The Prince's Bodyguard

Disclaimer: I own nothing

A/N:


Chapter 12 (The State of Things)

Jason had not been joking when he said he was staying in his room. As she left to explore the country, Jason adamantly refused to go outside of the palace. This was fine for the moment, since she had to check in on her sister and friends at their hotel.

Not more than ten minutes after leaving the palace in a hurry did she run into beggars on the street hurrying after her with hands outstretched. Sadly she had nothing to give them, but it gave her an idea of just how bad things really were.

Some filled the skies from all ends of the country, the streets were cracked deep and torn asunder. Rusty cars sped down the roads, some coming close to striking vagrants-and others hitting them. Militarized troops marched the streets, some grabbing random people and pushing them against the walls at gunpoint. The crime? According to the military, everyone was suspected of being a rebel at this point.

Most of the citizens were dressed in rags, which made her feel terrible for walking the streets in a dress. She was troubled by what she saw, horrified that things could have possibly gotten this bad. "This really looks like a third world country, if nothing else."

She tried to find a reason for the vast richness of the palace, yet the great poverty of the country itself. "Ten!" Someone grabbed her arm, causing her to jump and fling herself away, gasping loudly. "Ten Svekels please!" It was an older woman wearing a hooded cloak. She was hunched over and trembling as though riddled with parkinsons.

"I-I'm sorry," Trina whispered, "I don't have any cash on me at all." She thought to bring cash with her, but David made her leave with only her card. "I'd give you something if I did, I'm sorry." The woman turned away and sauntered off. Trina let out a sigh and shook her head, feeling like she could have done something more.

As she continued on her way, she couldn't help but to notice the buildings that she passed. Each of them poorly structured, appearing as though they would collapse at any moment.

It didn't give her high hopes for the 'country's best hotel'. When she did finally reach the place, she wasn't surprised to see a bleak and drab looking building, like something out of a horror film. Before she placed her hand on the doorknob, she cringed at the sight of a cockroach running away from the handle. "Oh great..."

Pushing the door open, Trina was overwhelmed by the smell of smoke and tobacco. Conversation filled her ears as cluttered noise, and her muscles began to tighten. "This place looks like a run down pigsty..." Everything was grey and dusty, the floors looked as though they'd not been vacuumed in years, and the walls were stained with an abnormal color. "Good god."

Her sister was in the lobby with her friends, and she could hear them bemoaning the place. Of course, she was right there with them as far as cleanliness was concerned. "Tori!" Trina waved her hand through the air and grinned when her sister looked her way. "You find your room?"

Tori hurried over, leaving her friends behind to stare. "Yeah." Tori swept her hair over her ear and breathed in sharp. "It's small and cramped, but I guess it's better than nothing." Her heart sank, and for a moment she wanted to offer her room to Tori. Granted, it wouldn't be the best idea because it would be a dead giveaway of everything going on.

"Sorry to hear it."

"What the fuck are you wearing?" Jade asked from behind. Trina tensed up and turned partially, narrowing her eyes on the girl. She had forgotten to change out of the dress given to her by the royals, and therefore looked like a part of Yerbanian nobility. "Only you would come to a country like this wearing some hot-n-tot gown."

"I like to look nice." Trina shrugged. "Sue me." She hardly cared what Jade's opinion of her was, but at least Jade wasn't suspecting her of anything other than materialism. "Anyway, I'm here to see my sister, not exchange words with you."

"Aw that's too bad." Jade took Tori's arm and glared as Trina did a double take. Her blood started to boil as she studied Jade's hand on her sibling. "Because Tori and I were just leaving." Tori yanked her arm away, screeching at Jade and causing the dark-haired girl to jump nearly to the ceiling.

"Don't do that, Jade!" Trina could see the same flashes of fire in Tori's eyes that were in her mind. With a deep breath she recalled the strong grip of a man's giant hand grabbing the arm of a tiny child. Her nostrils filled with rage and hate, and her teeth clenched together. "I swear to god Jade, I don't like that."

