Love: The Gift And Curse

Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans.

Chapter 10

- Hate -

She raised her arms up as the maids pulled the silky dress over her head. The dark green gown fall over her slim body and lightly touched the floor. She ran her fingers over the black transparent silk that went over the dark green dress. She outlined the black flowers that ran down the sides and ran her arms over her bare shoulders, as the dress was strapless.

Beautiful

But she hated it.

The maids slipped on long black gloves that reached her elbows and she slipped into black heels.

Engaged to a Prince.

But she hated it.

They combed through her fiery red hair and pulled it into a tight bun, adding a black rose clip at the top

A Princess

But she hated that most of all.

She Tracy and Chad for being able to love each other, she hated the Prince for choosing her, she hated her parents for dying and throwing all responsibility on her, she hated her country for needing her, she hated the world for Turing its back on her, she hated Richard for falling in lover with her, she hated how she couldn't change anything, but most importantly...

She hated herself.

The maids had finished and they took a step back from the Princess as she looked int the full length mirror. The room seemed to light up because of her beauty. She remained silent as Chad and Tracy walked in and smiled at her.

"Ready?"

Kori nodded and walked out into the hallway, she forced a smile to her lips because she had to hide the pain, she had to hide everything. She walked down the stairs where the Prince met her. He came and kissed her hand and she smiled showing he teeth.

"Princess Koriand'r it is a pleasure to meet you indeed, my name is Bernard."

She curtsied for a moment and gazed back up at him.

"Thank you Bernard it is also a pleasure meeting you."

He motioned her to walk in the garden and she took his arm. They walked along the brick path, the sun had completely set and the stars were shining bright.

"So is it true what they say about you?"

Bernard turned his head slightly looking at her. Kori raised an eyebrow.

"What do they say about me?"

"They say you were dating not a prince?"

Kori bit her lip, he was talking about Richard.

"What you've heard was true."

Bernard arched an eyebrow, curios at why she would date someone not of her own class.

"And what made you so compelled to do such an act?"

Kori sighed.

"I don't know."

Bernard pulled to a stop and kissed her hand again.

"You need not worry about this boy anymore Koriand'r our wedding will be in two months and we can live happily."

Two months?!

Her head was screaming at her, she hadn't realized how close the wedding was.

"Why so early?'

She blurted out and Bernard's face went red.

"You dare define me?!"

Kori's eyes widened with fear as the Prince gripped her arm tightly.

"I-I didn't mean to..."

"When you are my wife and Queen you shall learn to respect me! You will speak when spoken to and you will not argue with me! Understood?!"

Kori was shaking from head to toe and all she could do was nod. Bernard's face became normal again and he let go of her arm, where a bruise was beginning to form. They continued to walk in the garden and Kori remained silent letting the Prince talk, she was deathly afraid of another outburst.

-

The night finally ended and Bernard bowed deeply and Kori curtsied back. He left and everyone in the house started cleaning up and a chair was shoved under Kori and she fell into it, still slightly shaking. Chad approached her.

"How was the Prince?"

Kori pulled out her fake smile.

"Wonderful."

Chad could tell she was lying, but didn't want to push Kori farther then she had already been pushed. She lost her boyfriend and most of her freedom in one day. Kori slowly walked up to her room and took off the dress and changing into her purple pj pants with stars and a purple short sleeved purple t-shirt with a star in the middle.

She rubbed her arm where the bruise was and she laid in bed, dreading the day to come. She would have to go to school and see him. She couldn't go through this marriage, she would never survive, but she had to. If the Prince would blow up like that over a simple question she couldn't even imagine what a war would be like and she didn't want to.

-

Kori awoke to the rain lightly hitting the window, she sat up slowly hugging her knees to her chest. She bit her lower lip and watched the rain for a moment, losing herself in it. She heard a soft knock at the door and it was the sign for her to get ready. She pulled on a pair of light jeans with a pink tank top and a green jacket over it and green All Star no lace converse. She kept her hair down and slugged her bag over her shoulder.

