'And what exactly are you doing to find my daughter? She went missing four days ago! How can you not have found anything already!' The King's words were bitter as he paced his office. Queen Roseanna sat on the sofa, teary-eyed beside the Norwegian Queen, Elena, whilst the King of Norway, Aleksander, stared out of the window, wondering what else they could do to find his son, the future King of Norway and the English princess, who his son seemed awfully fond of. Since meeting Princess Sky in Paris, he'd spoken fondly of her and King Aleksander had been pleased that his son had showed interest in a beautiful, young and talented girl, one who seemed quite pleasant and would make a good Queen of Norway should they ever marry. It also had the power to make Norway and England's relationship stronger.

'Your majesty, we have sent out extra officers and investigators.' Victor Benedict said, his nervousness clear to everyone in the room. 'The difficulty is, they may have even left Europe by now and even if they haven't, they seem to have disappeared without a trace.'

'Impossible!' King Edward's voice was angry and his face reflected this.

'There must be something you have missed.' King Aleksander said, now turning to face Victor Benedict and his colleague, Anna Kowalski. 'Someone must have seen something.'

'Eye witnesses in the area are traumatised, your majestys.' Victor replied. 'Lots of them still don't remember exactly what happened and seeing as the security were killed in the explosions...'

'Someone must have known they would be at the London Eye. They would have been followed unless someone in the palace leaked the information.' King Edward's forehead creased. 'Send out another press announcement. We need more information from anyone who can help across the whole of Europe and maybe even the rest of the world. Check airport security cameras and ferry port cameras again. For every city, every port, do you hear me?'

'And increase the reward.' King Aleksander added. 'I want our children found alive and well and completely unharmed.'

Sky.

I looked up from the book I was reading, sat on a cushion on a wall over-looking the ocean and realised Seb was looking at me. 'What?'

'Nothing.' He gave a small smile and looked out at the view, a thoughtful look on his face.

I tilted my head to the right and looked at him again. 'Seb?'

'Yes?' His blue eyes flicked back to mine and he stretched out his legs in front of him on the window seat, his feet either side of mine.

'Thank you again for taking care of me.' I replied with a small smile, ignoring the guards who were watching our every move. 'It means a lot.'

'You're welcome.' He looked back at the sketchpad in his lap that he'd found in our room and continued sketching.

'What are you drawing?' I asked out of interest. I placed the copy of Tess of the D'Urbervilles down beside me.

'It's not finished yet so you'll have to wait.' His smile had a hint of cheekiness and it made me relax a little, although it was not quite enough to forget the situation we were in.

'What do you think they have instore for us this evening?' I swirled the water around in my glass and then sipped it, frowning at the warmth of it from being in the sunshine.

Seb's smile faded and his mouth formed a straight line as his forehead creased. 'I don't know.'

I rested my head against the pillar I was leaning against and I sighed, looking out at the water, where a few birds bobbed along in the sunshine. I wondered if there were colourful fish in the water. I wondered where in Europe we were and if there was anyone else living nearby. I wondered who else knew we were here. I closed my eyes and tried to picture school and I tried to picture the palace. I thought of Angel and the joy I felt when I rode her. I thought of my apartment and the fun night I'd had with the girls just under a week before hand. I thought of Zed and how it felt to kiss him. How he'd looked at me at the ball. Then my father's head came into my mind, as if punishing me for thinking about Zed Benedict, the Romeo to my Juliet.

'What do you think our families are doing right now?' I asked Seb, opening my eyes.

He chewed on the end of the pencil he was holding and then twirled the pencil around between two fingers as he spoke again. 'I'd imagine my father is with yours and I'd imagine they've had very little sleep because they're busy trying to find out where we are.' He paused for a moment. 'I know you don't get on with your father but I know that he loves you and wants the best for you. You are his daughter, after all.'

