I do not own the characters in the story. This is just fan based story I created since I watch the show a lot with my lo. But just a more adult version of it. So if you aren't of age do not read any further. Mature eyes only! MATURE
Having such freedom as this never tasted so sweet. I live life like you never know when you will get locked up in an amulet for another 41 years. Even after being free for a couple of years I forget that I'm 18, since I was stuck in the amulet for so long my sense of time seems broken. Among other things, like you forget that you have boundaries that shouldn't be pushed. I can hear the wind whizzing by as I'm running after a handkerchief that abuela made for me. I guess I shouldn't have brought it to the field, especially on such a windy day. I reach for it but realize that it's going lower than I expected, I hadn't even realized I was reaching a cliff. I turn trying to slow down but the force of my speed slides me off. I claw and grab onto the edge, and look up and see his concerned face "Grab my hand, princess" Gabe says with his arm stretched out reaching for me, as I usually find myself in yet again another predicament. I reach up and grab his slightly calloused hand and I feel him pull me up. He wraps his arm around my waist long enough to make sure I was stable. I inhaled his scent and it gave me goosebumps, I look up at him and we're both breathing hard. For a split second I thought about kissing him, but immediately push it out of my head, fearing rejection. Once my breathing was even he removes his hand from my waist while he looks me over "Are you hurt?" I put my hand up stopping him before he starts to freak out "I'm fine Gabe, thank you" giving him a playful smile "my savior" I say feigning a damsel in distress facade, he turns away smiling. I look around "Where is Isa?" I search around the area and see her in the distance with Naomi waving yelling "Elena!" I turn to him and say "Let's go!" and start running toward them. I heard him laugh saying "never a dull moment". Once we reach Isa and Naomi they're huffing and puffing from running "You know Elena you have to be more careful" Naomi said turning toward me, "Yeah Elena! If it weren't for Gabe, you would've been toast!" Isa piped up. I sheepishly grin "Sorry I know I need to slow down-" Gabe added "or at least watch where you're going" Naomi shook her head "Gabe saved your life; you owe him" she said elbowing him in the arm gently he puts his hands up defensively "I'm just doing my royal duty". I swear I can see the slightest bit of crimson paint his cheeks as he's saying that. I turn to Gabe saying "Thank you for saving me Gabe. I do owe you." He looks around searching for the sun "It's almost time for dinner" he changes the subject. He turns to me and Isa "We must leave now if we are going to make it back to the castle in time" I nod my head and see the coach coming toward us in the distance, "perfect timing".
Once we reach the castle I notice a nice coach I haven't seen before, Isa must have noticed too as she commented "We have company?" I shrugged trying to remember if someone told me if we were or not. Gabe hopped out when we came to a stop and opened the door for us to leave lending all of us a hand, except Naomi "Bye, I'll see you tomorrow Elena!", I wave and the coach was off. We walk and head straight to the dining room, the closer we get we start to hear laughter. Isa looks over at me with a confused look as we reach the door, Gabe leans in and opens the door for us as we approach.
"Sorry we are late!" I say entering the room as he closes it behind him leaving us. I see my grandparents, Esteban, along with 2 other people I don't recognize, but just by looking at them they seem important. Abuelo gets up walking over to me "Ah here she is, Elena!" he puts his hand on my back guiding me to the table closer to our guests. As I approach I curtsey and say "I'm sorry, I'm at a disadvantage, I never caught your names". Esteban stands clearing his throat, he pans his hand to the closest woman to him. She has her blonde hair in a tight bun with a tight long sleeve dress to her knee wearing heels I don't even think I could wear without having another accident. "This is Francesca Montalvo, she is the senior grand council of one of our biggest trade partners" he motions to the other woman she has black curly hair that frames her face perfectly, but her posture reads that of a soldier and she's wearing some form of military uniform. "Accompanied by General Sasha Malave" She salutes as Esteban introduces her.
