Well I think this is the sequel to Elite Take Two. No? Well to everyone who reviewed for the last chapter I thank you immensely and I hope you enjoy the sequel! Note to anyone who has not read my first story: please read it so you can understand the rest of this!
I will offer you all a character list so you know about everyone in the story…
Maxon Schreave (King of Illeá): 38
America Schreave (Queen of Illeá): 36
Olivia Schreave (1st child): 18
Alexander Schreave (2nd child): 18
Gavin Schreave (3rd child): 17
Rebecca Schreave (4th child): 14
Andrew Schreave (5th child): 10
Matthew Schreave (6th child): 10
Rosemary Schreave (7th child): 8
Elijah (Daphne and Fredrick's only son): 17
Samuel Woodwork (Marlee's son): 19
Any character, living or dead, is merely coincidental in name and/or personality. I do not own The Selection or The Elite. All characters above – besides America and Maxon – are people made through my imagination. ALL RIGHTS GO TO KIERA CASS.
Love Smashleigh
Chapter 1:
America:
"Darling you have impeccable timing for pulling me away from our children's party at a time like this." Maxon says entering the bedroom. Of course I only here some of his response because I'm sitting patiently in the bathroom. When he finally notices I'm not in the bedroom he peeks into the bathroom. "Darling?"
I break my eyes away from the box sitting next to me. Maxon's warm brown eyes search the bathroom before landing on the object in my hand. His face goes pale and it takes him a second before he can compose himself and enter. Sitting next to me he peers over my shoulder at the pregnancy test in my hand. The results aren't available yet and so I sit it in the sink across from me. Running a shaky hand through my hair, I refrain from pacing around the room. Maxon takes my shaky hands and folds them in his own. We never really discussed the possibility of another child really. After giving him seven beautiful children I thought myself to be just blessed with such darlings. But after suffering through the first miscarriage I thought it was just a small bump in the road. Though losing the child was heartbreaking I didn't want to be deprived of having children. So when I suffered another a year after I began to worry. Could I really carry anymore children? I mean I know little Rosie was premature but she's now a healthy, blooming little girl. If Amberly were here she'd help me as much as she could. But then I suffered another one two years ago and it broke my spirit. Maxon hadn't pushed me to have anymore because I'd already fulfilled my duty to produce a male heir four times now. But I just love small children, babies especially. My life revolved around the nursery up until Rosie was four. Now…now I felt like a burden. Sure I have duties as Queen but not many. Most of my days have been spent doing nothing now.
"America?" Maxon says softly. I realized he'd been saying my name a few times now. "Darling…look."
Shaking my head to get myself out of my thoughts, I peered into the sink. My breath caught in my throat and I almost fainted. The sign was positive.
Suddenly I felt queasy and ran over to the toilet. Losing the contents of my stomach yet again, I waited until the dry heaves subsided before sitting up weakly. Sure I knew I was pregnant before but this just made me feel a little happier knowing that I was indeed. So far the symptoms were normal. I've been very tired lately and have woken up with bouts of morning sickness. I just pray that I can carry this child full term. I don't think I could handle losing it, physically or mentally.
Maxon's warm hand ran up and down my back as my breathing returned to normal. Wrapping an arm around his waist I leaned my head on his shoulder. He kissed the top of my head and helped me stand up. Once helping me fix my appearance and after I brushed my teeth for the millionth time, we glanced once more at the test. There was no doubt it was positive but sometimes I needed reassurance. Please be a healthy child. Please, please, please.
Olivia:
Alex left my room to let Sam and I have a moment alone. His blonde hair was perfectly messy and his bright blue eyes held some sort of challenge. I blushed deeply at his rumpled appearance and glanced down so he couldn't see my eyes. Shutting the door behind him, he strode over to me.
"If you're what?" he asks again, leaning against the wall beside my bed.
I slowly bring my eyes to meet his. But his eyes are blank of any emotion whatsoever. But then a faint ripple of amusement passed through his eyes and I realized, once again, that he was teasing me. Throwing one of my pillows at his head, he caught it and let out a soft chuckle.
"It's not funny!" I exclaim, burying my face in my hands. Bringing my knees to my chest I bury my face in my arms and let the sobs rack my body. Damn him. Damn him for being so self centered and not realizing the circumstances to our behavior. Letting the tears stain my dress I just sat there and let the tears fall. Sam made no move to comfort me and my heart broke a bit at the thought.