The sticky, warm air made me feel sweaty and I had just finished washing when I was pulled away by Lenka to the room that was originally for me. Seb had tried to keep me safe, but the guards had intervened and I'd been taken anyway. It was mortifying and horrifying. What were they going to do with me? Yet, they didn't harm me. Lenka and two other women dressed in medieval-style evening gowns removed my dress, despite my insistance that I was perfectly capable of doing so, and they changed me into a sky blue dress in a medieval style, with a corset top embroidered with silver detailing along the top where a little cleavage showed, a full skirt and slightly off-shoulder sleeves with the same embroidered detailing around the wrist. It was pretty, but just knowing that it came from Ezra gave me the creeps. My hair was put up, a few curls falling and framing my face and they applied some make-up. As I looked at myself in the mirror, I found it somewhat ironic that Ezra was interested in the Middle Ages even though he wanted to abolish the monarchy.

When I arrived, accompanied by the ladies and guards, in the dining hall, a long table was laid out with many chairs and food set out in the middle, the wine already in flow. People spoke in English, but many had accents from all over Europe, masking where we actually were. A few heads turned as I walked in with the women and they greeted people with kisses on the cheeks, whereas I just sank into the chair opposite Seb and next to Ezra who was, of course, head of the table. Seb looked like he was from a fairytale with with brown trousers tucked into boots, a cream blouse and a brown jacket embroidered with gold detailing by the button holes. He gave me a small smile from across the table as wine was poured into my glass. Did I want to drink? I wasn't sure. On one hand it surely would get me through the evening but on the other, perhaps it was better to stay sober and alert.

The three-course dinner tasted dull to me and I didn't eat plenty as I had done at breakfast. My appetite had gone now that the sun was starting to set and the nerves of what lay ahead that night. I had a few mouthfuls of dessert and then left my spoon in the bowl of the half-eaten tiramisu. The bowls were collected by some girls and boys who looked a few years younger than me and then Ezra clapped his hands together. 'Welcome to our little gathering! Thank you all for coming, it's nice to have a party once in a while, especially when a plan falls into place.' I cringed and Seb frowned across from me. 'Now if you'll all join me in the reception room we'll have some music and dancing.' He walked out followed by guests and Seb and I lagged behind.

'You look lovely as always.' He said softly as I flattened down my dress and tried to get over just how tight the ribbons on my dress were tied at the back. How on earth had women worn corsets under these things too and still managed to breathe and keep their boobs? I felt like I was being squeezed across the chest. We followed the guests out of the room and into a reception room which was just about big enough for guests and a few chairs. An small orchestra was set up in the corner and I recognised the tune of Take me to Church being played on the violin and cello.

'I hope you're planning on dancing.' Ezra said, appearing in front of us as a few couples took to dancing in the space cleared for a dancefloor. Seb stiffened beside me at the closeness between myself and the captor.

'Of course.' Seb replied with a curt nod.

'May I?' He held out his hand to me and I swallowed, nervously. 'Let me rephrase that; dance with me.' It wasn't like when Zed told me to dance. This was controlling and wicked and even his voice was enough to make me shudder. He pulled me into a space and Seb frowned as Ezra's hand was on my waist and he started to dance with me, stepping in time to the music, but stumbling every so often. He wasn't a good dancer, that much was clear. I hadn't been once, but all the practise with nobles and royals and even Zed had made me a much better dancer. The song changed to Teardrops on my guitar as the strings continued and the dancing slowed. 'You're quite the dancer.' He commented, his piercing eyes flicking to look at mine.

I didn't break eye contact as I spoke, expressionless. 'Apparently princesses are expected to dance.'

'So I've heard.'

'Just so you know,' his foot caught on mine and he tried to hide the frown as I spoke. 'I didn't want any of this. If I had it my way, I'd still be in Cornwall enjoying a quiet and simple life with my adoptive mother and father. I didn't want to be a princess and it's not like I had a choice.'

