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Chapter Two: The Explosion
Colors, so many colors. Fierce pain going continuously through my body. A face, a horribly disfigured face coming towards me. Anonymous! I don't know who it is! My feet pounding on asphalt as I run! Getting closer the face is getting closer! I can't get away, must get away!
Prince Telek jolted awake with a scream caught in his throat. Terrified, he glanced around the room. His eyes landed on Margaret who had fallen asleep in the chair next to the bed. Telek stood up and went over to her. Studying her face, he began to think about their conversation from the night before. Margaret had told him she'd help him find out who the girl in the picture was. Bending over he picked her up and turned towards the bed. Telek felt a kick and glanced down at Margaret who was staring up at him wide-eyed. There wasn't fear in her eyes but speculation and something else he didn't recognize.
"What are you doing?" asked Margaret curiously.
"You fell asleep in the chair. I was just putting you in bed where you'll be more comfortable." said Prince Telek quickly.
Margaret giggled and requested to be put down. She walked out of the room and began to prepare breakfast in the kitchen.
"I noticed that your father still isn't here. Any idea where he might be?" asked Prince Telek ass he gazed out the window.
"Oh, he's probably at his mistress' house or a brothel." said Margaret bitterly.
"Mistress? Where's your mother?" asked Prince Telek.
Margaret gazed at Telek mournfully and murmured," My mother passed away about six months ago."
"I'm sorry." said Prince Telek quietly.
"Its alright, I'm basically over it. Tell me about your family." She requested quickly changing the subject.
Prince Telek took Margaret by the chin and angled her face towards his. Margaret arrogantly lifted an eyebrow and glared at him.
"Are you? Your behavior makes me wonder, but I'll respect your wish to change the subject. I've one sister, she sixteen years old and unfortunately very pretty. Her name is Jadzia. Our mother died when she was just a baby. I was about three at the time." said Telek.
Margaret gazed at Telek sadly and asked," What about your father?"
What happened next was a simply amazing transformation. Prince Telek went from easygoing guy to royalty in a snap of a finger. His spine snapped straight and his face went blank. Margaret could have sworn she'd seen the blinds shutting down over his eyes. She opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by a loud crash outside the house. Telek was on his feet in a flash prepared to bolt out the door.
"No wait! Telek quick I've got to hide you. It's my father, he'll take a switch to me if you're here." said Margaret panicky.
Telek took Margaret by the shoulders and gave her a quick shake.
"Relax! Why would your father whip you just because I'm here?" asked Telek calmly.
Margaret looked at Telek and replied," Because he likes to, and you'll give him a good enough excuse."
Anger flared in Telek's eyes but he nodded and left the room. Something told Margaret that her father had better watch what he did, because Telek only needed one reason to kill him.
"Margaret! Where are you girl?" shouted a weary, drunk slurred voice.
"In the kitchen, Pa!" yelled Margaret right away. She knew that if she didn't her Pa would become real angry. A tall boorish red faced man burst into the room and demanded to know where his breakfast was. Margaret silently motioned to the plate of food on the table as she hurriedly poured a cup of coffee. Pa grunted, plopped down in the chair and began stuffing his face. When he was done he noticed Margaret at once. Margaret had remained tactfully silent but she soon learned that being quiet wouldn't get rid of her Pa's foul mood. She fell back against the counter and slide down to the floor crying when her Pa backhanded her.
Pa glared down at her as she sat there sobbing. Pa swore aggressively at her and stomped out of the house. Gasping in pain, Margaret stood up. She winced as she gazed around the messy kitchen. Quickly Margaret put the kitchen in order and went in search of Telek. Just as she walked out the kitchen she ran smack dab into Telek's chest. Blinking in surprise she stared up at Telek. He took a hold of her arms and got a good look at Margaret's face. His gaze went immediately to the bruise blooming on her cheek. But it wasn't the bruise that caused the snap of anger but the tears on her face. Telek pushed her away as he felt the anger going through his bloodstream. His eyes hardened and went colder than the black sea. He gripped the counter to keep from attacking Margaret's Pa or worse her. He glanced at Margaret and saw the scared look on her face and swore angrily.
"The hell with it!" muttered Telek as he ran from the house bent on catching Margaret's Pa.
"Stop!" yelled Telek when he caught sight of him.
Pa stopped and stared at the black haired youth running towards him.
"What you want, boy", said Mr. O'Brian, Margaret's Pa.
Telek didn't answer he merely sent a sharp upper cut to the man's jaw. Mr. O'Brian head snapped back and he fell to the ground. Telek began to pummel Mr. O'Brian down into the earth. Finally, he stopped and looked at the prone bloody body of Mr. O'Brian. Telek grabbed him by the collar and shook him back to consciousness. Mr. O'Brian stared up at Telek's furious face, his white with fear.
