A/N: Is it me or is this chapter shorter than the others? I think it is... Well guys, long time no see. But ya know, busy busy busy.

the ancient mystic: Oooh, a new reviewer. Cool. Thanks and I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long.

Jeremy Shane: The usual thanks.

Gillette-x: Yep, I sure hate those suitors and I'm glad you enjoyed it. And ahhh, you'll see :)

sweet-as-salt: Aww, another new face! You're sweet as sugar, thanks x

Mellie E: Yep, you gotta hate those suitors ;)


"Oh no! He is going to kill me!" the org exclaimed. "Ahh... which way is the hall?" He scurried down random hallways and rudely threw random doors open. Fortunately, the idiotic fool hadn't walked in on anything... like Nick had a few days ago. He turned around and came face-to-face with another man, who was dressed in silver and blue attire.

"Who are you?" the panicked org asked.

"I should be the one questioning you," the handsome, black-haired warrior retorted.

"I—I am a suitor..." he began. Something akin to hurt flashed across the warrior's green-hazel eyes, but only lasted a second. Those very same eyes prompted the org to carry on. "My name is Jindrax."

"Just Jindrax?"

"Jindrax, the Duke of Nether-Org," the org proudly claimed.

"Very well, Your Grace... What are you doing here? You should be at the gathering. Your opponents for the... Princess' hand," the warrior managed to force out the last two words with great difficulty. He took a sharp breath before continuing, "Are already introducing themselves to Her Royal Highness and His Majesty at this very moment... You had better hurry."

"Yes... Right you are," Jindrax agreed, laughing nervously. As soon as he turned away from the warrior, he spun right back around. "But warrior, I am lost you see. There are a lot of halls here; I do not know which one the gathering is being held in."

"I cannot help you with that," the warrior bitterly stated. "Nor do I have any desire to pretend otherwise. Just be on your way." Jindrax nodded and did as he was told. The warrior sighed and walked away in the opposite direction.

Little did the pair know that their encounter had been witnessed. The onlooker stepped out of their hiding place on the wall.

"I am not the only one... I must find him..."


Meanwhile, back in the hall, things were progressing at an irritatingly slow rate. The suitors were introducing themselves—rather their fake selves—one after the other to the royals. The King tolerated them by being equally as phoney in return whilst his daughter didn't even attempt to hide her disdain at all.

The Mystics were hanging around as well as the warriors: Vida, Taylor and most of the guys were poking fun at the suitors, Cole, Danny, Daggeron and Leanbow were talking to some of the suitors, mainly Jarrod, Alyssa and Kendall were by Shayla's side and the rest of the women were observing and having a group discussion.

"Where do you suppose Sir Merrick is?" Clare questioned.

"Anywhere but this part of the castle, that's for sure," Madison replied.

"I pity him. To be young and in love with someone you cannot have. Does that not remind you of yourself, Udonna?" Niella asked her younger, red-headed sister.

"Indeed it does, sister. Leanbow told me himself that when he looks at Sir Merrick he sees his past," Udonna replied. "Our past..."


Merrick whipped around. He knew there was something a bit off... During his conversation with the Duke of Nether-Org, he had sensed another presence around them. At first he brushed it off, thinking that he had imagined it. However, it was different now. The wolf could hear footsteps echoing throughout the hallways but saw no one. That was until...

"OWW!" a woman's voice yelped. Merrick located a black haired woman lying against a wall nearby. She seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.

The wolf warrior went closer and saw that the woman was wearing a red, black and green dress-like outfit. He had never seen a woman, save for Alyssa and Taylor, wearing something like that. Finally, the woman noticed Merrick standing above her. She quickly stood up and regained her composure.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"It is none of your business," she sneered rudely in reply. Merrick rolled his eyes.

"Look, you are not the first stranger I have seen today. But unlike you, the other intruder was a man; a suitor." The woman scoffed.

"Therefore I am not allowed to be here because I am a woman?"

"No, there is a suitor gathering taking place and unless you are a noble lady of the court, a maid or someone of royal stature you have no reason to be here," Merrick answered calmly.

"Alright. As a matter of fact, I am not a royal person, a noble lady or even a maid. But I am here to see a particular suitor," the woman admitted truthfully. "I demand you take me to him."

"Who is this suitor?" Merrick implored, ignoring her demand. Why was there a woman here to see one of them? He hoped for the suitor's sake that this woman wasn't a mistress or a wife; otherwise, he'd have to have a serious talk with him. "More importantly, who are you? A mistress? A wife?" She scoffed again.

"Neither. I am a friend who has something important to say," she responded haughtily. Her expression seemed to soften. "Something I should have said a long time ago..."

Merrick understood straight away. Himself and this woman were in the same situation.

"Who is he?" he enquired, this time in a gentler tone. However, the woman put a protective mask on.

"You need not know that," she snapped impolitely. "Just take me to the suitor gathering."

"Then at least tell me your name... Miss...?" he prompted. The woman waited for Merrick to cancel his request and tapped her foot impatiently. Seeing that he was determined to know her name, she gave in.


The Princess and the King stared at the man in front of them in disbelief. He wasn't proud, arrogant or wearing extravagant clothes like the others. He was just odd.

"Duke, I have heard enough of the circus you and your brother perform in," Animus said, tired of the Duke's stories. Who told the King embarrassing stories when they were trying to marry his daughter?

"Who is Toxica?" Princess Shayla asked deviously. She didn't want Jindrax to get into trouble but she also wanted this to end quickly. If Toxica turned out to be his lover then that would end things with him right there.

"Oh... she is my closest friend," Jindrax replied nonchalantly, not knowing what a huge mistake he had just made. The King immediately stood up and banged the table with his fist. Kendall and Alyssa bit their lips, knowing what was coming while the others looked on in shock.

"How DARE you come here to claim my precious daughter as your SECOND wife!" he roared.

"SECOND wife?" Jindrax repeated in a squeaky voice. "But I do not even have a first wife!"

"YOU dare lie to ME? Then who is Toxica?" Animus challenged the org.

"My closest friend. I told you... Nothing more," Jindrax replied, but the last bit sounded forced.

"An unmarried man and woman cannot be friends," the King claimed.

'Here we go again,' Princess Shayla thought, sighing.

"Look at my warriors, look at the Mystics. They are all married or betrothed therefore they can be friends with the opposite sex," he gestured to the people in question. What about affairs? That was the question many people were murmuring amongst themselves, even the other suitors. However, Animus just didn't care. "You, Duke, are neither married nor betrothed and I assume that this Toxica is not either. Thus, I will not allow you to court the Princess. Leave."

"But—Oh Your High—I mean Grace—" the Org spluttered. Eventually, he hung his head in defeat and left.

As the doors were opened to let Jindrax leave, two other figures entered the room simultaneously.

"Merrick?"

"Princess..."

Those statements were expected and didn't faze anyone, except the other suitors. However, what was said next did.

"Jarrod?" Said man was shocked. That woman had no right to be here. Not after what she had done to him. Jarrod narrowed his eyes at the person across from him, trying to make her crack. Seeing that she refused to break, he chose to speak.

"Camille?"


A/N: I think it started it alright but went weird in the middle... Okay. Short chapter. GCSE exams. Mock coming up next week. Heaps of homework that we were never prepared for. Being in high school, getting bothered by jealous bitches, being a Year 11 prefect and especially the 'cream of the crop' gets really annoying.