Chapter 13 - The Entrapment
By: Lady_of_Silver (ExpressoHyper on ff.net, Cappuchino_Princezz
on AI, and ExpressoHyper on FL
expressoncream@hotmail.com
****************************************************************
Her sad blue eyes stared out the raindrop streaked windows
of her bedroom as she wished for something to do. The past
month that she had been living with Darien's parents she
had had all the time in the world to herself. When Darien
visited she sometimes feigned sickness, and others she
tried to pass as asleep. She had not the will to get up
in the mornings and spent most of her time there, reading
or staring out the window. Occasionally, maybe once every
two weeks, her friends would visit her and try to cheer
her up. She put on a happy smile and strong front, but
they knew she was miserable.
Storm season was rolling in, and she felt as if she
was truly standing out in the freezing weather. Goosebumps
covered her skin, yet she was oddly at peace. It was no
mystery that she had lost quite a substantial amount
of weight. They had all commented on it, except for
Martha, who seemed to be annoyed with her mere presence
in a room. For days on end she would not see the woman
who gazed at her with pure hatred when she thought
Serenity was not looking. A pale slim hand lifted
from the folds of pale green cloth and pressed against
the cold glass.
"I wish I was home." A tear streaked down her thin
face and dripped off onto her dress. Hearing a soft knock
on her door she quickly wiped her face dry and turned towards
it as the door opened and a person entered. To her horror,
it was Darien. His smile faded quickly and he hurried over
to envelope her in a gentle hug.
'She's a lot thinner than the last time I saw her.
But, then again, it was over a week ago.' he mused as he
brought her to her feet.
"Sere, how I've missed you." he pulled her into another
hug. She remained still and didn't speak. He moved away slightly
to pear up at her face. "Serenity, is there something the
matter?" At his questioning tone she turned her face up to
look at him and managed a soft smile. She opened her mouth
but coldn't muster the courage to tell him about his mother.
"No, Darien, everything is fine." with that, she
pulled farther away from him. However, she couldn't not
hide the feelings that screamed of how miserable she was.
He took it for homesickness.
"Sere, I do wish you could come home, but it's not
safe. You run the risk of being killed if you come back
to live with me." She weakly put distance between them and
turned away from him.
"And if I stay here, I will die." she couldn't stop
the words from leaving her mouth.
"What do you mean?" She found herself back in his
arms and face to face with him. She couldn't stand it any
longer. Tears fell freely from her eyes as she spilled
the story of how she lived while she stayed with his
parents. Of how cruel his mother was to her.
Afterwards, she took in the set jaw and narrowed
eyes of her husband and threw her arms around him in a
feeble attempt to stop him as he began to march from the
room. He yielded for the sole reason of not hurting her.
Realizing that she was clinging to his waist trying to hold
him back he managed a slight smile and swept her up into
his arms so that he was holding her princess style.
(AN: oh how I do love hints)
"Serenity, calm yourself. It's not like you to act
so oddly. I realize that leaving you here was not the best
thing for you. A message came for you yesterday, from your
father. Your mother is very sick, Serenity, and she has
requested your presence at her bedside."
"Then I shall go to her. Oh Darien, I have to go to
her." her hands clutched his black coat. He covered her hands
with his.
"With all that she's done to you? Serena, don't be
a fool." his tone was harsh and she pulled back, frightened.
"W-what do you mean?" 'Oh my, what is he talking about?
He couldn't possibly know.' she played innocent and confused.
He didn't buy it.
"Serenity, don't play dumb. I saw you both in the
gardens the night our engagement was announced." he held
his hand up to her face and caressed her cheek. "The way
she spoke to you, pulled you hair, made you fall. Serenity,
that woman is crueler than you claim my mother is." Her eyes
intently gazed into his, but she was adamnant in going to
see Isabella for the soul reason of leaving this house
and the company of Martha Franklin.
"Darien Endymoin Franklin, you speak such ill words
towards her. If it were your mother, even now, I would still
go to her, as would you. blood is thicker than the gold bands
and love that hold us together. When I was a little girl,
my mother told me that when it came her dieing day, she had
something very important to tell me, and if she didn't tell
me, no one ever would. Now, I need to find out what she has
so desperately keepen a secret for so long."
"Then I'll go with you." he responded.
"And have you lost or worse, killed, in that mad maze
that I called home? I dare not even think of such a thing."
