Saving Prince James: A James and Sofia Love Story

Set in an alternate universe, James is now 20 and usurped his father as king and conquered every kingdom to create an empire, but he has lived his years as a lonely king with only power and wealth to keep him company. When Cedric summons a banished Sofia, 18, to the castle to secretly save the kingdoms and James, something stirs in James's heart the moment he sees a grown and blossomed Sofia. Can a banished princess save the kingdoms and a ruthless prince find his way into the heart of a princess he once lost?

Chapter 29: The Source

Sofia

Why am I at the beach? Sofia thought when she opened her eyes to the vast ocean horizon in front of her. The sound of the ocean was all she could hear as she looked around at her surroundings, confused as to why she was standing on the sandy beach that her parents used to bring her and her siblings to when they were younger.

The sun was shining so brightly above her that she had to shield her eyes against the sun's rays as she took in her surroundings. Large white clouds sprinkled the bright blue sky while the sunlight danced across the ocean in front of her, making the waves sparkle like it was a vast blue diamond. Even the wet sand around her was glistening from the sun's generous light. There was a salty tang in the air with a hint of a familiar floral scent as a cool sea breeze brushed against her cheek. She recognized the flowery smell as the blue and red sea tulips that grew in the meadow nearby the beach.

Despite the peaceful and relaxing serenity of the beach, Sofia was so confused at what was happening. Why was she at the beach? How did she even get here? And where was everyone? Why was she all alone at the beach?

She was so unsure of what to do that the only thing she could do was just watch as the ocean waves crashed softly at her feet while she tried to make sense of her situation. Her eyes fell onto the several seaweeds and debris from the sea that drifted up onto shore with the waves and sea foam. One thin and mangled seaweed curled around her legs after a small wave washed it up to shore. The plant felt slimy and cold against her legs, like it was a large bug desperately holding onto her leg so that it wouldn't be dragged out to sea.

Sofia didn't realize how far out to shore she was until the cold water splashed against her knees and she noticed how soaking wet her dress was becoming. The wet material was uncomfortably clinging to her like a second skin, just like the seaweed that was slithering around between her legs. She looked down irritably at her dress and started to pull the seaweed and the wet long hem of her dress away from her legs until a realization hit her like a loud, hard slap to her face.

The dress…. The feel of the material…. The design of it all….

It was all so familiar….

It was…. It was the same white sundress she wore when she was in her subconscious with Queen Anne!

"This is a dream! I'm in my subconscious!" Sofia exclaimed aloud. She dropped the skirt of her sundress and looked around at her surroundings again with new eyes. "I'm back in my subconscious!"

But the moment she shouted that out loud, something shifted under her.

The ground began to shake and tremble like it was in the middle of a massive earthquake. The quiet serenity of the calm waves was violently shattered, the waves pushed and rocked her like she was nothing more than a floating piece of driftwood out at sea during a large storm. There was nothing Sofia could hold onto to keep herself steady and from falling under the growing waves. Twice already, the vicious waves pushed her over and nearly pulled her under. She was just lucky that the water level was only at her thighs and she was able to get back up before the waves could drown her, but it was quickly rising at an alarming rate.

Sofia knew that she should get out of the water and get to higher ground, but, against her better judgement, Sofia didn't. It wasn't like she could anyway. Sofia didn't move from her spot in the shallow water because she was too mesmerized at what was happening to the ocean water.

The water... the water was transforming!

The longer the water and earth shook around her, the deeper the water transformed. The color of the ocean water was changing.

No. Not the color.

The water itself was changing.

It was thickening into… something else entirely. The water started to feel slimy and oily, like it was becoming… paint?

Sofia bent down and dipped a finger into the water. The water… it really was paint now. The slick and oily and thick clay-like substance on her fingers was some blueish and greenish paint color. Sofia recognized this as the same kind of paint the royal painters would use because she could remember asking the painters to use their tools before.

What the – But she never got to finish that thought because a large wave knocked her over and submerged her under.

She didn't even get a chance to gasp or yell before the ocean of paint dragged her down. Her dress's long skirt locked her legs and prevented her from using her legs to kick her way up to the surface. She locked her eyes and closed her mouth to keep the paint out of her body. She didn't want to accidentally swallow a lung-full of paint. Or to feel the repercussions of opening her eyes in a sea of paint. Sofia could tell that she was underwater for a long time because her lungs was starting to beg and plead with her for air. Even her ears began to ring because of her lack of oxygen inhaled.

Sofia struggled against the force of the water/paint, using every ounce of her strength in her arms to claw and drag her way upward to the surface. With her eyes closed, she couldn't tell how far or close she was to the surface. And swimming in an ocean of paint distorted her sense of space and distance. All that Sofia could understand was that she was being dragged out further to sea. And the only thing Sofia could do was just continue trying to push her way up and back to shore.

