Max
The next event that I'll be the center of attention of will also be the biggest event: my coronation. It's just a huge, fancy ceremony to formally declare me as princess and future ruler of Cantagol. In the next day, many plans and preparations will have to be made and once again I'll be stuffed into a dress.
"Maximum?" a voice I can tell belongs to my new mom says.
"I'm here." I call back.
"Oh good." she says and walks in. "I'll have to help you through the proceedings in the next day."
"And here I thought you would just let me embarrass myself." I answer.
"Of course I wouldn't dear. I'll help you along and you'll do fine. I promise. I can still remember the day Jeb and I had to go through the ceremony, long ago as that was." she says with a small laugh.
"Were you nervous?" I ask curiously.
"Was I? I thought I was going to die of nerves. At the time, I was lucky to have Jeb. He helped me get through it. And now I'm here to help you." she tells me with a smile.
"So what do I have to do anyway?" I ask.
"Not a lot. Walk down the pathway. Say a couple of I wills and I dos but other than that it's pretty self-explanatory. You'll see when we practice it later." she answers.
Jeb
Darn my blasted wife. She's entirely too suspicious and is making it hard for me to get away. I must spend every last second making sure this next day goes as planned. There's no time for pleasantries. Just business.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow is the beginning of something I've been waiting for for a long time. My life's work will finally begin its completion. All I need is for Maximum to remain in complete ignorance because she is the key to everything.
When Jeb thinks he's not being followed, he dares to sneak down to an area in the dungeon where he conducts his experimentation. This time, the shadow follows him all the way; when the shadow sees where Jeb disappears to he turns back around to report his discovery.
Max
I'm talking to my mom in my room still when Fang walks in unannounced. I'm about to say something extremely sarcastic but then I notice that his eyes look brighter and he's shifting in place as if he can't stay still.
"Fang?" I say.
He looks at me for a split second and says, "Hi." but obviously he's not here for me because right after he turns to my mother and says, "Your Majesty I hope you don't mind, but I'd like to speak to you in private for a minute."
They share a look for a second that practically screams 'We know something Max doesn't'.
"Of course." I hear my mom answer and in the next second she's standing up and following him to the door. "I'll be back in a minute." she offers me before closing the door.
The moment the door closes I'm on my feet at the door and trying to hear what they're saying. I've decided that I'm not goof to be left out of important conversations like these anymore. I don't want to be lost. I don't hear it very clearly but from what I understand Fang found something and now they're making plans to go get it? I almost feel more confused than I was before. I'm just sitting back on the bed when my mom walks in without Fang.
"What was that about?" I immediately start in on my questioning.
"It's nothing. Just some business I need to take care of. I'm sorry to cut our time together short but I really must leave right away. I hope you'll understand." she says to me.
"No. I don't understand because no one wants to tell me anything in a straightforward way anymore! It's starting to irritate me now." I say not even hiding my annoyance.
"I'm sorry, but i really must go." she says with one last look of pity before leaving me again.
Once she's gone, I groan aloud. This isn't fair at all.
Valencia
When Fang tells me that he's found Jeb's experiment chamber, I'm filled with happiness and sadness at the same time. I'm glad that we can get this over with and stop him but upset that it's come to this. I see the importance in planning to stop him so I excuse myself from Max and order Fang to get a few of the trusted people i have under my control to meet in my chambers.
When they're all gathered(about five soldiers, a couple of Jeb's old friends, a noble), I start the meeting.
"You all know that Fangs has recently discovered the whereabouts of Jeb's experiments correct?" I ask. Heads nod in response.
"Good. Now the question is: what do we do about it? We have to assume that since he didn't lose Fang on the way there that he's preoccupied with something big. We need to stop it. Whatever IT is."
The noble named Jack speaks up, "Valencia, you must realize that even if we do have him that if we don't know that what he's doing is dangerous then we won't have him on any grounds to remove him from the throne."
"I know. That's the only reason we are t down there stopping him right now. It's got to be at an incriminating time. We need to catch him right in the middle of whatever it is." I say.
One of Jeb's old friends, Mark, contributes, "Since he seems to be centering this around your daughter, Maximum, it could be safe to presume that whatever he's planning could take place before or after her coronation."
"I really hate to think that but you might be right. If that's the case, we need to be ready to move. Fang, I'm putting you in primary charge of taking care of Maximum. I want you near her as much as possible. Can you do that?" I say and look at him.
