Chapter 28
Everything's a mess.
Chloe deems this the worst week of her whole life. Beca has been in and out of meetings, trying to maintain clarity despite the tension between her and the Vanderbilt council members. It just makes her deserving of the crown even more. Still, despite her future wife's commendable work ethic, ever since they've returned from France Beca hasn't had a break from the problems arising one after another and Chloe can see how this is all taking a toll on her—both of them actually.
It hadn't been long since Beca started sleeping through the night without the nightmares but this week it seems that the stress of work is triggering some of them again. She's even going back to drinking whiskey, her go-to coping mechanism when under stress. Chloe does her best to convince her to drink something else instead, like Stacie and Stella's favorite tea or Emily's go-to drink on a cold rainy day, hot chocolate but of course, Beca is stubborn about it. Unfortunately for her, when the bond between them grows day by day, hiding your whiskey from your fiancée is proving to be hard.
For her part, Chloe tries to put everything in a positive light as possible, it's been almost two weeks since the dreaded council letter was sent to their home and moping about it certainly won't help. It definitely won't ease the extremely heavy burden of the crown sitting on Beca's head. So, it's all up to Chloe to make sure that her Queen's troubles are at least lifted even if just a little bit whenever she comes home exhausted, mentally, emotionally and physically.
Honestly, at this point in her life, she thanks her parents for bringing her up with the mindset that she'd be sitting next to a high, if not the highest, power of authority because at least, she's somehow prepared for something as big as this.
Today was one of those days. Those days when Beca looks like she'd gone through war and Chloe already knows what caused this. Aside from the council stomping down on their desire to officially be together, issues regarding private armies and the rights of half-lings, the growing number of death threats and assassination attempts have started to cause alarm within the council but that's expected when Beca's reign has been about change. Change that would surely piss off those who benefit from the old ways. Thus, security has doubled all over Victor Barden and protocols have been changed for the sake of safety. It has even come to a point where Chloe starts begging Beca not to leave the walls of the manor. But as expected, Beca assures her that 'those amateurs can't touch me.
It's not like Chloe doubts Beca's skills in defending herself, she very much knows what her Midnight is capable of, but there's still that fear that a moment's weakness can give opportunity to those who want nothing more but destroy her. So maybe she's been spending time in between classes with Beca's uncle Gabin—who else better to get fighting lessons from but the royal crown's head of security?—in order to sharpen her aim and practice taking down enemies. Because Chloe Beale may look like she's gentle and harmless as a fawn but make no mistake, she's not going to sit next to crowned royalty—whether the council agrees to it or not—and be unable to protect her own soulmate.
Beca agrees to it, not only because she's happy to share, well, killing techniques to her beloved redhead but because it makes her proud to see that the confidence Chloe's lost in regards to her disownment is coming back—also, Chloe's hot when on determined-to-kick-ass-mode so she's not complaining.
"What's wrong?" Chloe asks as she notices the far-away look on Beca's face.
The exhausted Du Pont now has her head on Chloe's lap as the Vanderbilt softly runs her fingers through her hair, massaging her scalp with gentle motions because as she's observed it easily calms Beca and stops her from thinking too hard about issues at hand.
Deep blue eyes look up at her and Chloe feels the heavy thoughts weighing on Beca's head. It's still a blur and she can't clearly read into them—which will improve once they officially bond as soulmates.
The Du Pont slowly sits up and sighs. Tenderly, she places a hand on Beca's cheek, making her face her as she searches for those deep ocean blues once more. Chloe may not know what exactly is troubling her Queen but she does know that she's willing to listen to whatever it is, and that Beca need only tell her.
They've promised each other that there will be no more secrets and Chloe knows that Beca always keeps her promises.
When Beca's eyes meet hers once more, the Du Pont finally confesses.
"I know now where my brother's child is hidden, Stefan's son… my nephew,"
The words weren't expected but Chloe understands how big this information is.
"Are you sure?" she asks because she knows just how much this means to Beca and false hopes are something of a repeating occurrence in the Du Pont's life, something Chloe will never give up on changing.
Beca nods solemnly and Chloe wraps her arms around her. Anything involving Stefan is to be treaded lightly with Beca given to how sensitive this topic is.
"Chlo," she hears Beca softly say and in a moment she looks back at the Du Pont. "I need to see him. I want to," she continues and Chloe nods in understanding.
"Will you come with me?" Beca asks and the answer is out of Chloe's lips without even a second thought.
"Of course. Always,"
Not big on words, Beca kisses her and it's more than enough to convey just how much she appreciates her support. With Chloe's thoughts getting lost in Beca's lips, it's pretty much safe to say that no amount of worse can kill the happiness they feel when together.
Once they part, heads resting against each other, Beca takes her hand, eyes looking down at the engagement ring Chloe wouldn't take off even during Gabin's rigorous trainings—she wears it as a necklace when she needs to punch things.
"Gabin tells me you're not one to mess with," Beca says with a small smile and it lifts a weight off of Chloe's chest because the Du Pont's smiles had been rare this week. "Your aim is good, exceptionally good enough to land straight at its target"
Chloe's face lights up, the excitement bubbling up inside her as she recalls the memory before proudly correcting her, "On a moving target,"
The Du Pont's eyebrows rise as her smile widens, "A moving target, my bad,"
"Yes, and it took me a bit by surprise but I remained calm and bang! I hit mister Dots then I—"
"Mister Dots?"
"Yeah!"
"Chlo… did you give all the targets a name?"
"Of course I did, Becs. There's mister Dots, miss Wiggly, mister Floppy and baby Dots! There's a new target tomorrow and I'm going to name it—" she says before Beca cuts her off with a kiss.
"Right, I'm totes marrying this," Beca mumbles against her lips with a smile.
Pristina, Kosovo
4 years ago
"You know the drill, lovey,"
Stefan says, map laid out on the bed as Beca looks over at him from the table. Glancing back down at the guns laid out in front of her, she stops cleaning the barrel of the gun she's holding before making her way to the bed, crawling on top of it before dropping down on her stomach to stare at the map. Her eyes wander all over it before it lands on a specific country.
"Spit it out," Stefan interrupts her silent thoughts.
Looking up to where he was seated, swirling his whiskey, she finds him observing her closely. She inhales before doing exactly that, spitting out her thoughts.
"I've never been to New Zealand,"
Stefan pauses mid-sip as he stares right back at her. She recognizes that familiar look of skepticism and it urges her to explain herself.
"I've heard that they have quaint little artsy towns and beautiful caves, the ones that glow,"
The silence stretches and her brother seems to study her for a bit before finally speaking.
"There's nothing there. It's just an island somewhere down below,"
"I know,"
"You seem to have given this a thought,"
Beca looks back down at the map, exhaling as her eyes never leave the destination she had just suggested.
"I just," she starts, fingers combing her hair. "I just think that someday all these running, this life, at some point… it's… it's going to get tiring and I figured that maybe New Zealand could probably be a place where we could… rest. Far from all this mess, that stupid council, somewhere… safe. I mean, it's just a suggestion. We don't really have to go,"
Her voice is small when she ends before bringing her gaze up uncertainly, meeting his eyes. Slowly, he nods before finally taking a long sip from his drink. When he puts down his glass, he looks back at her once more.
"Okay, New Zealand. If that's what you want, we can rest there afterwards," he says and it sounds hopeful.
It's meaningful, the way he looks at her as he stretches out his hand towards her and it reminds her of her childhood. A smile forms in her lips and instantly she reaches out, taking his hand for her to hold.
