Chapter Four

Fluttering Hearts

Author's Note: This fic isn't doing as well as I thought it would. I suppose I expected more reviews, but I'd like to thank my loyal reviewers who do review my fics. Please enjoy the fourth chapter of Masked.

The night had been a long one for Sora. When she awoke the next day, she read the clock to see it was 10:00 a.m. She had slept later than she usually would have. Layla's bed was still made, so she must have been out all night with Yuri. Sora knew that it was none of her business what the princess did, so she shook these thoughts from her head. She decided to go get some breakfast, as her stomach began to growl.

Sora yawned as she fixed her hair and put on simple clothes but a little more fancy than the clothes regular servants wore. She was an "upper class" servant as many liked to call her, but she didn't like that kind of attention. She hadn't asked to be Miss. Layla's servant, it just sort of happened. She had been serving Princess Layla for seven years now, and she was grateful she got to be so close to the princess.

::::The Past::::

Sora had been a poor fisherman's daughter, and her mother had died when she was four years old from the plague. She was an only child with no other living relatives close by except for in Wales which was too far to travel for her on her own. Her father often left her alone for long periods of time when he had to go on long fishing trips. She could remember sometimes when he didn't come home for three months at a time. When he was gone for long periods of time, she taught herself how to read and write. She picked up a small job at the fruit market which guaranteed her a meal a day. Sometimes she would find someone to stay with nearby if the weather was bad, and she couldn't go home after work. One summer day, Sora's father left out on another fishing trip but never came back home. His boat was plundered by river pirates, and he was stabbed to death. This meant she had nowhere to go. What kind of job could she get at the age of twelve? She had no real skills, and most women didn't get jobs in today's society. One day when she was fourteen she was walking near the outskirts of town. She had a little money to buy something to eat, and that's what she intended to do. Some thieves cornered her and took her money. She tried to chase after them, but one threw a rock at her knocking her out cold in the middle of a cobble stone street. It must have been fate that day that made Princess Layla come across her when she was out on her daily ride.

"Stop the carriage Winston!" she cried when she noticed the young girl in the street.

"Yes your highness!" The carriage driver obeyed as he stopped the horses.

"Let me out!" Layla commanded as he came around and opened her door.

She jumped out of the carriage as she pulled up her skirts.

She knelt down beside Sora to check her pulse.

"She's alive!" she told her carriage driver.

"What now malady?" he asked.

"Help me get her up before she goes unconscious! We will bring her back to the palace and get her something to eat, she looks malnourished." Layla sighed affectionately.

"Yes your highness!" the carriage driver said as he helped get Sora into the carriage.

When Sora woke up she was in a soft warm bed with a washcloth on her forehead.

"Ow!" she winced in pain as she touched the place on her forehead where the rock had hit her.

"Be still...We think you may have a concussion." spoke a tall blue eyed blond haired woman.

"Who are you?" asked Sora hazily.

"I'm Layla princess of England, and I found you in the rode unconscious. Here drink this." she commanded Sora as she handed her a glass of bitter ale.

"It's bitter!" Sora scowled with lips puckered.

"Drink it all down, it will help ease the pain." she said soothingly as she held up a bowl and put the spoon in Sora's mouth.

"What's that?' Sora gasped as she let the soothing liquid trail down her throat.

"It's soup. It will make you feel better." Layla replied giving her another spoonful.

"Why are you doing this?" questioned Sora.

"Doing what?" asked Layla.

"Helping me out like this..." Sora said shyly.

"Because you needed it." Layla remarked.

"How do you know?" asked Sora crudely.

"What's to know? When you're out cold in the middle of a road, things don't look to good for you." Layla explained.

"Thank you..." Sora said meekly.

"What's your name?" asked Layla.

"Sora..." she said shyly.

"Well when you are well I would like you to be my maid servant. I will pay you by giving you clothes, food, and a place to stay." She proposed.

"I would love that!" Sora said exuberantly.

"Good." smiled Layla giving her another spoonful of soup.

"It would be an honor to work for you Miss. Layla!I pledge full allegiance to your name!" she announced.

"That's good because you start in a week." Layla informed her.

"I hope we become great friends..." Sora said sheepishly.

"Me too." Layla smiled.

:::The Present:::

Sora walked towards the dining hall for the servants and was about to pour herself some soup when all of a sudden she heard a familiar voice from behind.

"Sora come eat with all the royal guests!" Layla beaconed her.

"Yes your grace." She bowed as she followed behind Layla.

She wondered why she had shown up so suddenly.

Sora entered the extravagant dining hall to see hundreds of guests sitting down with plates piled high with the most delicious looking delicacys. She made herself a small plate after Layla to show her humility towards the other guests. She didn't feel like she deserved to eat as much as they did.

Layla sighed as she seated herself beside Yuri, and Sora took a seat beside her. She traced her eyes around the room for Leon but didn't see any sign of him. She was glad of that as her anxiety lifted.

She ate in silence as Yuri and Layla chatted away until Layla asked her the million dollar question.

"What did you do last night?" she asked Sora.

She felt her heart beat in oblivion. Did she know her secret!? "Nothing much...I went to bed rather early. I wasn't feeling well." She storied as she felt a lump start to form in her stomach.

"Well the ball was amazing!" Layla sighed dreamily as she began telling her about every little detail. She had to be on her best guard and act like she was excited even though she knew about everything Layla was talking about. She was there. She felt herself being dragged out of her little daydream when Leon walked in the dining room and seated himself in front of Yuri.

"Hey it's about time you joined us!" Yuri grinned.

Sora felt herself sinking down in her chair hoping he didn't notice her.

"I suppose." Leon sighed in a daze as he nibbled on a piece of fruit.

"What's the matter?" asked Yuri.

