The next morning, black thunderclouds hung over the castle and miles beyond. A mist formed over thefloor up to my knees. It was a dreadful day to begin with and it seemed like Mother Nature knew about it. I sighed. I had cried so much in the last 48 hours that I could shed no more tears. I felt hollow inside and empty of everything that I held dear. My maids came in with smiles on there faces. Only nature and I, and of course Youko, felt dreadful. This was the day that he left the earth with no reason too. Today was his beheading.

"Get up, my dear Princess," Jackie said.

I sat up slowly.

"Why such the sad face? Today is a wonderful day!" she exclaimed looking through my closet for a dress for me to wear. Her assistant helper, Gloria, went through my jewelry. It sickened me how happy they were.

"Today is the day that that dreadful, evil, scoundrel Youko Kurama is beheaded and dead. He will be removed for this world and ease the hearts of women and children and families everywhere. He should've died a long time ago when the King had the chance too," she spat and pulled out a white and pink party dress. Her servant held up a gold necklace with pink topaz jewels set in them. They were both smiling, but then frowned as I walked past them and began to pick out my apparel. This was my day to rebel against everything that was happening.

"Must you be like this today," Jackie frowned as I pulled out a black velvet dress. It went down low and had lace trimming all along the neckline and sleeves. I undressed and put in on. It fit me perfectly in every way. I went over to my jewelry box and picked out a silver necklace with a black onyx stone pendant. I wore no shoes, but that didn't matter since no one would be able to see my feet. I dyed my nails black and applied black and silver make up to my eyes. The unnaturally natural green coloring of my eyes looked even more unnatural.

I picked up my tiara and stared at it. It was small yet elegant with at least a hundred diamonds in it. They were placed on silver twisting designs that reminded me of smoke curling up into the sky after a burial of a royal family member. I smiled wickedly at Jackie as I dipped the crown into the black dye.

She gasped in horror. "Princess!"

I smiled at her. "This is my day to rebel, Jackie. If you have a problem with that, please, tell me or my father and see what happens."

Her eyes went wide. I was in no mood today for anyone to tell me no. I took out the tiara and smiled. It was beautiful. The diamonds sparkled black. It was perfect. I let in dry for a while before putting it on.

"Jackie, I'm going to go for a walk. Stay here and wait for me when I return. I shall not be very long," I said casually as I walked out of the room. She said nothing and I walked down to the dungeons without a care in the world. The prisoners stared at me as if I were an angel coming to ease them of their suffering. They either didn't know it was me or didn't care. I walked to Youko's cell where he was leaning against the bars. A scowl was on his face as he played with the pendant.

"Youko," I whispered and he looked at me out of the corner of his eyes.

"Why are you dressed like that?" he asked looking at the wall.

I sighed. "I'm rebelling against my father in anyway possible."

He smiled and shook his head. "Of course you are, Princess."

"Why do you still insist on calling me that?" I asked him smiling despite what was going to happen in a few moments.

He shrugged. "I called you Princess before because that is a respectable title to call you. Now I call you itbecause you are my Princess."

I titled my head and raised an eyebrow. "I am?"

He nodded. "You are the Princess of Thieves, Guinevere. I thought we already went over this. I am a thief and you are the Princess of my kind."

"But aren't you the King of all Thieves, higher than me?"

He smiled at the compliment. "Yes, I am."

"Then aren't I your daughter?"

He shook his head. "You are an exception and thieves do not go by lineage unless two royalties are together. Make sense?"

I nodded. "A little bit. But what am I supposed to do if you die? I am marrying Prince Wyatt of the Arctic?"

His eyes narrowed. "He will follow you to the ends of the Earth, Guinevere. Force him to come with you to my people. Only you can form the bridges between us and them."

"Am I apart of us or them?" I asked slowly, looking at him.

He still hadn't made any eye contact with me. "Us."

I nodded. "Then I will do what you say, Kurama."

"Go," he said curtly.

I looked at him.

"Guards are coming."

I heard them coming down the hall to take him to the courtyard where the beheading would be held in front of everyone. I looked at him. He still hadn't looked at me since I had come here. I kissed him on the cheek.

"Bye, Youko," I whispered, "and thank you for showing me….everything."

He nodded and I left quickly before any of the guards saw me. I walked to my room, feeling depressed, but that soon changed as I entered it. Jackie and Gloria were talking in a hushed whisper when I came in and stopped abruptly when I did. I looked at both of them with a critical eye.

"How was your walk, milady?" Jackie asked, forcing a smile.

I smiled at her. "It was good, thank you for letting me do so."

Before we could say anything else Paytah knocked on my door and I looked at Jackie to answer it.

"She is in a foul mood today, so beware," she whispered.

Paytah nodded, staring at me. He liked the way I looked and I knew it. I gave him a coy smile and he swallowed a few times. Jackie gawked in horror at my actions, but I smiled at her devilishly. She huffed and puffed, but said nothing. She motioned for Gloria to follow her and they left, leaving me and Paytah alone in my room.