"I promise," he adds softly.
Beca hangs on to it, giving way to the hope of a brighter tomorrow taking over her.
It's a start.
A new beginning.
Feilding, New Zealand
4 years later
"You're highness," Gabin calls from the seat next to the driver's. When she looks up at him, he watches her with concern.
"We're here,"
She squeezes Chloe's hand and nods before looking up to find a simple but pretty home, more like a cabin, in the middle of a good amount of land. It's somewhat a rural area, thirty minutes away from the town center. There's a garden filled with flowers and some vegetable crops. The sight makes her chest ache and at some point she wonders if she could actually get herself out of the car.
"Becs," Chloe's voice pulls her back as she finds worried baby blue eyes staring back at her in silent question.
One look back at the house, she knows what her decision would be as she takes a lungful of air and speaks, "I'm ready,"
The doors of the car are opened for them and she steps outside.
"The property seems to be owned by a man called Cabe O. Bridges. We tried calling the contact number but it's dead. From what we've gathered, I doubt there's a real Cabe O. Bridges but if it is still human property we'd probably have to use force to make it easier," Gabin tells her but he is met with a smile.
"That's not necessary," Beca simply says as Chloe curiously looks at her until it finally clicks.
"It's your name," Chloe suddenly says before glancing at Gabin. "What does 'O' stand for?" she asks, excitement in her tone while the older Du Pont checks the papers.
"Oliver," he answers, his frown disappearing at the realization.
"Of course! A masculine version of Olivia as in Beca's second name," Chloe says with a laugh before adding, "Cabe is an anagram for Beca and Du Pont literally means from the bridge so, Bridges!" she says, looking pleased.
"You know the investigative department is in need of fresh minds," he whispers towards Beca who only shakes her head. "Your mate has potential," her uncle adds before exchanging finger guns with a beaming Chloe behind her back, obviously already making it clear that he has joined the thousands that have flocked to team Chlo Chlo.
"Idiots," Beca mutters before confidently stepping forward to test Chloe's theory. It's a solid theory especially, when Beca has used the name Cabe as alias in some of her missions across the globe.
As soon as she steps unto the property, her heart starts beating hard.
"Becs?" Chloe calls out from behind when she doesn't say anything. It takes her a couple of seconds before she finally turns to the redhead.
Stretching out her hand towards Chloe, she cocks her head to the side, "C'mon,"
Chloe's hand finds hers as they start walking towards the house while security immediately surrounds the perimeter. Gabin leads the way and wastes no time in knocking at the door.
Only silence greets them.
Beca waits with her heart hammering and finally she hears footsteps but it stops and she already has a feeling about what's going on inside.
Mia Black, of course, what else do you expect? Trained at the same class as Stefan and served the royal crown for almost two years. Her specialty had always been gathering intel and camouflage, a term they used when discreetly following their targets. Beca has to admit that she'd be a bit disappointed if the woman didn't go down without a fight.
"Break down the door," she orders, temper rising and impatience wearing thin.
No sooner had she given the order, Gabin kicks the door open and his men quickly file in, prepared for anything. In less than a second, grunts and shouts are heard.
"Beca," Chloe's eyes look at her in alarm, her voice pleading as she holds on to her arm.
Not hearing a reply from her, the redhead glances back and forth from her to the house in distress. Chloe hates violence and as much as possible she's tried telling her that a peaceful approach would be so much better especially when there's a baby involved in the mix and not just any baby. He is Stefan's son and therefore, a Du Pont, the Queen's nephew.
"If she just opened the door in the first place instead of opposing us then we wouldn't have to resort to this. It's clearly an insult to the crown and it deserves punishment," Beca sternly points out after the sound of something breaking and opening is heard.
"But still," Chloe presses on. "This is her home and that's also her son. It's a mother's instinct to protect her child. Beca, please,"
"And why does she need to protect him? From whom? From his own blood? From me?" Beca throws back and yet despite the harsh tone, Chloe doesn't even flinch as oppose to the staff working for the council who cower when she as much clicks her tongue in annoyance.
"There's a reason he hid them here," Chloe says desperately and that hits a chord. "Make them stop, Becs. Please, at least do this for me," she begs just as gunshots break from inside.
The noise inside increases echoing her own heartbeat and even if she feels differently, she couldn't find a reply to that, her eyes flitting over to the flower garden and deep down she knows that Chloe has a point.
Clenching her fists, she suddenly whips her head towards one of her security, "Stop! She is not to be harmed,"
Her orders are quickly relayed and almost instantly the noise stops at Gabin's loud, "Hold your fire!"
Next to her, she hears Chloe's audible sigh of relief. "Thank you," she breathes out and Beca looks down the ground, a mixture of emotions fighting inside of her as she tries to compose herself.
The silence ensues and wordlessly she searches for Chloe's hand. Slowly, she walks in the house for the first time, taking in the minimal but homey interior. It's nothing grand with it only being a one-story house. The furniture isn't expensive, rustic wood and ordinary tiles, but the sofa looked comfortable next to the small fireplace. The dining area and kitchen are located just across the sofa. Beca thinks it's all too small, small for a Du Pont child.
On any ordinary day, it would've looked peaceful if only at the middle of the house a stand-off wasn't happening. Mia and Gabin holding each other at gun point. There's two bodies sprawled out on the floor, unconscious but still alive, while the other three of Gabin's men surround the former soldier. All of them frozen with the unbearable tension as Beca steps in keeping Chloe right behind her.
"Mia," Beca opens in greeting as she eyes the woman's trembling hands.
"Beca," she coldly replies and Gabin instantly growls in objection.
"That's your Queen and therefore you will address her with respect! On your knees!" he yells angrily, pointing his gun higher at her and yet she still doesn't yield. There's a bruise forming near her eye and her lip bleeding but still there's a lot of fight left within her.
Her spirit is almost commendable if only it wasn't stupid.
With three other guns pointing at her, it is stupid not to yield and Beca scoffs at that. Another idiot in her midst, only this one isn't even adorable.
"You're not going to gain anything," she says simply towards the rebel. "Your exits are blocked and even if you take one down, you're still open. You're still dead," she lays out before adding,
"I doubt you'd want to go that way. Efforts wasted and your body just laying down on the floor in a puddle of your own blood,"
Behind her, Chloe's grip on the fabric of her dark long coat tightens.
Beca expects some sort of insult, an angry retort or probably the worst but her own world stops at the sound of crying. It's actually inaudible to human hearing but they weren't exactly normal human beings. The sound was coming from the little hallway over the left leading to a single room, the one behind Mia who also stiffens at the sound, eyes widening with fear.
Beca's feet move to the direction, it felt like she was going in slow motion, eyes solely focused straight ahead like nothing else mattered. In an instant there was movement, Mia apparently had taken her eyes off Gabin, her frantic, 'No!' towards Beca sounds so far away. There's a flurry of motion, Mia ends up down the floor, now weaponless as Gabin is quick to seize the opportunity with her distracted state, her dark hair covering half her face as she screams her protest, eyes following Beca's path.
Her hands find contact at the door knob and it feels like she's been splashed with cold water, she doesn't realize it until late but she's trembling, her breathing becoming shallow. The walls feel like it's closing in on her and she squeezes her eyes shut, afraid that if she opened them blood will once more seep under those cracks along with the whispers of the dead.
She descends down that path, slipping helplessly until a warm hand encloses her own.