I start to have my seat saying "I hope I didn't miss much, I surely would've stayed if I had known of your arrival" Esteban sat back in his seat and signaled for our dishes to be served. Francesca replies "We were actually just passing by, as we were conducting business in a nearby kingdom." Abuela says "How nice of you to think of us." Esteban says "not that we mind the visit, but surely you came for another purpose, no?" I take another bite of my food as I would like to hear the answer that as well, since something just doesn't seem right about this random visit. She takes a napkin wiping the corner of her mouth and placed it on the table "I was going to wait, but I guess now is fine as well" she snapped her fingers and the general goes into her uniform jacket and takes out a piece of paper and slides it toward me. "It's a 3-day retreat. Day one is relaxation, day two is romance, day three is the ball. This year's theme is a masquerade ball. Princess Elena was chosen to attend." every looks at me "Me? Why me?" The general speaks up "It's a lottery process, we take down the names of all active royalty and they get placed into a lottery and the names that are chosen are invited." I sit there trying to wrap my brain around this while I see Esteban pouting in the corner, Isa asks "Romance?" I reach for the paper she slid to me and look at it, it has a black lace mask drawn on it. I flip over the paper and notice some wording. I start to read it
"She will hide all you wish to see about her sweet soul. Like breathing and living, in a masquerade ball you will fall in love with who she is, beneath the mask. Somewhere in the night be her escape and watch her soul because even with a mask her eyes give her away."
Abuela says "Wow that was beautiful" once I was done, Francesca looked at abuelo "Romance is intertwined with the theme" she then turns to me "You must bring a date to accompany you" Esteban practically choked, the general added "only 1 person" she says with a stern voice. "You expect Elena to go unguarded, to who knows where?" he says pointing at me looking at them, abuelo raises his hand toward Esteban "Calm down Esteban, Elena is of age to make her own decisions." He looks down at abuela, she continues "She has done so much for the kingdom; she deserves this vacation!" I practically sat there stunned trying to absorb everything, I can't leave the kingdom. Can I? Now that I think about it "What if I can't find a date?" I ask them embarrassingly, Francesca says "It's mandatory to bring someone, or you won't get the full experience" she smiles "But that should be the easy part for you, you're a beautiful young woman." She says obviously seeing my insecurities showing. I touch the flowers in my hair with a small smile "Thank you" I look at the invitation investigating it further while everyone starts talking amongst themselves. I reread the passage on the back and flipped it over where the picture of the mask was and realized "There are no directions or location." The general stands "We will send a masquerade coachman to pick you up at sunset tomorrow" I panic "Tomorrow?" Francesca nods while standing and they both start walking toward the door, bowing on the way out. I get up and walk them to the door, turning and excusing myself from my family. I had so many questions but none of them were coming out for some reason, we reached the coaches. Francesca turns toward me seated in the coach "No need to pack, all you need are yourselves." She leaned toward me, obviously seeing the hesitation all over my face and whispers. "Never be afraid to say tell the person you dream about how you feel." I blush and immediately shake my head trying to shake those thoughts out my head, I mean I think of it but I usually keep it in the back of my head. I hear the driver lift the reigns I step back and just like that they were gone.
I lie awake almost the whole night, just staring at the invitation and reading the passage on the back; pondering all what Francesca was saying. Part of me knew that I was scared to go to sleep, because maybe I'm afraid to see who I do dream about. But my eyes are getting heavy and as much as I fight it, they just keep getting heavier. I give up and get under my covers and close my eyes surrendering. I open my eyes, "I can't do this" I get up in my night gown and decide to head down to the kitchen for some warm milk. Maybe that will help rest my mind enough to sleep. I open my door and sneak downstairs, tip toeing to not wake anyone, and head down.
I walk in and notice someone already here I smell the air baking "Abuela?" she looks over startled by my voice "Elena? What are you doing up so late?" I folded my arms "I could ask you the same thing" she turns holding a tray of fresh baked bread with a sheepish smile. "Your grandfather loves this bread in the morning with his coffee." I walk over to the tray and see 4 perfect loaves of bread, "Why don't you ask the cook to do this? You should be in bed". I say walking over and grab a pot and fill it with some milk, as she shook her head no. "This is how I show him I love him, and that I think of him every day" I walk over to the stove and turn it on. I hop up on the counter and sit, "Abuela how do you know if someone has feelings for you?" she looks over at me and smiles, I look at the ground and start kicking my feet gently, "who is he?" she asks. I can feel my cheeks warm up as I say "…Gabe…", she turned her attention to her bread covering it with cloth and putting it in the bread box. "How does he make you feel when your around him?" I hop off the counter and pour the milk in my cup, turning off the stove; and turn facing her blowing my cup and taking a sip. I can feel it go down my throat down to my stomach filling me with warmth, I can feel myself relaxing. "I don't know how I feel, because I don't know where we stand." She turns to me folding her arms "People may not tell you how they feel about you, but they always show you. Pay attention." She walks over kisses my forehead "Now get some sleep mija"
I finish my milk pondering on what she was saying to me, and thought of earlier when he saved me. I feel goosebumps. I start to head upstairs and lie in my bed feeling relaxed enough that closing my eyes is natural now, and I let myself dream.