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I am having a bad dream. I'm trying to scream but I can't. Something is in my mouth, my arms are tied. I need to wake up! This isn't real! It can't be.
Where am I? I am moving-- am I in a car? Daddy said he was on high alert for the rebels. He said I would be safe. What do they want with me?
The last thing I remember was falling asleep, cuddling my stuffed bear, as my mother read me a story about a brave knight. How did I get from there to here?
I manage to spit the gag out as it loosens slightly and I let out a whimper.
"Quiet, kid," comes a harsh reply from the other side of the car. The man's voice is deep and rough.
Tears start to fill my eyes and I can't breathe. What is happening?
"Help!" I scream, hoping to be heard by someone, by anyone. My voice is whipped away by the wind passing by the moving car.
"I told you to shut up, Declan! You're going to get us caught!"
How does he know my name?
"You'll never get away with this!" I plead. "My parents are powerful and will do anything to make sure that I, Prince Declan Ellin, heir to the throne, am safe."
The man snorts as if something is humorous. "Well it's too late for that. We're here," the man replies.
I feel the car come to an abrupt stop, jerking slightly, and the car door yanks open. I try to look around but all I can see is the dark.
A man drags me out and shoves me on to the ground. I scrape my hands and knees on the sharp gravel, and notice that tears have begun to stream down my cheeks.
"Get up, we need to get you inside before anyone sees us." The driver says in a soft voice as he pats my back. He leads me into a small cottage.
I don't fight him as I go. He has yet to hurt me. I hope he doesn't.
The cottage is small but cozy. Fires blaze. I can't help but note how dangerous it is to leave them unattended. My vision blurs as my eyes droop.
The man who I see now has a heavily lined face, half hidden behind a dark beard, eyes me with an unreadible expression. He leads me over to an old, creaking chair. I sit down and allow him to cover me with a shabby blanket.
Why? Why would he kidnap me just to treat me to such simple kindness.
As I close my eyes and begin to drift off I feel a sharp pain in my arm. My eyes shoot open and I see the man above me holding an empty syringe.
Did that man just give me a shot? Am I being drugged?
"The boss will be happy when he sees little Declan dead," the driver says as another man enters the room.
"It took long enough. That little bugger was hard to get to," the companion agrees.
I try to get up. I try to run. I have to--
My thoughts fade away as the drug pulls me into unconscienceness.
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Cara rubbed her aching head as she reached for the next heavy tomb. Reading had been her escape for as long as she could remember. Though, the normal peace evaded her this evening. She moved to the back of the library where there were a few plush chairs and the oldest, most intriguing selections. Cara cracked open a book titled "The Complete Guide to a Memorable Twentieth Century".
She started the first chapter, "The Bucket List". She was absolutely entranced in the tomb, only returning to reality when she heard footsteps coming near.
Lynette unhappily stomped into the library.
"Why must you ruin everything?" Lynette screamed at Cara. "You ruined my first meeting with Hadrian as my fiancé! And now he refuses to even leave his rooms, thanks to you!" she spat.
"What?" Cara stared at her sister in surprise.
"You offended him. Hadrian. He won't speak to anyone. It's been days! And he still refuses. Cara, if you truly love me, APOLOGIZE!"
Cara's back stiffened as she remembered how her apology had ended. "How do you even know that you two will find love, Lynn? I honestly don't see how you could care for a man who has a childish fit because I offended him. And you know I love you. Love does not come with conditions, I should not have to do anything to prove to you that I love you."
Lynette's eyes filled with tears. "He hates us. I can just tell. He will never love me, even when we wed. I saw it in his eyes when we met, he disapproves. And you only made it worse. You couldn't have stayed in your misery, could you? You had to drag me into it with you! You ruined my marriage because you are jealous! YOU ARE JEALOUS OF WHAT YOU WILL NEVER HAVE!"
"Lynette, please just let this go. I can't deal with this right now." As Cara turned towards the hall, Lynette screamed after her, "I WISH YOU HAD DIED AS A CHILD INSTEAD OF DECLAN!"
YOU ARE READING
The Kalixian Chronicles: Behind the Smoke and Mirrors
Teen FictionIn the kingdom of Kalixia, there lives a princess named Cara Ellin with less than a year to live. In an attempt to learn more about herself and her family, she uncovers some palace secrets that she was never meant to know.