"Hey," Chloe's comforting voice wraps her like a thick blanket on a winter night. "I'm here. Take a deep breath for me, Becs,"
Oxygen floods her lungs and as soon as she exhales, her eyes slowly open. Chloe's hand covering hers, still clenching the door knob.
"Together?" Chloe asks softly and there's so much love and support in her eyes that it almost brings her to tears.
Beca nods, blinking to hold her emotions back. She's here as the Queen and a strong front is always required of her in front of her people. But at moments like this, she thanks the heavens for giving her Chloe because certainly, she would have been shattered without her by her side. There is no one better to sit next to her throne but the woman who holds her heart.
They twist the knob and soon the door opens. She scans the room and it's empty, save for a bed, a closet and a small vanity desk but she hears it, the small little hiccups and cries.
Her eyes fall back to the closet which looked ordinary at first but then again a closer look would give away that it isn't as ordinary as it seems.
Du Ponts had always loved secret doors and Stefan was very much a Du Pont when it comes to that.
Her fingers brush the wooden surface until she feels it, the hidden latch right at the side. One push is all it took and air seeps out from inside the small gap. Beca lets out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.
Staying still, she looks back at Chloe and it doesn't take long until she's nodding, understanding what she had to do.
"If you need me, I'll just be right here," she tells Beca who then pulls open the hidden door that would lead her into a secret nursery room.
It's well equipped and well-furnished unlike the simple interior outside. There's a small cushion to sit in, cabinets full with baby clothes and other necessities and the crib itself placed against the wall. Stefan's guitar was placed at a corner, serving as a part of the little music theme of the room. The walls were painted exactly as Beca's own childhood bedroom back in France with all the musical notes scattered beautifully against the brown earthy colors. It was like stepping back in time, to be honest.
She carefully steps towards the crib where the source of those little cries are. Brown hair exactly like her own is the first thing she sees in the middle of soft blankets. She lets out a soft gasp, breathing shakily as she tries to swallow back the sob threatening to escape from her chest.
Cautiously, she reaches down, fingers slowly making contact with very soft cheeks and suddenly the crying ceases. Dark blue eyes pop open, looking up at her and it is enough to knock the air out of her. Tiny fingers reach up, closing and opening until they latch on to her forefinger.
"He looks like you. Exactly like you," she whispers and it's like he's right there with her, alive and still cocky as ever as he lazily perches himself anywhere he wants. Most likely next to the crib, elbow propped up at the edge of the railing.
"He does. Which means he looks like you too," he says with a smirk and she nods.
"Of course,"
"Ah, you saw the garden? Flowers and vegetables, just like you said. There should be more trees so that we can hang up that swing I bought but… well, single parents like Mia don't really have the leisure of time," he straightens up, putting his hands inside his leather jacket pockets and leans his back against the wall.
Beca lets out a small laugh, a memory fresh in her mind, "That was what seven year old Beca said,"
"Why? Does nineteen year old Beca not like it?"
"I'm turning twenty this year," She reminds him before finally admitting, "It's beautiful,"
"Just like him," she adds softly, gazing back down at the baby and Stefan smiles.
He detaches himself from the wall and takes a step towards her, eyes down on his own son as well, "You know, this was how we first met," he says, his face seemingly remembering the moment fondly. "Only that it was you in the crib and me standing where you are standing now,"
She nods, brushing a tear rolling down her cheek until she just lets herself break, "I couldn't save you," she says sadly, voice cracking with the emotions.
"It's not your fault, lovey. I chose that path and I'm sorry that you had to witness it,"
She sobs, her hand coming up to her trembling lips. He steps closer until he leans his head against hers. She closes her eyes reveling in his presence.
"But you can save him," he whispers before motioning over to the corner over to his guitar next to the single cushion seat. "I have something for you,"
Walking over to the instrument, two of its strings now missing due to her own curious hands back when she was a child, she carefully picks the guitar up, the guitar which she thought he had fixed yet there it was, still missing its strings. She tilts it a bit, trying to get a feel of it, holding it as if she were to play it and that's when something white inside the guitar's hole catches her eyes. Slowly, she inspects it before slipping her hand inside, fingers brushing with a single piece of paper. Taking and opening it, she finds words scribbled in Stefan's writing starting with her name on top. Sniffing, she wipes her tears again before glancing up from the single sheet of wrinkled paper.
"What's this?" she weakly asks, turning to him.
"Something I didn't get to tell you when I was alive,"
Her eyes fall down on the letter once more, scanning each and every word again and again. Shock graces her features until all that is left is resolve.
"I love you, Beca,"
The words flow like a gently lullaby yet it claws at her, ripping her heart apart with sadness.
"I promised to myself that I will keep you safe, even after my last breath," he says as he smiles down on his son before reaching out to touch her face. She lightly leans against it.
"A promise is a promise,"
She takes a step closer to the crib, her heart now beating steadily than before as she tenderly picks up her nephew and cradles him in her arms. When she gazes back up, Stefan is looking at her, there's pride in his eyes. It's the same look he gives her when she's picked a place to go in the map and the same one whenever she runs back to him. The same look whenever he offers his hand towards her.
"Protect him with your life," he gently says as she looks down at the yawning baby, apparently feeling comfortable in her arms enough to start sleeping.
Never leaving the sight of such purity and innocence, she whispers softly,
"Always and until the end,"
With those words, she gives him a tender kiss on top of his little head.
It's a solemn promise, an unbreakable vow and a sworn love that will never die.
The first thing she hears when she steps out of the nursery is the gush of adoration Chloe gives when she lays eyes on the baby in her arms. "He's lovely, Becs," she says softly, careful not to wake the sleeping baby as she gently touches his little feet.
However when she continues to make her way out to the door, Chloe's face changes into apparent confusion. "W-Where are you taking him?" she asks. There's a lot more she probably wants to say but it falls dead when Beca stops in front of the weeping Mia who now was kneeling down the floor looking a lot less confident than before. Her eyes filled with fear as she looks up at her and the baby in her arms and she's back to pleading.
"Please, don't take him away from me. He's all I have," she tearfully implores as she begins to move and in an instant every gun is ready and aimed at her.
"Down!" Beca snaps at her soldiers. "My nephew isn't going to be greeted with guns aimed near him," she says, eyes piercing through Gabin's as she tries to maintain her control. The baby in her arms stirs but with one gentle sway continues to sleep peacefully, unaware of the tension surrounding him.
Weapons are immediately disarmed and hidden as they all take a few steps back, giving them space.
"Stand up," she commands Mia who obeys, knees a bit wobbly as she stands.
Beca looks back down at her sleeping nephew, "What did you name him?"
Not getting an immediate answer her eyes switch towards the woman in front of her with a silent command, demanding an answer.
"Stefan," she finally answers unsteadily, voice dry from all the screaming. "We never got to think of a name before… he died and so I—in his memory,"
There's pain in her words and it moves something deep within. It's not hard to think that it's the same pain they both share but Beca doesn't dwell much on it. Instead she brings her focus to the house.
"You need more space," she points out as Mia looked lost for a couple of seconds until Beca adds, "Extend the rooms and some trees where you can hang a swing… for Stefan,"
Mia's face turns hopeful and expectant, her eyes suddenly brimming with life.
"I want you to enroll him in a good school, teach him music, read him good books, teach him to be polite, respectful and friendly, to be confident, to protect and forgive," she kisses his little hand.
