Ow. Ow. Oww... My life hurts. Why does my life hurt?

It could be because she was awake and this time she didn't have anything to numb herself with. Jasper had made sure of that. Roughly a day ago, he stopped time when he informed her of her father's attack. He was only able to keep her in the car by pouring her a drink, and being the master manipulator she loved to hate, he's drugged her. Drugged her and provided fix after fix every time she seemed hysterical. Only then was he able to get her on a plane and to God knows where. The drugs were gone now. They'd been thrown out the window of a moving car. Or maybe he rolled down the window on the plane and threw them out?

Wait.

No.

That part was probably a dream. Was her father's fate just a nightmare too? None of it felt real. She didn't even know how long she had been like this. Everything just mixed together in her head, making it hurt.

Her life just hurt.

Groaning, she dared open her eyes. Through blurry vision she could see the room was a mess. A hotel. She was in a hotel with cheap way-under-100-thread-count sheets. A girl like her was never disoriented enough to not recognize cheap when she felt it against her skin.

"Jasper?"

It was a whisper. Her mouth was so dry and her throat hurt. Then again, even the intangible parts of her hurt. Sitting up, she took her time to eye everything in the small room before calling him again. Not that he would hear her hoarse voice. After feeling around the bed for her phone, she turned to the nightstand to find a letter. It was addressed to her in Liam's hand writing.

Desperate for answers, Eleanor almost tore the thing in half trying to get it open. She looked it over three times to make sure he'd actually written it, paying extra attention to how he dotted his i's and crossed his t's. Hopefully this letter contained the answers she was looking for. She needed to know her brother had really written it before bothering with the contents. Right now she couldn't even trust her self. Her own mind was trying to convince her that the jumbled up series of events she "remembered" were true. Couldn't be. Specially because windows on airplanes didn't roll down nor had she ever seen Jasper wear a paisley shirt.

Len,

By the time you've read this I hope you are as far as Jasper could have taken you. I regret that you had to find out the news about our father's attack this way but I assure you he is being taken care of. I've asked Jasper to keep you away from the palace. Our mother and Cyrus are just trying to sink their claws into me as I am now the acting king of England. No need for you to be collateral damage in what ever is happening here. The Queen will think you just took off to binge somewhere and I will keep her attention on me while we figure out what has really happened to our father. Please don't do anything irrational and be safe. When we sort things out, I will send for you.

Yours always,
Liam

She must have read it over at least a dozen times, mentally asking it questions the innocent piece of paper couldn't answer when she heard the door open. Jasper closed the door behind him then making his way over to sit at the edge of the bed. All she could do was stare at him, every unspoken question from before, forming in her mouth but never making it past her lips. He put the unopened water it in her hand and practically tore the letter out of the other.

"It's just water. You're dehydrated, drink your highness."

Doing as she was told, she drank the entire contents, not taking her eyes off his. Even after finding her voice again, she could do nothing but stare.

"How long was I out of it?"

"It's been three days."

Jasper was trying to be professional. This wasn't the time for mind games nor did he want to risk her going on a rampage again. He didn't have the means to sedate her this time. Just a few hours ago, the woman sitting before him had given him a run for his money and genuinely challenged him, forcing him to manhandle her into the room and not the way she liked it. The motel's owner had been handsomely payed off in advanced for the damages and for his silence. Anything to keep him from calling the police.

"Lay low" were Liam's last words before he packed the princess' things, and that he would. Everyone knew Las Vegas cops were never in the mood to deal with the crazies they faced on a nightly basis.

Notes:

Thanks for the likes and follows! I know they don't talk much but next chapter will be a lot of convo :) Please review, the ask box is up on Tumblr and do follow on Twitter ! HRH_Len