Note: Honest to God, the last chapter was terrible. Taylor so out of character, please ignore that. I don't know what drugs I was doing... Anyway, some of the most raw and intense stuff I've ever written is coming up in the next few chapters.
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Chapter 20 – Give to Get?
"Mn." It was a simple sound; made by a human who was awakening from a very comfortable sleep by the movement of another body, presumably a body sharing the bed with her. My fingers always seemed to hook right around Luke's wrist when he moved to rise and tried not to disturb me. I happened to be right in tune with his movements; and when I'd made that sound to let him know I knew he was leaving me and I wished him not too; I received a long, passionate kiss as a parting gift.
"Dawn draws nearer. You have a busy day ahead of you, I bet." Luke whispered softly to me, his cold breath teasing my lips. His cool fingertips ran down my cheek. I flushed a tiny bit to warm the cold of them. "Don't tease me like that." he added in a more pointed tone. I smiled and he placed one more kiss on my forehead. "I'll be sleeping when the sun is risen, so I can lessen the need to drink as much as I can. Halling will be in your personal library all hours, if you need assistance. I will come back here right after night comes again, I promise."
His tone, which sounded of loyalty and protection, reminded me where I was and why I was here. I finally opened my eyes after a short pause. "Is she here yet, Luke?"
"I don't know." He answered honestly. "I will find out, though. You'll be the first to know."
"Fins aquesta nit, el meu amor." I threw at him in a sultry voice.
A third kiss accumulated into my parting gift. After he left and closed the door behind him, an absolute silence filled my bed chamber. I rolled over in the place Luke had been all night, in an attempt to feel the coolness of the sheets and pretend like the missing piece I felt within me was him.
That was, until the sun rose, and another day in a life reciprocal to my place with the beings of the night began anew.
I was almost afraid to go back to sleep after Luke's protection had left my physically; I felt the rays of the dawn on my backside, and watched the room slowly lighten with the sun. I rose and decided I'd go and reminisce in the private library of the royal family. I changed into an outfit that was comfortable, not exactly sophisticated, and made my way across the hall. My mother's diary was in my hand.
The library of which I entered was much smaller than the 'public' library in the royal home, which was downstairs. In fact, it wasn't really a private library, so to say. It was an old room off-limits to anyone besides the royal of blood and the maids who cleaned it because it held records, precious documents, diaries and journals full of personal accounts of each heir's life and time of rule, favorite and treasured books of many of my ancestors, and more. I guess one could say, the royal family's library held the history and secrets of the family. It wasn't a public affair and honestly, I held second thoughts about Taylor having access to all of this private information.
The antique door to the room had a lock on it that had always been broken. I slipped inside quietly. Not to my surprise, the room itself was dark with the curtains closed, the only light was on the other side of the room given from a lamp on a desk where a dark body sat. Taylor, his wavy black hair and back facing me, hunched over something at one of the desks in the room. I reached over to a switch and turned the main overhead lights on. He made an unpleasant noise of surprise from the flood of light, but did not move.
I ignored him for a moment and looked around the room, taking in the familiarity. To the left were several book shelves with the books and journals and diaries. To the right of the room were the desks, cabinets and chests filled with certain family artifacts, like swords or retired crowns of the kings and queens before me, or personal things of that nature. On the walls hung tapestries, paintings, mostly of my ancestors or my family seal. In a corner were the large, older paintings in their frame, stacked one after the other and covered halfway by a sheet to keep the damaging sunlight away. Even with the maids cleaning away the dust, the place looked like it was forgotten, or untouched for awhile now. I admired items in the chests before browsing the shelves...
I recalled a time, back in the states, when I had wished for these journals and diaries so I could have read them and found clues toward breaking the curse. I now knew that the curse hadn't really existed in the way my mother and many before her thought it did. Again, my thoughts drifted to Courtney V. Seeing an empty place on the end of one shelf, I carefully placed my mothers leather diary within the several other journals; right where it really belonged.
I moved along to the back of the library, passed Taylor, and looked at what was on the wall before me.