"To let him know who his father was and how much he loved him. That I love him and that is why he needs to stay here because this is where he will be safe, away from all those who wish to do him harm. That I will do everything to make sure that one day he can finally come back home and visit the rest of his family in France… because he is a Du Pont,"
Carefully, she gives him back to his mother's arms and there's a tinge of loss as she parts from him. She shakes the heavy feeling away knowing it's all for the best and sticking to the thought that they'd reunite someday. She turns to Chloe finding her eyes glassy and hands over her heart with a reassuring smile.
Moving to leave, she abruptly stops as she catches Mia falling to her knees, looking up at her before bowing down her head, "Thank you, your highness,"
"Just take care of him and love him like he's the only one that matters," she replies.
"I already do, your highness,"
And that's all she really needed to hear.
With Chloe by her side, they walk back to the cars when the redhead suddenly stops, "Oh! I almost forgot something," she gasps before turning to one of Beca's assistants.
She opens the bag for Chloe while Beca watches them curiously. It doesn't take long until she finally gets what the fuss is about when Chloe pulls out Beca's precious stuffed otter and her very own stuffed red panda. Her fiancée turns to her giving her a sheepish look.
"Go," she permits like she doesn't have a choice yet her lips curve up as Chloe grins happily before rushing back to the house.
Seconds later, she's back, attaching herself quickly on Beca's side and looking really satisfied. "Home?" she asks and Beca nods as they continue to walk to their car.
She glances back towards Mia and baby Stefan, in between her hand, a letter in which she holds so tight it crumples almost into a ball, her head now clear as ever.
They leave in a minute, heading back to the airport, Beca's thoughts still stuck to the little house in Fielding. The one where a red panda sits next to an otter by the crib, guarding the sleeping little Du Pont who will one day be dreaming of ships, castles and Queens far away in a place where he proudly calls home.
Council Monthly Meeting at the Round Table.
Corvinn Castle, Romania
Being Queen is like holding the world in your hands. It's not light and yet no matter how weary you are or how exhausting it is, you hold it up in order for it not to break.
Beca wears the crown and sometimes she wonders if it is made of precious stones or thorns. They adorn her with beautiful things everyone would be envious of. If only they understood the lingering thought that this could be it, the dress she would die in. It can't be denied that almost every crowned royalty who has sat in that very throne all died horribly. It's all in the books if anyone dares doubt it.
But above all that, the worst thing of being Queen?
Is looking at a traitor right in the eye without even knowing it.
"Private armies should be abolished," Benjamin, spokesperson for the non-elites declares for the tenth time that day as he stands up from his seat, angry and determined.
"How are we going to be assured that a rebellion as big as what went down on what is known as the Victor Barden massacre won't happen again if these private armies exist," protests suddenly break out but he continues on firmly.
"Oh let's be honest here now, an army that big attacking a university would be easy to hide in the guise of private armies. Private armies which every elite bloodline secretly keeps," he boldly lets out, unafraid to look at all of the leaders from each family in the eye as he says this.
"What? A large group of murderers just appearing out of nowhere doesn't seem strange at all? How is it that they avoided being detected by our best agents for so long? Yes, for so long, because I doubt that they all just decided to get together one night at a bar," he fiercely says, waving his hand in the air to prove his point before simmering down as he looks straight at Beca.
"This is an attack that had went through years and years of planning. Once is enough, too much blood has spilled, too many families lost. We learn through our mistakes and letting this private armies exist is just going to be a repeat of that horrible mistake. It's true they are for protection but they can also lead into our destruction," he implores at her, willing her to take his side as he has been trying to do for these past few weeks. She simply stares at him, eyes not giving anything away, unreadable and cold.
"And what is the basis of this accusation then?" Sorina Niculae pointedly asks. "Are you suggesting that it's our fault that this horrible act has happened?" she says, clearly offended at the insinuation.
"You better come up with something to prove it," Lucas Ortega adds. "Because a case for libel is not far behind if you fail to do so," he says in a foreboding tone.
"Do you deny having a private army?" Benjamin blurts out and the tension rises at this point, clearly not afraid to back down as he looks at every leader sitting around the table. All of them looking like they'd rather be anywhere than here. There's a scoff from the Kumiko Mori as she shakes her head.
"We have a private army," she bluntly says as if it's nothing but everyone knows it's not nothing because in knowing that her son was one of the casualties, she's just about reaching boiling point. "And you think we'd use it against our own children? Our children who we've built these so called armies for their protection. If this is your idea of a morbid joke then you must be mad!" she says lowly, fist clenching on top of the table and eyes dancing from black to red.
"Okay, how about we all calm down and talk about this in a much less hostile manner?" Ivan, Beca's uncle tries to pacify the situation as he raises his hand up to signify a stop to the brewing arguments.
"How about we stop the blaming and get to a more practical solution instead? Moping about the past like bitter little children isn't going to help at all. There have been threats to the crown ever since the ancient ages. Wars have risen through the years because of the power of the throne," Rafaele Vanderbilt finally breaks his silence, his eyes boring at each one before settling at Benjamin's way.
"But despite that here we all are. The crown is safe and the council still intact.
The non-elite visibly swallows under the glare as he sits, finding interest down the table before his eyes dart up directly at Beca.
"I think he is only suggesting that somebody in this room has their eyes set on the crown and has every intention of hiring someone like Stefan Sala to take the blame when it all blows up," Beca's voice breaks the silence, looking right back at Benjamin who subtly nods.
Every head turns to her in shock and indignation. Her crown sits heavy on her heavy at the mention of it. Memories starting to pile in one after the other. Her childhood, her brother, the places they went, the people they met, all forms of evil and darkness, and even Underworld itself. All of it, finally coming full circle.
All these years.
"I've worked under the black flag," she holds her head up, unafraid of being vocal about this part of her past. "I've killed… people,"
Every face flashes in her mind.
"There's a list of them," she continues, "Protect the government under any means necessary by eliminating its enemies, all to be done secretly. Because it's easier that way. No need for legal procedures, rights and jurisdiction. Just get rid of it," she inhales.
"My mistake?" she smiles bitterly. "My ignorance," she lets out a breath of disbelief, disbelief at herself.
"I never bothered wondering exactly why I had to do what I had to do. Why I never thought of knowing who I was really working for only that for every single mission I would complete I would make the world a better place," she shakes her head.
"My father thought the same and now he's gone," she clenches her jaw.
"I never really wanted the crown. I didn't ask for this. I was just angry at everyone, at myself, looking for ways to piss him off and joining this secret organization is my way of going against my dear father. I didn't give a shit about world peace," she smiles sarcastically.
She might lose the crown for this but that doesn't matter anymore. They can do what they want but she's letting it all out tonight.
"I wanted chaos and look at what that did," she mumbles sadly.
"I was blind… but not anymore. Now I know what that list really is all about. Why those people needed to be dealt with," she nods over to Benjamin who snaps his fingers over to his staff. In a minute, black folders containing documents, photos and receipts, some of them belonging to Stefan himself.
"I had enlisted Benjamin's help to compile every single one of those papers," she informs them as she stands up. "Those are documents containing every single under the table transactions, every contact Stefan has at the black market, names of every contact that is on that same list given to us by Underworld. Every evidence that I need to pluck out the weeds secretly growing in my garden,"
She eyes the photo of her brother and vividly remembers the times they spent running around the world.
She remembers the smuggled weapons, all high powered guns and explosives. She remembers one of the nights where she hid inside the bathroom, shaking in fear as her brother stains his hands with blood in order to keep her safe.
