UNFIT Royal (Short Story)

18(24)

Unedited*

Ebonie's POV

I never felt anything so strong wash over me like that.

I can't believe I let it get that far.

His mother died.

I could never imagine his pain, my mother was alive and well. I felt as if I had to right to comfort him but it seemed as if I was the only one who could console him.

I love him. I truly do, but I can not excuse his behavior.

I was lying awake in his bed, stroking his hair as he slept soundly on my chest, and his arm clutching my waist.

I have to leave. I stilled my movements, looking at him bracing myself for the switch I needed to do.

I grabbed the pillow to the right of me, put it on my stomach and adjusted his arm so that the pillow gave us space.

I turned on my side, slipping out quickly as I just barely was able to get another pillow under his arm so it wouldn't fall too much.

I was kinda a pro at this because of Gaia. She is my world, but she is seriously clingy.

I looked at my dress, the tear he gave me wasn't too bad as long as I moved quickly to my room.

I gathered my shoes, crept into the quiet corridor toward my room unseen.

***

Athena's POV

Ebonie went to check on Daniel and never came back.

I was worried about her and Max tried to ease my distress but only physically seeing her would do that.

So, I decided to sneak and check on them.

I got instructions to his room from a reluctant guard and went to find it.

When I thought I found the door, I heard crying so I slowly pushed the door open slightly praying there wasn't a noise.

I could see a few things were broken around the room, but they just sat on floor hugging.

Daniel cried as quietly as he could in my sister's shoulder.

I had seen enough, slowly closing the door to completion when I saw Malcolm.

I hate been caught and by the worst person possible. I had imagined what would happen when I finally came face to face with him.

What I would do or say to him. Ebonie wasn't the only one affected by his sudden departure.

Unable to process fully what I wanted to do, I just turned around and left.

He called for me but he knew better than to follow me, I am the hothead of family after all.

On my way back to the banquet, I let my thoughts take me back to my younger days.

Athena stop being so rough!" Wynter yelled as she tried to fix her hair.

We were playing tag, and I was the huntress. Wynter hid in the hedges like she always does because she wants to be found so she can stop playing.

So it was only right I jumped on her to tag her out.

"Girl, whatever. You are so vain!" I yelled waiving her off to find Malcolm, Jason, and Ebonie.

Oh my goodness, I hated playing tag with Ebonie. No one could ever find her, and she won't come until she's sure we are done playing.

I decide to go into the orchard someone always hides there.

I walked slowly making sure my heels made noise, it was an intimidation move.

I had walked around once and just as I was about to leave I heard someone fart.

I laughed uncomfortably, and Jason appeared with a scowl on his face.

"Do not laugh I tried my very best to not do it, and you know I can't help it when I get nervous!" He grumbled with his arms crossed his chest, looking at the ground with a blushing face that got redder by the second.

My laughter triggered someone else to snicker, and I turned around looking at the statue.

"Come out from the statue or I'll jump on you." I said readying to pounce, sadly Malcolm came out with his hands up.

"You know what little mean girls like you get?"

My eyes went wide, I started shaking my head violently as I noticed Malcolm and Jason both closed me in.

"The tickle monster! Arghhhh.." Malcolm leaped on top of me, making me fall onto the ground.

He was tickling my heels off.

Just when I started to not be able to breathe, Wynter came.

"Malcolm stop it. We have to find Ebonie, it's gonna take us a while to get remotely close to finding her." She said fixing her hair.

Malcolm obliged and helped me off the ground.

"Does anyone remember what direction she went?" Jason asked.

Wynter shook her head no, and shrugged my shoulders.

"So we spread out, Wynter with Jason and I'll go with Athena." I announced.

"Okay, as long as I don't get stuck with that brat." Wynter stated and walked off in the other direction.

"I'll show her a brat." I started to charge at her, but Malcolm held me back.

"I kept you because you're the fun one." He winked at me holding out my hand.

I smiled at him, knowing one of teeth had fallen out the week prior.

I took it, and we were on our way.

We searched for about thirty minutes looking for Ebonie, talking about random things like sports and playtime.

Until he asked about Ebonie.

He swore me to secrecy by my pinkie, and that's the most sacred of promises.

"I like your sister." He whispered sitting down in the grass.

"I like her too and I like you." I said in a knowing tone, but he just laughed.

"You're eight years of age. I forget sometimes, I like like your sister Ebonie. Like how your parents like each other."

I just nodded, I wasn't fully understanding it but I kind of did.

"I won't tell anyone your secret."  I vowed putting a hand over my heart.

"I know, but let's keep looking for Ebonie." Malcolm said standing up.

Two weeks later his mom died.

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Hello.... and happy holidays!