It was an odd feeling to be swimming in an ocean of paint. The paint was thick and slimy and moved with an odd consistency. It stuck to every part of her exposed body as if it was naturally attaching itself onto her and trying to drag her down to the bottom of the ocean. She could even feel the cold oily paint in her hair, under her fingernails, in between her toes. It was a unnatural sensation to be feeling.

No. No! How is this happening to me in my own mind?! Sofia thought as she fought harder against the water.

Fear was taking over her body right now and filled her mind. It was consuming her.

She wanted to scream, but couldn't. She wanted to breathe, but couldn't. She wanted to cry, but couldn't.

Her body was starting to rebel against her the longer she went without air. Its natural instinct to breathe was starting to win. Her body wanted nothing more than to open her mouth and breathe in a lung-full of paint. Thi-this isn't a dream anymore! This is a nightmare!

Managing to use her fear and fight-or-flight instincts to fuel her, she used the last of her strength to push herself upward. Sofia felt her hand break the surface and later her head. Gasping and gulping in air, Sofia wiped the paint from her eyes and saw that she wasn't as far from the shore as she feared. Not wanting to stay in the paint a second longer, she quickly swam back to the sandy beach and trudged her way out of the sea of paint.

To her amazement, the blue-green paint fell away and left her spotless. Her dress was utterly clean and dry as if it just washed and left to dry in the sun. There wasn't even a speck of paint was left on her, not even under her fingernails or in her hair.

"What?" Sofia asked aloud, looking back at the sea of paint. "What is going on?"

Unsure of what she wanted to find from just looking at the paint ocean, Sofia retreated back further up shore to the nearby meadow. As she trekked up the small sandy and grassy hills, her mind was still reeling from her experience. The feel of the grass and sand mixing under her toes calmed her just a bit, but not enough. Chills and shivers ran through her as the sound of the sea behind her crashed against the shore. She was still too shaken from her experience.

When she finally made it to the meadow, she was shocked at what she found.

"What's going on?" Sofia asked again. Her frightening experience momentarily forgotten.

Sofia was stunned, frozen at the edge of the meadow. For some odd reason, panic was beginning to rise in the back of her mind and settled somewhere at the bottom of her stomach. It even took control and made so that her eyes were unable to rip its gaze away from what she was looking at.

The meadow was full of the red and blue tulips she remembered from her childhood, but these tulips were… were made of paint! Just like the sea!

What the hell?

Sofia bent down and picked up a blue tulip to examine further. She could still see the tiny details of the tulip petals and stems. There were stroke marks and tiny streaks of stray paint on each flower. Marks that only a paintbrush could make on a canvas or in a painting. Upon further inspection, she noticed that even the grass and sand was made of paint too!

Why is everything made of paint? Sofia's head began to hurt from the confusion of it all.

Nothing was making any sense! She didn't understand what was happening. Just what was it that her mind was trying to tell her? Why was the meadow and the flowers made of paint? Why did the beach turn into paint? What did this all mean?

"QUEEN ANNE!" Sofia screamed when she couldn't take it anymore. She needed Queen Anne to help her understand it all. Queen Anne would know what to do and how to make everything normal again. She did it last time, so she'll do it again. "QUEEN ANNE!"

But Queen Anne didn't appear.

Sofia screamed again and again until her throat was raw, but the deafening silence was proof enough that Queen Anne wasn't showing. The silence hurt her for some reason. It felt as if Queen Anne had deserted her….

She sunk down in defeat, the itchy painted grass and sand dug into her knees. Her eyes stinging from the threat of tears. The only sound she could hear was the ocean waves of paint and the slight cool breeze blowing through the air.

No matter how hard Sofia tried, she couldn't understand what was happening. Was this some clue her mind was trying to hint at her? If so, Sofia couldn't for the life of her connect the dots.

Was she just blind to the obviousness of the clues? Or was she just too helpless to solve this herself? Was she too dependent on Queen Anne to show her all of the answers? Is that why Queen Anne didn't show when she screamed her name? Was Sofia too dependent on her to solve all of her problems?

Is that it? Is that what my mind was trying to tell me? That I am just another helpless princess, too dumb to even solve the simplest task in front of her? Sofia pitifully thought. If that was, then my subconscious was crueler than I thought –

Wait. Sofia stopped. She wiped her eyes and rose. My subconscious! Queen Anne said that this place amplifies all of my emotions to the max! All I am feeling is just amped up emotions! My emotions are just distracting me right now. That's why I can't seem to understand anything.

Sofia took deep long breaths just like Queen Anne showed her the last time she was here. She continued until her heart returned back to normal and she didn't feel as emotionally crazed anymore.

