Chapter 20:

"It's all lies." William screamed toward the sky. He didn't know where to focus his eyes so he automatically looked to the rain. His side ached with newly made wound. Suddenly William realized he was in actual pain. This had never happened before.

"Why do you look so confused William?" The voice boomed.

"I'm bleeding."

"You are smart."

"No, I'm really. . ."

"Bleeding." It finished.

William grabbed his side and let his eyes shut. This was all becoming too real. He had never before felt anything quite like this. And just for a moment it made him question to wether or not this was actually happening. He felt the injury near his heart but it wasn't there. In spite of that hallucination, the blood gushing from his side was very real.

"It seems Claira has no need for your help. She actually seems to detest it."

William forced himself to stand up. "Shut up!" There was then short pause then loud burst of lightening. The long stream of electrifying death missed him by an inch.

"Do you dare raise your voice to me? You who can't even gain the love of a little nothing girl like Claira Abbingdale."

"Don't speak of her like that. You are not fit to utter her name let alone insult her."

"Poor stupid boy"

"I demand you to stop!" William cried out.

"So many demands for such an unworthy subject."

William stood tall and focused his attention on the gray clouds over head. He seemed to be two feet taller than average. He pulled all his strength and threw it in the wind. He was poised and ready for the biggest problem he had ever encountered.

With that he ran farther into the woods, in search of Claira.

Claira lay face down in a puddle of water. It poured down around her and for a moment she gave up. Just as her lungs ache with lack of oxygen she woke from her stupor. Her head was pounding, the vision of William and Rebecca lip locked reiterated in her thoughts.

"Leave"

"Leave, why ever would I do that?"

"Stop, you have no right." Claira sobbed.

"You are the one out on such a rainy day."

"It's not my fault." Claira shook her head forcibly, as if she were trying to convince herself.

"You should always come in out of the rain."

"Your not listening to me!"

"Rain, rain go away." The voice teased.

"Stop"

Claira threw herself to the ground and screamed out in anger. She covered her ears with cupped hands and shut her eyes. "I'm still here." The voice replied. Claira jumped up and searched around for something to use as a weapon before even realizing that she didn't even understand where the voice was coming from.

"Go Away!" Claira screamed.

"Claira." William had been running for over an hour and finally had come upon Claira. He stared at her weathered form before walking closer.
"No stop it!" Claira stood tall, clenched fists at her side. "Leave now!" Her voice cracked.

She had been hoping for William to come and now that it happened she didn't believe it was him. "Your not going to trick me again."

"Claira come here. Let's get out of . . ."

"No, I hate you." Claira was referring to the detestable voice of the rain, but poor William felt his worst of all nightmares coming true. He then turned to leave when Claira felt her insides torn.

"Wait, come back." William turned to look at her face. Thousands of rain drops covered her from head to toe. It was strange but an bright yellow light started streaming through those rain clouds, so faint at first you could just barely notice the difference. He waited for an explanation. The wet dress hung onto her. It had soaked in every bit of moisture and was now at least five pounds heavier than when it started. She looked as if she were about to scream yet so broken down.

"I don't know if your really you or not." She whispered. William stepped closer. Claira shivered at his nearness. He wrapped her in a tight hug and the light grew brighter.

"I can't seem to tell what's real anymore." Claira muttered between heart wrenching sobs. She let her face fit comfortably in his chest. "Come now, we'll go."

"No! You are breaking the rules. This cannot happen!" The voiced boomed.

"Speak no more!" William yelled at the rain.

"You will find your down fall as of today Prince. We are not pleased."

"You will find your silence as of now!" William screamed in reply.

The voice threw a few more lightening strikes but it only was used for dramatics. William and Claira started running toward the castle gates. Claira held on for dear life. She kept up perfectly in step with her dear prince. They made it to the garden.

"It feeds on fear Claira."

"I'm not frightened."

"Neither am I." William reassuringly squeezed Claira's hand. Claira knew right then it was going to be alright. She also knew there were things that had to be taken care of. One of those things being Rebecca.

As soon as they arrived at the castle gates the rain died down and they waited patiently for the guards to open the huge wooden door. William didn't say a thing about how tight Claira's fingers clenched around his own hand. Claira didn't say anything about how William seemed to jerk a little as they walked across the moist ground. There were simply no words to say.

As soon as they entered the castle a cold chill past over their young faces. Running up the stairs to find dry clothing was the next logical thing to do but all they could do was stare. The guards had long left the two alone in the main foyer, giving them privacy as requested.

"You look like you've seen a ghost." William moved a loose curl that lay loosely by her ear..

"I have." She mumbled.

Her eyes never once left his face. The clean shave had long diminished leaving a scruffy look to his usual boyish features. William in all aspects looked like a man. His long brown hair dripped water into those mesmerizing ocean colored eyes. Neither seemed to notice his rough fingers still cradled her face. Either that or they chose not to acknowledge it.

