my breath. How did I even know her name? I'd never officially even met here before.
She turned her head sharply. She rushed to me and jumped on me, wrestle-hugging me. I struggled slightly, trying to sit back up on the bed as her hold on me got tighter and tighter.
"I knew it, I knew it, I knew it. I knew you would remember me," she let go of me finally and I loudly gasped for air. She turned to look at me fully with a huge smile on her face. I just rubbed my sore neck.
I just looked down, shaking my head. I could see her face fall as she figured it out. She retracted her hands, politely sitting on the bed, a respectful distance away.
"Well, I'm happy at least that you didn't choose the ballgowns. The old Lea would never do that in a million years." She faintly smiled.
"Tell me about it. It would've looked like I was getting married," I chuckled. She snorted but covered her smile as her cheeks turned red. I laughed along with her at her frazzled expression and she gave up being polite, laughing along with me.
Our laughter died down, and she took my hand. I looked down at our joined hands and instead of closing myself off, I found myself opening up. Something about these people made me feel like a piece of myself was missing and it was slowly being found again.
"Really, how are you?"
"Oh you know, I found out I was a princess, my mom's dead, my dad's a fugitive, magic is real, and I have to stop my evil twin sister from taking over the world. Other than that? Awesome."
"You know, you don't have to do that," she told me. I immediately hardened, drawing myself back.
"Do what?" My voice came out sharper than intended. She ignored it.
"Pretend you're fine when you're not." I gazed at her, trying to find her manipulation, her need to obtain my trust and crush it, but all I saw was devotion. I had gone my whole life putting shields like that up and five minutes with this stranger and she knows all my secrets.
"How...how did you-," I started.
"Because I know you, Lea. And I know when you're upset."
I looked down at my hands. She was right. I didn't know how to lead a country. I barely knew how to lead myself. And a revolution? I didn't know the first thing about rebellions.
"How does everyone expect me to fix all of this, Liv. I'm just a kid," I shrugged my shoulders, my voice breaking.
She rubbed my shoulders, nodding her head in understanding. Whatever I felt about this, she probably felt it too, considering she was so close to everyone here.
"I'm sure you'll be just fine. If not, I'll be right here to catch you."
I looked down at her. I couldn't believe I was complaining to her about this. I just nodded my head in thanks at her, trying to pull myself up from my slumped position on my bed.
I groaned loudly as she hauled me off my bed, making me walk to the door. I looked back at her slightly nervous and she just shook her head while looking at the floor. She was laughing.
"Uh...where are we going?" I was more than nervous.
"Don't be scared, L. I'm taking you to meet the resistance."
