Disclaimer: I am NOT trying to make money out of this, its only for fun. Everything belongs to Meg Cabot. Oh, wow, déjà vu!!
A/N: I'm back!!!!! I KNOW I said I'd update in the summer, but I was too busy being lazy…I'm sorry! Thanks to EVERYONE who reviewed, and I'll try to be more regular from now even though life is being slightly on the crazy side… Anyways, please review because I feel like I've lost my style in this chapter…. that's why it's outrageously short.
Chapter 5
I stood there, in the cold hall, with Ralph leering at me, and the Baron rocking back on his heels looking absolutely delighted.
I just gaped at him. HE wanted to marry ME? Was he DERANGED?? Oh God, how do I get out of this one I thought frantically, looking for an exit.
I saw none. Michael was standing behind me, glowering, and the bloody Baron blocked the main entrance. So I did the only possible thing that I could: I ran. I pushed pass Michael, ran out into the hallway, past Paul who was lurking outside the room, no doubt eavesdropping. I barely had time to glimpse his surprised expression, then he flattened himself against the wall and let me rush by. I ran through the house, and of course, I had to get lost in the stupid twisty hallways and countless stairs.
I ran past the pantry, and realized I was running to the kitchens! I knew I could exit the house from the back door, and then come back…when things had calmed down a little. I snorted to myself. Yeah, right. Calmed down? Not happening any time soon.
Nevertheless, I dashed towards the kitchens, only to find that it was blocked by a huge looming thing. I gasped and skidded to avoid crashing into….IT?????
I gaped at the cook, whom I still wasn't sure if It was a man or woman…Was he blocking me?
Great, even the cook is against me. I was trapped, and I heard footsteps behind me. Michael came running into the corridor, and if looks could kill, I'd be long dead… He was followed by Ralph who was panting and red. I snickered.
And when the Baron finally came into sight, huffing and puffing, I lost it. They just stared at me like I was a raving lunatic, watching me laugh harder and harder. I don't know why but the entire situation just struck me as completely and utterly ridiculous.
There was me, desperate not to get married, and Ralph, who was desperate to get married, and Michael, desperate to get rid of me.
And the looks on their faces – priceless.
'Are you done?' Michael asked coldly, not looking the least bit amused.
'Susannah, for once in your life behave like a young lady is meant to, and answer me: Why in the name of God willl you not marry Ralph??' His voice raised in several at the end of his sentence. I winced.
'Unh..sir, I really don't think she didn't want to marry me. I mean, who wouldn't? Maybe she was just – just shy.' Ralph piped up.
'Shut up!' Michael roared, suddenly.
I pouted. Really, it isn't fair. First he didn't want me to marry anyone, wanted Ralph to marry his daughters, now he was getting angry at me for saying no. Suddenly, I couldn't take any of this foolishness any longer. I walked up to Ralph, and poked his chest. Hard.
'You listen here, Ralph. I have no intention of marrying you, now or in the future, under any circumstances. Thank you for you attentions, but please allow me to retire to my room as I need my rest after such a tiring day. Excuse me.' I said, in my best lady voice. God, I hope he got the message.
I swept past them, curtsying for the Baron, glaring for Michael and with as much dignity as I could muster I swept up to my room and barricaded myself inside.
000
I didn't come out all day after that, not even for meals. I was embarrassed beyond belief, but I also knew, deep down, I had nothing to be ashamed of.
But my mind was made up. Late that night, while everyone was asleep, I packed my bags in the light of one candle. Once the room looked like it did before I had ever disturbed it, I crept down the hallways to the main door. Suddenly I froze; I heard a noise behind me…
It was pitch black dark in the room and I hope whomever – or whatever – it was it would go away…
The hall was flooded with light in the next second. I swiveled around to find Paul standing there with a lit lamp in his hand. He was in night clothes and looked tired and unshaven.
I gasped. 'Paul, what are you doing here?' I tried not to show how much he'd surprised me.
He regarded me coolly, and then walked around the vase on the table and came up close to me. 'I could ask you the same question. Where, my lady, do think you're going at this hour, with all your bags?'
He was dangerously close to me. I felt my breath catch. His eyes were ice cold blue, boring into me. He leant so close I could feel his breath on my neck. 'If you ask me, I would say you're trying to escape.'
I was so scared, for some unknown reason. Then I felt angry. Who was he to make me angry? I shoved him away as hard as I could when my hands were trembling.
Not the best move, because he got angry. He got so angry that he came right back and jammed his body against mine. I was trapped between his hard body (I meant the hard abs of his, just clearing that up…) and the door. I could feel his chest heaving and his breath rasping in my ear. 'Why are you so numb to me, huh, Suzie? Why don't you be nice to me?'
