Last chap recap:

He turns my head softly over to meet my eyes so we are nose to nose.

"Don't worry, my love. I can't let down my promise girl."

(The next day, America POV)

I was awoken to the sound of the door creaking open, then the soft shake of Lucy telling me to wake up.

"I don't want to get up," I moaned into my pillow, "too early."

I rolled onto my back and leant over the side of my bed so my fingertips touched the floor. I shivered, it was like ice.

I pulled my hand away and sat up, scanning the room. My eyes came to rest on a beautiful dark haired girl, staring at me with wonder – her emerald green eyes widened.

I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes.

"Who's this?" I croaked, referencing to the girl across my room.

Mary rushed to her side and nudged her forward slightly and smiled warmly.

"This is Kaelin. She is replacing Anne."

My eyes widened and I scrambled up and out of my bed.

"Wait, what's wrongs with Anne? Where is she?" I demanded, worried for my friend.

Lucy rushed to her side and squealed with delight.

"She's been assigned to serve the queen!" She blurted out excitedly, her hands came up and rested on her heart.

My eyes widen and I rush over to the girls.

"Really, are you serious? That's great!" Wrapping my arms around them in pure joy, including Kaelin.

"She started today!" Mary gushes, "So . . ." She looks away shyly for a second, "So, I am now your new head maid!"

I hold them together tighter then pull myself away to look them all in the face, "That's amazing girls! I'm so happy for you all!" I smiled, proud of all their achievements..

I then turn to Kaelin, "I'm sure we are going to be great friends."

She smiled shyly and turned away before flashing her teeth to me to form a grin.

Mary clapped her hands together then sighed, "Now, lets get you ready!" She hurried as she nudged me towards the bathroom.

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I stood in front of the mirror, my breath taken aback with the beauty of the dress and my makeup.

"Girls, this is gorgeous!" I breathed, shocked from the beauty of the dress.

A curtain of red ruffles cascaded down the skirt, producing the awe-inspiring illusion that the wearer was, in fact, a princess rather than an actual person.

My makeup was light like always but the red lipstick had taken the look to a whole different level. The elegant mermaid design was easily my favourite so far into the competition.

My fingertips brushed against a delicate curl tumbling down my shoulder and I sucked in a breath with awe.

"Its beautiful," I sighed, my lips pulled up into a smile as I turn to them.

"The prince will have trouble paying attention to the other girls when you look like that!" Mary smiled, as she opened the door behind her.

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(Maxon's POV)

Never in my life I would think a single breakfast could be so nerve wracking. Today, surprisingly, America was the first of my selected here, looking absolutely gorgeous. In fact, too beautiful to handle. My hands came down and rested on my pants and clenched. I should of stood up to my father that day for her.

She met my eyes and a devilish smile spread across her face as if to say, 'Good luck forgetting about me'. I smiled back softly and my eyes stung just thinking about what she must have been feeling. Hating myself for causing her pain.

Trying to distract myself, my eyes gently drifted towards the door again.

As if on cue, Celeste struts in. Sending me a wink as she sits in the table which was one away from America.

For a split second, Celeste looked as if saddened to isolate herself, but it was quickly hidden again by the smile she walked in wearing.

I sigh. One more hour. One more hour until I meet 8 girls that I have no intention marrying. I better not mess this up. I unclench my hands and place them on the table in front of me. Simply waiting for the time to come.

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(Gerta's POV)

I don't want to be here, so I made sure I didn't think about longing to see the castle for a second as I gazed out of the plane window. I am here for a reason. I terrorised these 2's for a reason. Made them take me in as 'family' or die. I am going to kill the royal family for a reason.

But it's not my fault I ended up like this. It was Papa's.

It was too painful to watch someone you called 'papa' to kill the woman you called 'mama'. I closed off my heart after that. Simply stopped caring. He took control of me after her death, brought me up in secret. Threatened me if I told anyone anything about the night he killed her or if I misbehaved - my future would be as successful as my mothers. The day he told me that, late in the night his bright red blood covered every inch of my body.

I left for a refugee camp after his too satisfying death, the camp with the members the people of Illea called the Southern rebels. I was only 10. But that didn't matter much.

So now I am an assassin. A famous one too. I am the assassin who people fear I'll target. They're safe for now.

My new target is the royal family.

Chin up, torture, kill, and above all, smile. Those were the rules I had to follow. I was raised to kill, kill whoever I was told. I'm not allowed to care, even if I want to.

And if I fail. I'll fall.