Okay, okay…. Sofia breathed in and out, trying to remember everything Queen Anne told her about the subconscious. This is an unpredictable place. Nothing here is normal, but it's my mind and I should be able to have some sort of control here.

She looked at the meadow's horizon, the large expanse of blue and red tulips gazing back at her. Her emotions were finally steady and calm. Sofia stood tall and with her head held high, as if she was waiting for anything to pop out at her. Her fists were clenched so tightly that her nails dug into the palms of her hands.

Sofia didn't know what to look for or what to even say, but what she was sure of was that her mind was trying to show her something. She wouldn't be here if it wasn't.

"What are you trying to show me?" Sofia asked aloud to the meadow and tulips. Or was it to her subconscious? She didn't really know and she didn't really care. She just wanted an answer to all of this confusion. "Is there something you need me to know?"

The echo of her voice carried out to the entire large open meadow, slowly growing quieter and quieter until the sound of her voice was completely gone.

Then, at the very moment when the echo of her voice couldn't be heard no more, something in the far distance began to glow. And without another thought, Sofia ran towards it like her life depended on it. It was the only clue her mind had shown her so far and Sofia wasn't going to let it go to waste. The thing was glowing and, from her past experience here, glowing things are usually a good sign.

She didn't know how she managed it, but she made it to the glowing item in what felt like less than a minute. Sofia immediately fell to the soft ground, her knees sliding in the dirt and grass and paint. It seems that the thing was buried under the tulips. Not caring for her appearance and for the dirt, she began to dig out the glowing thing. The fast beating of her heart and the excited pulsing of her veins made Sofia's arms dig faster and faster by the second. And she wasn't going to stop until the thing was in her hands –

Her fingers touched some sort of fabric.

What?

Sofia halted her digging for a moment and examined the fabric under all of the paint-like dirt. She could see that underneath that fabric was the glowing item, but she didn't know what to make of the thing above it.

The thick and rough fabric wasn't wrapped around the glowing thing like what most people would do when trying to bury something important or secretive. No… the fabric was long and sturdy and looked as though it was being stretched… as if underneath this entire meadow was this fabric. Sofia couldn't entire tell for certain, but she was somewhat sure that if she had a shovel and some extra help to remove this entire meadow, she would find the fabric covering under it all. Under the entire expanse of the meadow, really.

It was as if this painted meadow was created over the fabric….

Yet, the oddest thing was that the fabric reminded her of the same kind of material used for a canvas.

"The sea of paint… the meadow of painted flowers and grass… and now this canvas thing underneath the meadow…" Sofia thought out loud as she touched the fabric. "It's like I'm in a painting."

At those words, the glowing thing underneath the canvas material began to glow brighter, bringing Sofia back from her thoughts. The thing underneath was glowing so brightly that Sofia was sure it was nearly pulsating as if it was impatient for Sofia to find it. She didn't know how to open the canvas to get to the glowing thing, so she just threw her fist at it and ripped it open.

And what Sofia found underneath it was… a blank piece of paper.

Sofia recognized the thin piece of paper as sketching paper. The top part of it was jagged and torn, as if someone hurriedly ripped it out of a sketching journal. Sofia could tell the paper was old because of how worn and aged the paper was. The color was a light and dirty beige-ish brown as though the sketch had its own fair share of time in the sunlight. Yet, besides the obvious crinkles and little tears to the sketch, the sketch was in perfect condition. Like someone was cherishing as though it was a treasure.

But it was blank, unused…. Why would anyone cherish this?

"A blank sketching paper?" Sofia was confused as to why her mind was showing her this. "How is this important? There isn't anything drawn –"

The paper started to glow again. And right before her eyes, something began to appear on the piece of paper. One by one, dark gray lines began to form on the paper until... a pencil sketch of Queen Anne was drawn!

The sketch of Queen Anne was beautiful. It was beautifully detailed and Sofia could tell there was a lot of emotion that went into this sketch. The emotion and passion was evident in the soft lines and little feature of Queen Anne's happy expression. In the drawing, it showed Queen Anne as no older than fifteen or sixteen. She was smiling big and happily, as though she was in the middle of a laugh. It looked as though her eyes were shining brightly. There was no hint of sadness in her smile or in her eyes, not like how Sofia was used to seeing in Queen Anne. She was unguarded and never looked happier.

"A sketch of Queen Anne…?" Sofia said. "Is that what you wanted to show me? But what does this have to do with anything?"

The ground gently shook under her like the earth was trembling and the ocean waves behind her crashed loudly as if there was a storm. The tulips around her swayed and brushed against her arms as if a large gust of wind moved them even though there was not even a hint of a breeze.

Then, her amulet began to glow. It rose off of her chest and pointed right at the sketch in her hands. Next, it spun and pointed at the flowers around her.

"Okay, I get it. It's a sketch of Queen Anne and those are painted flowers. What –" Realization and understanding finally hit Sofia.