'Get off me!' I gasped, but it did no good. He was looking at me like a vulture looks at carrion. Like an eagle at a mouse. Like he wanted to eat me.
'What is about you? Why are you so irresistible?' He murmured, oblivious to my distress. I was really freaked by now; he meant business. I have never kissed before, anyone. It's considered improper to do so before you engage in proper courtship, but that was not what was stopping me. It was just the fact that I had never had a relationship with anyone I wanted to kiss.
Suddenly he changed in the blink of an eye from a lion to a kitten. That's what so dangerous about him; you never know when he'll change.
He leaned pressed himself onto me harder, and I could feel his heart pumping, slow and steady, unlike the fast pitter-patter of my own. He nuzzled his nose into my neck and I don't deny it; it felt so good…
He tenderly kissed my neck, and I gasped as his soft lips made my nerves go out of control.
'Stay,' He whispered into my skin. Oh, I wanted to. I wanted to so bad. It was like having a taste of some forbidden fruit and then being addicted; wanted more and more and more-
I pushed him back once more, breaking free. We were both breathing heavily and his eyes were glazed. 'Wha- why'd you do that?' He said, frustrated.
The thing was, I didn't know myself. All I knew was that if I stayed, something bad would happen. I might even give myself-
No. Stop. Don't think like that. But no matter how much I tried to deny it, my traitorous body wanted him, needed him with a craving so deep, I didn't know if I could control it.
But deep down, past the wanting, I knew I was just lonely and craved his affection. It would be wrong, I didn't like him, and I knew there was something about Paul that scared me.
So before any of use could say another word, I did the only thing I could think of doing at that time. I swung my leg under his leg; he tried to doge it but he lost his balance and fell anyways. I grabbed my bags, yanked open the door and ran out without looking back. I heard him say something but it was too late.
I was gone.
000
It was a cold foggy night, and the streets were deserted. I ran through some streets, without any idea of where I was going. I just didn't want to stay there anymore; I mean they weren't torturing me, it's just – I had a bad feeling about the Slater home.
And in the past my intuitions had usually been correct…I got the feeling that Michael, for some reason wanted to get rid of me for some special reason…
Like he was hiding something.
But I had another reason for running away; I would not allow my life to become a Cinderella story without any happy ending in sight, no prince to save. I could do better then Paul for a husband, or a lover.
Dalarias wasn't exactly a complicated city, and most people wouldn't get lost in it…unless they knew where they wanted to go, of course. I had a vague thought about going towards the castle to live with mother; I wouldn't mind being a maid in the castle.
I ended up wandering the streets, sticking to the shadows and avoiding the homeless and tramps. I wasn't really scared; I'd spent a lot of time at night outside figuring out the problems of the dead. How fun.
But what I didn't know was that Dalarias was built around a canal. A long narrow stretch of water where hooligans hung around, smoking and whistling at…well, the women of the night, as mother refers to them in disgust.
The castle was just across the canal, past a few farms and a tavern, I had to pass the canal first.
I approached the canal, and saw that the only way over it was the bridge; there were many huddled shapes on the parapet, but I told myself to be strong. What were they going to do? The sun was beginning to rise, emitting a faint pink glow over the sky. Soon the city would we awake and it's not like they would kidnap me or something. Right?
I was still dressed in quite decent clothes, but hopefully they wouldn't realize I was from such a wealthy family. I slowly walked to the bridge, not looking up, and kept my bag close. As I bowed my head and walked, my long dark hair fell around me like a curtain.
I was tired. I was hungry. I was lonely. And I hadn't heard from my father in ages. Yeah, this would be a great time for you to come visit on your only daughte, dad, I thought grimly as I stepped on the bridge.
One step. Two steps. Three. See, I was doing fine. You can do this, Suze, just keep moving and don't look up, I thought. I reached the middle where I could hear the men the men snicker at me and I could practically feel their leers.
Then my foot caught on a stone and I tripped and fell, my arms flailing, straight into one of the dark figures; his face was in shadow and all I could see was a bright red spark where his cigarette was. He caught me by the arms before I could so much as yell, he had laughed raucously and shoved me over the parapet, bag and all.
I felt the shock flare through me as I tried to grasp something anything, but my hands closed on thin air and with one ice breaking shriek, Iwas over.
It was like moving in slow motion; I saw their faces over the bridge, laughing uproariously, not caring about my life, as my bod fell down, down to the deep depths of the unknown below.
I don't know how to swim was my last panic filled thought before it all went black.
A/N Please, please review…the more that you do, the sooner I update. Oh yeah, lailai, I just got back from the party - and of course this dedicated for you, FOR LAILAI, THE LEMON SKITTLE, THE ICECREAM, THE CHINKY!!!!
Right. Don't be scared, people. I'm weird :P!
My finger is on the button…I want to push the button… Oh how I hate that song…