Unauthorized Communication

Chapter 3: Selvia

I stood, frozen in the doorway of the red parlor. Never before had my mother done something so revolting and so kind at the same time. Or...ever. I glanced over at my parents to make sure this wasn't a joke. Then again, my parents never joke. Suddenly a giant smile spread across my face and I ran to the guy before me.

"Jack!" I cried, wrapping my arms around him as he swung me in a circle.

"Hey Sel," Jack laughed and set me back down.

"But...I thought you were leaving to study in the Kingdom of Shamony."

I looked at Jack, puzzled. He had talked about studying in Shamony ever since he first visited the place. I have to admit, by the looks of the pictures he sent me, it was a very nice place indeed...lots of fish though. After two years of filling out applications, Jack finally got accepted. He was supposed to leave this month but for some reason he was standing in our red parlor.

"They said they could make an exception," Jack shrugged. "I've been there so many times, there was no point in me going early for orientation."

"Well, that's awesome Jack!" I exclaimed, receiving a death glare from my parents (more specifically, Mum). "I mean..." I coughed. "That is quite wonderful, Prince Jack."

I did a slight bow-thing and Jack stifled a laugh. He cleared his throat.

"Why thank you, Princess Selvia. Shall we?" he said, holding out an arm for me to take.

"We shall," I took his arm, glancing at my mother who looked like she wanted to kill me.

As soon as we were out of the red parlor and down the hall, Jack and I burst out laughing. I unhooked my arm from Jack's and grabbed his hand instead.

"How are we going to annoy your mother this time?" Jack asked.

"You just like getting me grounded," I said, a mischievous smirk making it's way across my face.

"I know you have a plan," he stated, noticing my expression.

My smirk grew even wider and I raced down the hall with Jack in tow. He chuckled as he allowed himself to be dragged by a teenage girl, not caring about the looks, glares, and stares we were receiving from various palace workers. We arrived at my room and stopped.

"Wait here," I told Jack and ran in to grab the letter I still didn't know what to do with.

I walked out, shutting the door behind me. Jack glanced at the letter in my hand and, I couldn't be sure, but I could have sworn a look of recognition crossed his face. However, it vanished as quickly as it had appeared. So I ignored it.

Walking more like civilized people, Jack and I headed out to the gardens (more specifically the tree in the far back corner that was perfect for climbing). Once there, Jack stood with a smirk on his face as he watched me remove my dress, revealing the jeans and t-shirt I had kept on. I threw it over a branch, stuck my tongue out at Jack, and began climbing the tree. Jack chuckled before following me up. I stopped on a branch just above the castle walls and sighed. Jack climbed up next to me, staring out over the strange world neither of us were familiar with.

"Sometimes I wish I could be like them," I said. Jack turned to look at me and I quickly clarified, "You know, just for a day or so."

He turned back to the vast expanse of houses, roads, and people we would probably never see up close. It was strange how serious we could get when it came to our separation from the rest of world.

"What's in the envelope?" Jack asked, seeming to have found his voice.

I had temporarily forgotten about the letter. The reason I had brought Jack up here in the first place. I reached around, plucked it from the waistband of my jeans, and handed it to Jack.

"A letter Jane dropped in the hallway," I watched as Jack read the letter. "It's a letter about marriage Jack. My marriage! And I didn't even know about it! Surprise birthday parties I don't want are one thing, but a surprise marriage party?! I have to stop it."

I sighed, exasperated. Jack handed me back the letter and I expected him to make some smart comment but he said nothing.

"What? What is it?" I knew something was up when Jack was quiet.

"I...I can't help you stop the party," Jack looked away from me.

"What do you mean?"I asked. Jack was always up for crashing one of Mum's stupid parties.

"It's kind of the reason I'm here." When I gave him a blank look he continued, "Your mom asked for me to come and...assist in your decision. She knew you'd be reluctant to choose a husband and to the whole marriage idea so..."

"She called you in so I would go along with it and not absolutely hate her guts for it," I finished. Jack nodded solemnly. "And you agreed to it?!"

"Sel, I had to! If you didn't pick out someone yourself, you'd be forced into an arranged marriage and I know you don't want that," Jack said.

"You don't know what I want!" I yelled. "I'm so sick and tired of everyone thinking they know what I want! What happened to knowing what's best for yourself, huh? Does my opinion of my life not matter?"

"Selvia, listen to me," Jack yelled back.

"No, Jack! I'm done listening," I growled and headed down the tree.

I yanked my dress off the low branch, a tiny rip forming at the hem. I growled in agitation and pulled the dress over my head, muttering under my breath. Did my opinion really not matter anymore?

I was about to turn around and head back inside when a sharp object pressed itself against my skin. Not hard enough to draw blood but enough to know the holder meant business. Then a rough, ragged voice hissed in my ear, chilling me to the bone.

"Don't move, Princess. Make a sound, and you're dead."