Covered by a large, faded blood-stained yellowish bed sheet, which I yanked on to fully reveal what the wall sheltered, was the art of the Lockett Family Tree. The sheet had been the one used to clean up the body parts of several Lockett kings; someone along the way decided the sheet was a historical marker of the curse and shouldn't be forgotten. Oh yes, had I mentioned? Back before this room became a library, before the rest of the castle around it had been refurnished, it had been King Stephan IV's study; the one he was murdered within. I'd been educated of my family's history enough to know which Lockett kings had been killed, which deaths had looked like accidents, who had died of sickness, and the wives that had committed suicide in response. No one had ever known Courtney was responsible, though. Not until I pieced it all together and Luke revealed that fact to me. As far as my country was concerned, they thought whomever I married would die by the hand of the curse as well, as time went on. Anyway, the wall itself was a giant canvas, and after each generation produced a new heir and that heir married, a professional artist would paint on the next little pictures and names, branching off from the one above it, thus forming the Lockett Family Tree over several generations. When I was a child and my mother had introduced me to this room, I'd never looked above the generation before my grandparents. I saw now that the starting point, way at the top, began with the first Lockett who became a king, Stephen IV. Just as the legend told it. I squinted my eyes to see the faded image of mortal Courtney at the very top, connected to her king's little portrait by a vine. I noticed the 'Lockett' behind her name had been ripped through, a faded red 'V' was written over it. I now understood what that meant too. I looked to the single branch that sprouted from their marriage; below it was the daughter of the king, Helena, married to Adrian, they produced the king Stephan V; just as Luke had told me. The design lingered all the way down to the empty space for myself. As I stared upon the branches of my family, everything made so much more sense, everything fell into place. The mysteries had been solved. Now, the next step was to rid of her; the curse and the murderer.
I clenched the dirty sheet in my hands and finally looked away from the awesome wall. Taylor was now staring at me, when my eyes traveled to where he was sitting. His coal eyes flickered to the sheet in my hands, and then he stared at me again.
"If you smell the blood on this; can you see their murders?" I asked him in a quiet, emotionless tone. His pointless stare darkened to a heavy drone.
"I can smell it from here." he replied with aggravation. "So, yes." He whispered after another moment. He turned back around in his seat, crotched over whatever was on the desk, and became emotionless again.
"Is Rebecca's blood on it?" I asked now, simply to spite him. I doubted he even listened. I didn't think such a simple tease would pierce a hole in his cold, scheming exterior.
But it had.
I blinked,and then in the next moment I was choking as a cold hand clamped around my throat. My body numbed and became immobile from the shock. I couldn't tell if I was breathing... Cold coal eyes stared death into me; Taylor's jaw was shut tightly, I could see the rigidness of his face clearly from how close he'd chosen to come.
"I may be in your home, under your grace, with your permission; but I will not tolerate to be spoken to like that." He hissed at me, jerking my body just slightly with each word he emphasized. "Luke will not like it at all if I have to show you your place, wench." He released me and I stumbled back. The sheet was forgotten as I cradled my neck and choked for air. The tall man straightened his collar, fixed his cuffs, then corrected his posture and spoke to me in an even tone again. "Let's be sensible about this, Allison. I'm already doing enough to throw my dignity at the feet of a woman; being here, protecting whomever you wish me to protect, just so I can have your and Luke's damned cooperation. Don't make me regret keeping you alive."
If there wasn't that tiny detail in this situation that said he could kill me, and get away with it, if I opened my mouth and let the fire of hatred I held for him consume him with my spiteful words, I would have done just that. I couldn't figure out his motives, however. He wouldn't just belittle me for the sake of belittling; Taylor was more precise than that. He played a mind game, but what was he playing at now as his eyes seemed a darker shade of black, glazed over with stingy confusion and bitterness? I didn't come to a conclusion as he returned to his seat and his complete attention was captured by whatever was on the desk before him, once again.
All thoughts of Taylor, the very unpleasant and confusing ones, left my mind when I slammed the door to the library behind me and continued down the hallway to check on Lucy in her room.
I found her bed empty, but the bathroom was occupied for several minutes. I waited until she emerged, and when she had I startled her.
