Monsoon, {h.s}

002.

I woke up to the sound of Sam's harsh whispers.

"Cordelia! Cordelia!"

"Uhh, what?"

Without a warning, Sam picked me up over his shoulder and hurried to his closet, setting me on the floor. "What the-"

"Shh, be quiet." His eyes were alert-- his voice low. He closed the closet door, trapping me in just as Alikos barged in.

"Princess Cordelia is missing!" Alikos shouted. I could see through the little slits of the closet door as Sam stood there dumbfounded. I was torn between the irresponsible part of me, where I wanted to laugh and the responsible part of me, that felt bad for worrying everyone.

"Samuel, Cordelia is missing!" Alikos repeated, unfreezing Sam in his place. He moved fast, throwing his guard clothes on and bolting out of the room. I sat there for a good moment before opening the door slowly. I made my way to the side of the room and grabbed my shoes, slipping them on. Now, was the hard part. I had to climb down silently without being seen.

Without a second to spare, I hurried to the window and swung it open. Luckily, the tree by his window, hid me from the frantic guards below as I climbed down the vines of the thick tree trunk. My foot nearly got caught in the process but I made it down safely before quietly making a path away from the guard's rooms, dodging each person that came within a few feet away from my hidden form.

Within minutes, I had circled the entire courtyard pond and made myself visible. I sat at the edge the bench by the chilled water, pretending to be there all along. Not a minute later, Mason, came into view. He was the one stationed at my door. His face instantly relaxed into a smile and called over the other part of his search party. "Princess! Are you alright? Are you hurt? Where were-"

"Mason, what are you talking about?" I stood up, walking over to meet him immediately. I looked up innocently at him just as the rest of the guards showed up.

"We thought... We assumed you were taken. Anya came in to wake you up, but you weren't there."

"Oh dear," I bit my lip and shook my head before addressing everyone there. "I'm so sorry to alert you all. Truly, I couldn't sleep so I... I snuck out to clear my head."

Mason shook his head at me, motioning me over to follow them back towards the rooms. However, I wasn't being led to my room.

"Your father's going to kill you, Delia," He commented with a shy smile as another guard tsked him.

"I know."

.

.

.

"Cordelia Jade Gregos!" My father shouted, coming towards me. I almost cowered away from him, fearing his wrath. But that wouldn't be appropriate for someone of my status. "Where have you been? You've worried everyone. Your sisters are being held in the tower because of you! This is no way for a future queen to act."

"I accept the consequences. I apologize for scaring everyone, father, but I simply went for a walk. If anyone bothered to look for me by the pond, you'd have found me sooner."

I felt bad placing blame on my guards, but I really didn't need my father to know where I really was.

"Samuel," my father backed away from me, calling Sam. Immediately, he came into view. His face was emotionless, but I could tell by the set of his lips, that this was amusing to him. "Make sure the guards are more alert. If my daughter can run away without anyone being seen-"

"Father, I didn't-"

"then anyone can take her from the castle grounds," My father finished as if I hadn't spoken.