AMERICA POV
I am being jerked and jostled as Anne, Mary, and Lucy all try and pull me in the beautiful dress they made. It is truly simple, strapless, with a sweetheart neckline. The flowy material gathers just under my bust, there is a thin belt, with diamond embroidery, wrapped around it. It is perfectly white, I reach down and hold my stomach for a second, laughing because I don't deserve to wear the pure white on my wedding day. The rest of the dress is plain, and flows down all the way to the floor, and covers up a pair of blue flats. I'm wearing the funky shoes, one because I love the color which matched my song bird necklace, and two, because I'm not going to be able to wear heels if I need to run.
Maxon is in the bedroom getting ready, and I am in my huge bathroom. It has been all of seven minutes since Maxon stepped through my doorway tonight. We're rushing because the King basically wants me dead now. He hates me, and now that his son has declared to the entire country that I am his one true love, he is furious. King Clarkson, according to Maxon, is looking for some way to convince the public that Maxon isn't serious about his declaration. Well, the man that is standing on the outside of door, getting ready to marry me, is proof enough that what he declared is true.
"Mary, Lucy, I need to talk to you guys." I say, but neither of them stop. "Girls, this is important."
"If you're about to tell us about the baby, don't bother, we've known for weeks." Mary tells us.
"True!" Lucy pipes up, "We're so happy for you!" She and Mary both squeeze me in a hug. I eye Anne, and all she does is duck her head, not meeting my eyes, but smirking.
"To think I felt guilty for keeping a secret from you guys," I can't believe Anne spilled the beans! I'm not mad though. I'm actually happy they already know, that way I don't have to go through the announcement any more than I already have to. "I am sorry I didn't tell you guys earlier, I was just scared."
"We know that, we don't mind," Mary says while Lucy nods, "We knew you would tell us when you were ready. And now you did, and we are so happy for you." I smile at them, and just wonder how I got so lucky with these girls. I couldn't have asked for better. Anne can't help herself as she starts giggling, and before I know it, we all are uncontrollably giggling. I am so unbelievably happy right now, about to marry the man I love, with three women who've become as close as sisters. I miss my real ones, but these three are just as good.
Within the next minute, the girls are announcing that I am done and ready, which is good, because our lookout just yelled from the other side of the door that we need to get going. Now.
The girls finally spin me around to look in the mirror. I'm taken aback. My red hair is loosely curled, with the top half pulled up and away from my face. I am wearing long, real sapphire earrings from the royal shop, with my usual bird necklace, sitting in its spot at the base of throat. The tears fill my eyes, and I turn and draw them all into a hug.
"Thank you. Thank you for everything." I tell them. "I love you three."
"And we love you! First, stop it with those tears your makeup will run! Now, America you need to go." Anne scoots me over to stand right behind the bathroom door and calls out, "Prince Maxon, are you ready to see your beautiful bride?"
"I am so ready." Is shouted back in Maxon's muffled voice. I can't help it, I blush as I push the doors open and we stand face to face.
"Oh my, how have I gotten so lucky, my dear." His eyes are locked with mine, and I'm about to make a quip about his chosen term of endearment, but I cannot bare to make this moment any less beautiful.
"Are you ready?" I smile, "Because I am so ready to marry you, my love." My maids sigh at our exchange.
"That will never get old." He reaches his hand out towards mine, and I slip my fingers in-between his.
Anne and one of the male guards peek out to make sure the coast is clear. Anne, without moving her eyes from the hallway, reaches her arm up and waves us over. The male guard gives us a thumbs up, which means we are good to go. We're planning to use all of the secret passageways throughout the palace to get us to the library. The officiant is meeting us in our special room.
Maxon, the guard, and I all run out into the hallway together. Maxon and I follow the guard, whom I learn from his nametag is Officer Woodwork, hand in hand as he leads us to the first passageway. Even though Maxon grew up in this palace, he doesn't even know where all the passageways are, and neither does the King. It is made that only the guards know every passageway, for some kind of safety reasoning, but right now it is working in our favor.
We make it to the entry of the first path. It is a painting of the southern coast of our country, a beautiful beach with deep blue water stretching out so much farther than a painting could ever capture. Officer Woodwork then puts his fingertips onto the right side of the frame, slides them up close to the top, and pulls. The picture swings open to reveal the passageway that hides behind it. I cannot help but marvel for a second at the architecture of this entire palace made so long ago, but my thoughts are short lived by Maxon pulling me in after him, and the guard pushing us both in. Before I can even say thank you to Office Woodwork, he just nods and closes the picture behind us.
"Maxon, where is he going? We need him!" I move quick to push the frame back open, but Maxon just starts pulling me down the dark hallway.
"Honey, you truly think that I didn't spend my entire childhood exploring these dark halls? When my father told me not too, that was the first thing I did." He smirks at me. Of course, I should have known.
"Well, may I just say that I am very impressed with my fiancée right now?" I smirk right back.
"Hmm, you may say it as many times as you like, my dear." He pulls me close and rests his forehead on mine.
