The Lost World Of Victa

Chapter 26: Her Journey

I open the door, and Prince Trace stares back at me, his golden hair disheveled, and his steel gray eyes hard. He looks tired, much more so than he did yesterday. Planning this must've been exhausting.

He reaches his hand out towards me, and I grab it.

"Come on, Lillian. We're gonna be late," Trace says, and we walks through the halls. I glance back at Jameson, but he won't meet my eyes.

I don't understand.

Why is it that whenever I've decided who I like, and it seemed like they wanted me too, as soon as I act, they push me away? With Kyler, I tried to kiss him, but he wouldn't let me. With Jameson, I did kiss him, and wouldn't even look at me afterwards. What did I do to make them hate me?

Trace and I make our way out of the Morrighan's Mansion, and towards the Electral station on the edge of town. An electral is a magic powered train, by the way. We step on to the platform, and Trace lets go of my hand.

He looks at me as we wait for the next electral to arrive.

"So, here's the plan. We're going to take the electral to the Capital, because it'll only take about a day. Well, a night, since we're travelling at night, but whatever. Anyway, my plan is that when we arrive, you'll act as my current 'conquest.' You see, according to my brothers I used to be quite the ladies man, and they always like it when I travel with a 'temporary companion,' as they so eloquently put it. That way, no one will question why you come with me to the castle infirmary to heal Brenden. I'll guard outside while you heal him behind closed doors. How does that sound?"

I laugh a little, "conquest? Basically, you want me to act like we're sleeping together? Sure, I can manage that."

He averts his eyes shyly, and blushes, "I'm not the same person they remember. I don't really do that anymore. But, it should work to sneak you in, so yeah."

He looks like a sad little kid, who's embarrassed by his family. If only it were that simple...

A wind blows past the tracks, and I see the electral approaching, its elegant and sleeks metal body pushing anything out of its path. It slows to a stop at the platform, and Trace leads me into a car, helping me up. I've never actually ridden on an electral, though my dad used to direct their paths and schedules.

Inside is luxurious, and I realize this isn't just any electral. It's a royal one. I mean, duh, Trace is a prince, but still, I didn't realize it'd be this nice. White couches line the floor, and tables are strewn in between them, stacked with food. There's a fancy mattress at the head of the car, and transparent drapery framing the bed. It's looks so loose, so natural, and yet so beautiful.

Trace goes and sits at one of the tables, snacking on some grapes. I sit down across from him and grab an apple.

He looks at me, "what do you think of the decor?" gesturing at all the whites and golds.

I laugh a little, though I'm mostly in awe, "It's incredible. This food is amazing, and this couch is so comfortable. I kinda wish I'd grown up like this."

He smiles sadly, "it's not all good, I assure you. You've seen my past, correct?"

I nod, and the smile fades from my face, "I mean, I probably would've never actually grown up like this, because if I'd stayed with my real parents I'd be dead by now...I just meant that this nicer stuff is nice...I guess."

He pops another grape into his mouth, "I understand. You should get some rest. You can sleep on the bed, if you want. Sorry that there's only one. My brothers designed this so...yeah..."

I nod and stand up, wobbling over to the bed. Walking while the electral is moving isn't an easy task, but I pull my shoes off and lay on the mattress, looking at the ceiling of the car. When I wake up, I could be in the capital. The very place I've feared my whole life.