"Oh! Ally; don't sit there so still and quiet!" she yelled at me after I'd said 'good morning' and scared the wits from her. I apologized and we made our way down to breakfast together. I would never tell her that I'd almost gotten lost on the way; almost everything looked different and had been redone or rearranged compared to twelve years ago...
Breakfast was just being placed on the table as we walked into the room. I know I said breakfast, but really it was the equivalent to a morning buffet in the really fancy five star hotels. There was a large variety of foods, anything from eggs and bacon, to fruits, yogurts, specialized meals with a touch of the local spices and recipes... and there was enough to feed half of the capitol. I wondered momentarily who all would be eating and if this was too much, as the waiters set each plate or tray on the long table in the dining room. It was set up like a buffet, I told Lucy as she seemed confused on what to do next. I took a plate from a waiter who offered one to me and began browsing over the food; it all gave off wonderful aromas to my senses. "We hope the cooking is to your liking, you highness." One waiter said to me with a slight bow. Chef Joaquin certainly did train them well, I had to admit.
"If Joaquin is still the chef, then I already know I will." I replied. He honestly seemed surprised that I'd spoken to him. I wanted to get the 'she's the queen, on a higher level, therefore do not expect be to spoken to from her and grovel in her footsteps' idea out of all of the new staff's minds as quickly as I could manage. I was not that queen, or that person. I took a quick bite of the peppered potato, so delicious. "Compliments to the chef." I told him now, and then I laughed. How starstruck he was to have the queen laugh with him.
I continued on down the line, Lucy close behind, and found a place to sit at the other end of the table. The blonde and I began to talk, about everything and nothing. Her Catalan phrase of the day was 'A pleasure to make your acquaintance,' which she would need to use more later on when I would have to meet the people of importance and make a good impression, like Nicolas and his father wanted me to do right away with that ball...
The morning grew later, and when Nicolas and several others all appeared for a quick bite to eat, I was obligated to stay at the breakfast table for the entire time and make conversation with everyone I could. The house did not have to eat together for any other meal but dinner, and even that was only certain days of the week. One thing was certain though; if you missed breakfast, you had to wait to eat until lunch or dinner was served or else go out and get your own food from the city. That meant in the hours of morning, I managed to see pretty much everyone who was living in my home when they came to enjoy the most important meal of the day.
Once breakfast was pretty much over and done with, three hours later; Lucy had longed excused herself and disappeared to go argue and collaborate with Tony, the Italian clothing designer and appearance coordinator, Nicolas was the only one who remained by my side during this time; I watched the waiters work together to clean up. One would hold a large plastic bag next to the table, the other would simply dump all of the remaining contents of food in the tray into the bag.
I was positively stunned when I watched this happen.
Nicki had occupied himself with reading and filling out some sort of legal document. I touched his shoulder and did not peel my eyes away from what the waiters were doing. "Nicolas. What are those waiters doing right now?" I asked him simply.
He looked up, sensing something was apparently wrong with something with the waiters from my tone. "They're...uhm, cleaning up?" he replied, slightly confused. There was still so much food on the table... surely they were not planning on throwing that entire dish of omelets away? When the man did pick up the dish and throw the food away, I snapped.
"You meant to say wasting food. Leftover food we used to take to the cathedral and supply the soup kitchen for the immediate families who needed a meal everyday." I told him sharply.
I believe he gulped. The waiters overheard something in their actions was wrong and they stopped until I addressed them. "Uhm, yeah, we did do that, some time ago; we stopped because of lack of helping hands... and several other reasons I'm sure you don't care for." He finished quickly.
"Yes, I don't care for the reasons. What do I have planned today?" I asked him, still staring at the help.
"Well, no activity is actually planned; father just wanted me to get you up to date with our country, in detail, and have you make a public appearance so you can reacquaint with the people again before that ball we mentioned yesterday, which he wants to have this Saturday evening..."
"Perfect." I told him and didn't let him continue. "What are your names?" I asked the two waiters. They seemed ready to wet themselves with my curt tone of voice.