He let out a sigh and I felt the bed dip when he sat beside me. Folding me in his arms he rocked me back and forth. Waiting for my sobs to subside, he finally spoke. "It's not that I don't care." he said. "It's the fact that you're even considering the consequences."
I turned my tear stained face up to him. Obviously I had to look confused because I had no idea where he was going with this. Of course I was thinking of the consequences.
"Olivia," he began. "Is it a crime to love my fiancée? Is it so bad that we broke a law even though we're engaged?"
I nodded my head vigorously. "Sam, it's not that I'm wouldn't be happy if I were indeed…" it took a lot to finish the sentence. "Pregnant. But I wouldn't be able to hide it. Not to mention my parents would most likely kick me out and never speak to me again."
He shook his head. "They'd never do that. They love you too much to kick you out. I love you too much to let that happen."
"You'd be gone too!" I exclaim. "We'd be outcast in the world. Knocked down to Eights! Forced to live among the homeless, jobless, oh God Sam! Don't you understand?"
He took my face in his hands. "I'm going to tell you a secret that no one else knows." he said softly. When he waited for me to assure him I'd not tell a living soul, he continued. "My parents weren't always workers at the palace. Well my Papa was. But my Mama was a member of the Selection. The one your Mama was in. Well you see my Mama wasn't ever interested in your Papa because she met mine. They sort of had a forbidden romance since she was not allowed to have any attractions to another male member during the Selection. Well they were very good at hiding their affair until being discovered one night during a party. Your Papa could have had them both killed but spared them instead by being caned." Sam cringed at the thought and gripped me closer to him. "Well after that they were stripped of their titles and suppose to be sent away. Your Papa helped them instead by finding them positions in the kitchen and stables. They weren't thrown out into the world."
I snuggled closer to him. Now I realized where he was going with this. He believed the same thing could happen for us. But I wasn't a member of the Selection. I am a Princess of Illeá. Daughter of the most powerful sovereign in the country.
"Sam if my Father could do that to your parents he wouldn't hesitate to do it to us. But I feel like he'd been so disappointed in me. He told me that the first time he discovered us." I said, sadly.
He sighed. "Olivia it's not that I'd want that to happen. I'm sure if you'd just ask your parents-"
"Sam, stop." I said. "I'm not taking all the blame and responsibility for this. We're doing it together."
His face brightened and he kissed me hard. I felt a smile spread across his face as he kissed me passionately. His enthusiasm made me giggle and I felt a similar smile spread across mine. "Oh Olivia that's all I've been waiting for you to say."
"Now I wish I said it sooner." I giggled. "You're much more agreeable."
Pulling back, a devilish smile spread across his face. Leaning me back he pushed me into the sea of pillows before following closely behind. Burying his face in my neck he kissed the tender spot below my ear. He bit down on the spot softly I let my head fall back and moaned. One of his hands pulled back on my hair, giving him better access to my throat. His warm breath tickled my skin down to my shoulder before his lips followed the same path. I guess our little 'discussion' earlier answered an unasked question.
Fumbling with the zipper of my dress again, he caught my mouth in a scorching kiss. My hands were much more skillful with the buttons of his shirt and he threw it to the side mere seconds later. A smile spread across my face when his eyes met mine. His eyes weren't lustful or different but full of love. Again his eyes ran over my body appreciatively. Running my hand over the solid muscles of his stomach, he sucked in a breath.
"I know I shouldn't touch you again but…God forgive me I have to." he whispered, dipping his head down to kiss my stomach.
I thrust my fingers in his hair when his hands roamed down to my hips. Pulling his head up to mine I kissed him roughly on the lips. He returned the rough kiss before skimming his hand on the outside of my breast. The rough texture of his jeans was irritating against my skin and I reached down to trace the top of his jeans. He understood what I wanted and kicked the jeans off his legs.
Not once did we hear the knock on the door. Or the person who opened it a second later…
Alex:
"You wanted to see me?" I asked entering my Father's study.
My Mother was sitting by the fire with a book in her hands. I recognized the photo album immediately and caught glimpses of the pictures before turning to my Father.
"It seems none of us were in the partying mood." he chuckled, motioning to the chair across from his desk.
I took a seat in the thick leather chair. Leaning back I crossed my legs and folded my hands in my lap. I already knew he was going to give me a pep talk about the girls I was going to see tomorrow night. To be honest I was quite nervous actually.