It finally all clicked for her in her head.

"This-this is the first source!" Sofia exclaimed as she rose. Her legs and hands were shaking while her breathing and mind were running at a million miles a minute. Adrenaline surged through her. Her heart was rapidly beating like the blood pumping through her was caffeine and excitement liquefied.

The ground stopped shaking and the waves behind her calmed the moment Sofia exclamation left her lips, as if her subconscious can finally be satisfied now that Sofia understood what was happening around her.

This entire time, her subconscious and her amulet was trying to tell her what the first source was and where she could find it! They were both trying to help her!

"It's in a painting, isn't it?!" Sofia yelled out to the sky, smiling wide as she clutched the source towards her in her still shaking hands, afraid of letting it go, and happily jumped up and down. She even let out an ecstatic squeal. "It's in this painting! In the attic!"

Her amulet was helping her find the source!

Wait. Sofia stopped her happy dancing for a moment. Queen Anne said that I had to realize something before my amulet would help me find the first source…. So what was the important thing that I realized that finally got the amulet to help me again?

But Sofia never got to finish her thought because the hole she made started to grow bigger and wider, swallowing her whole. The ground gave away to a black hole, darker than the color black itself. The same kind of hole that sent her back into her body after her first time in her subconscious. But unlike the last hole she fell through, she didn't know where this hole was sending her to. Her mind was an unpredictable place after all.

Surprise and fear gripped her. Sofia shut her eyes closed and screamed the entire way down the hole. There was nothing for her to grab onto to make her fall stop. She felt like Alice falling down the rabbit hole, not knowing where she was going to end up after the fall. As she made her way down her own rabbit hole, she felt the sketch dissolve away in her hands.

No! That was the last thought to enter her mind before she felt her entire being stop with a hard thud.

Sofia jolted awake with a gasp. The sound of her panicked heart beat loudly in her ears. Her lungs felt too constricted, as if she was wearing the world's tiniest corset and it was cutting off the air circulation to her lungs. She couldn't get enough air into her, it was like her own body was fighting its natural instinct to breathe or it just forgot how to breathe.

For a moment, she didn't know where she was again. Everything was dark and too quiet. She could have been back in the dark recesses of her subconscious for she knew. When her eyes had adjusted to the lack of light around her, Sofia found herself staring up at the pink canopy of her bed.

Taking a moment to calm herself, Sofia just laid there staring up at her canopy and tried to return her heartrate and breathing back down to normal. She knew that she wouldn't be able to try to understand what she just learned if she was too emotional and excited. In the silence of the night, all she could hear was her fast breathing, her rapid heartbeat, and the sound of James's gentle snoring. She felt his arm draped over her bare stomach and his scruffy jaw scratch at her forehead. The sound of James's snoring and the feel of his strong arm wrapped around her gave her something to concentrate on as she tried to calm herself and get an understanding grip on what she just learned.

But it was no use in trying to do so as the words, I know where it is, kept repeating itself over and over again in her head. And the small nagging feeling in the back of her mind and the warm feeling of her amulet on her chest wasn't helping her trying to calm down. It sent a familiar surge of adrenaline pumping through her veins, making her restless. Her heart was beating out of control and her lungs was just playing the follower.

It was telling her that she needed to go up to the attic now. Right at this very moment. She didn't have any time to lose. The nagging feeling settled in the pit of her stomach and told her that no other opportunity like this would ever present itself to her again if she didn't go now.

Listening to her gut feeling, Sofia sat up and wiped at the sweat that coated her forehead and neck. I need to get up there and find that sketch, and bring it to Lucinda. Then we need to burn that thing as soon as possible.

Sofia tried to crawl out of James's arms and to the edge of her bed, but James didn't budge even an inch. By the sound of his grumbling, it seemed as though he didn't like the idea of her leaving his arms. It was as if it was his body's natural instinct to hold her as he slept.

But Sofia didn't have time for this. She needed him to wake so they can get going. Sofia smacked at his arms and even pinched it so that he would release her. "James, get up."

"What? What's wrong?" he mumbled as his arms tightened around her waist.

"Oh no you don't," Sofia said as she used enough force to push his arms away and was freed from his embrace. She quickly climbed out of bed before he could pull her back into his arms again.

"Sofia, what's wrong?" James groggily asked with a yawn as he flipped over onto his back and laid a tired arm over his eyes. "Why are you up in the middle of the night?"

"James, get up. We need to get up into the attic. Right. Now," she said as she started to look for her night gown and James's pajamas. While James has seen her without her clothes numerous times already, she still didn't feel comfortable just trotting around in only her underwear – even if she was in her own room. She finally found where James tossed her nightgown on the floor and right next to it was James's pajama pants.