"Serenity-"
"I'm going, Darien. I'll find someway to go to her.
No matter what. She's my mother, Darien, and no matter what
you do to try to stop me, I will go home." her words were
reinforced with amazing strength and he found himself in
awe of her once more, like he had been before he had married
her. He opened his mouth, intending to refuse, but the words
wouldn't form and so he closed it, seeing how he cuold have
been catching flies, and nodded in surrender. Her arms where
immediately woven around his neck. "Thank you." she whispered.
The next day, a trunk had been packed for her stay
with her ill mother and ageing father, and Darien personally
escorted her to her family mansion. Tall and looming, it
was near sunset when they reached the iron gates of her
estate. Thick raindrops splattered against the windows
of the carriage as the dark clouds hung over the large
house. A chill made it's way through Serenity and she
shivered. The air smelt of sickness and unhappiness.
It churned her stomache and made her mouth go dry.
'Maybe I'm too late.'
Ignoring Darien's protests, as soon as the
carriage was brought to an abrupt hault, she lept
from ther contraption and scampered towards the large
wooden doors. Banging on the brass knocker it opened
slowly revealing the butler. With a hasty greeting
Serenity threw him her coat and tore up the carpet
on her mad dash to her mother's suit. Not even taking
the time to hold the railings or her skirts as she
ascended the massive whinding staircase, she easily
avoided any floorboards that set off boobytraps
and other tricks. Her heart pounding, she raced on,
the french doors of her mother's room just at the end
of the hallway. When she reached them, she settled
herself and smoothed out her dress before knocking.
The handle turned slowly and the door creaked open.
A pale, sickly, face housing even sicker looking
eyes looked her over before the doors slowly opened to
allow her entry. She entered and the doors shut.
"I came as quick as I could, Mother. Are you
alright?" Serenity obediently helped Isabella to her
bed and adjusted her pillows so she was comfortable.
Isabella smiled slightly and then patted Serenity's
hand.
"Dear Serenity, you are far too good to me.
I've made your life miserable, seduced your father,
and managed to marry you off. How is it that you
cannot be cruel to me?" At Serenity's blank look
she continuted. "Serenity, I think by now you've
noticed that we look nothing alike. Our appearances
and even our minds are as different as oil and water."
she paused to catch her breath, which had been slipping
away from her little by little as the days dragged on.
"I'm not your real mother." she waited until Serenity
gasped to continue. "Her real name was Serenity
BonVagen. She was the princess of France and soul heir
to the kingdom of France. When I die, you will be
transported there to live with your grandparents. I
know this is a lot to take in, but Serenity, you have
to believe me." Isabella's voice was weak and full
of pleading. "Your mother was kidnapped. They found her
body three-" tears choked her but she pressed on. "three
weeks later. You were only one years old. Your father was
heartbroken. I had been visiting my family for the week
and met him at one of the parties his friend had thrown.
I lived in America, and was on a tour of Europe with my
friends. Your father's soul was shattered, and when I
set eyes upon you, I knew you'd grown up without much
love if your father had never healed. I know I've done
a terrible job, but I had hoped to give you a sense of
family devotion that my parents instilled in me. Your
mother, from the way that everyone talked about her, was
a wonderful woman, graceful, beautiful, and the exact
opposite of me. I resented the fact that while I raised
you, you grew more beautiful than I and even at the young
age of fourteen, was turning more heads than I ever had."
Serenity had remained silent as Isabella spoke.
"Does Jason know?" her voice was low.
"Yes. From the time he could understand he's
known. I had no choice but to send him off when I
caught him looking at you one time. Half brother
and sisters. He loves you as much as a brother could
love his sister, though." A tear slipped from Isabella's
green eyes. "Oh Serenity, could you ever find it in your
heart to forgive me?" she looked up at Serenity with fear
and hope mixed together. She found herself in Serenity's
gentle hold. The soft blue silk Serenity's dress was made
out of, resting against her cheek.
"Of course, Mother. Of course I do." Serenity's
own tears squeezed through her tightly shut lids. "But-
but what will happen now? Why is there someone after
me? They tried to kill me."
"Serenity, have you visited Martha and George
recently?" Isabella's hold on Serenity grew tighter.
"I live with them, mother. Oh Martha hates me!
I think she wishes me death."
"Serenity, you musn't go back there. She does
wish you death. She has hired an assasin. The man that
attacked you awhile back was one of her henchmen. Be
careful Serenity. Quick, help me up and into my robe.