Trina's eyes flooded with fury and she grabbed Jade by the cuff of her shirt, yanking the terrified girl close enough to see the emotion in her eyes. "If you ever grab my sister like that again Jade, I promise I will add some purple to your black and white ensemble." Her words were growled out. "Do I make myself clear? Do not test me."

Jade started to sweat, and rather than feed Trina's anger, she closed her mouth and swallowed. Trina loosened her hold on the girl, closing her eyes and breathing in deep to calm herself.

All of a sudden she felt someone's hand slap her shoulder. "Get your hands off my girlfriend!" She heard Tori shout at Beck, but it was too late. Trina spun around, seeing flashes of a serial killer in her mind. Her right fist clenched and swung through the air, connecting with Beck's jaw as hard as she could throw it, trying to defend herself against an ancient memory. For she did not see Beck, she saw Ryan Bowling.

Beck fell onto the lounge couch, almost crashing into Andre-who was nursing an insect bite. "What the hell!" Jade rushed to Beck, throwing her arms around him and pulling his hand from his face. "Trina, you insane, crazy bitch. Why can't you just leave us alone?"

Trina moved her hand over her face, groaning softly. Tori hurried over to her, looking hurt by Jade's instant concern for Beck. "She's my sister," Tori replied, "That's why." Tori hugged Trina from behind and buried her face into her back, whispering softly. "I'm sorry Trina. I..."

"No I'm sorry, I was reacting." She lowered her hand and looked at Beck with a frown. Her anger turned to guilt and she pressed her lips tight. "Sorry, Beck." Beck rubbed his face, scoffing.

"What is wrong with you guys? Seriously..."

Cat, who was leaning over a table with her back turned to the group, looked over her shoulder with a furrowed brow. "Looks kind of like PTSD." Beck and Jade turned their heads while the sisters clenched their eyes shut. "The way both of them reacted to you guys grabbing them. That's PTSD, you should be more careful." Cat poked a finger at Tori. "Look how she's clinging to Trina right now, have you guys ever seen that happen before? It's almost like she's being protected by her older sister."

"No." Jade stood slowly, studying the sisters. Her voice grew soft and her forehead wrinkled up. "What happened to you guys that you're so tense?" Tori released Trina and grabbed the handle of her suitcase.

"Nothing." Tori's reply was quick and sharp, causing the others to flinch. "Nothing you need to worry about." It wasn't surprising to her that Tori hadn't told the group anything about her past. It reminded her that Jason evidently knew more than these people did-but only because he managed to find out by mistake. It was still mind boggling that none of these people did the same thing and googled their names.

Trina could see in their eyes that they were upset and possibly realizing that Tori didn't yet trust them. Trina followed her sister, leaving he group of friends behind in the lobby. "You haven't told them yet, Tori?" They stopped in the center of the hallway, Tori's back to her. The girl bowed her head and spoke with a soft, trembling voice.

"Have you told anybody?"

"No..."

"Then you understand. You know how painful it is, how hard it is to talk." Tori raised her head and wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt. "I might be somewhat naïve, and I might want to be close to them, but...I don't know."

"Not to be insensitive, but you are actively pursuing a relationship as the other woman with one of those very people."

"And I don't have to explain away any scars." Tori swept her hair over her ear and turned around. "They don't see the scar from where that man's bullet grazed my head, they don't know anything." The girl's eyes filled with tears and her breathing tensed. "For the first time, I have friends that I can talk to, but I'm still scared to share any personal details of my life. I haven't even told them about my first kiss, much less anything else. Why would I tell them about that?"

"You really have to trust someone to do that."

"You think it's easy for me to sit there and watch them insult you and Dad? Insult our mother?" Tori sniffed. Her fists were turning white at her sides and her breathing was as rapid as it was shallow. "I know I say things too, but it's only because-because I've never had friends and I don't want to do anything to make them reject me."

"I know, Tori..."

Tori sniffed again and wiped her nose. "It was you that carried me out of that house. It was Dad emptying his gun into Ryan that kept him from shooting us both again. It was Momma's quick work and ordering around the nurses that night that saved both of us. I love you, I love all of you, and I don't think I'd be alive if not for any of you...it's not me being naïve, it's me being stuck between my family and my friends. Friends that, for all I know, might not even give a shit."