"Why?" he yawned again. It sounded as though he was nearly falling asleep again.

"Dammit, James," she loudly whispered at him as she threw his pajama pants at him and put her nightgown on. "Get up. I am serious, we need to get up to the attic right now. I know where the other source is and we need to find it so that we can get it to Lucinda by tonight."

"What?" That seemed to have woken him up. He immediately sat up and looked at her as though she just lost her mind. "Did you say 'tonight'? You want to leave your room and go to Lucinda tonight?"

"Yeah. So get up and go to your room and put on your darkest ridding clothes. We're going to sneak out to Lucinda within the next few hours. And we don't have time to waste because it's," Sofia looked over at the clock on her nightstand as she made her way towards her closet, "almost one in the morning. We won't have enough time to make it back if you keep laying there in bed. So get a move on."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," James hastily said as he jumped out of bed as if it was on fire. He left his pajama pants where they were on the bed and rushed in front of Sofia. His hands clamped down on her shoulders, stopping her from taking another step towards her closet. "Wait a moment, Sofia –"

"No, James. We don't have a moment to waste." She tried to move around him, but his hands kept her firmly in place. "All we have to do –"

"Sofia, you just left your room for the first time since your accident and coma today, just take a moment and –"

This sounded familiar… all too familiar, actually. And she was absolutely sick of it.

Sofia angrily shook her head. She was starting to get more than just irritated at his lack of haste. She really hoped that she wasn't hearing what she think she's hearing.

Just this morning – well, yesterday morning since it was past midnight – he promised her that she could finally leave her room. Hell, just a few hours ago, he was apologizing for breaking that promise! So, if he thinks that he can back out on his word now after all of the chaos that ensued because of him – and the others – breaking their promise, then there would be more than hell to pay!

She ripped his hands off of her shoulders and glared at him with a fury that would burn the sun itself. "Oh, hell no. I swear to the stars, James, if you're trying to keep me in this room – after what happened this afternoon – I will go on the biggest and angriest rampage like this world has ever seen."

He quickly raised his hands up in surrender, but didn't step away from her. "No, I wasn't trying to – look it's just that – you see –" He sounded as though he couldn't find any right words to say to her, as if he was afraid that anything he might say would send her onto the very rampage she just threatened him with.

But Sofia was only slightly glad to know that her threat was enough to scare him. Hopefully, it would be enough to scare him into cooperating with her.

"No, James. We need to hurry. We don't have enough time to waste."

"Why, though? Why do we need to hurry?" James took another step forward and further blocked her from her closet. Sofia could see the worry and fear in his eyes, but she didn't have the time to reassure him that her plan was safe. She was losing precious time just trying to get to her closet.

She let out an annoyed sigh and rubbed her temples. Dammit, I don't have time for this!

"I had a dream – well more like a vision, I think. I don't know. It was definitely a message, that's for sure –"

"Sofia, you're not making any sense," James said.

"Then let me finish," Sofia replied, annoyed that he cut her off. "Anyway, I got a message from my amulet and it told me where I can find that source. And I have this gut feeling that if we don't hurry up and get to the attic right now, I won't be able to find the other source ever again. So please James, cooperate with me here and just go get dressed."

For a short while, James just stood there silently watching her like he was trying to read her. His eyes were narrowed and his lips were pressed into a thin line. Sofia was starting to get afraid that he might still try to argue with her on the entire plan.

In the dimness of the dark, Sofia saw something shift in his eyes before he let out a long sigh of his own. Sofia couldn't tell if it was a good or bad sigh…. But Sofia was prepared. If it was a good sigh, then they can just change quickly and run up to the attic. If it was bad, Sofia was prepared to either argue with him until he cooperates or leave him behind. Her plan didn't require two people. She didn't want to leave him, but if he starts to become difficult, she has no choice. She needed to find the first source and save him.

"Alright," he said with a nod. To her surprise, James just turned around and picked up his pajamas.

"That's it? You're not going to try and fight me on this?" Sofia was too shocked to do anything but question him. This was unlike James to give into her so easily. Usually, whenever she came up with a plan he didn't like, he would try and protest as long as possible before going along with her crazy plan. And that would usually involve a lot of kissing afterwards.

"Nope," he said as he put on his pajamas.

"Really?"

"Really."

"What gives?" she eyed him suspiciously. "You usually never go along with my plans this easily."

James just smiled softly at her as he walked back towards her. "Sofia, I made a promise to you and to myself while you were in a coma. I promised that from now on, I am going to be nothing but serious and focused and do whatever I can to help you bring the man who put you in that coma down."

Sofia didn't know what to say. The serious glow of his green eyes left her speechless. The only words she found herself able to say was another "really?"

"Really." James was right in front of her again; he was close enough that she could feel his body heat radiating off of him.