We must tell your father and have him contact your
grandparents. You are going to France at once!" Isabella's
thin form struggled to get up. Serenity assisted her and
soon they were both downstairs and on their way to Klyde's
den. Serenity wasted not a minute before throwing the
doors open and helping Isabella in. Darien and Klyde
looked up. They had been engaged in a serious conversation.
"Serenity, Isabella, to what do we owe this surprise?"
As soon as Isabella was sitting in a chair she spun on her
father.
"How oculd you keep something like that from me for
so long?! My own mother a kidnapped French princess?!" she
exploded. Darien was at her side in an instant.
"Serenity, my love, you're dilusional." his hands
closed over her shoulders.
"Release me, Darien. I know what I'm talking about,
and so does my father." she twisted away from him. He threw
his arms around her waist as she lunged for her father.
"Darien, let her go, it's alright. She she said was
the truth." with a sigh, Klyde settled himself into his desk
chair and motioned for Serenity to sit aswell.
"Sir?" Darien was confused to say the least.
"Father, how could you? My own birthright? You denied
me my own title? I mean, I never knew my biological mother's
parents. And all those talks of how important family is to you.
All false." Darien led her to the leather couch.
"Serenity, I had hoped for Isabella and I were going
to tell you when you were younger, but the time was never
right. Settle down, Serenity. And I'll tell you the whole
story."
"But I should have heard it a long time ago! Fooling
me into believing Isabella was my mother and having me live
a life I was never born to live." at the angry expression
on her father's face she paused only momentarily and began
again. "Denying me my rightful thrown and inheritence. Were
you jealous, father? Is that it? Forcing me to live the life
of a businessman's daughter when I'm a princess since the
day I was born? The last laugh will be on you, for I intend
to leave this place and meet my other family, that I never
knew I had."
"Now wait just a minute there. You are talking nothing
but nonsense. Before your mother disappeared, we agreed that
you would be sheltered from the harshness of royalty and live
a normal life. Your mother knew how it was to grow up in that
palace and didn't want that life for you when you had another
future waiting." Serenity slipped from Darien's strong hold
and was standing over her father as he sat in his chair.
"What was she like?" her blue eyes were begging for
information and they stared at Klyde with an uncertainty and
innocence that seemed to mock him. She had her mother's eyes,
and everytime she looked at him, it was like he was seeing
his wife again.
"You look just like her." he said after a minute, his
words coming in a sigh. She fell into a chair that was behind
her, listening intently to what he was going to say. "Her name,
was Serenity BonVagen. The daughter of Richard and Julliette
BonVagen, king and queen of France. I was visiting the country
on business and we met in a little cafe. She had snuck away
from her rooms and had decided to come to the city, we were
in Paris at the time, to enjoy the simple life. Needless to
say, her silver hair stood out and she was recognised
immediately upon taking off her hood. She had eyes as blue
as yours and skin was soft and lightly tanned. Her beauty
radiated and turned heads from meters away. She was a
true lady." he paused and wiped away a tear. "Oh, how
I loved her so." he seemed to be lost in his own little
world and Serenity immediately found pity for the poor
man she had called her father.
"I'm sorry, father. I didn't mean to-" he waved
his hand for her to stop.
"Nonsense. I shouldn't have kept it from you. As
you wish, you will be sent to France tomorrow. Your
grandparents have been anxious to meet you for quite
some time. I've kept you hidden for far too long."
With that Darien stood. All eyes turned to him and
Serenity suddenly rememebered that he was in the room
with them.
"Darien I-"
"You'll be safe there." he interrupted her. His
thoughts were mixed up and tangled in knots from the
information he had just heard. A smile spread across
his lips and he kneeled at the side of her chair.
"This means you and I are really married. Now England
and France can unite finally."
"What are you talking about?" Klyde asked,
confused.
"I'm the prince of England, sir. I was supposed
to only marry a princess. I broke the laws but no one
knew. Oh, my guilt is gone!" he hugged Serenity tightly
to him and rose to his feet, her body still held tightly
in his arms.
"We're not out of the water yet." came the voice
of Isabella. They turned to her. "Martha will strike
again." with that, a crash of thunder and a streak of
lightening caused them all to jump.
"The question is when." Serenity completed, her
face contorting with fear. Another streak of lightning
was seen through the window and then the room went pitch
black, like the nightsky that had befallen upon them.
