Hate?

Chapter Four

I had to meet Carlisle Chapman in the garden.

Dread filled my entire being as Matt and I walked outside, no longer alone. Though Matthew never left my side, during Carlisle's visits he always walked a few feet behind, it felt like he wasn't there at all; as if he left me again.

My stomach felt as if a stone had been dropped on it when I saw Bianca in the garden as well, the other younger court girls sitting around her as she spoke. Bianca had always been popular; she was very beautiful, even at her young age. She was proper and polite; and for some reason, people found arrogance to be part of her charm.

"Honestly," I heard my younger sister say. "I don't know why she continues to deny Lord Chapman; he is such a charming man. I believe he would make a wonderful king."

"She knows I can hear her," I hissed to Matthew, glaring at the pretty girl as we waited for Carlisle to arrive.

"She knows you should listen," Matthew replied bluntly.

My glare hardened when the other girls giggled, then I sighed and put on a bright smile.

"Oh Bianca, darling," I said walking over to the group. The court girls stared at me with wide eyes while Bianca smiled.

"Yes Mimi?"

I sat down next to her. "You were right," I said. "About how good studying is. I found out how much power the queen has."

Bianca raised a delicate brow. "Did you now, sister dearest?"

I nodded. "Oh yes. I am delighted to say that when I become queen, I can officially send you off to the far, far, kingdom of Karneens. I'm sure you'll make tons of friends with all the other banshees there."

Bianca rolled her eyes and examined her lovely nails. "Honestly Mimi, everyone thinks that way; I'm just the only one brave enough to say it out loud. Lord Chapman is king material; you are just too stubborn to see it."

That's not true. I know perfectly well that Carlisle would make a wonderful king for the kingdom. He just isn't the right king for me. I know that as the crown princess I'm suppose to make sacrifices for my people but…well…I want to be married for love, not convenience.

Suddenly the giggling of the girls resumed and I looked up to see the servant boy from this morning walking by carrying a bucket of water.

"Oh Servant Boy," Bianca said, not looking up from her nails. "My shoes need polishing. By tomorrow I want to be able to see my beautiful face in them." When she finished her command she glared up at the boy.

The boy said nothing, just looked into her sapphire eyes with his emerald ones and nodded, and then he walked off.

I sighed in annoyance. "Honestly Bianca, why do you do that to him, he's such a nice boy?"

"It's his job, isn't it?" Bianca said, brushing off fuzz from her blue satin dress. "He lives to serve me; if I'm happy than he's happy."

"I wish I had a servant as handsome as him," Natasha Gravy said slyly while smoothing out her purple gown. "I have some needs I would love for him to-"

"Oh honestly Natasha," Bianca snapped. "He's a servant, totally below your class."

Natasha Gravy's father was part of the royal court. Even though she was sixteen she was closer to Bianca than to me. Though it probably has something to do with her hatred for little Sally. Of course all the girls in this little circle hated Sally. Poor Girl; cursed with such a flirtatious brother.

A cough was heard and we all looked to see Carlisle standing before us, a bashful happy grin adorned his handsome face.

Carlisle hasn't changed at all over the years. His blonde hair was still nicely kept and his hazel eyes burned with love as he stared at me, like he always has.

"Oh hello Lord Chapman," Bianca said giving him her most charming smile.

Carlisle smiled back. "Hello Princess Bianca, you get lovelier every time I see you."

"I know," was Bianca's blunt reply a she stood up and signaled for the girls to follow her. "It was wonderful seeing you again." She fluttered her sapphire eyes. "Do come and visit more often."

My left eye twitched as I restrained myself from strangling her dainty white neck. I let out a sigh and stood up before Carlisle. "Carlisle, how wonderful to see you again."

"Hello Meems," he said using the nickname he and Matthew gave me so long ago. He held something out to me. "I got you something."

"Don't you always?" I mumbled while plucking the small box from his palm. I opened it to find a lovely little gold bracelet.

"It was made by the best jeweler in the Elven Kingdom," Carlisle said proudly.

"It's…nice, thank you" I said in a clipped voice, all the while holding it up and examining it. It was more than "nice", it was absolutely gorgeous.

"Here let me help you," Carlisle said. He gently took the bracelet from my fingers and held my wrist. Even more gently he slid the gold chain across my hand and around my wrist. He smiled down at me. "You look beautiful Mimi," he said softly.

I forced a soft laugh. "I'm no Bianca."

Carlisle let out a chuckle and held out his arm. "Shall we walk?"

I had not choice but to accept his arm, but not before shooting a glance toward Matt who was looking at us with an emotionless face.

I remember when I would walk through this same garden, my arms wrapped through Carlisle's and Matthew's…

"How are you Mimi?" Carlisle asked as we passed the rose bushes. Matthew was still walking a few feet behind us. "Have you been eating regularly? Getting enough sun?"