"Fuck!" she remembers her brother exclaim in frustration as she obediently sits on the edge of the bed. Her finger bleeding from one of the guitar strings that snapped. It was her brother's favorite guitar.
Her lips had trembled that night. She never wanted him to be disappointed but she had made a mistake and now he is. Stefan loved that guitar and Beca had broken it. Now she regrets ever touching it.
"I'm sorry, Stepy," she had weakly said, the tears starting its descent down her cheeks. She truly was sorry that night.
Her words had made him stop. In seconds he's crossing back to her, kneeling down to level her gaze. She remembered how shaky his hands were and how distracted he looked.
"I'm not mad at you, lovey," he had assured her that night. "I just found about something, something that could be really horrible. So, don't cry now. I can buy another guitar. Now let's get you patched up," he had looked at her wound and frowned at it.
He had wiped her tears and she had launched herself straight at him afterwards, hugging him tightly.
"Beca, listen to me. I have to bring you back home, okay? Our little adventure is over," those words had made her heart drop. She remembers crying so hard and shaking her head because he never said that he was going back with her. That he had to leave and find out about something.
"I'll be good, Stepy. I promise not to do it again,"
But he brought her back home anyway. Because he said that it's too dangerous where he was going and that he was doing it for her but she didn't understand what that meant.
"There are bad people who are starting something really, really bad, Beca. I have to go. I have to find out what exactly it is. If I don't, then soon they will hurt you,"
If she had known that she wouldn't be seeing him in a year after that day, she would've held on to him tighter and never let him leave.
"You have to stay here. You are going to be a Queen. It's the only thing that can you make you untouchable, Beca. And me? I will make sure that the crown is yours and those bad people are going to walk through me first before they take it from you,"
It never really made sense then. But he promised that he would come back and that's the only thing she really understood. Stefan always comes back. Especially when she needed him the most.
"Stefan was only a part of the game, the important chess piece in order for the game master to win and he played the part well," she walks to the side, passing by the Du Ponts and the Ortegas.
"He played it so well that he managed to deceive the mastermind, the person behind it all," she slowly circles around, passing by the non-elites before stopping right at the Moris, a hand over the back of Kumiko's seat.
"My brother," she emphasizes, unashamed of speaking their relation to each other. Because that's the truth, that's who Stefan was and he meant the world to her. "Was a very good deceiver. It was his most excellent skill. I could never surpass him there even if he taught almost all of it to me,"
The faces around the table are now confused and Beca simply lets them try to figure it out. Stefan would've loved to see this moment but he probably already did.
"His deception starts by working for an anonymous billionaire, one who had enough money to grow an army of murderers and purchase weapons, all in secret of course," she starts walking again, passing by the Vanderbilts and stopping right behind the Niculaes. "You'd be surprised to find that every transaction trails up to the same name, a false alias of course but the same source, if you dig deep enough,"
"This anonymous person also happens to secretly fund Underworld's activities. And isn't it strange that through the course of time, some of the agents just disappeared hidden under the reason that they've simply quit, run away and started joining the black market, anything that is labelled illegal," she exhales.
"Or that all these arms dealers and illegal fighting arenas are suddenly being eliminated by the Underworld. Take note, eliminated not even captured! They are all classified as top priority but why? They're all just businessmen in the end. What about the more threatening criminals? Rabid assassins? Those who kill humans because they lack control? Underworld is a secret organization that fights the enemies of the council, the crown and our people," she shakes her head.
The silence around the table is deadly that you could drop a pin and hear it clatter down loudly.
She returns right back behind her seat, arms resting on the back rest. "I'll tell you why. Or better yet, I'll tell you all what my brother told me," she holds out the letter which contains information she now knows by heart.
"Because this anonymous person wants the crown on their head and in order to do that, they need a large army that would come undetected, fighters as brutal as the ones in an illegal fighting ring and assassins as good as Underworld's finest. They needed weapons they could use, weapons that can only be acquired at the black market but of course a large transaction would immediately be detected so they transact with people like Stefan in order to collect a large arsenal of weapons secretly," she pauses, her hand clenching the already wrinkled piece of paper.
"But because my brother was smart he figured out the pattern, he had connections and he knew something was brewing outside the castle gates. He noticed the bread crumbs that were thrown carelessly and followed them. But he couldn't get close to the source so he had to do what he had to do and that is to sign up for the rebellion that was to be executed on that unfortunate night. It took more than ten years, that's how grand this scheme was,"
She starts walking again, slowly circling the table.
"He did it for me," she admits softly, blinking away the sudden blur in her eyes. "My father was a lost cause. They never really had a good relationship anyway. It was my life he wanted to protect," she nods, memories spinning through her mind.
"They were going to kill the heirs. All of them. All except for one," she stops right behind Benjamin.
"It wasn't me," she breathes out. "I was meant to die after coughing up the codes and patterns of the vault. Those were the precise orders. I was to be eliminated among all those next in line because I was going to be Queen and they didn't want that," she smiles in sarcasm.
"But what they didn't know was that the man they put in command was my brother. A brother who would do everything to protect what he loves. It was supposed to go accordingly, wasn't it? Only thing was, they didn't know that he and I were related!" her face goes slack, the truth of his actions and his death weighing heavily on her mind.
"And if they did, they didn't know how much we cared about each other. He hated our father, yes he did. He killed my mother, yes that too. But he loved me and I loved him, even after knowing what he did. I have a lot of crazy in me, maybe, and life is twisted that way sometimes. You don't have to understand. The bottomline is, Stefan had other plans. He had personal reasons and that's what they didn't expect, for things to go south. Trusting him was their mistake," she moves again, walking carefully around towards the Niculaes, fingers tracing along wood.
"Trust no one, that's lesson number one. That the monsters look just like us," her eyes look up from the floor to the people around the table. "And he was right. They walk amongst us, pretending that they are allies when they are the ones who'd stab you once your eyes close,"
She pauses, taking a step back and then another until she stops behind a seat, her hand landing on a shoulder as she leans down "But that stench of betrayal, it's far too strong to hide, no matter how many layers of perfume you try to douse it in, isn't that right?" she whispers near Rafaele's ear. His muscles stiffen under her touch and his jaw clenching.
"What are you trying to insinuate your highness?" he asks in a tone of indignation, turning his head to look at her in the eye.
"That your perfume is too strong, Rafaele,"
The gasps of shock and disbelief fill up the room.
"This is madness! What evidence do you have?" Thomas, sitting next to his father, growls.
"You show respect to your Queen!" Ivan Du Pont's voice booms as Beca's Aunt Yvonne quickly places a hand around his arm to calm him down.
But it's too late to soothe tempers as the Vanderbilts defend their own while the Du Ponts are now enraged at the offense against Beca's actions. The room is filled with more conflict and confusion. All until Benjamin slams down the last card.
A video recording taken from a USB that had been kept in a Switzerland vault under the name, Cabe O. Bridges. Its existence written clearly on the letter Stefan wrote for his sister.
"You will kill all of them except for the one true King, Thomas Vanderbilt. I want them all dead starting with Darius. We both know that we cannot have a mentally deranged man for a King. The official documents that would officially make Thomas King are under that vault. We don't need Darius for the codes. I've been told that his daughter already knows them,"
That silences everyone. Rafaele's voice crackling through the recording.
"And after that?"
Stefan's voice, calm and smooth.
"Kill her. Just as you did to her mother. It wouldn't be so hard for you now, am I right? You're the best in this field and that's why I hired you,"
The recording ends and every head turns towards Rafaele.
