One review on last chapter...oh dear, I hope I haven't lost all my readers! D: Well, thank you TheSunday for reviewing and staying with me.3
Here's the next chapterrr. Hope you like. :)
Shane stood before his father, arms crossed, waiting impatiently for his father's reply to his statement. Lord Paul, seated in his large chair, stared up at his middle son, silent. Jason, who had entered right before Shane had spoken, stood awkwardly at the entry way, his eyes flicking back and forth between the two. After what seemed like forever, Paul sighed, "You realize what she is to the humans, do you not?"
The middle son resisted the urge to roll his eyes, "Father, I know—"
"I'm not quite sure you do, Shane," Paul interrupted, rubbing his forehead tiredly, "She is a princess, Shane, a person, human, of royalty. And not just any royalty, but the royalty that wants us all exterminated.
"Along with that, many of our people are distrustful and even afraid of humans in general. To suddenly bring a human to the territory could cause some problems."
Paul finished speaking and looked up at his son, waiting for a response. Shane exhaled quietly, "I am aware of this, father," he said in a soft voice, "I of all people should know. I've our people die at the hands of the humans. I know what they have done to our kind and how they've affected us."
When Shane looked up, Paul found his eyes widening in shock. For once, instead of arrogance in his son's eyes, there was sincerity.
"But there is nothing that they should be worried about, me bringing her here. She cared for me when I needed it, and has spoken nothing but kind words about us. Leaving her, like I did, drained her to point that I never want to see again. If she stays there any longer, I—" Shane paused, pursing his lips to keep back what he was going to say. He sighed, shaking his head, "She'll be under my supervision and responsibility at all times. Mitchie, she's…she's different, father."
Paul stared at Shane, breathing softly. For a moment, he pictured Shane as he was years ago, a child, crying at his lap in despair after hearing the news about his mother. He remembered how Shane had looked up at him, innocent eyes full of grief, asking why his beloved mother had to be taken away. And now those eyes…they held something that Paul couldn't quite interpret.
"…You care about this girl a lot, don't you?" Paul asked, though it sounded more like a statement.
Shane took a silent breath, his eyes revealing his answer.
After a short but antagonizing moment, Paul sighed, "…Don't do anything reckless, please."
Shane looked down, hiding the small smile on his lips at his father's acceptance, "I'll try."
A small 'creak' was heard from the back, turning the two's attention towards Jason, who was still standing in the back. "I'm sorry, son, did you want something?" Paul asked his eldest.
Jason blinked, obviously trying to remember why he went there in the first place, "Oh! Right, um, Uncle Brown's here. He wants to talk to you." He said, relieved that he didn't make a fool out of himself this time.
Paul smiled, "Of course, bring him back here."
Jason nodded, shooting Shane a curious glance, before leaving the room. Shane was about to follow when his father spoke up again, "I hope you know that I trust you, Shane," he said.
Shane nodded his understanding, "I know, father. I know."
Paul watched as his middle son left, sighing through his nose and turning towards the painting on the wall of his beautiful wife. 'Eleysa…I pray that I have made the right choice.'
Shane opened the door, exiting his father's quarters. He stopped several feet away, and turned his head. "How long have you been there?" he asked knowingly, eyeing the shadows in the corner. Shane heard a small hum, before his younger brother, Nate, walked out.
"Long enough." Nate replied in that calm tone that often annoyed Shane, "You're bringing the human princess here?"
"Yes. You're not going to try to stop me, are you?"
Nate scoffed, "No. That'd be pointless. I have more common sense than that."
Shane glared at his brother's almost patronizing demeanor, "Don't you have patients to attend to?"
"Not at the moment. And even if I did, I'd still end up having to check up on your clumsy ass to make sure you aren't doing anything stupid."
Shane growled. Sometimes, he really just wanted to shove something up Nate's ass. But then again, Nate always seemed like there was something up there anyway.
"Anyway, do what you want. I'll be damned if I try to stop you," Nate muttered, starting to walk off, "I have patients to look after."
Shane snarled at his brother's retreating form. He knew that Nate cared, but sometimes, he could really just be an ass.
-xXx-
Throwing water on her face, Mitchie fought back a groan. 'He proposed.' She thought, still in shock, 'He actually proposed.'
Mitchie had momentarily gotten away from Augustine by excusing herself to the restroom to think. He had respectfully let her do so. 'Respectfully…damn it,' Mitchie cursed mentally, 'Why does he have to be so nice?' Mitchie looked at herself in the mirror; she didn't think she was that pretty. There were other princesses in other territories, so why her? She could really use Rivera's company right now. She could really use Shane's company right now.
Shane. Fuck, what was she going to do about Shane?
'…I need to breathe.' Mitchie decided, drying her face. Exiting the bathroom, she poked her head out and looked down the massive hallways of Augustine's estate. No one. 'Good. Now to find an exit…'
Tip-toeing down the hall, Mitchie looked around, ducking behind a corner each time she saw someone. After a few minutes, she found a door and did a mental 'huzzah!' at her discovery. She walked towards it and opened it quietly, sneaking outside.
Once free, Mitchie inhaled and exhaled deeply. 'That's better.' She sighed. She looked out to the woods, 'I must've gone through the back way…the front was clearer than this.' Taking a minute, Mitchie shrugged and walked out towards the forest for a walk. The forest here was a lot thicker than the one near Mitchie's territory, and within minutes, she found herself lost. "Damn it," she mumbled, looking around. It wouldn't do her any good to get lost out here with the bugs and the rats and the—
Shuffle.
Mitchie froze. '…What was that?'
Shuffle.
Mitchie turned around sharply, seeing a bush shake, but saw nothing. She felt goose bumps prickle her arms. "H-hello…?" she called, feeling nervous, "…is anyone there?"
Shuffle.
"Who's there?" Mitchie called again, her nervousness now doubled. Whatever was there seemed to be circling her, and fast. Mitchie began to back up, stopped when she bumped into something smooth.
Smooth. She placed her hand out.
Smooth. And cold. Stone cold.
'…This isn't a tree.' Mitchie noted shakily, turning around.
Soulless, light blue eyes stared back at her, an amused grin upon its face, "Hello, love."
~R & R!