I sighed. "Yes Lord Chapman; thank you for your inquiries but I assure you I am quite healthy."

Carlisle stopped and turned me to him so he could stare down into my eyes, searching my soul. "Are you sure?"

I frowned. "Yes."

Carlisle sighed and we continued walking. We circled the garden twice before Carlisle finally spoke again. "You…remember Princess Sophie and Princess Ana?"

"The princesses of Tearlach? Of course."

"They've been kidnapped," Carlisle said softly, patting my hand.

"What?" I asked, not sure I was heard correctly.

"It happened about five days ago," Carlisle explained. "The guards heard a noise coming from their rooms. When they got there the two princesses just…vanished, I suppose, in a puff of smoke. They think the resistance has gotten a hold of a rogue mage."

Well this wasn't going to go over well with mother or father. Mother's worse fears were mages, especially rogue mages. Father attitude towards them weren't any better he absolutely despised them. It had something to do with their past. It was kind of ironic though, since Aunt Sadie is a mage; but mother explained to me that it was completely different. I just don't know how.

"But what does that mean?" I asked, not really fully comprehending what Carlisle was telling me. I looked over my shoulder at Matthew who had a distant look on his face. I know he heard Carlisle tell me about the resistance.

"It means that all the kingdoms should be on high alert," Carlisle said looking down hard at me. Then he looked at Matthew for the first time of his visit. "You and the other guards should very cautious."

I stared at Carlisle, confused. "Why? Are they coming after us or something?" If my siblings and I were in danger, I should know. I am, after all, the eldest.

"I'm not sure," said Carlisle, stroking his chin. "It might just be an attack on the Tearlach royal family. Then again, it might not."

"Well that clarifies everything," I grumbled sarcastically. I started walking back toward the castle, Matthew in tow.

"Sir Matthew," Carlisle called. "I would like a word with you."

I turned to see Matt nod and walk back toward him. I glared at Carlisle one last time before walking back into the castle. Once safely inside I burst into a run and went to my room. I closed the door and leaned against it, feeling my whole body shake.

I covered my face with my hands as I feel to the ground, my sobs echoing through the room.

The resistance…

Matt…

My sobs grew louder and I felt someone lightly tapping on my door.

They'll take Matt away!

"Everyone thinks that the abduction was just against the royal family of Tearlach," Carlisle told me, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

We didn't look at each other, just stood a few feet from each other and stared down at the pond where golden fish were swimming.

"But my uncle and I think it's something more," Carlisle continued.

"Why else would they get a mage, right?" I replied, understanding exactly what he meant.

"Right," was his reply. "I don't know what their plan is, and I'm not positive that they'll come here; but to be sure, you should keep your eyes open."

"I know."

From the corner of my eye I saw Carlisle turn and look at me. "If anything happens to Mimi…"

I scoffed and turned away from him. "She'll be fine."

I couldn't stop the pounding of excitement in my heart. The resistance…

Who knew that staying in this god awful place might actually help me with my revenge?

I hope they come. I'll finally be able to fight and kill them all. One by one…

Sally let out a sigh and she let go of the red curtain and let it cover the window once more.

"What's wrong?" Steven asked from where he sat next to the fire, reading a book.

"It's…nothing…" Sally said, looking down at her lap and brushing a lock of blonde hair behind her ear.

Steven stood up and walked over to the window seat she was sitting on. He leaned over his twin and pushed back the curtain, staring at the view below. He scoffed.

"When is that stupid Lord Chapman going to get a clue?" he said venomously. "Persistence is an annoying trait."

"Not if you love someone…as much as he loves Mimi…" Sally said softly, still staring at her folded hands in her lap.

Steven let out a chuckle. "Mimi is so caught up in her "love" for Sir Matthew she probably wouldn't even care if Lord Chapman fell of a cliff."

"…I…"

Steven looked down, his eyes turning thoughtful. "Hmm?"

"….Nothing…"

He smiled and laid his hand on the girls head. "Why don't you go see Mimi? You know how she gets whenever Lord Chapman visits." Sally nodded. "And remember to get a good night sleep. We're going to go see mother and father at the Western Manor tomorrow."

"Why…" Sally began to say, but stopped.

"Because we haven't seen them in awhile, of course," Steven replied, while grasping her small hand and pulling her up.

Sally nodded and walked toward the door. She knew that he knew what she really meant; he just didn't want to give her the real answer.

What she truly wanted to know was why they always went off somewhere whenever Lord Chapman visited.

Why did he always make them disappear?

Author's Note: So yeah... I really love writing the twins and am excited that I'm getting more oppertunities to. In the next chapter we're going to see a lot of Nenet and an appearance of Harper and Ember- but they'll mostly be in chapter 6.

So what do you all think?

Also... If I don't get many reviews, I might wait a little while and write a few more chapters before posting. So if you all want a fast update... (haha, ElvislivesAgain is going to kill me for this!)

Anyway, review please.