A lot of you guys (or maybe two, can't remember. lol) asked how old Max was. I did specify how old she was in the first part of chapter one. But since I would be too lazy to look, she's seventeen. lol.
Thank you for all the reviews! :D
A reviewer certainly gave me an indirect interesting idea…hehe. :D
Now, the idiot named Ivy Fowl is my best friend, lol, and I usually run chapters through her before posting them up so she can fix anything I did wrong, or anything confusing. So give her some credit for fixing the stuff that would otherwise trip you up! lol.
And anyway, this is kind of a boring chapter…I'm gonna try and pick it up asap, but you need the background too!
In Disguise.
The forest was getting darker and darker. The leaves clumped together, blocking out most of the light to the forest floor. A quick glance over told me Max was getting pretty nervous, seeing as her visibility was quickly becoming more and more restricted.
"Calm down," I mumbled, sighing, and a little bored. Why was everyone so scared of going to this town? It was like the poodle of the Draconic Realm, for crying out loud!
She just sighed. "Sue me. Darkness makes me weaker and you know that."
I rolled my eyes. "Weaker? You just can't use your powers. Deal with it, princess, because we'll be walking through stuff like this pretty often." I was still pretty livid about Roikos' dirty trick. I wouldn't put it past him, but I didn't expect him to actually rear his ugly head. My eyes blinked a dark, bloody red, before returning to normal. They always did that whenever I became angry; sometimes they'd stay for longer than others, yet my eyes were almost always black.
"There. Is that it?" Max pulled up the hood of her cloak, staring ahead at the blinking, golden lights.
"Indeed," I replied. Then I reached off the horse and slammed her in the face with mud.
She squeaked, spitting and tried to wipe some off. "What the hell?"
"Gets the makeup off and it camouflages your face. The world knows you as "Makeup Princess Maximum". With no makeup on, you'll be less recognizable, plus it dirties your face."
Max just grumbled as I lead the way around, away from the front gate. Before she could ask another question, I raised my hand and slid off the horse. I had stopped in a small, grassy clearing, with a chocolate tobiano horse grazing nearby, tied to a tree. I knocked on the dark wooded door, and, just like in the movies, a little hatch slid open, revealing striking blue eyes.
"Madison," I breathed. "I need your help."
The door was unlocked near instantly, and a petite girl with black hair and her amazing blue eyes flung herself at me, wrapping her skinny arms around me in a hug. I felt tears springing to my eyes as I hugged her back. "Is he here?" I murmured, tangling my fingers in her wonderful curly hair, relishing her touch.
"No," she whispered back. "He moved out a long time ago and now lives as a "knight", if you can call him that, in the kingdom." Madison sighed. "Oh, Fang…" She reached up on her toes and gave me a soft kiss, which I easily returned.
"You're by yourself now, yes?" I pulled back to study her sunkissed face.
"Yes. Do you…is she with you?" Maddie looked around outside. "You idiot! Why would you leave her outside by herself? Do you realize she probably hasn't spent a day training for anything except how not to embarrass her family? Go! Tie up the horses and bring her inside."
I rolled my eyes and broke apart from her small frame, and tied up my horse before tending to Max. "Go inside," I ordered, in a much better mood than usual. She did everything but trip over her feet trying to get inside as I tied up her horse as well, to a different tree. After I was done doing so, I followed her inside.
Maddie had brought out a tray of tea, and handed her a cup. "Two sugar cubes and a tablespoon of honey?" She looked up, smiling. "Unhealthy."
"You know me so well." I smiled for once and pecked her lightly, then took the cup and sat down.
Madison's house looked as it always had; neat with her trademark dark brown and cream walls. Frames of her family, friends and drawings lined the walls, and you shouldn't get me started about her room when it comes to her art addiction. It was a rather small house, however Madison seemed to be doing quite well on her own here, despite the sleazy men that sometimes roamed the town. Fearing for her, I took it upon myself to mold her into the best fighter possible, and sometimes even beats me.
I absently sipped at the tea, sitting back and sighing. "Maddie?"
"Yes?" she called from the kitchen, peeking her head out the door.
"Can we stay here a night? I don't think our princess here knows what she's getting into yet."
Maddie nodded, smiling. "Of course. You know you're always welcome here."
The Full Moon Is Good For More Than Werewolves, You Know.
They'd given me the guest room to sleep in while Fang bunked with Maddie. I saw them when I passed the open door; content and snuggled together. While I was outside, I wondered if I'd ever have that feeling with whomever was chosen to be with me. But there was the off chance I would never behave like that. My parents know not of my true colors, since I always hide them. But since I was a mere child, the maids were always happy babysitting me because they wanted to see what silly antics I would do this time. I was always so sneaky and mischievous, and they knew it. To my parents, I was a quiet do-gooder who loved to dance. To all the rest of my friends (I don't have any because, well, I'm a princess and not allowed to leave without supervision. So the maids and the chefs, Cayla, Jellybean, and a handful of knights are my friends, I suppose.) I was rebellious, fun loving, and a risk taker. I do take a lot of risks…
I landed a fairly good-feeling (since I have no mirror or shadow to see) switch leap, then bounced into a double pirouette. After such a stressful day, I felt like I needed this little release. The full, near white moon shined brightly, giving my multi colored hair a silver sheen.
I picked at the shirt that Maddie had given me as well during a brief break. It was silver and maroon, with a swirly pattern. The fabric breathed and stretched, which was perfect for me, so I immediately ditched the improv halter top. As for the sports bra, well, Maddie had a few ones left over from her…fifteen year old years.
Don't laugh.
The grass felt amazing on my skin, and I curled up on my side contentedly. I just wish I was home, instead of here. Home…curled up in a soft, plush bed next to my Shiba Inu, Jellybean. I miss him so much…I miss everyone…
But then I suddenly got an idea and sat up.
What's stopping me from taking the cloak and the horse and leaving now?
Giggling at this, I gently tiptoed back inside and stole the cloak, along with another jacket for those colder nights. I had on shorts, but quickly changed those out for sweatpants just to be safe. I pulled up the hood of my cloak and jogged outside, untying the horse. As she stepped back, I was met with a very dissaproving face.
"Trying to escape, Miss Maximum?" Fang smirked, standing up from his position on the log. "Please make a better attempt next time."
"How did you know?" I snapped, stomping my foot. "I was completely silent!"
"Yeah...it doesn't help when someone is woken up from all of those thumps on the ground." He turned me around and pointed inside the house. "Inside. And I'm staying on the spare in your room this time so I can watch you." He tied the horse back up and followed my sulking form inside, but paused to check in on Maddie.
"Fang?" she mumbled, rolling over and cracking open her aquamarine eyes. "Why'd you leave?"
Fang gathered her into his arms and kissed her head. "I have to babysit a princess, baby. I'll still be here in the morning, but we're probably going to leave earlier tomorrow."
"Okay," she whispered, eyes gently closing as he planted a kiss on her forehead and laid her back down. He tucked her in lovingly and smiled, but then scowled when he stood and set his eyes upon me. I was scowling back at him, not at all thrilled at the idea. One, because he said he had to "babysit" me. Maximum Rosette Ride does not need a babysitter. And two, because, well, he'd be sleeping in my room and I wouldn't have anymore privacy.
Fang pointed out the door and I grudgingly led the way, settling back into the bed I'd previously been lying in. It was still partially warm, even though I'd been in it an hour ago. I heard the squeaks of the bed at the opposite end of the room, which was a signal Fang had laid down.
But in the morning... it finally hit me.