He wasn't smiling anymore, but his expression remained tender and sincere. Just the genuine look of his eyes was enough to steal her breath as if he was kissing her. He took her hand and raised it to his lips, lightly pressing it against her knuckles.

"And when this is all over," he spoke in a tone she's never heard him use before. It was low and unwavering, steady and firm, "when we've saved the kingdoms and beat this man, I have something important to ask you. And I hope, your answer to my question then is 'yes'."

Sofia didn't understand what he was saying or what he was referring to, all she knew at that moment was that her heart was beating crazily and it was making her want to kiss him senseless. She wanted to jump into his arms and recreate their tender moment from earlier. James must have been thinking the same thing because she found his gaze falling to her lips and he was beginning to lean into her. Her hand was still wrapped gently in his, tenderly held in his warm hands.

She was more than ready to let their lips meet again until she heard a familiar tick-tock sound coming from behind James. When she looked over his shoulder, she saw the hands on her clock were pointing at one thirty-seven.

"Dammit," she cursed as she pushed away from him. "We just lost about thirty minutes! Shit! Please, just go and get dressed, James!" She didn't try to hide the desperate whine in her voice. Hopefully the sound of her tone would make him cooperate with her better.

She turned away from him, ready to run to her closet with at her top speed, but James's hand tightened and locked on her hand. "Wait, Sofi –" He sounded like there was more he wanted to say, but Sofia really didn't want to hear it right now. She wanted to hear his footsteps walking towards his room so that he could get dressed.

"No. No waiting, James. Look, if you keep your promise and help me pull off my plan without a hitch tonight, I will say 'yes' to whatever you ask me, okay?"

James froze. "What? Really?"

"Yes. But that can't happen if you do go to your room and get dressed," Sofia replied impatiently. She tried to pull her hand free, but James didn't seem ready to release her just yet.

"You really mean that?" His hand on her wrist tightened and his eyes became as large as silver plates. "You'll really say 'yes'?"

Sofia didn't understand why he was being like this. What has gotten into him? Why would he be shocked at her saying 'yes' to whatever his question was?

"Yes," she said, confused. James just started to smile at her as she threw a frantic look at her clock and saw that it was close to one forty now. "Now just go, James."

"You promise? That's a promise right?" He was smiling from ear to ear now, giddy for some unknown reason. "You know what, can I get that in writing?"

But Sofia didn't find his giddy smile heartwarming. She was actually getting mad at him.

Was he just trying to delay them so that they can't sneak out tonight? Doesn't he know how important it was for them to find that source? Why was he being like this?! Didn't he just promise her that he wouldn't fool around anymore?

"Oh my gosh, James!" Sofia angrily ripped her hand out from his grip and started to push James out of her room. Shove was more like it. "Yes! I promise that I will say 'yes' to whatever your special question is! Now, get dressed and meet me at the bottom of the stairs that leads up to the attic." Then she shut the door in his face and ran to her closet.

Sofia dressed in a hurry, grateful that it was her purple rider's outfit that was destroyed on the day of her attack. Her black rider's outfit was still in perfect condition and so was her cloak. She snatched up her messenger's bag that held the Book of Hyproti that she kept hidden in the far back corner of her closet and ran as quietly as she could to where she told James to meet her. To her relief, James was already there waiting for her. Dressed in his own pair of black riding clothes and cloak.

She sped up her running pace, not wanting to lose any more time that has already been lost. But, to her annoyance and confusion, the closer she got to him, the more she noticed that James was literally bouncing with excitement while waiting at the bottom of the stairs. It seemed that his giddiness and weird silliness hadn't faded like she hoped when she shoved him out of her room. He was still smiling like a fool, the corners of his smile was still big and goofy. If she didn't know any better, she would have mistaken him as some puppy because he was behaving as one. He might as well have some tail behind him because Sofia could practically see it wagging back and forth like all pups do when they get excited.

When James noticed her running towards him, his smile grew even wider and he started to bounce even more excitedly. Sofia didn't hear it, but she was sure that he would have let out a loud and happy squeal if he could.

Oh, stars, I really hope he calms down by the time we get to the attic…. Sofia hoped to herself as she ran to him.

But instead, when she reached him, he just scooped her up into his arms. She didn't even get a chance to open her mouth and apologize for making him wait for her because he just kissed her. The kiss tasted nothing but happiness and sheer joy.

"Hi," was all he said when he let her up for air. His voice sounded raspy and deep from the kiss.

Sofia couldn't reply at first, her brain was momentarily fried from his kiss. James seemed to have noticed because he was leaning in for another kiss. But that was enough to bring her back.

"Now is not the time for that," she said, pinching his lips shut with her forefinger and thumb. Sofia grabbed his hand and led the way up the stairs. "Come on, James, I need you to focus here. You got that? I can't have you acting like the love-struck, giddy idiot from earlier. We're on a serious mission here."