She pulled her hood up as the rain came down a little harder. She ran up the stairs of the school and instead of a fan club greeting her she got cold, hard stares. She pulled her hood down and the glares remained. She turned to go down the hall when she found that students surrounded her.

She backed up and she quickly turned again and found she was in the middle of the circle and the students looked ready to kill. She looked around, wondering what the hell she had done.

"Wh.."

Before she could finish a newspaper was thrown at her feet, it gently slide to a stop at her shoes.

"Well pick it up!"

Someone yelled out of the angry crowed. Panic started settling in as Kori slowly bent down to pick up the paper. On the front was her and Bernard and he was kissing her hand while she was smiling and they also had a picture of Richard running through the gates of the palace. Kori had her hand to her mouth and she blinked back tears. The cover read...

Princess to Good for Common People

She looked up, shocked.

"It's not true! you don't understand I..."

"Oh we understand perfectly Princes you're too good for Richard so you dumped him for a high royal Prince!"

Kori looked for Rachel, but Rachel wasn't seen in the crowed.

"No it's not like that at all! Please you have to believe..."

"If you're so better than us Princess why don't you have a private tutor?"

This comment came from Kitten, who had a smirk on her face. The settling panic began to rise.

Kori you got to get out of here!

She wanted to run, but she knew there as no way to escape. She searched for Richard, he could tell them what really happened.

"I think we need to teach the Princess a lesson, what do you guys think?"

The crowed cheered and Kori began to shake slightly, she did not like where this was going. She finally caught Rachel, her eyes just as fearful as Kori's. Kori mouthed the word help and Rachel was gone in an instant.

"Please, I never meant any harm."

"Sorry Princess you shouldn't have mingled with us "lower" people."

The crowed began to close in on her and Kori tried again and again to get them to stop.

"Please...please..please stop!"

She was begging them and she could feel the tears stream down her face, but no one stopped. The crowed began attacking her and Kori coudn't fight back. Someone pulled her hair, someone else kicked her in the stomach, they punched, kicked, screamed, yelled insults at her and she took it all. She curled into a ball taking blow after blow. Her head was screaming, her eyes were shedding tear after tear, but no one stopped.

"YO!"

Then it all stopped, everything and Kori stayed in her tight ball, afraid to move.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

She couldn' recognize the voice, but she was glad he had stopped the pain. She felt a warm hand on her arm and she looked up to see a boy with forest green eyes and blond hair looking down at her.

"Hey it's okay, let's get you out of here."

She had remember seeing him with Richard and felt she could trust him. She opened her arms and he gently scooped her up and walked through the shocked crowed. The other boy who had stopped the crowed walked along side them. He was also one of Richard's friends, dark skin and brown eyes and then she saw Rachel next to the boy who was carrying her. She buried her head in the boys chest as they walked away from the anger and hate.

They walked into a small room where Richard was reading a book, he looked over and was immediately up when he saw Kori in Gar's arms.

"Kori?"

The sweetness of his voice made her want to dry and Gar gently set her down and she jumped right into Richard's arms, sobbing. Victor nudged Gar silently telling them that they needed a moment alone. The three left as Kori and Richard stood in silence, only there sound of her sobs filled the room. Richard just rubbed her back and held her close, not wanting to let her go.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"

Richard was shocked, she was apologizing to him.

"Kori none of this is you're fault, tell me what happened?"

"I can't... don't want to get hurt again."

Anger boiled inside of him at the though of anyone hurting Kori. He looked over her carefully, bruised covering her fragile body. He hated not being able to protect her.

"I can't do it Richard! I can't marry him! I can't do any of this anymore! It's too much!"

"It's okay Kori, forget everything, I'm here."

She took in a deep breath as her tears came to a halt. She looked up at him and before Richard could say anymore Kori was kissing him and he kissed back. She stopped and laid her forehead against his. Their lips inches apart, his warm breath licked the edge of her lips.

"Don't stop."

He whispered and began kissing her again, both not wanting to ever stop.

Shocker! So much drama!! It never ends! Hopefully Kori and Richard will get their happy ending! Thanks to all my reviewers and please review!

Peace Out!

Vballqueen1792