William wanted so bad to comfort her. He wanted to take her away from this place. He was willing to risk everything including his own life in order to be with this one girl. As soon as this thought dawned on him he found himself leaning closer. Claira didn't pull away, quite the opposite. His breath danced across her lips, moving like a gentle wind. It tickled and Claira smiled. Just as they're mouths broke beyond the borders of friendly, in walks Rebecca. She didn't bother with the formalities. Her long black dress moved swiftly with her as if it itself was alive. She grabbed Claira's hair and pulled her back. Claira struggled but Rebecca proved herself not only strong in magic but in the physical as well. Claira fell back hitting her head on the banister.

"Stop this at once." William was never one to hit a woman but Rebecca had passed human standards long ago. He grabbed her by the shoulders and pinned her against the abrasive stone wall. She glared at him with evil intent.

"Get off of me."

"No, you are obviously not able to control yourself."

"Get off of me now! I'm warning you Prince, I will not be trifled with." She spat through clenched teeth.

"And just what are you going to do about it?"

Claira stood with dizziness running around her eyes. She clutched onto the banister for dear life. "No William. You don't understand her power."

"I will not be afraid of this- - - thing."

"You should rethink that." Rebecca whispered.

With that Rebecca pushed him back. The magic in the room was thick and syrupy. It stuck to the walls leaving everything a pale orange. She pulled him up by his throat. He fought for air. "Now listen. You will marry me and you will kill Claira." She glanced at the disoriented girl with a growing anger. "Kill her." She let him drop to the ground.

"I would never."

"You will."

"Please Rebecca I'll. . ."

Claira was ready to plead and bargain for her life but she stopped mid sentence. Something about this seemed wrong. Rebecca was worried about something. Something bigger than her.

"Why are you so determined to marry William?" Claira asked. Rebecca paused.

"Because I will have what I want."

"No, there's something more."

William had already gained composure and took his desired place beside Claira.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"She's lying to you about simply wanting to be your wife."

"There's power, I want all the power of being a queen." She retorted. Her manner had already grown more impudent. She withered every time Claira opened her mouth.

"Your still not telling the truth. You have plenty of power. There's something else."

"No, now silence!" Rebecca screamed.

"What is it?"

"There is nothing." Rebecca hid her face from the two all knowing. "You are to marry me William, and before your eighteenth birthday. There are no questions asked."

It was then William saw the brilliance in this. Why had he not seen it before? He would be eighteen in less than three hours. Midnight was steadily approaching and all he had to do was wait. Rebecca glanced at the grandfather clock with a hungry gaze. It was almost as if she had read his thoughts. "We have little time."

"Come" She pulled him with her magic. He held onto Claira's hand and with both their strengths they pulled free. "Come here NOW!" She screamed. This time not even a death grip could of held steady. He shot to Rebecca and out the door. Claira went running but it was bolted tight. She closed her eyes and sought throughout her thoughts. What could she do?

(A/N: Sorry about changing Wills age. He was already 17 but I'm wrapping this story up so thats why I threw a birthday in there. You may also remember at the beginning of the story Rebecca was supposed to marry him before his 21st birthday so I had to change that as well. It was more dramatic this way. Well here's the rest of the chapter.)

William sat bound and gagged in the largest guest room. There were multiple servants in the room, cleaning and preparing for the upcoming nuptials. He had never seen so many workers and not one of them willing to help him. He wanted to scream. He was their soon to be King. Why was no one helping him?

He watched Rebecca look over her wedding dress. It was not white but dark gray. He thought it was appropriate. After all this was more like a funeral. He grunted at everyone who glanced in his direction hoping they'd take pity on their poor prince but nothing seemed to work.

As soon as he gave up Rebecca put him in the adjoining room so she wouldn't have to listen to his noises anymore. He looked around hurridly but the ropes were impossible to break. They were sealed by magic. He let his eager muscles rest back. "William." He heard his name and searched for the source. "Shhh" The voice said. Eleanor walked in and held a finger up to her lips. "I'm so glad to see you." He smiled.

"Yes now shush."

"You can't get those off. They're sealed by. . ."

Before he could even finish the sentence his hands and feet were untied. He studied Eleanor for a moment wondering if maybe he had been wrong about the ropes but in the end he didn't give it much thought.

One more hour. Claira thought to herself as she paced around the foyer. There was nothing she could do. She was completely sealed in. Rebecca had certainly thought everything out. She closed her eyes and rested her head on the banister.

"Think, think Claira." She breathed in.

"Yes now come on, think of something to save your William." She mumbled to herself.

"Your William eh?" She turned automatically recognizing that deep voice. He grinned.

"How did you - ?"

"It doesn't matter. We have to go talk to my father."

It was strange but Claira could leave the room now. Someone or something had broken the hostage spell.

A/N: ok so I've been great about posting this week. I'm probably /not promising going to post another chapter on the night of tomorrow..so tomorrow night..lol that one will be ALMOST the last one. Thanks for reading so far. Review and I promise to post tomorrow night!! Lol blackmail. Any questions just ask... thnx..-tanner oh yeah this chapter was 7 pages long.. That's a lot to write in 2 hours. -tanner