4 Princes

XXVIII

Red
It was a lot easier to sneak in and out of the castle than any of the 4 doofuses believed. I don't know why I came back here, why I thought it was a good idea. Maybe it was just because I couldn't stand being constantly watched, fixed, judged, in the castle. The other reason was much closer to more selfish reasons.

I walked into the familiar old building. The walls were moldy wood that smelled of fungus and rotten rainwater. How I had ever gotten used to that smell astounded me. The inside was filled with drunken people and women whose breasts were on full display like they enjoyed showing them off to the men. I couldn't complain, they made their money the way they made it.

I was a thief with no regard for sad sap stories.

I saw a familiar head of dark brown hair and while he was the reason I was here, I was still upset that I didn't have a reason to turn around and go back to Jack's bedside. He was awake now, but barely speaking. He wanted Rook to come and see him and he never did.

Damn. I couldn't even escape the watchers, fixers, judgers, and guards in the place I used to call home. Whether they were in front of me or in my head, they were still around.

"Oh, well if it isn't Wolfbait Red, or should I say- Charlotte," Gray greeted.

His nasty yellow teeth and hot breath were shoved into my face. I pushed him away, my nose shriveling up. "Shut your mouth, Gray." I meant that both because he was annoying, and because he smelled like rotting flesh.

He winked at me, unfazed by my attitude. He's the one who gave it to me so I understood how he consistently put up with it. "Rude words for a soon to be Princess."

At the rate things were going, I was convinced that I would never marry Jack.

Jack.

"Oh wait," Gray began laughing hysterically, causing the attention of a couple of men to turn in our direction. "He's dead! He was killed and you've come crawling back."

That wasn't near the truth. Jack was not dead, I would never crawl, and I most certainly was not "back." I never wanted to come back, to tell the truth, but these people had helped me through all of my terrible times. Plus, I wanted to continue to buy Gray's silence.

I took my hand out from inside my red cape. I brought out a mug sized bag that was filled with golden coins. Not only was it hilariously easy to sneak out of the castle, but it was also easy to rob the King's room.

Maybe not one of my brightest ideas.

"I've paid my debt with you, Gray. I demand you leave me alone and never try to contact me again." Those were my terms.

"And if I continue to try and contact you?" He asked, a smirk on his face. "What will you do then, Red?"

He won't. He's satisfied. I've bought his silence, after all, that was the first time he had only referred to me as Red when it was just us. It was usually always Charlotte between us. "Kill you, and if not me then-" I paused. They believed Jack was dead. "the wolves when I throw you out."

Wolves weren't as big of a threat as Jack. I had killed a wolf before, and I definitely could again, but I could never succeed in killing Jack. He's was a much more worthy opponent and a much more worthy friend.

I didn't think I was in love with Jack, especially not this early on, but God knew that I had an intense hatred for how much I liked him. He wasn't touchy-feely, he didn't demand anything of me, he was just... Jack. And I was just Red around him.

He was far less annoying than any other man I had ever talked to.

"Of course, Red. When you need me, I will be here. And when you don't need me, I will be watching, Charlotte. Because the Princes never cared about you before, how soon until they stop caring about you once more?"