Hi guys! New chapter, yay! Sorry I have been busy with soccer training and the World Cup! Haha... I really am obsessed with soccer...

Okay, this chapter is sort of sad, so beware!

All rights to Kiera Cass.

Chapter 14

(Mailey's POV)

When I got back to my room, I was exhausted. The doctor seemed to be right about my health, because I felt like I could sleep for hours if I wasn't so busy. As soon as lunch was over, Lucy told all of the girls about the first challenge she had in store for us. We all had to make posters to present to the public on the Report tomorrow night. The posters had to have our favorite things in it, along with pictures and a list of our family members. When she finished explaining what we had to do, she mentioned the worst news any of us would want to hear- the three people with the worst posters would be sent home. Everyone freaked out, and when we were dismissed, we headed our separate ways to plan our presentations.

"How am I supposed to make this when I have even less time than the other girls?" I complained to Jess, who was helping me out of my day gown.

She looked at me in confusion, "Why would you have less time than the others?" she asked.

I started to speak, but Mary beat me to it, "She has a fishing date with Prince Gerad tomorrow afternoon." she said happily, threading a needle through what looked like a new dress.

Jess stopped helping me and squealed like a little girl getting her first doll. "You were asked on the first date? How wonderful! I wonder what dress we should put you in. We need to make sure you look natural, so a bit less makeup, maybe, and oh!" she exclaimed, looking at my long and tangled curly hair, "You still haven't gotten your makeover! Maybe we can cut your hair a bit and trim the ends so you have some layers!" she took a handful of my hair in her hands and smiled, "This will be so much fun! We'll make you look like a princess!"

Mary looked over at Jess like she was insane, "You want her in a fancy gown when she's fishing at the lake?" Mary asked incredulously.

I laughed, "She makes a fair point, Jess. I can't exactly wear something princess-esq while I'm fishing. I believe Ger's exact words were 'Wear fishing gear,' if I'm not mistaken." I said looking at Jess's crestfallen face.

Suddenly, she brightened up, "You already call him by his nickname! Oh, this is great! He must really like you." she exclaimed while taking a pair of scissors from her bag.

"Why do you say that?" I asked, getting a bit hopeful that she was right.

"Prince Gerad only lets his family and friends- people he truly trusts- call him Ger. The rest of us get to call him by his given name. Doesn't seem like much, I know, but trust me when I say that Prince Gerad doesn't let a lot of people in. He must see something in you, and whatever he sees, he likes." Mary said, smiling as she continued to work.

"Oh." I said, a bit shocked.

'He likes me?' I thought, a bit unsettled.

"Yes, now I know you need to be in casual attire for your outing, but that doesn't mean you still can't get your makeover." Jess grinned like the Cheshire cat, and I got nervous.

"Okay, I will let you cut my hair, but please don't cut a lot. It took me three years to grow it out this long, and I'd hate to lose it." I said hesitantly, letting Jess pull me over to the vanity in the corner.

"Don't worry. It'll just be a trim." she said reassuringly, and I sat down, letting her start her work. Her gentle way of brushing my hair soothed me, and soon I was asleep.

"Mailey," a tap on my shoulder, "Mailey!"

Suddenly I was in my house, looking at the Selection form in front of me. The crash, the thud of my brother hitting his head on the floor, my complete and total fear of what this man would do to me. I screamed.

"Mailey! Mailey! Please wake up!" a voice sounded, muffled, as the man got closer and closer to me.

He reached a hand for his pocket, and took out a gun. My heart rate sped up and my eyes started to water.

"Please," I said, choking on my tears, "Please, don't do this."

The man aimed, and I cried out, scared.

"I'm sorry, May." he said, as he let his finger push down on the trigger.

A horrible pain rushed through me, and I took a painful look up at the man who shot me. It wasn't the man anymore, though.

"Andrew?" I let out, collapsing on the floor, "Why?"

He looked down at me and laughed. "Because mom told me to, and we mustn't disobey our mother." he chuckled, and I looked at my younger brother in confusion.

"Shelly wouldn't-" he cut me off.

"I didn't say Shelly, did I?" he asked, a smile creeping on his lips.

"Mailey, please! Wake up!" the voice got louder, but I tried to ignore them.

"Andrew, no! She left us! She's a..." I convulsed. I knew I was losing too much blood.

"Monster? Sociopath? Abandoner?" he smiled down at me. "Maybe that's what she wanted you to think, May. Did you ever think of that? Maybe she wasn't as bad as you thought. You've made your choice, though. You chose to ally yourself with our enemy. You can't live. You know too much." he gritted his teeth and aimed the gun at my head this time. "Good-bye, big sis."

And I was gone.

"How long was it? Did she scream or anything this time? Was she at all stunned when you were with her?" Doctor Stevenson's voice echoed through my ears.

"Not that I know of. She was just talking about her new project that she had to finish for the Report tomorrow and her date with the prince, and then we started talking about outfits and such, and I did her hair. She fell asleep while I was cutting it, and when I was close to finishing, she started screaming and crying. That's when the seizure started, I think. It lasted at least two minutes, maybe more. We tried calling her out of it, but it was like she couldn't hear us. She was muttering someone's name while it happened though. Andrew. After she was finished convulsing, she passed out, and we brought her here." Jess stated, trying to help as best she could. "Doctor, its been an hour and she still hasn't moved. Is Lady Mailey going to be all right?"