He just chucked at her and let her lead the way. When she turned her head to give him a stern glare, she saw a serious and focused gleam shine in his eyes. The green colors were cool and hard, all business.

"Understood," James said, his voice direct and sharp. It was the kind of tone he would use whenever he was in his king mode.

Sofia let out a sigh of relief. Thankfully, he seemed to understand what she needed from him tonight. It didn't seem like she needs to worry about him after all –

"But," he said, "when we get back, I swear I am going to kiss the daylights out of you. That is my promise for tonight." For further effect, he smiled mischievously at her, the hints of his giddiness showing in his megawatt smile.

Really? She just let out a groaned and rolled her eyes at him and returned back to her task of not slipping on the old stone stairs.

After his promise, James returned back to being nothing but focused. James's promise of kissing her later faded into the back of her mind as Sofia concentrated on running as fast as she could up the stairs and reaching the attic. She managed to take three at a time with her short and petite legs. At the speed they were going, she was sure that they were breaking some kind of stair-running record. They made it up to the attic level of the castle in no time and burst through the doors that held all of the royal paintings.

The moment they stepped through the door, her amulet glowed like in her dream and rose off of her chest. It seemed to be pointing in the direction they needed to go and led her down the aisle that held all of Queen Anne's paintings. Sofia let her amulet take the lead and she and James just played the follower. Well, Sofia just followed her amulet while James just followed her. Her amulet's light illuminated everything around them in a bright pink shade and acted as their only source of light in the darkness of the night. The further down the aisle they got, the greater her amulet glowed.

Then the light burst and vibrated with a great force in front of one of the stacks of paintings down the aisle, halting Sofia to a stop. She started to hastily file through it, looking for the painting that matched her dream. Sofia had almost missed the painting until her amulet flashed a quick light, as though it was acting as her second aid and was telling her just that. Filing back a couple paintings, Sofia pulled out the rather small painting of a woman in a blue sundress – she took it that it was Queen Anne by her platinum blonde hair that was painting as though it was flowing in tune with the sea breeze – standing on the sandy shores of the beach and staring out at the blue ocean with a meadow behind her. In her amulet's stilling glowing light, Sofia saw that every detail in the painting was exactly like her dream, down to the brushstrokes she remembered seeing in the tulips.

"This is it?" James asked. "This is the other source?"

"No," Sofia said as she turned the painting over and ripped the brown paper on the canvas's back. Inside, just as she hoped, was the sketch of Queen Anne. The moment the source was in her hands, her amulet's light dimmed to a low and pulsing pink glow. "This is."

"A sketch… of my mom?"

Sofia nodded as she handed over the sketch for him to see. "Yeah."

"Why is it a sketch? I thought you said that Glacia told you it was a painting?" James questioned as he gazed at the sketch with an unreadable expression. It was hard to know what was going through his head at the moment. Was he okay? Was he going to have a meltdown? Even in all of the rush and chaos of their current mission, she still wanted to know that he was well.

"I think Glacia had her facts wrong. The source was in a painting, not a painting."

"That still doesn't explain why it's of my mom."

Oh, shit, Sofia cursed to herself. In all of the craziness of tonight's turn of events, Sofia didn't factor in that this kind of thing might happen. Can I tell him why it's a picture of his mom? Queen Anne did say that knowing of her past would help me help James and break the spell on his heart…. Does that mean I can tel him? But if I do, how can I even tell him without revealing that I have been talking to the ghost of his mom for the past few months now?

Go ahead, a sudden but familiar voice spoke in her head.

Queen Anne! Sofia jumped in surprise. Where have you been? There are so many questions that I have been wanting to ask you!

She tried to not make it so obvious to James that the voice of his mother was in her head. She tried to slyly searched for Queen Anne in the dim light, hoping that she was somewhere in the attic with them. She strained her eyes to see if she could find Queen Anne anywhere in the dark.

"What is it, Sofia?" James asked, turning around to look into the darkness. Apparently, she wasn't sly enough.

Go ahead, Sofia, Queen Anne said, ignoring her question. You have my permission to tell James the truth. It's time he knew. It's the only way for you two to break the curse on his heart.

Are you sure?

"Sofia?" James was looking at her with a confused and concerned expression. Sofia tried to ignore him for the moment and focus on her conversation with Queen Anne.

Yes. It's time. He needs to know the truth. Her voice started to sound like it was fading away.

Wait. When will –

Go to Lucinda's and tell him the truth there. It's not safe for you to talk about me in the castle. The Evil will know and try to hurt the others because of it.

But –

I will see you tomorrow. After your afternoon tea. Here in the attic. Then she disappeared. The familiar pressure that always came whenever Queen Anne inhabited her head faded as quickly as Queen Anne's appearance.