"So since you already know why you're here…I was hoping to just give you glimpses of our Selection." my Father motioned to the TV mounted above the fireplace.
My Mother set the photo album down and reached for the remote. Turning on the TV she flipped through a few discs before popping on into the DVD player. After a few seconds of static the national anthem played. Finally the screen revealed my Father and his parents. They were all sitting proudly and Gavril was smiling his show smile. Apparently this was the first Report where Father saw the women he was going to spend the next year around.
Faces flashed across the screen. My Mother's photo was breathtaking. She had the biggest smile I'd ever seen her have. Watching both their reactions as they saw their lives played out on screen was interesting. A woman name Celeste, who was breathtakingly gorgeous, made my Mother cringe with disgust and look away. My Father frowned at her face. Next came a woman named Kriss. She was simple but by my Mother's hurt filled eyes something happened between them. Father was watching my Mother with sad eyes. Reaching for her hand he ran a thumb over her knuckles. She was soothed by the touch and leaned into him. Woman after woman were flashed on the screen until we reached the last woman, Marlee. Immediately I thought of Sam and how strongly he resembled the woman. My Mother's eyes were filled with tears when she looked at the woman and she hugged my Father closely.
When the video was over my Father looked at me expectantly. I gave him a blank look. He sighed and shook his head. "Maybe I shouldn't show you these."
I shrugged my shoulders. "They don't show what really happened."
"No but these do." my Mother said handing me a photo album.
Taking the old book in my hands I opened the first page. Inside were pictures of my Mother and Father smiling, laughing, making funny faces, and doing who knows what. But they looked happy. Then there was a shot with that Kriss girl. My heart clenched and I quickly flipped past the page.
"What picture was that?" my Mother asked taking the book and flipping back. She sucked in a breath and stared down at the picture before turning to my Father with hurt filled eyes. "Maxon?"
His face paled and he looked anywhere but at her. Finally he met her eyes and kneeled in front of her. She looked away and closed the book, placing it softly on the table beside her. He whispered something indiscernible but she just looked away. Standing slowly, she stepped out of the room. My Father excused himself and left me to look over the rest of the videos and photo albums. Alone.
Olivia:
"OLIVIA!" someone exclaimed. Freezing in terror I looked up at Sam. My expression must've been reflected on his face as well. Turning my face to the person at the door I almost screamed in terror. Eli looked stunned and ready to kill Sam. "What the hell are you doing with my fiancée?!"
Sam eased himself on one elbow but still loomed over me. "Do you mind? We're kind of busy." he said cockily.
Eli launched himself at Sam and tackled him to the other side of the bed. I scrambled to close and lock the door so no one could here or come in and see us like this. Then I rushed to the other side of the bed just as Sam landed a punch to Eli's nose, squirting blood all over the place. Eli cried out in pain and moved to a fetal position. I tried peeling Sam away but he shoved me roughly back. I tried to maintain my balance but fell back and nailed the back of my head on the edge of my desk. Black spots loomed in my vision and I felt blood ooze through my fingers as I brought my hand to my head. Lying on the floor I closed my eyes and felt like letting the confronting darkness consume me.
Sam:
"You piece of shit!" Eli spat pointing behind me. "Look what you've done!"
Nailing him in the side for good measure, I turned to see Olivia in a bloody mess on the floor. The fight left me all of a sudden and I rushed to her side. She was a ghostly pale and when I picked her up she lay in my arms limply. Laying her on the bed I threw on my jeans and shirt sloppily. Placing her in a robe I rushed out of her room and towards the infirmary.
Maxon:
I spotted Sam rushing out of Olivia's room with her in his arms. Immediately I stopped in his path and gave him a questioning look. He shook his head. "No time to explain! She's hurt!"
Rushing past me he ran down the hall towards the infirmary. I followed at a more sedate pace. Upon reaching the infirmary I found Sam pacing vigorously outside the door. My heart rate speed up when I realized the doors were closed. Closed doors mean important and do not disturb. Only when the doors are open can you visit.
Striding angrily to Sam I took his shoulders in my hands and turned him to face me. He looked down at me and I realized what a tall boy he was. He's about Alex size but more defined than him. "What happened boy?" I demanded.
He looked me dead in the eye. "If I told you she'd kill me."
"I'll kill you first if you don't tell me." I snapped.
