Hey guys, I'm sorry that the last chapter was a little bit upsetting. But believe me when I say that some times the path that life leads us down isn't always so easy. Much love RSD xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox.
*Ben's POV*
"Mother do we really need to go through this again?" I whined. I was now sitting in my office after everyone had left after the ball; after walking out on Audrey I gathered myself back together before returning. But after I returned back into the room I sat with my parents in near enough silence for the rest of the ball willing it to be over. I wanted to get back out and looking for Mal; but I knew that I had to wait until morning. When everyone had finally left I walked into my office to make more plans; I started to enjoy the silence and my mother walked in.
"Yes Ben" she stated.
"I do believe we do" she added.
"Me and your Father are worried about how you are handling this; the way you left Audrey like that hasn't gone unnoticed" she said sternly.
"I told you what she said to me" I reminded her.
"And I was polite" I urged.
"I know but it still doesn't look good son" my Mother replied from the seat in front of my desk.
"You need to remember you have a reputation to uphold" she stated.
"I don't care!" I spat back.
"I only care about finding Mal" I advised as my eyes landed on the photo of me and Mal on my desk. I bit down on my bottom lip; if I could only turn the clock back then I wouldn't have let her leave me that day. I should have been more persistent that she stayed the night; there was obviously something bothering her and she wanted to speak to me about something. I should have followed her straight to her dorm and talked this out with her; but no I let her walk right out of my life.
"Well you should care" my mother replied.
"I know you are going through something at the moment but you need to remember you have other commitments" she reminded me.
"I know" I sighed.
"Sorry Mother" I apologised as I looked back at her.
"I just miss her so bad" I said sadly.
"I need to see her" I pouted as my eyes started to water.
"If I could only see her just one more time; I just want to be given the chance to fight for us" I pressed as I wiped my eyes.
"She's just left; and not told me why" I sniffed.
"I really don't know what to do Mother; I can't lose her!" I exclaimed as my eyes continued to water.
"Ben" my mother said sadly.
"Try and remain positive; we will find her" she said trying to reassure me.
"Everyone keeps saying that!" I snapped as I wiped my eyes again.
"But answer me this" I stressed.
"How can a purple haired girl who is so well known around the kingdom just disappear like this?" I exclaimed.
"She has been gone weeks! Gareth who is meant to be the kingdoms leading private investigator hasn't even found her! What does that tell you?" I ranted.
"That everyone is trying their best" my mother stressed.
"Yeah" I agreed. I watched as she opened her mouth to say something; but she stopped when we both heard a quick knock on the door before it opened and my head of security appeared in the doorway.
"Dawson it really isn't a good time" I said bluntly.
"Your Majesty, you need to hear this" he urged.
"Ok go on" I sighed as I looked down at my desk.
"We've found her" Dawson said proudly.
"What?" I asked incredulously as I slowly looked up at Dawson.
"Gareth has found the Lady Mal" he confirmed.
"What?" I repeated as I slowly stood up. Gareth has finally found Mal! Oh thank Lucifer for that! I needed to get to her and quick before she found out that we knew where she was as she might move on again. And I couldn't bear it if she managed to completely disappear out of my life again.
"Where?" I questioned.
"It's not good news your Majesty" he advised sadly as he pursed his lips together and looked down at the ground.
"What?" I repeated.
"She's currently in an ambulance" Dawson advised me.
"Ambulance?" I repeated.
"What's happened?" my mother wondered.
"We don't know" he replied.
"All we do know is that the Lady Mal was seen put into the back of an ambulance in North Riding and she is currently on her way to North Riding General" he explained.
"Right" I nodded as I started to digest the information. Yes I was glad that we finally knew where Mal was; but this came at a cost. Mal was now either ill or injured and on her way to hospital. It was breaking my heart knowing that Mal was is in pain and I wasn't there with her - well I was going to change that.
"We need to get there now!" I advised quickly.
"Will you get Father?" I asked my mother.
"Yes, I'll quickly pack some bags for the three of us" she advised.
"Ok" I said and she quickly stood up and I watched her quickly run from the room.
"Thank you Dawson" I said as I looked over to him.
"Tell Gareth I am very grateful" I stressed.
"Of course" he said and he left the room. I went to walk around my desk and then a thought came to me; I couldn't go to North Riding alone - I needed mine and Mal's family. So with this thought in mind I quickly pulled my phone out of my pocket and I rang Evie.
"Ben" she sleepily answered.
"You know this is late don't you?" she yawned.
"Yes but you will want to hear this" I quickly answered.
"Can you pack a bag and get Jay and Carlos to do the same?" I asked.
"Why?" Evie asked confused.
"We've found her" I said happily. I felt as if my heart was about to burst; we have finally found Mal! Now I just had the very slow and painful journey of getting to her - I just hoped that the next four hours would go over very quickly!
"What?" Evie asked incredulously.
"We've found Mal" I confirmed.
"What?" Evie repeated.
"Where?" she quickly asked before I could say anything.
"She's in North Riding" I explained.
"Right did she say why she is there?" Evie asked.
"No, I haven't spoke to her" I answered.
"So how do you know that she is in North Riding?" I heard Evie reply and I could tell by the tone of her voice that she was starting to sound deflated.
"Erm" I said nervously.
"I'll tell you later" I advised. I didn't really know how Evie would feel if I told her that I had a private investigator looking for Mal; as far as she was aware it was just police and officials that were looking for her.
"Ok" I heard her reply.
"There's something else I need to tell you; well warn you really-" I started.
"Right?" she said slowly.
"What?" she wondered.
"Mal is currently in the back of an ambulance on the way to North Riding General" I said and I started to feel my heart pound through my chest as I didn't know why she was currently on her way to hospital.
"What's happened?" Evie asked panic stricken.
"I don't know. No one does" I quickly replied as I started to pace around my office.
"All we do know is that is where she is; and we need to get there before she is well enough to disappear again" I said as I started to head towards the office doorway so I could help my parents pack our things together.
"Ok" Evie said.
"Give us thirty minutes" she added.
"Ok" I said.
"I'll pick you up outside of your dorm buildings" I confirmed.
"See you soon" she replied.
"Bye" I said.
"Bye" I heard her say before I quickly hung up. I was just about to leave my office when I remembered something.
"Oh" I muttered.
"I nearly forgot" I said to myself. I quickly turned around and quickly walked up to the painting of me on the wall; I then pulled it forward and revealed my hidden safe. I quickly unlocked it and I smiled when my eyes landed onto what I wanted. I slowly pulled the box out of the safe and I stared at if for a few seconds before I slid it into my inside blazer pocket. I then quickly closed, locked the safe and placed the painting back into place before I turned to leave my office.
"I'm coming Mal" I muttered to myself as I left the room.
"Ready or not!"
