A Collection of Imagines

Shawn

Red, Black and Purple pt. 3

My fork scratches the surface of the plate. My eyes scan the food on the china and then to the rest of the meal plated perfectly on the large mahogany table in front of me. I'm the only one seated here. I was called for dinner by one of the servants after I had barricaded myself in my room. I hesitated to walk out, but I grab one of my handmaidens and walked down the long hallways to the large dinning room. We entered without being introduced to the room, but quickly I realized that there was no one to be introduced to. I sat down and waited for someone else to enter other than the servants. After a few minutes, I remembered something that the disgusting prince told me. They no longer eat mundane food. I raise the fork back up to my mouth once again, taking a bite. Perfection. I close my eyes at the taste of a perfectly made steak. Medium rare. I hear a squeak of the wooden floor behind me and a chill runs down my spine. I look back down to my food, "You're getting worse at sneaking up behind me, Your Majesty." 

"I'm sorry to disappoint, Your Highness." She doesn't turn to look at my presence as she takes another bite of her food. Something shifts to my left and my eyes find a handmaiden, undressing me with her eyes. I turn my head to her and the expression changes. She's fully aware of the red in my eyes. I smile, flashing the jagged teeth in my mouth. She quickly looks away. Afraid, as she should be. I look back to my fiance, sitting at one the end chairs at the long table. I take a step forward, walking slowly to the other end of the table, watching her as I go. 

In my peripheral vision, I watch him circle me like a caged lion until he gets to the other end of the table. I hear the chair squeak as he sits, but it's followed by a bang and a rattle from the table. It gains my attention and I look up to him. He's placed his legs up onto the table with a smirk growing across his face. I stare at him for a minute. The smirk only grows. My stomach churns. I take the napkin from my lap and throw it onto my plate. "I've seemed to have lost my appetite. Excuse me." Before I could rise from my chair, his words freeze me. 

"You're going to have to get used to me, Your Highness. You are indeed my fiance." 

"I am betrothed to you in order to stop a war, not for love, Your Majesty. That is what I need to get accustomed to. Not you." I stand and turn towards the door of the dinning room. In a blink of an eye, he's in front of me. I huff out my breath in annoyance towards him and I stand my ground. 

"Hmm. I didn't assume you to be a romantic, X." 

"Address me by full title, sir. You have not gained the right to call me by my name." 

"We are to be married." 

"And that gives you the right to use my name?" 

"I would think so." 

"Well, it does not, sir. You do not earn the right because monsters like you will never earn my respect." He pauses at my outburst. His face saddening before looking me in the eye with his crimson ones.

"Shawn." 

"Excuse me?" 

"Call me Shawn." She falters at my suggestion. It had actually stumped her. It's evident for she only bats her eyelashes towards me with no words exiting her mouth. "I'm not a monster by heart, X. I am by nature, but not by heart."

"Then, explain the scene in the study." 

"I play the part well, don't I?" She looks away from me, her expression still leaking with anger. "The wedding will happen in three days. That is all I came to tell you." I turn and walk out of the dinning hall. 

There was something different in his face. I'm too afraid now to find out what it was. I walk out of the dinning hall. I watch as he walks down the hallway. He turns to a corner and stops before proceeding. He looks to me. 

"Have a pleasant evening, X." 

My hand clasp in front of me as I hesitantly curtsy to him. "And the same to you too ..." I rise to standing and look him in his warm, dead eyes. "... Shawn." He smiles and walks down the hallway, out of sight.