*********************************************************
By: Lady_of_Silver (ExpressoHyper on ff.net, Cappuchino_Princezz
on AI, and ExpressoHyper on FL
expressoncream@hotmail.com
****************************************************************
Her sad blue eyes stared out the raindrop streaked windows
of her bedroom as she wished for something to do. The past
month that she had been living with Darien's parents she
had had all the time in the world to herself. When Darien
visited she sometimes feigned sickness, and others she
tried to pass as asleep. She had not the will to get up
in the mornings and spent most of her time there, reading
or staring out the window. Occasionally, maybe once every
two weeks, her friends would visit her and try to cheer
her up. She put on a happy smile and strong front, but
they knew she was miserable.
Storm season was rolling in, and she felt as if she
was truly standing out in the freezing weather. Goosebumps
covered her skin, yet she was oddly at peace. It was no
mystery that she had lost quite a substantial amount
of weight. They had all commented on it, except for
Martha, who seemed to be annoyed with her mere presence
in a room. For days on end she would not see the woman
who gazed at her with pure hatred when she thought
Serenity was not looking. A pale slim hand lifted
from the folds of pale green cloth and pressed against
the cold glass.
"I wish I was home." A tear streaked down her thin
face and dripped off onto her dress. Hearing a soft knock
on her door she quickly wiped her face dry and turned towards
it as the door opened and a person entered. To her horror,
it was Darien. His smile faded quickly and he hurried over
to envelope her in a gentle hug.
'She's a lot thinner than the last time I saw her.
But, then again, it was over a week ago.' he mused as he
brought her to her feet.
"Sere, how I've missed you." he pulled her into another
hug. She remained still and didn't speak. He moved away slightly
to pear up at her face. "Serenity, is there something the
matter?" At his questioning tone she turned her face up to
look at him and managed a soft smile. She opened her mouth
but coldn't muster the courage to tell him about his mother.
"No, Darien, everything is fine." with that, she
pulled farther away from him. However, she couldn't not
hide the feelings that screamed of how miserable she was.
He took it for homesickness.
"Sere, I do wish you could come home, but it's not
safe. You run the risk of being killed if you come back
to live with me." She weakly put distance between them and
turned away from him.
"And if I stay here, I will die." she couldn't stop
the words from leaving her mouth.
"What do you mean?" She found herself back in his
arms and face to face with him. She couldn't stand it any
longer. Tears fell freely from her eyes as she spilled
the story of how she lived while she stayed with his
parents. Of how cruel his mother was to her.
Afterwards, she took in the set jaw and narrowed
eyes of her husband and threw her arms around him in a
feeble attempt to stop him as he began to march from the
room. He yielded for the sole reason of not hurting her.
Realizing that she was clinging to his waist trying to hold
him back he managed a slight smile and swept her up into
his arms so that he was holding her princess style.
(AN: oh how I do love hints)
"Serenity, calm yourself. It's not like you to act
so oddly. I realize that leaving you here was not the best
thing for you. A message came for you yesterday, from your
father. Your mother is very sick, Serenity, and she has
requested your presence at her bedside."
"Then I shall go to her. Oh Darien, I have to go to
her." her hands clutched his black coat. He covered her hands
with his.
"With all that she's done to you? Serena, don't be
a fool." his tone was harsh and she pulled back, frightened.
"W-what do you mean?" 'Oh my, what is he talking about?
He couldn't possibly know.' she played innocent and confused.
He didn't buy it.
"Serenity, don't play dumb. I saw you both in the
gardens the night our engagement was announced." he held
his hand up to her face and caressed her cheek. "The way
she spoke to you, pulled you hair, made you fall. Serenity,
that woman is crueler than you claim my mother is." Her eyes
intently gazed into his, but she was adamnant in going to
see Isabella for the soul reason of leaving this house
and the company of Martha Franklin.
"Darien Endymoin Franklin, you speak such ill words
towards her. If it were your mother, even now, I would still
go to her, as would you. blood is thicker than the gold bands
and love that hold us together. When I was a little girl,
my mother told me that when it came her dieing day, she had
something very important to tell me, and if she didn't tell
me, no one ever would. Now, I need to find out what she has
so desperately keepen a secret for so long."
"Then I'll go with you." he responded.
"And have you lost or worse, killed, in that mad maze
that I called home? I dare not even think of such a thing."
"Serenity-"
"I'm going, Darien. I'll find someway to go to her.