"I'm Jose, this is Rafael..." one of them whispered, heads bowed. I snapped my fingers and they looked up again. As they should be, not constantly bowing; I know that strained the neck and back, after all.
"Jose, Rafael. Throw away another plate of perfectly good food and you'll be fired. Instead, I want you both to get the kitchen staff to assist you in wrapping up every leftover and have it ready to be taken into the city in the next ten minutes. Nicki," I waved the other two off as I turned to my friend. "Go to the garage and pull your favorite car around to the front."
"What makes you think I have a car?"
"I know your family owns a few vehicles. Your father is the regent, Nick. I'm a terrible driver, so would you pick out the one that can hold all of the leftover food and a few helping hands for us?"
He saw straight through my plan and complied, almost too happily.
Within the next ten minutes, Nicolas chauffeured myself, Jose, Rafael, and a couple other servants I grabbed from their duties into the city. The aroma of the breakfast filled the car intensively.
"The kitchen is open from, 7-10am, 5-8pm, right?" I asked Nicolas, looking at what time the clock in the car read.
"Yeah, but I'm sure they'd extend the time for you." He added, dark eyes never leaving the road.
"They shouldn't know I'm coming." I shot back, shooting him a glare when he fully grinned.
The helpers in the backseats looked bewildered and confused, almost scared. I finally explained to them what they would be doing if they hadn't figured it out or anything was unclear. They seemed to be more relaxed by the time we arrived.
The kitchen was just an old tavern that had closed down next to the cathedral a long time ago and had been used as the soup kitchen ever since; open to all who needed a meal, including families that just needed help with feeding their family for a week or two until the next paycheck came or something like that. There was no real limit on poverty, but kids walking around looking for free samples had been discouraged back when I had volunteered here weekly as a service to the common people. Since the palace was right up the road and most certainly was not poor or needing a meal, it only made sense to give back to them. I wondered how long the palace had stopped delivering the extra food from meals to the people who needed it, but I didn't ask or spend too much time on details. If the tradition was lost, I was starting it up again now, as Nicki pulled up next to the tavern and parked on the side of the street.
I helped myself out of the car and signaled to the servants I brought to help to carry in the dishes of food while Nicki and I handled the plates. "I suggest spooning the food on the plates so you can give them to the people personally and get to know them." he suggested. I easily agreed and thanked a common man who had stopped to hold the door open for us.
"Was that- .. ?" The woman next to him began to ask. I didn't look back to see the evident shock or confirm their assumption.
The inside of the old tavern easily told its age; dust floated in the air, windows were open and air condition did not exist within the old walls. Old picnic tables and a variety of old chairs taken from random places accumulated to seat the people. In total, there were maybe three dozen people seated at these tables; some left and others had just arrived to grab a quick bite before the kitchen closed. At a quick glance, they were a variety of clothing-layered people who looked hungry and rather grim.
"Mommy, I don't want to eat this crummy food." I passed a little girl on my way to the bar table, where the food was set and served. The child had dark brown hair that flowed out around her little scarf; she crossed her cute little mitten hands over her sweater and made a face.
"It's only until tomorrow, when your daddy gets home with good stuff." Her mother replied in a rather exasperated tone; as though she were tired of her daughter's complaints or tired of being in the situation of eating here. I couldn't blame them. My servants had already began scooping the food unto plates and handing the plates to the people who were patiently waiting in line. Nicki came over to me with three plates balanced on one arm. I smiled at his 'talent' and began to distribute the food to the people who had been sitting. First was the little girl and her mother.
"It's not crummy. I promise." I told her with a wink. The cutest smile, with missing front teeth, was the child's thank you.
Very quickly, with Nicki and my servant's help, plates of the fresh food from my palace were being passed along down to every table and every person. I walked over to a table in the corner that seated four men who seemed to be lost in conversation, or kept to themselves. I couldn't help but eavesdrop on their conversation as I approached with plates for each of them.
"Is it true that Allison Lockett returned? I heard about it but I wasn't sure if I should believe the rumors..." One of the unshaved men began in a whisper. I waited to hear the response before I set the new food down to replace the 'crummy stuff' as it was called.
