Chapter 5- The Elite
Kim 22- Thanks so much! It's people like you (and my BFF) that made me want to keep going.
Bluebelles112- I totally thought you were a new person and then I realized that you used to be White Horse Golden lol :p
*casually pretends like I didn't just take a two-month break*
But for real, you guys are the best. Thanks for sticking with me and the story 3. Sorry, I'm a horrible human being and can't write for anything. But I'll spare you excuses and just get into this *extra long* chapter bc my readers are awesome. Chapter 5: the elite (finally) :)
Chapter 5- The Elite
"Miss, it's time to wake up," Anne said, shaking me softly.
I groaned. "What did I say about calling me that?"
Lucy giggled. I sat up and stretched. The image of Maxon on one knee flashed in my head and I smiled. I hated to keep it from my friends, but my heart soared with happiness every time I thought of the little secret I shared with my fiancé. I loved that word. It was a promise. It was Maxon's promise that I would be his wife and that we would live happily ever after.
The sound of running water coming from the bathroom, broke me out of my reverie. I walked into the room and sank into the warm water, still smiling. When I emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in my robe, my maids turned and swarmed me. They guided me to the vanity to my right and sat me down on the small stool.
They worked quickly, dabbing on makeup, slipping on a pair of strappy heels, and pulling my hair into an elegant updo. When they had finally finished, (A/N: like me with this chapter) Anne told me to close my eyes, while Lucy took my arm and helped me to stand. Tulle rubbed against my skin as they slid the dress on my body. One of them pulled fastened the laces at the back of the dress.
"Open your eyes!" My friends chorused. I didn't have to be told twice. I was already itching to see their latest masterpiece.
The dress was exquisite. The floor length skirt was made of shimmering layers of a deep blue tulle accentuating my bright blue eyes. On the bodice, there were beautiful, blue, lace applique flowers trailing to the waist of the dress, hitting right above my hips. They had painted my lips in a rich wine color, setting off the darker tones in my hair. I turned to my maids.
They stood a step behind me with hesitant smiles gracing their features.
"It's beautiful." I took a step to them and enveloped them in a hug. We stood there for a second.
"Now, none of that. You'll wrinkle the dress." Anne said, taking a step back to review her work. Lucy and I laughed, but I knew she was right. I walked to the door and waved to the girls over my shoulder before I exited my room. As I walked, I watched my feet, trying not to topple over in the tall navy heels.
Once I was sure I wouldn't tumble to the ground, I looked up. Just as my eyes flicked upwards, I stumbled into another person and fell backward. My eyes met familiar, green ones. Warm hands found my back and kept me off the ground.
Aspen pulled me back on my feet. I stepped out his circle of warmth in an instant. A look of pain flashed in his eyes for a moment. I wondered if I would have I noticed it if I didn't know him so well.
"Excuse me. I have to get to breakfast." I made to step around him.
"Mer," Aspen took my arm. I shook my head. "Please. I need to talk to you."
I pulled his hand from me, stepping out of his reach. "Good day, Officer Leger. I must be going." My words were clipped and my tone, irritated in a way only someone who knew me well would recognize- someone like Aspen.
I walked away from him. It was still odd to me. My past and my future. They were so vastly different. Aspen was my past, the six from Carolina that broke my heart in a treehouse. Maxon was my future, the Crown Prince of Illéa that called me his darling. I could never have imagined where I was now.
I made my way down the stairs and towards the dining hall. The guards opened the doors to the grand room and I stepped inside. The King, Queen, Maxon, and many of the other girls were already seated. My fiance looked up at the sound of the doors closing. His eyes lit up and his hand flew to tug his ear. My cheeks flushed, but I tugged my ear back. Queen Amberly's eyes twinkled. Maxon smiled at me. I curtseyed quickly and sat down next to Tiny. The seat to my other side remained empty. Flashes of Kriss holding a gun to my head blared through my mind. I was almost killed.
The doors opened again, and Celeste entered the room in another one of her barely-there dresses. She curtseyed low to the royal family and dropped in her seat.