Trina said little and pulled her sister into a hug, letting silent tears run down her cheeks. Tori had been so young when the tragedy happened, she was surprised how much Tori remembered of it.

"Tori, are you happy? With your friends, with your school? With everything?"

"I'm trying to be, I really am trying to be." Tori wiped her running nose and leaned her head against Trina's shoulder. "What about you? Is everything okay with you and Jason?"

"Yes, but you know I'm just his bodyguard."

"Seems like something more, but okay..." Tori let go and took a step back, sighing gently. "I know he's here with you. I'm not saying anything, but I guess we're not going to see much of you."

"Yeah, I'm doing some research I can't talk about."

"I figured. What will you be up to, aside from that whole thing?"

There was an offer from the Yerbanian military general to show her the ropes and perhaps give her some brief military training. She wasn't sure if she wanted to do it, but it could give her some more guard experience. "I've gotten an offer to train a little more in combat."

"You should. You're skilled, but more training always helps doesn't it?"

"Sure." It could help her become more focused, and of course she needed to do that. It would also aid her shooting skills too. The only problem was she didn't want to feel like she was going to be a part of some evil dictatorship. They may try and train her to shoot anyone that makes the most innocent mistake; and if she refused, what would happen then? "I guess that's just a decision I'll have to think long and hard about."

"Yeah." Tori hugged her again, then grabbed her luggage. "Anyway, I've got to go to my room. It's a shitty room, just like the hotel."

Trina raised her eyebrows and looked around, huffing. "Yeah I'm noticing it. If this is their nicest hotel, then I'm wondering what their worst looks like." Tori laughed, then shuddered.

Granted the only thing it meant was this country had different standards than America.

As Tori departed, Trina took her leave-readying herself to check out the country. When she stepped outside, she was surprised to see Raymond walking to the hotel. He was smiling brightly and moving with confidence, his long and wavy black hair seemed to flow with the breeze.

"Ah Miss Trina, what a pleasant surprise!"

She crossed her arms and tilted up the corner of her lips. "Hello there. What brings you here?"

"I hope I'm not being too forward." Raymond put his hand to his chest and his bright smile seemed to grow more. "But I heard you were here, and I was hoping I might have the honor of entertaining a beautiful woman with a walk through the countryside tonight." She folded her forearms at her stomach and took a deep breath.

"I'm not really looking for a date."

"Neither am I." Raymond spread his hands out and chuckled once. "But I was enamored by your exquisite beauty and intrigued to learn of your skilled fighting ability. I would love to get to know this beautiful warrior that stands before me."

To speak with the Prince would be a good opportunity to learn more about Yerba, and thus another opportunity to see if she could discover anything about the Black Star assassins that she was hunting.

"Okay," she answered. Raymond moved his head back and opened his mouth to gasp. "But I won't lead you on. I'm not interested in anything beyond. You're laying it on a little too thick for me." Raymond pat his chest and bowed forward.

"I understand. I am humbled by your honesty and honored to spend time in your presence." Raymond rose with a hum and raised his hand to his chin. "I am compelled to ask, and I hope I am not being forward. Is there anything going on between you and Prince Jason?" Her heart skipped for a second and she looked off to the side.

"Friendship for the moment." She was attracted, yes, and had to constantly remind herself that she was his bodyguard.

"Has any man possibly won the heart of this beautiful warrior?"

She blushed and started to chuckle, "Not quite." She wasn't going to present a challenge for this man, mainly due to her lack of interest. "I just haven't been truly interested in anyone for a while. Too busy with other priorities."

"Ah, and hopefully not too busy for a stroll through Yerba's countryside?"

"Not terribly." She stepped forward and looked over her shoulder. Everyone would be okay for a few hours at least. "I am curious to know more about your country, Prince Raymond. Let us walk and talk, then. Try to flirt a little less, though."

"I will attempt." Raymond chuckled. "Flirting is within my nature, however."

"Of course it is..."


And the song "Two Princes" by the spin doctors becomes stuck in my head. So much in this chapter, what are your thoughts?