(Emma's POV)

The plane seat jiggled underneath me slightly. Setting off my nerves to create slight annoyance deep in my chest. The girl next to me, one of the Camreigh's I think, kept trying to create small talk between us. Although I think she was trying to be kind - if I'm being honest - it was very irritating.

"Where are you from?" She questioned again, pulling me back out of my thoughts.

"Angles." I reply blankly, not making eye contact. I knew it was mean to do this to her but at the time I really was not in the mood for a chat.

"Really? Wow, I heard it's nice there. I live in Belcourt, it isn't all that interesting there."

I didn't say anything, which sparked up another question from her.

"Have you read any good books lately? I would love a suggestion."

After a long five minutes of questioning, she shut up and I suppressed a sigh of happiness. I don't know why she wanted to talk anyway, she had the window seat to gaze out of.

Part of me wanted something extreme to happen - like entering a storm which may send the plane plummeting to the ground. Just like one of the movies I had to be a stunt double for the lead actor.

I sighed, I was going to miss the extreme scenes of movie stunts when I was away.

Suddenly, a ding echoed throughout the plane and the captain began to speak.

"Ladies and staff, we have 8 minutes until landing."

(Camreigh Blanche POV)

8 minutes until landing! I couldn't of been more excited. The girl beside me probably feeling otherwise, her coldness bouncing off her and attempting to land on me. I shook off the feeling and gazed around the plane. This was very different to what the other selected before had to go through. Because unlike them, we all are on the same plane since there are only eight of us.

The only girl here I seemed to get on along well with was Zoë. Her soft and kind manner warm enough to make the Antarctic melt again and again - an endless amount of times.

I wondered if there would be any books I haven't read yet at the palace. I wouldn't be surprised if there was. But, yet again, I am a librarian, and I have read too many books to count in a lifetime.

I turned to the window beside me and gazed dreamily out of it. The plane shook under me and my stomach lurched with excitement.

Would Prince Maxon be as handsome as he seemed as on television? Will America be as beautiful? Butterflies filled my stomach then left and was replaced by nerves.

Who will be the first to go home? Will it be me?

(Cecelia POV)

I would of loved to talk to the kind girl beside me. She tried to make conversation with me about the plane trip and then asked how I was feeling. I would of answered. But I'm prohibited.

I'm trapped. If I talk to competition, someone will tell my parents back home. Then they would kill me. If I don't win. They will kill me. But if I win, after our marriage and my coronation, they will kill the rest of the royal family and force me back into my family name.

Part of me was relieved that I was chosen. Maybe I can get help to take down my parents. To expose all the horrific things they have done to me and my siblings over the years. To live.

(Zoe POV)

The girl next to me was awfully quiet, she simply ignored me the whole flight. I was beginning to become quite bored. Her name was Cecelia, I didn't think she liked me very much. I could tell her name was Cecelia by her colourful hair. Anyone would after seeing her photo up on the television. Apart from that, all the other girls seem oddly the same. Same amount of beauty, determination, smarts. Same ordinary smiles, intentions of what they were going to do to the prince – or what they would think they would do anyway. I smiled and rolled my eyes at the thought.

I shifted over slightly and stared along the long plane aisle as another little shudder went through the plane. I smiled softly, remembering how my siblings would shake me awake with that same amount of force to get me up in the morning. I rarely did get up when they did that. It taught them to be kinder though.

I remembered my family's reaction to when my name and picture went up onto the screen. Their joyful screams and laughs and smiles. For once I actually felt like I was meant to be there. Since there are so many people in my family, I'm not surprised why sometimes I feel out of place. Everyone has a purpose there. So I decided for my purpose there to be the kind one. I'm going to miss them so much. I miss them already.

I lent back into my chair and tucked a lock of my blonde hair back behind my ear and sighed.

5 more minutes Zoë. Just 5 more minutes.

(Holland POV)

I straighten the book placed in front of me again, it's unorganised way of sitting bugging me every time it moved to a different position.

I unwillingly pull my eyes away from the annoying book and touch the plush seat lovingly next to me, it's wealthy fabrics soft under my callused hands. Worked to the bone with my famous gardening – most probably why I'm here anyway. Although the other girls didn't seem to care much about how in an hour or so we were to meet the heir of Illea, Prince Maxon. If I'm being honest I have had a feeling all the selected on this plane hate me. The thought doesn't bother me though. It keeps the flight interesting watching the rare, kind contestants trying to small talk other common, bitchy ones. This whole flight had been anything but boring for me, the wonders of royalty surrounding me – feeding my greedy eyes with wealth and wonder. Well, for me anyway, the other girls here are probably used to these surroundings. I am a Four surrounded by mostly Two's and some Three's anyway. The plane rumbled again under me and I scowled at the book which once again moved from its orderly position. I reached forward and moved it again back into place – just for it to move to another position. I again reached for the book again and straightened it.