It seemed she was the last girl to arrive. Servant leaped from the wall, bringing heaping trays of eggs, bacon, and pastries. I almost moaned at the aroma. A girl set a platter in front is us and I plucked a strawberry tart off stacks. I took a bite, remembering the first time I had one. A smile stretched across my face. I finished my breakfast just as Maxon stood.
"Good morning, ladies. I hope you enjoyed breakfast. There are a few announcements I need to make. As you know, there have been many rebel attacks within the duration of the Selection, last night's invasion being only one of them." Girls nodded their own affirmations.
"Amid yesterday's attack, Lady America and I were held at gunpoint and it was revealed that one of the Selected is a rebel." Someone gasped. Many of the girls turned to look at me, while others looked around the room to determine who the rebel was. Kriss wasn't the only one missing. Tuesday was absent- as was Olivia. Shock was written in every feature of their faces. I blushed and ducked my head. A quiet murmur filled the room.
Maxon cleared his throat. Heads snapped to attention. "She is being held in a high security cell in the palace. This attack calls to mind that I must choose a wife and Illéa's next Princess and later our Queen." Maxon glanced at me for a second.
"Because you are all very dear to me, and you're safety is my greatest concern, I have decided to narrow down the Selection to the Elite."
Looks of dismay were echoed in the faces of the girls around the room. I tried to look unhappy, but I could only see Maxon in my room last night. I could only see Maxon's eyes during the rebel attack. I could only see Maxon calling me Princess in the safe room. I bit my lip, trying not to smile. Tiny grasped my hand under the table.
"But while most Selection's Elite contain 10 daughters of Illéa, mine will only have six. Unfortunately-"
He was cut off by the girls. "Six?" Elayna murmured a few seats down.
"That's not fair," Bariel whined.
Maxon pursed his lips and continued, "I have discussed this with both my parents at length and unfortunately, we do not feel that it is right for me to put you safety at risk if I know we have no future. Only the following six girls will be staying."
I looked up at the other girls. None of them had seen this coming. If not for Maxon's proposal, I would have been too. They were tense, awaiting Maxon's decision. My fiancé hadn't told me who else would be in his Elite, though- or that there would only be six girls.
"Lady Marlee, Lady Natalie, Lady Celeste." At her name Maxon met my eyes. They seemed to tell me he was sorry. He knew how much I disliked her. Tiny was gripping my hand hard in hers.
Maxon took a breath. "Lady Elise, Lady Tiny."
Tiny relaxed, squeezing my hand in encouragement. She let go of my fingers, smiling.
"And last, but certainly not least," Maxon smiled at me but hesitated a second before my title. "Lady America. For those of you that will not be remaining in the competition, I will be in the library after breakfast." He tugged his ear again and before waiting for my response turned and walked out of the room as fast as he could. I almost laughed at how silly it looked. The Crown Prince of Illéa was running out of a room of women including his fiancée. Emmica and Tuesday rushed out behind him. Besides me, Tiny squealed, wrapping her arms around me.
"Congratulations, America! We're in the Elite!" She exclaimed, squeezing tighter. I smiled, though my lungs felt nearly bursting.
"Thank you, Tiny. You as well. But I really must be going. I'll see you at dinner?" The small girl smiled broadly and nodded.
I walked out to the sprawling gardens. The sentries at the door knew me well enough by now, to know that Maxon had authorized access to the gardens for me at almost all times of day. Still, one guard trailed a few steps behind me as I walked. The blue tips of my dress flitted across the ground.
I had been walking for a while when I felt arms wrap around my waist. I screamed, trying to get away from my captor. The rebels wouldn't take me. He chuckled behind me. I knew that voice. He leaned forward and whispered in my ear, "You missed lunch, darling."
Only one person ever called me darling- Maxon. I twisted in his arms, burying my face in his chest.
"You scared me," I mumbled
Maxon kissed my hair. "I'm sorry. That's no way to treat my princess."
I looked up into my prince's warm brown eyes. "I love you."
He kissed my forehead. "And I love you."
I smiled, taking Maxon's arm and we walked back inside.