"Nothing." Leon answered dryly.

"It's that girl who ditched you last night isn't it?" asked Yuri taking it a bit further.

"Think what you want." Leon said rather annoyed with Yuri's prying as he continued eating.

"Miss Layla may I be excused?" She asked as she felt a sick feeling starting to form in her stomach.

"Sure, I'll have some ale delivered to your room later to help with your stomach." Layla told her.

"Thank you!" Sora said as she scurried off hiding her face from Leon.

"What's with her?" asked Yuri.

"She's not feeling well." Layla replied as she sipped her wine.

"She's rather strange and doesn't talk much at all." Yuri pointed out.

"She's simply Sora that's it." Layla said.

Leon ate in silence for the rest of the meal, "I'm off." he muttered to Yuri and Layla as he walked back towards her quarters with a million thoughts of her still racing through his head.

"What's with him?" Layla asked coldly at his impudent behavior.

"Nothing, he's just being Leon." Yuri sighed.

Sora stayed in her room the rest of the day in fear that she would be found out.

At approximately 3:00 p.m. Layla came back.

"Sora, Yuri and I and some others are going out to see an opera tonight and afterwards we're having another celebration, so I will be back very late." Layla informed her as she placed in a diamond earing.

"Okay." She replied back as Layla continued to get ready.

"What do you mean you're not going!?" shot Yuri angrily at Leon when he told him he was not attending the celebration.

"I told you I'm not going. That's the only answer I'm giving you." Leon said coldly as he took a sip of his wine.

"See if I ever invite you to anything ever again!" Yuri screamed at him as he slammed the door.

"Wouldn't be the first time." mumbled Leon turning another page in his book.

"Ana I really don't think I can go!" coughed Rosetta.

"Are you sure you really want to miss this? I mean you aren't running a fever or anything." Ana pointed out.

"I know, but I'm too weak to enjoy anything, but you go on and have fun!" Rosetta told her cousin dramatically.

"All right. I'll come back a little early to make sure you're okay. Make sure you don't leave these quarters." Ana commanded.

"I won't I promise!" she lied.

Everyone made their way to the opera which left an empty desolate palace for the most part except for a few guards, servants, and the three that didn't go. Sora rolled over to notice that the time read 7:00 p.m.. She decided that it would be safe to perhaps get out and stretch her legs a bit. She might check and see if there were any leftovers from dinner too. Leon on the other hand had the same idea that she did and was walking down the same hall as she was. Unexpectedly without having time to think they slammed right into each other which made Leon topple over onto the floor with Sora falling after him.

"I am so sorry!" Sora apologized as she got off of Leon as quickly as possible.

Leon rubbed his forehead, "You should-" but before he could finish his sentence he noticed who she was...

"Are you okay?" she asked him again.

"You're her..." he breathed softly as he stood up to face her.

"I'm afraid I don't know who you're referring too. I'm sorry." She said turning away sadly until Leon firmly grasped her wrist with his hand.

"I'm not letting you leave me alone this time." he informed her as he forcefully pulled her small frame close to him.

"Please just-" but before she could say another word, he placed a finger to her lips.

"Shh...You talk to much...Just stay here with me..." he replied as he picked her up with ease cradling her like a doll in his arms.

For some reason Sora couldn't will any muscle in her body to move. She felt so powerless, but the thing was she didn't want to move. She was perfectly content in his arms.

Leon carried her to his room and locked the door behind him.

Sora felt her heart begin to beat with ecstasy.

"What was he possibly going to do to her!?" she wondered.

He placed her on his bed and climbed over her.

"Sora why were you at the ball last night?" he breathed in her ear.

"I just wanted to see what it was like! I just wanted to be a part of it..." she said uneasily.

"Why did you run away from me?" he asked another pounding question.

"I was afraid of getting caught!" she spat out.

"Enough of that..." he said gently stroking her face as he kissed her deeply. She let herself wrap her arms carelessly around his neck as he deepened each kiss and began to undo her clothes.

"Leon I-" she protested.

"What?" he asked.

"I just think that since I barely know you that I-" but he cut her off.

"You're a virgin aren't you?" he smiled.

"Yes..." she blushed.

"Fine I won't take your virginity from you." he reassured her flopping down beside her on the bed.

"Can I hold you then?" he asked her with sincere eyes.

"Yes that will be fine." she said as he pulled her close and began to rub her back gently.

"Sora...Please don't leave me again." he whispered.

"I won't I promise..." she said as she threw away every single promise she had made to Layla. She deserved to be happy too didn't she? She thought so.

Rosetta hurriedly ran down each hallway hiding behind corridor after corridor until she made it to the place where she was to meet Fool. She brought only one change of clothes and a few personal items along with plenty of money.

Rosetta waited impatiently hoping that Fool hadn't forgotten. He was nearly a half an hour late when he ran up to her almost out of breath.

"I'm sorry princess! I had to take care of something!" he gasped trying to catch his breath.

"It's fine, are you okay?" asked Rosetta a bit concerned.

"Yes fine." Fool reassured her.

"Good then lets-" but he cut her off.

"Rosetta are you for certain this is what you want?" asked Fool hesitantly.

"Yes it is." she replied.

"Then let's go." he said with a smile as he took both her hands in his.

"Let's go." she said in return smiling from ear to ear.

"As you wish." he said softly as he wrapped his arm around her waist as they headed towards the train station never to return ever again...

Sora noticed Leon had fallen asleep. She had never noticed how tranquil he looked until now. He was very handsome as she traced her eyes over his masculine features. He held her like a little girl would her most precious doll hugged to her chest. This poor man seemed to have so much turmoil in his heart. They have come from two completly different worlds and walks of life, but in reality they were exactly the same at heart...