"Nuh-uh, Maxon. I let it slide earlier, but that is still the worst." I give him a quick kiss as he laughs and nods, and start pulling him down the tunnel, "Okay, smarty pants, where are we going?" I smile when he laughs. God how I love that goofy laugh.
"This way lovely." He pulls me to the left when we meet the first fork.
We follow the passageways for some time, taking left turns here, and right turns there. There are candle sticks lining the hallways, but it looks like years since they have been lit. There are even spider webs hanging from some of them. The walls change from drywall, to cinder block, depending on the hallway. Either way, everything is always dark. If it weren't for the lantern that Maxon is holding, then we wouldn't even be able to see an inch in front of us. It's also really cold in here. Before I know it, I'm shivering.
"Are you cold? What am I kidding of course you are, I'm cold and I have at least three layers on." He shrugs off his dress coat, and drapes it across my shoulders. "Can't have my bride, and my baby, freezing." He smiles and gives me a quick kiss.
I'm still smiling at my groom's concern when we come to the end of the first passageway. The tunnel comes to an end behind an old book shelf this time. We have all hands on the door, and are about to push it open, when a guard comes running up from behind us.
"Prince! Miss! Do not open it! The king is right outside." He tells us. What?!
"How do you know this Officer James?" Maxon asks.
"I made sure one of our men, on our side I mean, stayed with the king to ensure we wouldn't run into him on our way to the room." The guard is winded, he was obviously running to tell us this. Maxon closes his eyes and breathes out very slowly. We were almost caught. That is not something that can happen. We got careless. Joking around down here, acting like we aren't running for our lives, and for our family. Maxon reaches out and puts a hand on James's shoulder.
"Thank you, James." Maxon lowers his voice, I don't think anyone could hear us through these walls, but like we just learned, it doesn't hurt to be careful. Maxon turns to me now.
"We will take another way. I am sorry for this mistake." He looks so disappointed in himself. I want nothing more to make sure that he knows not to feel any type of disappointment in himself, but we don't have time for that. We will during our vows, but now we need to move.
"Maxon, I love you. This is not your fault, we just weren't careful. Let's change that, and get moving. We only have so much time." He nods his head, grabs my hand, and just like that, we are on our way. On a different route, but to the same destination. As we turn the first corner, we here a hard knock. Our walk turns into a run.
KING CLARKSON POV
"Where are they?" I yell at the room of guards I have gathered in the great hall. "Find them! NOW!" That bitch of a girl has made my son psychotic. My son has never had much of a backbone, and I have made every decision of his life thus far, but this? I mean I thought he would have better sense than to get involved with a such a poor, little ugly girl.
Why did I even let him get this far? I should have made him send her home the second I found out she did not respect him, but no. No. 'father' he said 'father this is my choice.' I don't even like to hear the word father come out of his immature mouth, but I figured that he had the Asian, and that gorgeous Celeste. Celeste may not be Queen material, but she would do anything to get the crown and hold it, which means she would do anything I told her to do. Exactly like my wife, and that worked out just fine for me.
I am walking now, to go meet my wife. She has never fought me. Not once in our whole marriage has she questioned one of my decisions or actions. That all changed about an hour ago, so my treatment of her had to change as well.
I still can't believe she tried to fight me! I mean really, did she ever think that she could make a change once my mind is made up? I laughed in her face! Right after I struck my open palm against it. All it took was one strike and she was down, begging for me to stop, and apologizing for her actions. I could tell though, I could tell she was just going to try and stop me from getting my hands on that stupid America. So, I locked her in the bedroom, tying her arms to the dresser attached to the wall.
I am walking through a small hallway, that leads to the hallway that hosts the King's quarters, when I notice the bookshelf on the right wall suddenly shakes.
What is that? I go over to the furniture, and see that it is clearly bolted to the wall. The damned thing definitely shook though. I grab the thing by both sides and try to move it, and it doesn't budge. Instead, I look at an empty space on one of the shelves. I reach my hand out, and knock on the back-wood piece of the furniture. Sure enough, the sound echoes, confirming my thoughts that this in fact a door.
I laugh out loud now. This is why my guards have not found them yet.
"They're using the passageways!" I yell. I run to the end of the hallway in which I came, and stop the first guard I see, "Guard, I need you to get in the secret passageways, now. That is where my son and that thing are hiding. Get all your men out there, I want that entire system raided. I want them found. GO NOW!" I shove him away in the direction of more guards, and he all but takes off running.
"And guard. Bring Lady America to me immediately. No harm will be brought to her, I want to save that fun for myself." I turn before the guard can respond, and laugh out loud again. That little five is going to wish she was never born when I get through with her.
As I walk down the hallway, humming to myself, I take pleasure in imagining all the excuses I could come up with to tell the public that their sweet America is dead. This is fun, I'm going to get creative with this one.
Next Chapter Preview: Will America and Maxon make it to the ceremony? Or will the king prevent them from getting that far? However, they find out pretty quick that the horrid king is not the only thing they have to fear. Will the couple be able to keep their unborn baby safe against all these attacks?
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