No matter what. She's my mother, Darien, and no matter what
you do to try to stop me, I will go home." her words were
reinforced with amazing strength and he found himself in
awe of her once more, like he had been before he had married
her. He opened his mouth, intending to refuse, but the words
wouldn't form and so he closed it, seeing how he cuold have
been catching flies, and nodded in surrender. Her arms where
immediately woven around his neck. "Thank you." she whispered.
The next day, a trunk had been packed for her stay
with her ill mother and ageing father, and Darien personally
escorted her to her family mansion. Tall and looming, it
was near sunset when they reached the iron gates of her
estate. Thick raindrops splattered against the windows
of the carriage as the dark clouds hung over the large
house. A chill made it's way through Serenity and she
shivered. The air smelt of sickness and unhappiness.
It churned her stomache and made her mouth go dry.
'Maybe I'm too late.'
Ignoring Darien's protests, as soon as the
carriage was brought to an abrupt hault, she lept
from ther contraption and scampered towards the large
wooden doors. Banging on the brass knocker it opened
slowly revealing the butler. With a hasty greeting
Serenity threw him her coat and tore up the carpet
on her mad dash to her mother's suit. Not even taking
the time to hold the railings or her skirts as she
ascended the massive whinding staircase, she easily
avoided any floorboards that set off boobytraps
and other tricks. Her heart pounding, she raced on,
the french doors of her mother's room just at the end
of the hallway. When she reached them, she settled
herself and smoothed out her dress before knocking.
The handle turned slowly and the door creaked open.
A pale, sickly, face housing even sicker looking
eyes looked her over before the doors slowly opened to
allow her entry. She entered and the doors shut.
"I came as quick as I could, Mother. Are you
alright?" Serenity obediently helped Isabella to her
bed and adjusted her pillows so she was comfortable.
Isabella smiled slightly and then patted Serenity's
hand.
"Dear Serenity, you are far too good to me.
I've made your life miserable, seduced your father,
and managed to marry you off. How is it that you
cannot be cruel to me?" At Serenity's blank look
she continuted. "Serenity, I think by now you've
noticed that we look nothing alike. Our appearances
and even our minds are as different as oil and water."
she paused to catch her breath, which had been slipping
away from her little by little as the days dragged on.
"I'm not your real mother." she waited until Serenity
gasped to continue. "Her real name was Serenity
BonVagen. She was the princess of France and soul heir
to the kingdom of France. When I die, you will be
transported there to live with your grandparents. I
know this is a lot to take in, but Serenity, you have
to believe me." Isabella's voice was weak and full
of pleading. "Your mother was kidnapped. They found her
body three-" tears choked her but she pressed on. "three
weeks later. You were only one years old. Your father was
heartbroken. I had been visiting my family for the week
and met him at one of the parties his friend had thrown.
I lived in America, and was on a tour of Europe with my
friends. Your father's soul was shattered, and when I
set eyes upon you, I knew you'd grown up without much
love if your father had never healed. I know I've done
a terrible job, but I had hoped to give you a sense of
family devotion that my parents instilled in me. Your
mother, from the way that everyone talked about her, was
a wonderful woman, graceful, beautiful, and the exact
opposite of me. I resented the fact that while I raised
you, you grew more beautiful than I and even at the young
age of fourteen, was turning more heads than I ever had."
Serenity had remained silent as Isabella spoke.
"Does Jason know?" her voice was low.
"Yes. From the time he could understand he's
known. I had no choice but to send him off when I
caught him looking at you one time. Half brother
and sisters. He loves you as much as a brother could
love his sister, though." A tear slipped from Isabella's
green eyes. "Oh Serenity, could you ever find it in your
heart to forgive me?" she looked up at Serenity with fear
and hope mixed together. She found herself in Serenity's
gentle hold. The soft blue silk Serenity's dress was made
out of, resting against her cheek.
"Of course, Mother. Of course I do." Serenity's
own tears squeezed through her tightly shut lids. "But-
but what will happen now? Why is there someone after
me? They tried to kill me."
"Serenity, have you visited Martha and George
recently?" Isabella's hold on Serenity grew tighter.
"I live with them, mother. Oh Martha hates me!
I think she wishes me death."
"Serenity, you musn't go back there. She does
wish you death. She has hired an assasin. The man that
attacked you awhile back was one of her henchmen. Be
careful Serenity. Quick, help me up and into my robe.
