Story of a Princess Unknown – Chapter 15 – Everything Burns
Disclaimer: Nothing except my characters and plot belongs to moi.
Hey guys – thanks so much for all the reviews! I'm sorry – I know that the last chapter was a lot like the scene between Bee and Eric in the Sisterhood – but after I'd written it I couldn't be bothered changing it! And I think that scene was sweet; I love those books!
I'm not gonna reply to everyone, but just to answer a few queries:
magewhisperer: the rebels don't exactly like Ella and Char, they just thought that Mordred got the throne unfairly and he shouldn't have got it. More about the rebels will be revealed in the next few chapters!
Dancrchick: Mandy's back in the south recruiting more rebels! I'm so glad you're hooked!
Justwriter: Okay, fine. Maybe Jesse could sing it. MAYBE! And if you don't know who Oliver is – PLEASE check him out! HOT ENGLISH GUY! The song is sung by Kelly Clarkson. What on earth is the Mew Mew theme?
creativewritinginc: what movie do you mean? I'm confused – am I the only one? (Check out the quotes for our profile!)
breathless74: YES! My next lesson was fantastic! And Frankie was great yesterday and today! We're teaching him how to do travers (quarters in) and he loves it! Me too!
People, PLEASE check out our profile – lots of funny quotes from moi, Pippa, Avril and a few others!
GO All Blacks tonight! You guys can beat the Lions! I HATE BRIAN O'DRISCOLL!
This chapter is partly another songfic. I LOVE Evanscence - I'm listening to them now, and this track, "Everything Burns" is a new one from Ben Moody feat. Anastacia. Hope you likee!
Callum and Luke stood in a dark room, alone. The memories of last night flashed through Luke's head – but Callum was cool, calm and indifferent.
"She's dead. She must be. Now that the last heir is out of the way, we can move on with the real plan. The destiny of Kyrria is in our hands. Are you prepared to fight, Luke? To perhaps sacrifice yourself for the cause?"
Luke gulped, swallowed. Then nodded.
Eve was waking slowly. For a moment she didn't know where she was – the the events of the previous night came flooding back to her. Suddenly her eyes flew open – and she saw Jared watching her. When he saw she was awake, he smiled at her with such joy and love that she could feel a fist squeezing her heart – hard.
Without talking he gently helped her sit up and placed another pillow behind her back. Eve just watched him regretfully, knowing that she had to hurt him. I can't let him carry on like this – torn between a person he loves and his duty to his father. I have to make the decision for him.
"Are you feeling better?" Jared asked her.
"A lot better. Jared, what happened? How did you know? How did you find me?"
"I was riding home and you were just ... lying there, bleeding, in the road." She saw that his eyes were filled with emotion.
"I felt so ... guilty that I hadn't been there to save you. And I wanted to hurt the people who did it. So badly."
"Thankyou for taking care of me, Jared." He tried to hug her but she pulled away. Eve felt awful as she saw the hurt and confusion in his eyes.
"Eve ... who did this to you? Please, tell me." Eve was about to say, I can't tell you, when she realised that she was sick of all the secrecy. The rebel group knew her secret – and they had tried to kill her, so she didn't have to keep their secrets anymore.
"Jared, I'm going to tell you my deepest secret. You can't tell anyone – yet. You promise?" He nodded mutely.
"I'm ... my parents were ... Jared, my parents were Ella and Char, the former king and queen." Eve only stopped to register his look of complete surprise before she ploughed right into the next secret she had to spill.
"Well, when I was little, someone took me from my parents and dropped me on the doorstep of that manor. Then, sixteen years later, Luke and I left the village. We came here with a rebel group who were ..." Here she stumbled. "Who were bent on destroying your family. I had to disguise myself and pretend I was a noble girl and ... spy on you. Get close to you. I'm just a spy."
Jared took her hand and spoke fiercely, "But I don't care about that, Eve! I know that's not how you are!"
She motioned for him to be quiet. "The only person in the rebel group who knew of my heritage was Luke." Suddenly her face was angry and harsh, yet hurt and filled with betrayal.