"Of course it's true. I saw her myself yesterday." Another across from him replied bitterly. "And I watched her march up to the palace without an explanation, after years of absence, probably to be pampered and treated like God's own angel, dressing in silk, eating like the queen, while we're stuck in here with this crap." His wooden spoon stirred the gray looking liquid in the bowl before him, he moved a few of the old potatoes and meat around within in. The dull appearance of it hardly looked inviting for eating.
"That sounds awfully unfair." I told the man, unable to restrain myself from entering the conversation. His friends looked up at me and became silent with wide eyes. The bitter man had his back to me and did not look up.
"Damn right it is." he replied in a beat tone. He still wouldn't look up.
"How about you enjoy some of the food I do, then. That should even out the boards a little bit." I set a plate full of every variety of food I had enjoyed for breakfast in front of him; his eyes traveled up my arm until he reached my face. All blood had drained away and his mouth dropped in a speechless shock as he recognized me. I simply offered him a kind smile, set plates in front of the people he was talking too, and continued to the next group seated. "Seven more over, Rafael." I called to my help across the small tavern.
After everyone in the place was served and I had accomplished causing a great stir, Nicolas and I sat back and watched our people as my servants monitored the doors and made sure it was only people eating at the kitchen coming in and not anyone wanting to look at me or interview me or things of that nature.
"I think you've made a good impression." Nicolas told me honestly, leaning back against the empty bar shelves behind the bar table. I rested forward on the bar and thoughtfully agreed.
"So, does this check off 'public appearance' from you and your father's little list for me?"
Nicolas laughed. "Yes. At least, until the ball tomorrow evening."
I wanted to groan, but restrained myself. "I'm guessing I'll have to attend the church service the next morning as well; hm..." I more stated it than asked. My mind was caught elsewhere, thinking how I would be able to attend the church service in the Catholic cathedral. Not with Daniel executed the way he was. Lucy didn't have that image to haunt her if she ever decided to go to church. I, on the other hand, was obligated. It made me once again wonder if Courtney planned things this way, in order to set up my suffering for more than just physical torture and death. I shivered when I thought about the possible scenarios if Courtney ever got her hands on me. And I wasn't just thinking of my own death as the end; my death with no heir with my blood meant Nicolas would take the throne, and while he was a fine person to lead, he wasn't born to do it, not as I was. No more Locketts would eventually lead to a decline in my country in some aspects until another family with the same genetic power came into the picture.
My death also meant I left Lucy all alone. And Luke, what would Luke do with my blood on his hands? Would he shed his own for me and die, would he continue on?
I didn't want to think about any of the scenarios after my death.
"Allison, are you alright?" Nicolas' voice brought me out of my dead stare and morbid thinking. I looked back at him and smiled.
"Yes." I replied with a sigh. I was then surprised when the brown head of the little girl from earlier popped up on the other side of the bar table.
"Thank you miss Queen lady." she said, mixing up her formal titles for a female. I thought it was the cutest thing in the world and I made an 'awh' sound. Her mother appeared behind her and bowed her head just slightly toward me before taking her daughter into her grasp.
"It is wonderful to have you back, Ms. Lockett. When it comes time to vote if you should take the throne or not, you will have my complete support." She offered kindly.
I heard Nicolas stiffen in the background. I raised a brow toward her words. "Why thank you, so much." I began kindly, but my voice then demanded a little information. "I had no idea that somebody had the right to vote for which heir takes the throne."
"Yes, the members of the new legislature passed a law just last year, that if the rightful heir to the throne is the last heir and is absent for over a years time from this country, that the members of the legislative, prime minister and the regent will get to vote if the heir will be crowned as the monarch; and if not, the regent should appoint a new royal family."
"I have a hard time believing Regent Salvador let that law pass." I replied in a sugar-coated voice that was sharp on the inside.
"That was the big issue; he did try to veto it, but the legislative ruled that since he was only regent and not an actual crowned monarch, he could not veto a law that included his assistance to the final outcome."
Only Nicolas behind me was able to see my white knuckles as I gripped the edge of the bar table in complete anger. My voice remained forcibly calm, however. "That is quite an interesting little fact. I learn something new everyday." I said at first, hiding my bitterness toward the new legislative. "Thank you for sharing, I hope you enjoyed the meal."