"Father?" Thomas looks at him wide-eyed and in disbelief.
"Checkmate," Beca softly mutters.
It only takes a second and a blade from Rafaele's cane swings right towards Beca. It also only takes a second for her to block it with her dagger, the deafening clash of blade against blade echoing around the room. A fight breaks out and Beca's irises flood with red. Security comes in and it's hard to tell who works for who as the battle spreads amongst them as well.
Fangs are bared, swords unsheathed and triggers had been pulled.
Some of the elites are being escorted to safety while some suffer injuries.
Beca blocks another swing and Rafaele pulls his sword back with an angle that enables him to slice through skin. She grunts in pain, her forearm bleeds and the sting is enough to remind her how long she hadn't been in a fight. Rafaele was an expert swordsman after all with tons more experience than her when it comes to that field. It's no surprise how easily he knocks her dagger out of her hands.
Yes, that's his field indeed.
So, Beca shows him the field where she's good at.
He swipes at her and she ducks. He might be bigger and taller but in a fight being small has its advantages like speed. She hits him right at the stomach before tilting her head back hard up to hit him right at the chin. He staggers backwards and she presses her heels at his chest to kick him, sending him bumping against the wall, his sword clattering down the ground as he tries to block Beca's punch.
"There are no swords in the streets, you piece of shit," she says through gritted teeth while Gabin and his team start taking down Rafaele's men.
She hits and he blocks but she outwits him enough to send him crumbling down the ground. He crawls away from her and she follows him, ready to pick him by the collar of his dress shirt and knock him out senseless.
"Snakes you like you don't deserve to be in my kingdom," she say through gritted teeth.
But as soon as he turns to her, in one quick move, he throws black powder at her followed by a sharp blow across her cheek. She falls to the floor, her fingers coming in contact with her dagger while she hears him pick up his sword.
"And dirty bloods like you don't deserve the crown. Your mother is nothing but a pathetic human whore and your father a fool for marrying her!" he lashes out, sword aimed right at her but she rolls out of the way despite her vision still a blur.
She's prepared for it, losing sight isn't a problem. She was trained by the best. Even if she loses a limb or two, she'd still knock an opponent down. This was her expertise.
Survival.
And she was mighty good at it. Good enough to cheat death over and over again.
He keeps aiming at her and she avoids it all just in time. The opportunity soon falls just as Stefan had emphasized all the time, his words floating around her and his presence felt even stronger at times like this.
"Hold on, lovey,"
She positions her dagger, getting ready for that opening. Rafaele swings his sword upwards, both hands tightly holding the handle as he gets ready to pierce the blade down on her. He lifts it high enough and that's it.
She sends her dagger flying with her right hand, a quick flick of her wrist and the perfect angle. It hits him at the center of his chest making him pause. He stares down at it then back at her as if saying that it's not enough. He's not going down without a final blow. He moves at her but stops again at the sound of a gun firing.
Beca looks up at the wound next to the spot where her dagger landed, one single bullet lodged inside his heart. He finally falls to his knees before looking up to the shooter with shock. Beca follows his line of sight. She sees Gabin poised to shoot but with the angle of his gun, it didn't come from him. It came from the person next to him.
"Chlo," Beca murmurs in disbelief.
Tears flow down from baby blue eyes but there's determination in them, one where she knows exactly what her duty is to the crown, where her loyalty lies, and a whole lot of anger, for all the betrayal and the lies that almost cost the life of her most beloved. The redhead lowers her gun, hands visibly shaking.
"Long live the Queen," she firmly says followed by the sound of Rafaele Vanderbilt's body falling down the floor.
"Father!" Thomas anguished cries fill up the space next as he runs to his father's side.
Beca gets up, walking towards her beloved and wrapping her arms around her. Chloe buries herself into her and it reminded Beca of that time they were together in the Winter Forest.
"It's over," she whispers towards Chloe and this time she knows it really is.
Rafaele Vanderbilt is a traitor and the Vanderbilts release a statement regarding how much they detest his actions. They do not share the same beliefs as he did and are ashamed to have been acquainted with somebody like him. Nevertheless, they apologized for being unable to stop the unfortunate Victor Barden massacre. Had they only known of his plans none of it would've happened and how deeply they regret being a failure to the crown and its people. They are willing to cooperate with government in any way possible if need be. It's a blow to their reputation for sure but with a new head of the bloodline, they are hoping for a brighter and better future.
Beca remains as the Queen of Corvinn Castle despite her involvement with Stefan. She had been willing to step down but the council are united in voting that she remain seated on the throne, saying that she bears intelligence of a strong leader, the heart of one who can protect her people and a bringer of positive change for the better. She may be imperfect but these imperfections are what make her real and true.
Stefan is laid to rest in France, in a quiet sanctuary far from the city. A place overlooking the mountains where he and Beca used to go to. He had told her once that that mornings are his favorite part of the day and how he wished Beca could enjoy it. Now, she knows that every morning he'd be looking out at the beautiful sunshine emerging from the hills.
It is there when she finally bids him goodnight.
Nights come and go, they've overcome another hurdle, the school year is coming to an end and here they are, continuously healing and coping. It would take time, that she knows but then with the help of family, it might not take that long.
Family, a word that Beca thought would always be foreign to her but guess life still loves giving her surprises just like the girl in her arms.
Chloe, the love she thought she had lost has now made her presence a permanent stamp in the Du Pont household as she happily chats with the rest of her cousins. Her laughter lights up the whole room and Beca smiles behind her coffee cup at the sound. Sometimes, it all feels like a dream and it does scare her thinking of it, waking up to find that it's not real.
But it is and… she's happy. With everything she had gone through, of all the dark places she found herself in, finally, she's happy. Maybe years ago, she would have scoffed at the idea of it and now she understands. That she had to go through all that to appreciate what she has now, to thank the heavens that she hadn't given up halfway through and continued on no matter how painful.
The harsh memories flood her mind but when Chloe looks her way with those perfect blue eyes and intertwines their hands together it all disappears, forgotten and banished at the back of her head.
The dining table is full and that's all thanks to Stacie who had dragged a reluctant Jesse to help her—because he is the easiest to bully and wouldn't burn anything. The twins are opening another bet about the ending of an upcoming movie—which Beca isn't interested in—and the whole table is arguing about it. Emily is slyly looking at her phone and it's most probably Scott because her lips look like they want to crack into a smile. Stella is taking selfies with her sister and suddenly everyone, except for Beca, wants to be included but ultimately she doesn't have a choice as Chloe pulls her in.
Overall, everything is slowly going back to normal and Beca doesn't admit it out loud but she's glad it is because she's actually missed moments like this.
However, despite the semblance of normalcy, there's a few things she's picking up that worries her. She may be Queen and time spent with her cousins may be limited but when one of them is hurting she would know, no matter how busy she had been.
The chatter shifts to school—more like plans of one last big end of school party, as suggested by Jesse—and now everyone is getting ready for their classes. As it turns out, both she and Chloe don't have classes for the day. Of course they get teasing about having the house all to themselves. Chloe blushes while Beca shuts them all down with a glare and a threatening, 'Get out, all of you' and it doesn't take long until they are all scrambling out of the door.
But before they could all leave, Beca stands to follow them, well, one of them.
"Stace," she calls out as the tall brunette stops in her tracks to look back at her.