The plane rumbled again and the book again moved to a new unpleasing position, I huffed with anger as I reached forward again – stupid book.

"Would you stop that?" The girl next to me growled, her piercing blue eyes glaring deep into me.

I stare at her for a moment, in slight shock. Then, I let reality sink in and glare right back at her.

"Make me." I hissed, my history with bullies teaching me to fight back and not wimp away.

She smiled darkly and looked away towards the window, "If I was allowed to, I would," She paused for effect then looked back at me with such an intensity I shut up and my stare softened with fear, "permanently."

My scowl came back quicker then I thought it would and I looked away before simply stating-"Such big words coming from a girl so, so small that no one here knows her. Let alone anyone in Illea until the Report."

A growl came from the girl and I could feel her anger pulsing around her - it made me uncomfortable, but I held my ground.

That was until I heard her say darkly under her breath, "She's next."

(Eloise POV)

If I could do any if right now, I would do a cartwheel right down the plane aisle. Sure, I would be judged. But it would totally be worth it.

The flight was dull, but the girl next to me was kind enough, a forever smile plastered on her face that didn't seem to spread to her eyes. But I think I'm the only one who would notice that though. Fake smiles are my specialty.

She didn't talk much. As if she didn't trust me enough to have a long conversation. The longest one we had was when she asked me to loosen the lid on her bottle for her from the plane assistant.

Bored, I picked at the scabs on my hands, wounds from working at the circus. Each wound was from doing something wrong, either from me or the ring leader. The ones from me were accidental, the ones from her . . . I don't want to think about. Thoughts like those I push far back into the dark space in the back of my mind. I make sure not to go that far back anymore. I made that mistake too many times to count. Hopefully I will not have to explain myself that much to Prince Maxon if we become close.

"Crew, prepare yourselves for landing." The captain's speaker boomed throughout the plane.

The plane suddenly tilted and a few of the girls squealed with the sudden movement. I suppressed a laugh, although a little smile played on my lips.

Being in the circus, I'm used to sudden movements or tilts from doing kart wheels, flips, front handsprings or some other acrobatic movement.

The plane bobbled up and down before another sharp turn – more squeals followed and this time I couldn't help but chuckle to myself.

I watched as crew scuttled to their seats and strapped themselves in. My smile faded as I saw one of the flight attendants looking at me too closely – in the wrong way. Pervert.

He met my gaze and I snarled at him, my lip curling to reveal my teeth like an animal. He squirmed in his seat and looked away quickly.

Suddenly, I felt a soft tug on my shoulder. The girl smiles up at me again and then turns to point towards the window.

"Look, there's the castle." She breathes in wonder.

(Camreigh Illayda Royce POV)

"It's beautiful." Eloise sighed next to me.

I looked back at her, my hand coming up and catching a curl between my my pointer and middle finger and twirling it. A habit I had since a young age.

"Eloise," her eyes dart to meet mine, as if alarmed to hear her name, "thank you for putting that horny flight attendant in his place."

I didn't expect her to know my name, I didn't expect anyone here to know my name. And honestly, I don't care.

"Your welcome." She murmured nervously, a forced smile spreading across her face.

The plane rumbled under me and I turned to look out the window again, the plane jumped as the plane landed heavily on the ground. My arm flew to support my weight on the seat in front of me as my body was thrown forward with the sudden slowing of the vehicle.

I guess part of me was upset to never really know the true colours of the castle instead of it being shades of whites, blacks and greys. But I really should have been used to it. I've been white and black colourblind all my life.

Which really is quite funny, I love to paint. I mean, only with whites blacks and greys but, being colourblind will never stop me and my love for art.

A little ding sounded through the plane.

"Ladies and staff, the seatbelt sign has been switched off. Enjoy you time at the castle."

A chorus of sighs and happy squeals filled the area. I smiled to myself, at the castle – Prince Maxon will be waiting. My smile was then replaced by a frown, so would the other two selected. Who made it to the last two selected. He knows them more, loves them even.

Do we have a chance?

I unbuckle my seatbelt and stand. My smile forming once again on my face.

I guess I'll have to find out.

Sorry for the late update! Assessments are taking up ALL my writing time right now! Don't worry! I haven't forgotten about you all! Thank you all for your kind reviews, they make me so happy! I'd love to see some more!

love you all!

Selectiongirl14 xoxo