I plucked petals off of flowers that were on my vanity. They were a light pink, so happy against my blackened soul. "Do you need something?"

He nodded. "It is time for you to go outside for the beheading."

I sighed and left one petal on the flower. "Then let's go, shall we?"

He led me by the hand down the stairs to the courtyard where everyone was. I saw Youko before he saw me. He was still in his clothes, standing tall, looking at my father. I saw the chain of my necklace around his neck, but the pendant was hidden away underneath his shirt. I smiled. He still had it with him.

Paytah cleared his throat and walked in front of me. I hid in the shadows until I was called. "My King and Queen, may I present your daughter, Princess Guinevere."

I felt the anticipation of everyone as they turned their attention towards the shadows, expecting to see an angel in all white to step forward, but instead they saw an angel of death. My father's face went red with rage and my mother frowned. The Queen of the Arctic gasped in horror as did everyone else. Youko smiled at me. He knew why I was dressed like this. It was for him as well.

"What is the meaning of this?" Wyatt's mother screeched.

My father looked at Paytah as if he forced me to do this. "I do not know myself."

"I did this to show you that no matter what you do to me, you can never tame me," I said slyly, "Not you, father, or you, mother, or anyone else for that matter. I am a woman of high status and power. Challenge me if you dare." Everyone stared at me with horror in their faces. I had terrified all, but one, Youko. He looked at me as if I were a goddess. I felt a pain in my heart.

"Guinevere, this is insane," my father said, "why are you doing this?"

"To make you understand that I am not a puppet in your play to power. You may have been a hero to me when I was little, but now I see the truth. You are nothing, but a coward afraid to face the truth of the past and present!"

He glared at me and raised his arm. "Bring him to me."

Guards grabbed Youko and forced him to my father. They glared at each other for along time. Youko was still taller than my father even though my father's height was added because of the stone platform that we were on. "Bow down to me, Youko Kurama."

Youko stood tall and defiant. He would never bow to my father. He would rather die. Mischief and evil came into his eyes as my father became angry that he was being shown up by the legendary thief.

"Bow down to me!" my father yelled, causing many of the ladies to flinch.

Youko was silent before he responded with a smirk. "No."

Guards came around him and forced him down. Youko struggled, but the guards had him by the wrists, arms, neck, and hair. The pushed him until he bowed down to my father and that's when it happened. My necklace shook free of its hiding place and hung from Youko's neck. It was useless to ignore it. It glinted and glittered even without sunlight. The designs were missing, but it was still mine. My mother's eyes went wide as she saw and looked at me. I was on the edge of my seat ready to defend Youko if I needed to. My father was silent as he stared at the beautiful jewelry. His face was pale and I knew he was in shock. He didn't know what to do about this. He didn't know what to do at all about me. But his anger soon replaced his confusion.

"Guinevere! What is this doing around his neck?" he roared causing everyone, but me and Youko to whimper.

"What do you think? I gave it to him," I sneered.

He was getting to angry for my liking. "Why, may I ask?" he said through gritted teeth.

I shrugged and said so very causally, "I felt like it. He has my honor, my respect, and my heart."

My father's face drained at those words. Youko was even stunned. His eyes were wider than normal and his mouth was open a little bit out of shock. And then everyone was shocked, including myself.

My mother slapped me hard across the cheek. "Insolent child! You do not love him! You cannot love him!"

I was in pure shock, not only by her actions, but by her words. I thought she had understood. I thought she had known about what I was going through, but I was wrong. I was wrong about everything involving my family.

I growled at her. "You said you understood, but it was all just a lie! You lied to me, your own daughter!"

"You lied to me," she hissed, "you never specified who it was that you felt this way for. I simply assumed it was someone else."

"You never asked either," I spat.

"I didn't think I had to," my mother said evenly, "I didn't think that I would have to ask who my daughter has been in love with. I should've known and I thought I did."

"Well you were wrong now weren't you?" I smiled spitefully.

"Don't start with me today, Guinevere," she warned.

"Why?" I looked at everyone around us. "Why can't I be a normal teenager like these people and do whatever I please while still doing my duties? Why can't I go out alone whenever I need to be alone? Why can't I do these things, mother?" I spat out the word as if it were venom.

She looked at me sadly. "You are a Princess and we fear for your safety. We do these things to protect you."

"I was able to do them while I was with Youko and I was still safe," I snapped.

My mother lost her ammo. She had nothing against me anymore. I had won over this war between her and I. I looked at my father and suddenly I felt ill to my stomach. The prophecy's words whispered throughout my thoughts.

Destined to betray her King and be betrayed herself.

So the first part of the prophecy had been fulfilled. I looked at Youko. He looked away from me. He knew it as well. I began to wonder about how I was going to be betrayed when my mother spoke once again.

"Do not kill him."


That's the ninth chapter. Hope you lied it. Reviews are welcomed and please do. Thank for reading. Updating as soon asI can.

M. Neko