'There's always a choice.' His words were fierce and I tensed more than I already was as we danced and I tried to keep my distance between our bodies. 'You know, you're a lot prettier than I imagined.' I broke eye contact and sucked in a deep breath. Seb stood watching us, his arms folded and a concerned expression on his face that he seemed to be trying to hide. 'If you were not a princess, I feel that perhaps we could have been friends or more.' My stomach churned at the thought of the latter and he released me, clapping his hands together. 'Sky will now be treating us to a performance herself as she is so musically talented.' My heart lurched as the pretty sound of the strings cut out and eyes flicked towards me. Ezra's face was stern. 'Well?'

I cautiously walked over to the old piano and sat myself down on the stool, my hands shaking as I lifted the lid. What was I going to sing? The dancers were looking at me and Seb gave me a small, reassuring smile. Then it hit me. I ran my fingers over the keys and closed my eyes as I started to sing a song that was taking a risk. 'Like a small boat

On the ocean

Sending big waves

Into motion

Like how a single word

Can make a heart open

I might only have one match

But I can make an explosion

And all those things I didn't say

Wrecking balls inside my brain

I will scream them loud tonight

Can you hear my voice this time?

This is my fight song

Take back my life song

Prove I'm alright song

My power's turned on

Starting right now I'll be strong

I'll play my fight song

And I don't really care if nobody else believes

'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me.'

My fingers started to hit the keys with more force as I sang, the emotion seeping out of me and floating away through the air in the notes I played and sang. When I finished, I opened my eyes and saw Seb giving me a lopsided smile. Everyone else seemed to be frozen as they looked at Ezra, waiting for his reaction.

'Somewhat ironic considering your current situation, your highness.' His voice was mocking and a few people laughed, making my blood boil. He was an ass, a psycho. He clapped his hands together. 'Let's get back to some good music.' It was a childish insult but I didn't let him show that he had bothered me. Instead, I stood and walked over to Seb.

'Well I thought you were wonderful.' He told me quietly as a woman hurried past us carrying a glass of wine. 'And I thought the song was a good choice.'

'I want him to know that we're not going down without a fight.' I replied and he gave a small smile.

'You do say you hate being a princess but I wish you could see what a wonderful one you are.' He replied. He held out his hand as Stay with me started to be played by the string orchestra. 'Shall we?'

I nodded and I let him lead me to the floor. I smiled at the old-fashionned dancing we started with, walking with our hands almost touching as we walked in a circle to the right and then back round the opposite way. Then he caught my hand by surprise and twirled me around as the chorus started. I looked at the prince in front of me, the one who was going to make an excellent King one day, and I couldn't help but feel overwhelming grateful that out of the many people I could be being held captive with, I was him. He was becoming my saviour, my safety, my best friend.

'Essi non sono a sapere che siamo in Italia . Essa deve rimanere segreto.' Seb and I froze at the voices round the corner in the hallway as we made our way back to our room that evening. He held his finger to his lips, making sure I kept quiet and we both leaned against the wall in silence, listening.

'È per questo che stiamo parlando inglese?'

'Yes, now we must speak in English before we are overheard.' The woman's voice was stern and I recognised it as Lenka's.

Seb reached for my hand and held it carefully, pulling me away from the wall and up the corridor. We passed Lenka, who looked shifty as we passed, and a guard that regularly stood outside of the doorway. We stepped into the room and closed the door behind us, hearing the sound of the key in the lock.

'Italian.' Seb whispered, pacing the room.

'I got that.' I whispered back. 'We're in Italy aren't we?'

'My Italian isn't great but I'd say yes, yes we are.' He walked over to the window and looked out, but the scene was dark, other than the moon's reflection on the water. 'It would explain the climate and it would explain the trees and shrubbery. I did wonder if that was an olive tree by the terrace.' He turned to face me. 'How do you feel about learning Norwegian?'

'Norwegian?' My eyebrows shot up. 'I've never been great at languages but shouldn't we be learning Italian?'