We must tell your father and have him contact your
grandparents. You are going to France at once!" Isabella's
thin form struggled to get up. Serenity assisted her and
soon they were both downstairs and on their way to Klyde's
den. Serenity wasted not a minute before throwing the
doors open and helping Isabella in. Darien and Klyde
looked up. They had been engaged in a serious conversation.
"Serenity, Isabella, to what do we owe this surprise?"
As soon as Isabella was sitting in a chair she spun on her
father.
"How oculd you keep something like that from me for
so long?! My own mother a kidnapped French princess?!" she
exploded. Darien was at her side in an instant.
"Serenity, my love, you're dilusional." his hands
closed over her shoulders.
"Release me, Darien. I know what I'm talking about,
and so does my father." she twisted away from him. He threw
his arms around her waist as she lunged for her father.
"Darien, let her go, it's alright. She she said was
the truth." with a sigh, Klyde settled himself into his desk
chair and motioned for Serenity to sit aswell.
"Sir?" Darien was confused to say the least.
"Father, how could you? My own birthright? You denied
me my own title? I mean, I never knew my biological mother's
parents. And all those talks of how important family is to you.
All false." Darien led her to the leather couch.
"Serenity, I had hoped for Isabella and I were going
to tell you when you were younger, but the time was never
right. Settle down, Serenity. And I'll tell you the whole
story."
"But I should have heard it a long time ago! Fooling
me into believing Isabella was my mother and having me live
a life I was never born to live." at the angry expression
on her father's face she paused only momentarily and began
again. "Denying me my rightful thrown and inheritence. Were
you jealous, father? Is that it? Forcing me to live the life
of a businessman's daughter when I'm a princess since the
day I was born? The last laugh will be on you, for I intend
to leave this place and meet my other family, that I never
knew I had."
"Now wait just a minute there. You are talking nothing
but nonsense. Before your mother disappeared, we agreed that
you would be sheltered from the harshness of royalty and live
a normal life. Your mother knew how it was to grow up in that
palace and didn't want that life for you when you had another
future waiting." Serenity slipped from Darien's strong hold
and was standing over her father as he sat in his chair.
"What was she like?" her blue eyes were begging for
information and they stared at Klyde with an uncertainty and
innocence that seemed to mock him. She had her mother's eyes,
and everytime she looked at him, it was like he was seeing
his wife again.
"You look just like her." he said after a minute, his
words coming in a sigh. She fell into a chair that was behind
her, listening intently to what he was going to say. "Her name,
was Serenity BonVagen. The daughter of Richard and Julliette
BonVagen, king and queen of France. I was visiting the country
on business and we met in a little cafe. She had snuck away
from her rooms and had decided to come to the city, we were
in Paris at the time, to enjoy the simple life. Needless to
say, her silver hair stood out and she was recognised
immediately upon taking off her hood. She had eyes as blue
as yours and skin was soft and lightly tanned. Her beauty
radiated and turned heads from meters away. She was a
true lady." he paused and wiped away a tear. "Oh, how
I loved her so." he seemed to be lost in his own little
world and Serenity immediately found pity for the poor
man she had called her father.
"I'm sorry, father. I didn't mean to-" he waved
his hand for her to stop.
"Nonsense. I shouldn't have kept it from you. As
you wish, you will be sent to France tomorrow. Your
grandparents have been anxious to meet you for quite
some time. I've kept you hidden for far too long."
With that Darien stood. All eyes turned to him and
Serenity suddenly rememebered that he was in the room
with them.
"Darien I-"
"You'll be safe there." he interrupted her. His
thoughts were mixed up and tangled in knots from the
information he had just heard. A smile spread across
his lips and he kneeled at the side of her chair.
"This means you and I are really married. Now England
and France can unite finally."
"What are you talking about?" Klyde asked,
confused.
"I'm the prince of England, sir. I was supposed
to only marry a princess. I broke the laws but no one
knew. Oh, my guilt is gone!" he hugged Serenity tightly
to him and rose to his feet, her body still held tightly
in his arms.
"We're not out of the water yet." came the voice
of Isabella. They turned to her. "Martha will strike
again." with that, a crash of thunder and a streak of
lightening caused them all to jump.
"The question is when." Serenity completed, her
face contorting with fear. Another streak of lightning
was seen through the window and then the room went pitch
black, like the nightsky that had befallen upon them.
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