He sighed. "I was with her in her room when Prince Elijah came in. He got the wrong idea and tackled me."
As if summoned, Eli whipped around the corner and stopped dead in his tracks. Removing him hand from his broken nose he strode angrily towards us.
"You're dead to me." he sneered.
I almost snickered when the threat came out of his mouth. The child is smaller than me in height and build. And I'm almost forty for God's sake!
"I'm still waiting to hear what happened." I told Sam impatiently.
"This little stable boy was getting very intimate with my fiancée!" Eli snapped.
"Intimate?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. I'm sure his version of intimate was a little overstated.
He nodded his head. "As in law breaking intimate."
It took a second to sink in before I realized what he was saying. But my little princess wouldn't do anything like that! Would she? By the sheepish look on Sam's face I knew she would. And most likely did.
"How did that end up having her hurt?" I demanded, trying hard to keep my temper in check.
"She tried breaking up the fight and was ended up thrown backwards." Sam told me.
I sighed. Just great! Not only did my eldest daughter almost end up breaking a law, but on her eighteenth birthday of all nights? Before Alex's Selection? And with Samuel!?
Motioning to one of the guards by the door I gripped Sam's arm. He glanced down at me with wide eyes but I stared at him blankly. "Please take Mr. Woodwork downstairs." I told the guard.
I didn't want to say the dungeon because I couldn't get it past my lips. But the guard understood where he was supposed to take him. Sam put up a fight and a second guard ended up having to escort him too.
"Now Elijah," I said. "What exactly did you see?"
America:
Loud knocking on my door broke me away from my book. Opening the door I was face to face with Marlee. Her face was tear stained and her appearance was a mess. Ushering her into the room I sat her in front of the fire. She was mumbling words and glancing over her shoulder. Shoving a mug of small ale into her hands I took a seat across from her.
"Marlee?" I said soothingly. "What's wrong?"
"They took him." she whispered harshly. "They took Sam!"
"Who took him?" I asked, suddenly concerned.
"Maxon!" she snapped. "He had him locked up!"
"What!" I exclaim. "No, there has to be a reason."
Marlee shook her head. "I don't know and I don't care! He locked my child up! He put him in the furthest cell in the dungeon! Away from light and people!"
"Wait wait wait!" I said holding up my hands. "You've visited him?"
She nodded. "Carter told me he saw them take through the secret stairs when he was cleaning the horses. You know the stairs on the edge of the palace? By the kitchens? They took him there! Right under my nose!"
"Marlee I'll speak to Maxon about this." I assured her, just as he walked through the door.
"Ask me about what?" he asked with a smile on his face. I stood and strode over to him purposefully. Seeing my heartbroken expression he began frantically scanning my face. "What is it?"
When he tried to wrap me in his arms I put my hands up and backed away. He gave me a confused look but I shook my head. "You locked up her son?"
He sighed. Pinching the bridge of his nose he nodded. "I had to! One, he assaulted Prince Elijah. Two, he…he…"
Marlee turned to stare daggers at Maxon. "He what?"
"He slept with Olivia."
You could've heard a pin drop. The only sound was that of the fire dying in the hearth. Marlee almost dropped the cup in her hands if I wasn't there beside her in a second. Taking her shaking hands in mine, I retook my seat across from her.
"I knew he loved her but I never thought he'd do that!" she exclaimed softly.
"Where's Olivia?" I asked Maxon.
"In the infirmary. Seems Elijah and Sam weren't the only ones to suffer injuries." he said sadly.
"Sam wasn't hurt." Marlee snapped.
I shushed her and ran a hand up and down her back. Glaring at Maxon he held his hands up in a non-threatening gesture. This night was turning worse and worse as it went on. The only positive I was able to find comfort in was the fact that I was pregnant.
"Why don't you go and get some sleep?" I coaxed her.
She nodded her head. "I'm sorry to have bugged you but I needed to know. Anything really."
"Nonsense." I told her. "I like talking to you."
"Thank you America." she said kissing my cheek. "Night."
"G'night Marlee." I said kissing hers back.
When she left I turned to glare at Maxon. "We have a lot to talk about."
Dun-dun-dun! How's that for an amazing first chapter! I intend on making these chapter super-duper long! It's only to please you guys and to keep me writing more! Alex's Selection will start next chapter and I need everyone to submit a name. PLEASE SUBMIT A NAME ONLY. FIRST AND LAST PLEASE! Thank you!