With Beca buried in work and not being able to accompany her cousins it was Stacie who had been corralling the noisy little brats. At times it would be Chloe but sometimes—and to Beca's annoyance—the redhead condones the mischief like a parent who always gives in to their rotten children's wishes.
"The answer is no," the taller Du Pont replies before seriously adding, "Don't have sex in my kitchen, no matter how sturdy those gorgeous marble counter tops are,"
A playful smirk appears on Stacie's lips and Beca could only roll her eyes. When the playfulness dies, Beca quickly drops into a much serious tone. She sees through the façade, something is there and Stacie had done such a great job keeping it in.
"Do you want to talk about it?" she asks and Stacie looks at her knowingly with eyes that hold sorrow in them.
Beca's seen this before but something tells her that this feels heavier, something that had been cried about when she sleeps and something that is painful enough for her naturally open cousin to keep from all of them and endure on her own.
The older Conrad shakes her head silently, a thin smile in her lips. Beca appreciates the honesty instead of feigning ignorance. That's really what she loves about Stacie. When it's bad it's bad, no pretending or denying it.
"I'll be okay. Still alive, you know," a chuckle escapes her lips and Beca nods, respecting her decision and figuring that maybe a bit more time is what she needs.
Fresh wounds are hard to talk about.
"When you're ready then. I'm here,"
The taller brunette smiles at this and nods. She moves to leave but stops as she remembers something. "You'll have to fall in line though. Chloe made sure she's first to know,"
"Great, so I've been demoted," Beca mutters and the smirk on her face shows that she doesn't actually mind.
She watches Stacie walk towards the rest of their cousins, head held up as she puts on her red sunglasses and drapes her arm around Stella. They noisily leave, laughter echoing even with the growing distance and Beca sighs. It doesn't take long until a pair of arms snake around her middle from behind and wrap her in warmth.
Soft lips place gentle kisses on her neck and Beca turns around to catch those very lips with her own. When she opens her eyes to dazzling blue and a heart stopping smile. Beca couldn't help whispering words of love only reserved for her beloved.
"So it seems that we have the house to ourselves," Beca murmurs against the crook of Chloe's neck while the redhead hums in satisfaction.
"Because you scared them all into leaving," Chloe says and there's that sultry tone that only Beca has the pleasure of hearing.
Chloe has the innocence of a child but once you flick that switch off she lets out that side of hers, the one that drives Beca crazy, makes her weak and no, it's not a bad thing.
Not if it's Chloe.
They spend half the evening in their bubble of bliss until responsibilities scream at them and soon Beca's back to being the Queen. They've migrated to her office, freshly showered and busying themselves, Beca with her paperwork and Chloe with her laptop.
By now Jesse, Emily and Stella have made it back from their classes. The house now starting to fill up with the usual music and a cluttering of some sort coming from one of the rooms. It's still peaceful compared to when the twins are home until a knock comes at the door.
Nobody really knocks at Beca's office because usually she's in a bad mood dealing with people's shit all day and no one wants to get in the way of that. So, whoever this was and whatever the concern is must be extremely important.
"Enter," Beca distractedly says from her table while Chloe continues to type away some required essay paper on the sofa.
Jesse's head pops in the room but when no one looks up at him, he proceeds to speak, "You have a visitor," he says and this time Chloe looks up, eyes widening as she realizes that he is speaking to her.
"Who?" Beca hears her ask, disbelief in her tone.
After moving in the Du Pont residences, the only people that she really surrounds herself with are Beca and her cousins thus the surprise.
Jesse seems a bit fidgety and finally Beca looks up to see the usually most relaxed member of the Du Pont household looking serious as ever.
"It's better if you just meet… her and uhm," he then looks at Beca uncertainly, "She also requests an audience with you too," he says, seemingly quoting the person's own words and very formal at that too.
Suddenly, Beca doesn't really have a good feeling about this.
They both head downstairs, making their way to the garden where this mysterious visitor waits. But as soon as Chloe catches the shade of blonde, she gasps and hurries over to the girl.
"Bree!"
Jesse's discomfort finally makes sense and Beca wonders what Aubrey Posen would want from her. She guesses it's something political she needs to sign or a campaign for charity that she has to support because what else could it be?
Keeping herself back, she watches as Chloe launches herself at Aubrey and hugs her tightly. The sight clenches at her heart because she knows how close they are and how much her fiancée misses her family.
"What are you doing here?" Chloe says in wonder and happiness before it turns to concern. "Somebody might see you,"
Her words make Beca clench her fists because it makes her angry how badly Chloe had been easily discarded and shunned. That it's cruel to think that even her relatives aren't allowed to come to her lest they want to share the same fate. That even as she wears the crown, disputes and issues within a bloodline is something she cannot touch—unless a murder is involved.
"No, it's okay," Aubrey shakes her head before turning her focus towards Beca, courteously giving a bow in greeting.
"That's actually part of what I want to address right now," she begins as Beca steps forward, feeling like she needed to hear this one.
"With all the recent events that had happened," she swallows hard and Beca doesn't miss the way Chloe's shoulders sag.
"The elders had met and talked about having to take Thomas' right to be heir. He's been quite… unstable these past few weeks and seeking solace back in Italy," she slowly says and really, Beca isn't surprised. Rumors of the Thomas Vanderbilt succumbing to depression and bursts of insanity have been circulating these days.
Aubrey lifts her head up, now looking more confident, "Which is why I'm here today," and before she could explain further, Chloe beats her to it.
"You're the new heir!" she bursts out before lowering down into a much solemn tone. "And the Vanderbilts will be in good hands. There's nobody more deserving of that seat than you,"
With this news, Aubrey would ultimately be a part of the council and Beca may not have a smooth relationship with the Vanderbilts but at least this was much better than before. Chloe trusts Aubrey and that means Beca knows that she can be a good addition to the table.
Just as soon as she thought of this Aubrey proves it to be true.
"Which also means that your disownment has now been revoked," she breathes out with a smile towards Chloe. "I made sure it was the first thing I'd fix. It was unfair and unjust. We missed you, Chlo," the blonde says sincerely and Beca instantly feels the intense range of emotions out of Chloe.
The redhead bursts out in happy tears as she hugs Aubrey one more time before turning to Beca, her face beaming as she runs back into her arms. She wraps Chloe in a hug.
"We can get married now, Becs," she hears Chloe say over and over again.
However… something's still not right.
She looks up the older Vanderbilt and her heart falls at the lack of joy she sees. There's guilt and hesitation which Beca could clearly see having years training in studying people's expressions. It's as if she was about to change that happiness Chloe feels into the opposite.
It's as if…
"What's the catch?" she demands in a voice filled with dread, defenses hiking up despite the initial news.
Chloe stills in her arms before slowly detaching herself from Beca and looking back at Aubrey, holding her breath as the new head of the Vanderbilt house takes out a letter which by now both of them hate the sight of.
It looks exactly like the one that they received about the invalidity of their union even if they were to be soulmates, Vanderbilt symbol and all.
"Bree, what is it?" Chloe asks and it's painful to hear the fear in her voice.
Aubrey hands it over to Beca who cautiously opens it, words spilling in front of her eyes and in a few moments her face hardens.
"No, I won't allow it," she says in low voice, the struggle for control clearly audible while Chloe takes the letter from her hands and reads it herself, shaking her head in denial.
Aubrey, on the other hand maintains composure as she stands in front of them, "With Chloe being recognized as a Vanderbilt once more, there a terms to be met regarding this union from two powerful families that…" she pauses, choosing her words carefully.