"And he told them." She whispered, and looked down. Luke's betrayal cut her like a knife – her best friend watching someone try to kill her. Jared out his arms around her, and this time she didn't stop him, just leaned into his comforting embrace.
"They tried to kill me, Jared. And know they think I'm dead. They're near the end of their plan – when Callum knew that I was the princess, he knew I was the one thing left in his way. He never wanted a good king or queen, like my mum and dad." Her voice was bitter. "He just wants the throne for himself."
Jared couldn't speak. He was so shocked – it was Eve's friend Luke who had been involved with her attack! And now someone wanted to kill him and his father!
Then Eve realised something that she hadn't thought of before. That they were both in danger. Terrible danger. She sat up and pulled herself out of Jared's arms.
"Jared – they're near the end of the plan, if Callum could afford to get rid of me. They're going to try and kill you soon! You have to stay away from me – who knows what they'd do if they saw you with me."
Jared took her hand gently. "Eve – is that the real reason you don't want me to stay with you?"
She looked down, refusing to meet his probing eyes. "You have a duty to your father. And your country," she whispered.
"But what about my duty to myself?" Jared cried. "What about what I want?"
"Maybe if you'd told me you were betrothed this never would have happened, Jared. I'm sorry – but it's not fair on Alexandra for us to spend time together." Eve could feel the tears trickling silently down her cheeks.
Can't she see how much I love her? I want to be with her so badly. Jared couldn't take it anymore. His feelings were so conflicting inside – he loved Eve, but he had a duty to his father.
He got up off her bed and stormed out of the room. Eve heard Vinny galloping out of the courtyard.
She sits in her corner
Singing herself to sleep
She was all alone in her room. Alone – forever.
Wrapped in all of the promises
That no one seems to keep
First Luke, then Jared. Eve wished that Jared had just told her from the beginning that he was betrothed – then she never would have kissed him. Never would have loved him.
She no longer cries to herself
No tears left to wash away
Just diaries of empty pages
Feelings gone astray
Eve's tears stopped. She had nothing left to cry for anymore. No one worth crying for. She was going back to the girl she'd been before – who could survive without anyone.
But she will sing
'Till everything burns
While everyone screams
Her life was the one going up in flames, burning. And Eve couldn't find a way out – though she was screaming as loud as she could. Yet still, no one heard. No one heard except the person who couldn't help at all.
Burning their lies
Burning my dreams
She wanted to do something awful – hurt everyone as much as they'd hurt her. All she'd wanted was someone to love – a family who loved her in return. And she'd just gotten more people who'd betrayed her – denied her the rightful place on the throne.
All of this hate
And all of this pain
Eve knew she'd grown bitter and angry over the last few days. But she was filled with pain and hurting badly.
I'll burn it all down
As my anger reigns
'Till everything burns
Walking through life unnoticed
Knowing that no one cares
Jared knew that his father had never cared, never noticed him, never wanted him. Why did he even have me in the first place? He wondered bitterly.
Too consumed in their masquerade
No one sees him there
All his father wanted was more wealth, more allies to ensure that he wouldn't be killed. But Jared knew now that you needed more than that in your life to be happy.
And still he sings
'Till everything burns
While everyone screams
His father had destroyed so many lives, made so many people scream. Screams that still haunted Jared's dreams.
Burning their lies
Burning my dreams
All Jared wanted was Eve – to love her and take care of her. His father had denied him even that – someone to love.
All of this hate
And all of this pain
Jared knew he was bitter and angry. He was full of pain from the last few weeks when his life had been turned upside down. But he was going to ask, he was going to try – one more time.
I'll burn it all down
As my anger reigns.
He walked into his father's room. Mordred was sitting in a chair, waiting for his son to enter.
"Now what was it you wanted, Jared? I don't have all day – got to talk more with Alexandra's parents about the wedding."
"I won't marry her."
"What? You have to, son. We decided it a long time ago, remember?"
"I told you, Father. There's someone else. I never wanted this. Please, don't make me do it."
"Jared, I've had enough of you. Like I said last time we talked – you've been a disappointment from the day you were born. You'll never be good enough to rule this country. Now go away!"