"Now you listen and you listen good, I'm taking Margaret with me and getting her away from you. You're not to do anything got it? Because if you do I'll have to kill you something I've thus far stopped myself from doing. Am I understood?" said Prince Telek his voice colder than the Arctic.
Mr. O'Brian nodded, his eyes glazed with fear. Telek Stood up and stalked back to the house. His eyes were hard and his mouth was in a grim line when he returned to the kitchen where he'd left Margaret.
Margaret jumped up from her seat and ran towards Telek. Before he could determine what she was doing she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. Telek blinked and stood there shell-shocked to find himself wrapped in female. Margaret stopped hugging him as quickly as she'd begun. Margaret blushed prettily as the Prince continued to stare at her dumbfounded.
"Why did you do that?" asked Prince Telek when he finally snapped out of it.
Margaret shrugged and replied "I don't know I just felt like hugging someone, and you were the nearest target?"
"Nearest target?" said the Prince in amused tone of voice.
Margaret opened her mouth but stopped when the Prince held up a hand. The Prince motioned for Margaret to remain silent as he positioned himself next to the kitchen door. Listening Margaret inclined her head trying to pick up what Telek had heard. Suddenly she heard a loud whistling sound that seemed to be getting closer. There came a loud crash as something sailed through the glass of the kitchen door. Telek glance at the object and immediately knew what it was. Grenade! Telek jumped into action, he grabbed Margaret's arm and threw her out the kitchen door. Telek immediately followed. Margaret gasped as the Prince dragged her behind him as he ran. Boom! An explosion rocked the air knocking both Telek and Margaret off their feet. Prince Telek positioned Margaret under him and protected her with his body. Moments passed until all they heard was the crackling sound of fire.
Prince Telek stood up and pulled Margaret to her feet. They turned and stared at the inferno that had once been Margaret's beautiful colonial house.
"We're going to need a car." Said Prince Telek quietly
Margaret dug into her jeans pocket and handed the Prince a set of keys.
"There's a jeep behind the barn over there we can take that." She replied in an otherworldly voice.
Prince Telek studied Margaret's face and said "alright, I'll get the jeep, but promise me you'll wait right here."
Margaret nodded silently and Telek left her standing there still staring at her burning house. Telek returned moments later in the jeep. When Margaret didn't move towards the jeep, Telek got out and walked over to her. He merely picked her up and carried her over to the jeep. He eased her into a seat and buckled the seatbelt over her.
Ten minutes later Telek and Margaret were driving down the highway. Margaret turned her head and felt tears silently falling down her face. At least she thought they were silent, until Telek pulled over and eased her into his arms. He held her to him and gently stroked her hair. He remained silent as Margaret's tears broke the dam she'd been holding for the longest time. When she was done she gently eased out of Telek's arms and gave him a teary-eyed smile as a thank you.
Telek sighed and whispered "I'm sorry. I've put you through a lot these couple of days. First I rape you then I get your house blown up."
"Blowing up the house wasn't your fault, Telek!" exclaimed Margaret.
Telek gave her a long look and murmured "Do you really believe that your house wouldn't have been destroyed if I wasn't here?"
Margaret blinked at him and shrugged unable to give him an answer.
"Listen, I'll understand if you don't want to travel with me. I can drop you off somewhere if you wish." said Prince Telek quietly.
"NO!" shouted Margaret angrily
Telek blinked at her and replied "No?"
"Aye, No. You'll not be deserting me. I said I'd help you and by God'll help you!" exclaimed an indignant Margaret glaring at him fiercely.
"You still want to help me after all that's happened?" asked Telek looking baffled.
Sighing in exasperation Margaret looked up at the sky as if asking for help. Telek smiled and shook his head at her when she opened her mouth to speak. Margaret smiled back at him and closed her eyes. Almost immediately she fell asleep leaving herself vulnerable to Telek and anything else as they drove down the highway. Telek glance at her in amazement. He couldn't believe that she'd actually trusted him enough to fall asleep around him. He smiled to himself and shook his head at her in amusement.
Two hours later, Telek was worried and frowning at Margaret. Twice he had tried to wake her up but to no avail. When they came to a motel Telek pulled into the parking lot. Once again Telek tried to wake up Margaret but yet again to no avail. Telek ran into the motel and booked them a room.
Telek then ran back outside and picked up Margaret. He carried her inside and without explanation took the key to the room from the clerk. When he arrived at the room he swore at the sight of the king-sized bed. The one king-sized bed. Telek laid Margaret onto the bed and covered her with the quilt. Telek sat down on the bed next to her and once more tried to wake her up. He was beginning to panic as he shook Margaret begging her to wake up. Finally he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. Telek pulled Margaret into his arms and closed his eyes vowing not to fall asleep. He went out like a light.