"That has never happened before due to the unfortunate dispute, a dispute that should've been settled centuries ago and so, we've come to the agreement that—"
"No," Beca objects strongly. "I won't allow this!"
Chloe whips her head up at her with the sudden rise of her voice before turning to Aubrey.
"Bree, there has to be another way we can settle this," she softly pleads and Aubrey couldn't seem to look her in the eye at first before gathering her strength to do.
"I'm sorry Chlo. This is the best I can do," she firmly says before facing a fuming Beca once more.
"This is the only option we can give. Forgive me, your highness, but it's either the noble house of Du Pont agrees to it or we take back what is ours instead," she says, eyes falling over to Chloe.
"It's part of the law regarding royal unions and believe me, it's the only way to surely end this stupid war between our families,"
Beca shakes her head before snatching the paper from Chloe's hands. "I love Chloe and I also want to tear down that wall between our families, make no mistake about it. The heavens may fall but I will never agree to this!" Beca says furiously, shaking in anger as she throws the paper away and makes her way back inside the manor, passing by her stunned cousins.
Chloe follows her after a few minutes and as soon as the door of their room closes behind them, Beca tiredly hangs her head, fingers massaging her temples.
"Becs," Chloe softly says and when their eyes meet, Beca tries to say something, an apology or whatever only for Chloe to beat her to it.
"I understand. I've been there before, having given no choice at all. I will not make you choose. I would never,"
"Chlo, I'll fix this, okay? I will not let them take you away from me. I'll find a way," Beca finally speaks as Chloe pulls her close, embracing her and sinking into her arms.
"We. We will find a way,"
Stacie trudges back to the manor just before the sun rises. Her class ended hours ago yet going home and locking up in her room didn't seem like a good idea. She's done that for about a month now and it has even Beca concerned. So, after hours of wandering around aimlessly, trying to fall back into her usual routine, she gives up and heads home.
There was a party she had been invited to but twenty minutes in and she's out. Alcohol and sex couldn't help her. Also, the dancing is only making her feel worse. So she killed time watching the volleyball practices, hanging up at rooftops and playing games at the arcade. She'd choose the library if only it doesn't remind her of memories she's replayed in her head a million times now.
It's still a win though. She's made it to class and occupied herself with things she couldn't bring herself to do a month ago.
Now she just wants to curl back in bed and sleep. She's decided to take it one step at a time, slowly but surely. She doesn't have classes tomorrow so she plans to pack up her stuff since they are all headed back to France next week for the summer and maybe a change of scenery is what she really needs.
If only the week just speeds up.
Entering the manor, she was about to yell a greeting when she notes the lack of screaming and laughing which is very strange if you are walking into a Du Pont house. At this time, everyone should be eating at the table and everyone knows how messy that could be. Certainly not this kind of silence where she could only catch soft hushed voices making the atmosphere gloomy.
"I'm home!" She calls out, making her way to the dining area where, much to her surprise, all her cousins are to be found.
What's even more alarming is how depressing they all look. Chloe looks up at her arrival and those sad baby blues are enough to make her mourn.
She already feels like shit and having everyone feeling like shit is not helping her.
"Mon dieu! Have we run out of our blood supply?" she dramatically exclaims which should start all the snorting and groaning but all she gets is… nothing.
Nothing but silence.
"Alright, so just words then. We've… run out of words," she says, her voice faltering as the atmosphere remains just as it is, gloomy.
"C'mon guys, is this a prank? 'Cause I'm not enjoying it even if that's the goal of a prank,"
Stacie hates gloomy. It stresses her out and gives her migraines.
"Stace," Chloe weakly says and suddenly her sister, Stella, rushes to hug her.
That's when it dawns on her that something is really, really wrong. Stella doesn't do hugs publicly. She's affectionate with Stacie with the two of them being close but most of the time their form of affection is usually a fond side hug or playful shoving. And now her sister is crying and Stacie doesn't understand why. It's already becoming frustrating.
But before she could scream for an answer, Beca, who is standing still in a corner sighs heavily and speaks up.
"Stace, I need to talk to you. Now," her tone is grave and she already expects the worse.
Gently prying Stella's arms off of her with assurances that she'd be back and that whatever it is isn't something to cry about.
Maybe she spoke too soon but she's always been someone who finds ways to turn things into something positive. If she can make shirt stained with watercolors look cool then she can turn anything to her favor.
"What's wrong?" she asks the minute she and Beca get some privacy in Beca's office.
Her cousin hesitates for a moment, composing her thoughts before finally letting them be known, "Chloe has been welcomed back to her family. She's now recognized as a Vanderbilt again,"
"That's great! That means the wedding is happening and that she's going to be your Queen! So, what's with the dark clouds outside?" she motions to the door with her fingers.
Beca's serious expression doesn't lighten up however and she feels like there's something she's not placing together.
Because of course, it's all too easy and anything regarding the crown is never easy, that, she's learned from Beca herself.
Her cousin glances down at a crumpled letter on her table, "Given our family's history, this marriage will mark the union of two rival families for the first time,"
Beca finally lifts her head up to look at her, "Chloe is going to be a Du Pont so they demand that we give them one of our own as a symbol of friendship and a promise of a stronger union between families,"
"Quoi?! That's stupid! Are we like goods to be exported now? Surely, their meaning of friendship is far from ours—or from everyone else, to be honest. And if we decline?" she asks, imagining just how horrible it is, to marry someone without love.
The answer is already obvious in Beca's face and Stacie shakes her head in disbelief.
"Of course, they'd do that," she sighs before a thought comes to mind. "This is how they get back at us, isn't it? Making us suffer,"
"They gave a name," Beca breaks her silence. "The Du Pont they want," she explains at Stacie's confused look.
And that's when it finally dawns on her, what it all means, what everyone seems to weighing in their minds about. Her legs suddenly feel weak and her stomach twisting badly.
"Who… who did…"
Beca looks away and the world is spinning.
"It's me," she mumbles in realization. "It's me they want, isn't it?" she says quietly as her eyes fall to the paper in Beca's desk, the words written beautifully as opposed to the message it bears.
From where she stands, all she could clearly make out were those big bold letters.
Anastacia Cerise Conrad.
Author's Note:
Joyeux anniversaire à mon amour, Anna Kendrick !
Or
Happy Birthday Anna Kendrick!
It must be fate that I literally finished writing on her birthday and because it's this sweetheart's day of birth I'm on festive mood and high on something (sugar and some seasonings from that baked chicken). In short, I'm tired but so very happy... which has always been a good combination. You're living life if you are tired and happy, darlings ;)
And oh god, this chapter is long! And wtf the next chapter is just as long!
Revelations everywhere. Stefan coming back to haunt the real dickswab and kick him right where it hurts! Protecting his sister even in the after life. Chloe is so good at aiming Mister Dickswab like, damn! Beca always following her love's orders. Queen Beca fighting in her Louboutins and Chanel gown is the definition of classy. And a baby Du Pont! How cute is that? Cabe O. Bridges certainly finds it cute.
Shit! The title isn't part of the lyrics anymore because I ran out of lyrics!
But really, it is about waiting in between worlds now.
Stacie Conrad in exchange for Chloe Beale? Aphrodite's problematic child is hanging in between happy and miserable. This is about to get bloody, sweaty and tearful. The Vanderbilts aren't making it easy for the Du Ponts at all. How is this going to end? (It ends in a period)
These are officially the last few chapters. Hold on tight, loves.