'We need to be able to communicate without them understanding us.' He ran a hand through his blonde hair. 'And as for not being great at languages, you never had me as a teacher.'

I smiled at the cheeky comment. 'So what's the plan?'

'Hvordan har du det?' Seb said the following day from our spot out on the terrace, overlooking the water. I'd telepathically told Zed that morning that we were somewhere in Italy but I had no idea if he'd got the message as they'd been no response. And it had given me a dreadful headache. I rubbed my forehead and looked over at Seb, realising he was waiting for a response. Hadn't he asked how I was?

'Fine.' I replied, pulling back my hair off of my hot neck.

'I norsk.' He scolded. In Norwegian.

'Bra takk?' I questionned, tilting my head to the side.

'Very good.' He smiled, looking pleased. 'How is your head?' I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding, relieved that we were back to English. Norwegian was nothing like French or any language we'd ever been taught at school. The sounds were so different and so were the words. It was so damn hard.

'It's okay.' I said, rubbing it. 'I think it might just be the heat.' I sipped at my glass of water and he gave a concerned expression.

'We should go back to the room.' He swung his legs off of the ledge and turned towards the shaded part of the terrace.

'No it's fine.' I replied.

'No, we should go back.' He glanced over at the guards and then back at me and I understood his meaning; so we could discuss things in private. I nodded and stood up, following him.

xx-xx-xx

England.

'What do you mean you've had news that she's in Italy? News from where?' King Edward's face was like thunder as he spoke to Victor Benedict in his office. He'd been taken away from the lunch he was having with King Aleksander and the two Queens.

Victor shifted uncomfortably, unsure whether admitting about Zed's telepathy with Sky would get his brother in trouble. 'There was an anonymous call.' He lied. 'We have traced it back to France.' Another lie. 'But they were sure that the princess and prince are in Italy.'

'Italy?' Prince Phillip walked in unannounced. His sister's disappearance had caused him many sleepless nights and he looked weary, his eyes red from tiredness. 'Then father we must go immediately.'

'Your highness, it is far too dangerous. We don't know what these people are capable of. Let us do our job.' Victor replied and the King frowned.

'Let you do your job? And that's what exactly?! My daughter has nearly been missing a whole week! You're not doing your job, that's the bloody problem!' The King growled and Victor struggled to stay stood tall.

'We've sent teams all over Italy and we will find them.' Victor replied, feeling too sure of himself.

'Italy is a big country.' The prince's face was glum. 'And there's islands too.'

'Well then I guess we're just going to need more men.'

Sky.

I looked out of the window and at the drop below. I swallowed. 'You can't be serious?' I whispered to Seb. He wanted us to leave overnight, climbing out of the window. Except our window was right above a large cliff, which fell down into the sea.

'It's dangerous, I know.' He sighed. 'But I think it's our only choice. Here is the only place they aren't watching us.'

'What if we fall?' I swallowed, looking at the rocks below. Sure there was a ledge half-way down and some bits of cliff were bumpy, but if you fell you wouldn't survive thanks to the jagged rocks in the water.

'I'm not going to let anything happen to you.' Seb replied, his voice soft. I climbed into the bed in my nightgown and he sank down beside me. 'We'll give it a few days. Maybe another opportunity will come up.'

But somehow I think we both knew that wasn't going to happen.

I was woken up in the night by what sounded like a gunshot and I flinched, my breath fast and my heart hammering against my chest. Seb pulled me into him and I rested my head on his bare chest as tear filled my eyes.

'I want to go home.' I whispered and he ran a hand through my hair in a soothing motion.

'I know, me too.'

Three more days passed, three more days of learning Norwegian and exploring the grounds whilst escorted by guards, trying to work out a way out, a way to freedom. We walked through gardens in the sunshine, the freckles starting to come out on my face. We sat on the terrace playing chess and reading. We gritted teeth whilst dining with Ezra, his hatred for the monarchy never straying far from conversation.