"Sofia, is everything okay?" James cupped one of her cheeks and searched her eyes as if that was where he could find the answers to why she was acting so weird.

"Uh… Yeah. Why?" Sofia shook her head and tried to regather her thoughts. She wasn't ready to tell James the truth. She hoped that if she acted as if nothing happened, he will just brush it off and forget about it.

"You were just staring out into space, Sofia."

Dammit. There was no use, it was time for Sofia to come clean.

"Th-that's because…. You see, the thing is…." Sofia didn't know how to explain herself. Another sense of fear began to grip at her.

If she was being completely honest with herself, Sofia was more than unready to explain everything to James. She was afraid to tell the truth. She was afraid of how he might react. She was afraid of the consequences that might follow with revealing the truth.

What if he resents her for lying to him about being able to communicate with his late mother? What if he hates her for it all? What if telling him the truth will cause an irreparable shift in their relationship?

Is that something I can risk? Sofia asked herself.

But she already knew the answer.

Yes. Yes it is because if it means that she can save James – save his life and his heart – then she will endure any and every consequence and risk everything she had. Even their relationship.

"Sofia, what is it? Whatever it is, you know you can tell me," James said, as if reading her mind.

She just opened her mouth to reply back to James until an odd sound behind her startled her and reminded her where they were. Sofia didn't know what that sound was, but she knew that a sound like that couldn't have been made from any attic rat or mouse. Sofia turned and tried to identify what that sound was, but she remembered that time was of the essence. She didn't have time to find out what that sound was. They needed to be making their way to Lucinda on their flying horses immediately. Whatever that sound was, she'll just have to figure it out some other time. She has other things to deal with at the moment.

"Not now," Sofia said, taking the sketch and neatly folding it into her messenger's bad. Then she took his hand and rushed them out of the attic and down the stairs in record time. "I promise that when we're at Lucinda's, I'll tell you everything."

In no time, they made it to the stables and saddled their flying horses. Lilac and Lightning greeted them excitedly, jumping and neighing with joy. It seemed that her absence from the stables and the outdoors after her attack had the horses worried sick. They started to nip and neigh at her in such a sad tone that Sofia felt the need to apologize for worrying them both and reassured them that she was more than okay and back to perfect health.

"So what happens now?" James asked her once they were in the air. "What's next on your plan?"

"We find Lucinda," Sofia said.

"How? Besides her magical letters, I haven't seen Lucinda since we left her in the field after our trip to Royal Prep."

"My amulet." Sofia held up her glowing gem.

Since they left the castle's stables, her amulet's glow brightened once more and it was levitating off of her chest again. Just like back in the attic, it was directing them to where Lucinda was.

The night sky was clear and the air had a chilly bite to it. It was still cold enough that Sofia could see her breath as she breathed. The stars and moon were out, shining brightly above and giving them an organic source of light besides Sofia's amulet. In the bright starlight and moonlight, Sofia could see that they had left the castle far in the distance and were quickly nearing the forest that surrounded the barriers of the castle's far western premises.

The forest that her father always warned her to stay away from.

This forest was nothing like the forest that Sofia explored before she became a princess. No… this forest was different. It was larger and grander and filled with a mysterious magic that always captivated her. The trees were big and tall and its branches were always filled with leaves that never faded, even in the dead of winter. The leaves were always a vibrant green. The only times the trees the trees ever changed color was in the fall, turning into a wondrous symphony of oranges and yellows and reds. Every time Sofia neared this forest, she could always feel a charged and magical energy flow through her. It was as if the forest was calling to her.

Sofia never understood why her father tried to keep everyone away from the forest. It was never officially said, but everyone knew that this forest was forbidden from everyone. Her father always acted odd whenever it came to this forest and Sofia never really found out why.

Maybe tonight, she'll learn why it was….

They continued to fly over the tall trees until her amulet pointed downward, telling them to dive straight down into the dark center of the mysterious forest.


Chapter twenty-nine! Woo!

Hey you guys! Sorry this took so long to release! I am so, so, so sorry! After I finished my first year of college, my friends all ambushed me and took me out to celebrate. We ended up vacationing for like two weeks in an area with weak internet connection and I didn't have my laptop with me to write. I am so, so sorry. But I am back and ready to get back in the groove of my weekly releases. It's great to be back!

So how did you all like it? I put in a lot of hints at what might happen in the next few chapters. What about Sofia's "yes" promise? I know you all were really excited about that in my second chapter 29 teaser. What about that "odd" sound in the attic? Hmm?

Challenge: Can you name all of my hints? There is a total of four hints I put into this chapter. If ten of you can name them all in a review before the release of the next chapter next week, I will release the second chapter 17 extra. Good luck!

Read, review, etc.

Thanks :)