He tries to hide an emotion that I recognize when he answers, "Yes." to me. I'm glad my suspicions are correct because I know that he'll do whatever it takes to protect her.
"As far as you other soldiers, plan out a strategy for protection with him. Assume that at some point around the coronation tomorrow Jeb is going to steal her away. Be prepared for anything. Do you understand?" I say with all seriousness.
When everyone nods their head in response, I say, "Good. Then go on preparing for tomorrow as usual. Just be extra cautious. You're all free to leave now." I say. As everyone gets up to leave, I stop Fang. "Your duties start now. Lead Maximum to the rehearsal for her coronation. I'll meet you both there."
"Yes Your Majesty." he responds and turns to leave.
Max
The door opens and I jump up to see...not my mom. Fang.
"I'm taking you to practice for your coronation." he says.
"Where's my mom?" i ask.
"She's going to meet us there." he answers.
"What did you guys have to talk about earlier?" I ask.
"Don't worry about it." he answers.
"Why won't anyone tell me anything?" I say in frustration.
"Because it's for your own good." he answers with an emotion I can't make out.
I look up in surprise because I didn't really expect a reaction from him.
"So there is something you aren't telling me?" I ask.
He looks me in the eyes then sighs and says, "You're just going to have to trust me. Can you do that for now?"
I nod my head yes because there's not really much else I can say to him at this point.
"Then let's go," he says and leads me out into the maze of hallways.
He takes me to an area of the castle I haven't been through yet and into a large throne room I guess is the only appropriate way to describe it. At the moment, it's in the process of being adorned with flowers and fabrics of all colors to decorate it for tomorrow. I'm happy to see my mom at the front of the room along with a couple of people I suppose will be leading the ceremony, one of those people being Dylan's dad.
As we walk to where they are, I notice that Fang has tensed up.
"What's wrong?" I ask before we get to where they are.
He only shakes his head in response and after that I don't have a chance to mention it again.
"Maximum," my mom says and hugs me. "I want to introduce you to a very important person. Your grandfather. Since both of Jeb's parents aren't around, he will be leading the ceremony for you."
My grandfather is a guy of average height who looks to be about seventy with the characteristic dark colored hair that I've come to associate with my mom only his is mostly grey. "It's nice to meet you." I say as he, thankfully, reaches to shake my hand.
"And of course you met John last night." She continues; John being Dylan's dad.
"Yes," I say with what I hope was a kindly smile.
"We won't be here long. I just want to run it through a couple of times so that you'll be somewhat familiar with it when it's happening tomorrow." She finishes.
I nod my head and from there we proceed to run through everything. I notice that the person who caused Fang to tense up was Dylan's dad: John. I give myself a mental reminder to ask him about that when we leave. Although I find out that my grandfather is nice. He even joked around with me once which is something I've found is really hard to come by here.
Anyway, my mom was right when she told me the ceremony was self-explanatory and I feel less nervous when she finally allows Fang to lead me back to my room.
On the way back I break our streak of silence and say, "Hey Fang?"
"Yes?"
"What's up with you and Dylan's dad?" I ask.
He tenses up again and answers, "Let's just say that our families don't really have a nice history."
"Does that mean you and Dylan don't get along either?" I press.
He waits before responding then says, "Let's just say that we don't have a nice history."
I let out a not to girly snort to which I hear Fang allow himself a chuckle at my expense.
"Why can't we all just get along?" I mutter.
"Because that'd just be too perfect." Fang answers.
From then on we're silent until we get back to my room.
Once I'm in my room safe and sound, Fang says goodnight and turns to leave.
"Fang." I say. He turns and looks at me questioningly. "I'm in danger aren't I?" I ask.
His eyes widen a millimeter of a fraction and I get my answer. "Who told you that?" he asks.
"Don't worry about it, but from your reaction I now know it's true." I answer and turn away.
"Hey," Fang says and when I turn back he's making his way over to where I am. "I won't let anyone hurt you. Okay?" he says so convincingly that I have almost no choice but to believe him. I nod my head.
"So go to sleep." He says then takes my face into his hands and before I realize what he's doing he's kissing my forehead. I can tell he is as shocked at his actions as I am.
"I'll see you tomorrow Princess." He says softly and then he's gone.
From my surprise at Fang to my realization at the danger I'm in; I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to go to sleep.