Someone cleared their throat, and the soft click of heels sounded on the marble floor.

"How is she?" Queen America asked softly.

The doctor sighed, and I could slightly feel his hand pressing on my forehead, "I can't tell what's wrong with her, your majesty. She shows no warning signs before her seizures, and she has now had two in one week. She's getting worse, and there's still no permanent way to stop them from occurring again." he said in a very sad voice.

"Has the research team found anything yet? It kills me and my family to see her like this. She's so young..."America swallowed and sighed.

"We are doing everything we can to help her, your majesty. I know its hard, but we must stay optimistic. In the meantime, I would suggest that the prince chooses another safer place for their date, or else he should go with another of the Selected until she feels better again." Doctor Stevenson said.

I nearly died right there. 'No! Don't let him go with another girl! I'll wake up! I'll be good, I promise!" I thought, stirring out of my comatose state.

"Maybe that would be best. I'll go and tell Gerad the two options and let him decide." Queen America leaned down and kissed me on the forehead. "Please wake up soon, Mailey, or we might have a problem tomorrow." she whispered in my ear.

I was so close to breaking out of my coma. I could feel it. My mind was ready, I was waking up. I slowly opened my eyes...and no one was there. The hospital wing was dark and empty, and I knew that it had to be nighttime. I leaned over, groggily, until my hand could reach the call button, and pressed down on it.

(Prince Gerad's POV)

I got the news about Mailey's seizure a few minutes after she was put in the hospital wing. Mother said it was a random occurrence and that she was getting worse. For some reason, I started to cry at the moment, and even when I tried to stop, I couldn't. Mom held me in her arms and tried to soothe me like she used to when I was a little kid, but it wasn't working this time. She told me what the doctor said earlier today; that I had to change the location of the date, and I was okay with that, but I couldn't stand seeing her in pain.

"Gerad, its going to be okay. Mailey will be fine." my mom kissed my head and rubbed my back, "Sweetie, look at me." she said sighing.

I looked up into the kindest eyes I knew.

"Do you love her?" she asked seriously.

I blinked, "I...I...mom, I don't know. I mean, can you really love someone after knowing them for a day?"

I was starting to feel something with Mailey that I had yet to experience with any other girl here, but was that love?

My mom took my hands in hers and smiled. "Anything is possible, Ger. I won't tell you what to do, but if you think you love this girl, you need to get to know her more. I want you to be absolutely positive of your feelings before you say it out loud. You have no room for mistakes here, sadly." she said wisely.

I nodded. I knew I shouldn't rush this-this thing with Mailey if I really wanted her.

"Can you give me a moment alone, please? I need to cool down and think." I asked quietly.

"Of course. Just remember, I'm here for you." she gave me a hug and stood up. "I'm going to go check on her." she shut the door to my room softly and left me to my thoughts.

I thought about this girl who seemed to take control of my thoughts, about her smile, about her laugh, and about our shared love of sports and the outdoors. I barely knew her, but I could almost tell she was right for me. My feelings tended to cloud my judgement, though, and I had to be wise and level-headed during this whole process. I needed someone to help me, someone to give me good advice.

Suddenly I knew what to do. I stuck my head outside of my door and caught sight of my family's top adviser. "Hey, Marlee, can you please get me a phone? I need to call my sister." I asked.

"Sure, Ger. Be back with one in a second." she smiled, "Oh, and when you call her, tell Morgana I say hello. I really do miss that girl."

"Will do." I said as she ran down the hallway to get a phone.

Morgana was the only person I'd ever truly trusted when it cane to knowing about my secrets and love life, and I needed her now.

"Here you go." Marlee said, handing me the phone and leaving to go to a meeting.

I dialed the number for Russia's royal palace and waited.

"Privet," a woman on the other end finally greeted me on the other side of the line, and I tried my best to communicate in Russian. "What may I help you with?" came from the other end.

"Hello, this is prince Gerad Schreave of Illea, and I'd like to talk to my sister please." I replied back in decent Russian.

"I will send you to her line, your majesty." the woman said, and I smiled.

"Thank you."

There was a click and then my sister's voice filled my ears and I immediately relaxed.

"Ger! How are you? What's going on?" she said in English, and I sighed in relief. I only knew so much Russian.

"Hey, sis. I'm doing okay. Listen, I know it might be hard to get a flight here, but I really need your help." I replied.

"Say no more. I'm on it, little bro. Of course. Dmitri would have to come with me. Is that okay?" she asked hesitantly.

"Yeah. That's fine. Just please. Hurry. Morgana, there's this girl here, and she's sick, and..." I clenched my fists.

"Be there in ten hours, tops." she said, sounding urgent.

I sighed in relief, "Thank you!"

"No problem, now let me go pack and tell everyone what's going on." she said, "Stay calm. I'll be there soon."

And the line cut out.

Thanks for reading. I have to do some work, so I'll keep this short. I really want reviews so I know where to take this story and if you have any guesses about what might happen next. Please follow and favorite if you like my story, and please PM me with questions or comments if you don't want to review. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and the next one will be out soon!

-Property of Illea :)