"I WILL NOT DO AS YOU SAY!" Jared yelled. "For once in my life, I have someone who truly loves me for who I am inside – not because I'm a prince, or because I look good. And for once in my life, I am not going to be a dog who does as you say. I will not obey you as if you are my master."
In a chilling voice, his father replied. "Then you will shame me in front of everyone. You will anger Alexandra and her parents – some of the most important nobles in Kyrria, I might add."
With the fluid grace of someone much younger in years, Mordred leapt up from his chair – unnoticed by his son, he'd pulled out his sword. Jared's fingers crept their way to the hilt of his own sword.
"How far will you go to prevent that from happening, Father?" Jared asked, his voice shaking.
"As far as it takes," Mordred replied, no emotion in his voice or eyes at all. Then he struck.
As if he was trying to hypnotise his son, he swirled his sword in a complicated pattern. Then he brought it down, hard, aiming at his son's collarbone.
But Jared was quick – he whipped his sword out and strongly blocked his father's stroke. I can't believe it's come to this. Jared didn't want to fight his father – but he knew that if he backed down now, his father would kill him.
Fury rose in Mordred's eyes. He swung and blocked – his son was more skilled than he thought. Then he saw his chance – as Jared drew back to strike again, he twisted his sword in and disarmed him. His sword clattered to the ground a few metres away, and Jared's knees crumpled. He fell to the ground.
Till everything burns
Everything burns
"Father, please, no," Jared pleaded. But his father wouldn't give up. He drove his sword in, and nicked Jared's throat, teasing him.
Everything burns
Watching it all fade away
It was then that Jared realised that this man had never seen him as a son, merely as a pawn who could perhaps help in on his quest for wealth. But Mordred wouldn't let him stand in the way of his quest, either, when challenged. This was a man who didn't know what family meant. Jared struggled to his feet.
While Jared had been distracted, his father had stood, looking at his cowering son with pleasure for a minute, then drove in with his sword, right under Jared's heart. But at the last second, Jared had stumbled back. The sword drove in, Jared felt a searing pain and blood bubbled up – but it wasn't deep enough to kill him. He felt strangely calm.
Mordred stumbled – the botched stroke and thrown him off balance. The few seconds he took to recover were all Jared needed to reach out and grab his sword. "I will not let you kill me!" Jared screamed at his father. He thrashed out wildly with his sword.
Mordred suddenly felt old, tired. He stumbled again. And this time Jared didn't falter. I will not die like this! His mind screamed at him. He lunged towards his father. His stroke was true. His sword pierced his father right in the heart. Mordred screamed. And sank to the ground, blood bubbling out of a deep wound.
Everyone screams
Everyone screams...
Jared ran to his father, who's life was rapidly draining away. He dropped to his knees. "Forgive me!" He whispered.
"Get out ... of my ... sight!" His father spat at him. Jared flinched. Mordred heaved a last breath. Then he was still.
Watching it all fade away
While everyone screams
Burning down lies
Burning my dreams
Jared rose to his feet. The sight of his father's body was chilling. The man who had dominated and hurt him for nineteen years was dead. And I killed him.
He walked slowly, composed, out of the room, away from the body, resting in a pool of rapidly cooling blood. He made his way to the stable yard, then once again climbed onto Vinny.
All of this hate
And all of this pain
I'll burn it all down
As my anger reigns
Jared rode into the yard of the inn owned by his friend Oliver. Flinging Vinny's reins to a stableboy, he realised for the first time how much his chest hurt. Looking down, he realised with surprise that his shirt was stained with blood. Suddenly, Jared felt very faint. But he continued up to Eve's room.
Til everything burns
Everything burns
Watching it all fade away
As he flung the door open to Eve's room, she started and looked at him in surprise. Then her look changed to fear as she saw the blood on his shirt. He had to tell her. "Eve - I killed him. You. Queen." Then the pain in his chest became to much to bear - and he felt himself spinning into oblivion.
Everything burns
Watching it all fade away...
Well hope you guys loved it - I know that I loved writing it! Don't worry - much more drama, sadness and anger to come soon! And everything burns! For full effect of this chapter, please go to and listen to the song there while reading this!
Love Amy! Keepthose reviews coming!