On our eighth day of captivity, we found ourselves enjoying the sunshine sat by a grand fountain in a courtyard surrounded by greenery and high walls. I glanced over at Seb and realised that once again, he was sketching. 'What's that over there?' He looked up and I pulled the sketchbook out of his hands with a giggle.

'Hey!' He said, his cheeks flushing red.

'What?' I smiled, standing up on the edge of the fountain. I looked at the flower he had been sketching with such beauty and precision. If it had been colour, it would have also looked as if you could pull it out of the page and hold it in your hand. I flicked through a few more pictures; the view from our room, an olive tree, and then there was a sketch of me, sat reading a book on the window-seat on the terrace. My jaw dropped. It was almost a photograph and I almost looked pretty. I looked up at Seb and he reached forward, trying to grab the sketchbook from me. But then the book went flying into the air towards a security guard and we both ended up in the fountain, completely soaked. I squealed at the cold water and Seb laughed from his seated position beside me.

'Completely your fault.' He said with a chuckle, running his hand through his wet hair.

My cream dress was see-through as I stood up, folding my arms across my chest. You could see the blue underwear I'd worn underneath. Cringe. Seb stood up beside me, still laughing and a small smile played on my lips, the laughter almost contagious.

'Master Ezra wants to see you both on the terrace immediately.' A security guard I didn't recognise appeared and his voice was firm.

'Immediately?' I blinked and blushed at my soaking wet appearance, my see-through dress.

'Immediately.'

We followed him to the terrace, shoes squelching as we walked. The smell of lunch was in the air and so was the sweet smell of the flowers we passed. Ezra was already waiting for us, stood and seeming to be admiring the view. He turned to face us as we approached, his arms across his chest just like mine were and just like Seb's were.

'Fancied a swim, did we?' Ezra said with his smooth, English accent. He eye-balled me and I resisted a shudder at the smile creeping across his mouth.

'May we go and get changed?' Seb asked from beside me.

'No.' He signalled to the chairs. 'Sit.' We both sat down, cautiously. 'I have decided to change the plan.' Seb's body stiffened and despite being soaking wet, I felt warm as my breath caught in my throat. Ezra looked at me. 'You and I are going to get married.'

'Surely you can't be serious?' I choked on the air, my fingernails digging into the palms of my hands.

'But of course.' He smiled, a smile that made me feel sick. 'If we are married then I become a prince and I have some power. And then of course, if your father and brother die, you're next in line to the throne, are you not?'

He wanted to kill my father and brother? My heart sank. 'You wouldn't.'

He adjusted his jacket, revealing a gun tucked into its holster and I swallowed. 'I think you might underestimate me.' I didn't say anything, I just stared at the gun as he continued. 'Enjoy your last night together. Tomorrow Sky and I will be married and we will be sharing a room together so that we can start a family.'

'No!' I cried out, my eyes filling with tears and my teeth gritted.

'You can't force the princess to marry you.' Seb said, visciously.

'I can.' Ezra pulled out his gun and aimed it at Seb. I froze. 'It appears I no longer have any need for you, your highness.'

'No!' I cried out again, clutching onto Seb's arm.

'Pull the trigger.' Seb dared him and I sucked in a breath as I stared at him in horror.

'I'll marry you!' I said as a tear escaped. 'For god's sake I'll marry you.'

'Good.' Ezra smiled. 'You're free to go. Dinner will be brought to your room this evening.'

The tears poured out of my eyes when we were back at the room, behind the safety of a closed door. I sobbed, not caring that I was soaking wet and not caring that my dress was still see-through. I curled up by the window, wanting nothing more than to be back in Cornwall with Sally and Simon, in our tiny two bedroom cottage by the sea. Seb reached out and stroked my damp hair gently, his voice just above a whisper. 'We need to leave. Tonight.'