"Compliments to your chef." she replied. The little girl waved over her mother's shoulder as she turned to leave. I waved back but could not control my anger when I turned around to face Nicki. His face was a little paler than I recalled it being a minute ago.
"There's a chance I won't be crowned as queen of this country?" I began speaking in English to him, a language not many on the common people knew besides Catalan, French or Spanish.
"I was going to discuss new politics and important people with you after this. Father wants you to know everything before the ball so you can make a-"
"That is why you and your father have been pressuring me to make such good impressions." I cut him off and said to myself.
"Yes." he replied, looking to the ground.
"Nicki."
His dark eyes raised and rested upon me. "Yes, Al?"
My little hinges within my mind were beginning to turn. "Am I going to get a say for the planning of the party?"
"You are now." He retorted. "My father, Tony and Lizzy are the experts for planning these sorts of things; I just make the calls and order secretaries to send out invites."
I turned my back to him and looked over the room. I folded my hands together as I watched the public eat, talk, leave... New ideas sprung into my head instantly on ways I could give back to them; these people. Naturally, if I were good to them, the more important people whom I needed the support of would be drawn.
"Let's go." I commanded him coolly. Nicolas and I had a lot of work to do in the next forty-eight hours or so.
When we all arrived back at the castle, I had traveled to the dining room for lunch before Nicki wanted to inform me of everything he and his father wanted me to know before the ball the following evening. This included laws, people, reasons why I needed to know and impress these laws and people...
"Come, to the record room." From the dining room of which he stole me from before I could eat, he led me around the corner, into the hallway that held a desk on one wall. Within it, he pulled out a notepad and pen. "Here; take notes to everything I'm going to tell you." I raised a brow and crossed my arms. "You're going to need it. You've missed a lot, Allison. You think you can remember the names of all of the chairmen on the legislature, every law they've abolished and passed since you've left, and their families in one shot? I don't think so."
"Fine." I spat, taking the notepad. He mocked me playfully; I didn't want to be in the position of the one being pampered. I wished there was someway Nicki could just implant all of his knowledge into my head, and we could move on to the next step of my return.
We began to walk up the stairs toward the room with the records in it. "Hey, don't shoot me." He surrendered toward my cold shoulder. "Father wants you to know everything I can cram into your head before you meet everybody in person. He said he wants you to make a good impression on the important higher-ups as well as the public."
Regent Salvador did know what was best... What he wanted was true. "Enough about the good impression stuff. Start with the legislature." I had a feeling I already wasn't going to like them based on the law they passed about voting for my throne. The queen, being voted into her own crown? I knew what law I was going to try and erase after I was where I should be. "Who has left and who has replaced the old? And I believe your father mentioned there was a new prime minister..."
"Yeah. Henry Davidson was elected the new Prime Minister only two months ago." The slight mocking in Nicki's voice when he said this man's name made me raise a brow.
"Sounds like an Englishman." I joked.
"You are exactly right." Nicolas replied seriously, no longer holding back his need to make fun of this man with me. "In fact, pretty much the only reason he was elected was because he didn't come from Aldorra." He began to elaborate. "Henry claims he visited the country four years ago, fell in love with the land and became a citizen three years later, then was elected Prime Minister a year after that. Oh, and get this; he's a year younger than I am."
"Our newest Prime Minister is long-term tourist who's only twenty-four?!" The Prime Minister was supposed to be the head of the legislature; though he did not technically have to be a part of the cabinet... But that position went hand and hand with the monarch; and if the position was assumed by someone who simply charmed his way into office and knew nothing of the country... Just what was going on with the government of my country?
"My words exactly. The cabinet is still trying to figure out how he managed to gain so much popularity among the people. He's not a complete joke, though. He knows his way around politics better than anyone I've ever met, including my father. I've met him, I respect him, I might go as far and even say I like the guy, at least compared to our new cabinet members." Another tinge of disdain on Nicki's tongue. By his tone, I knew things were not as smooth as I wanted them to be government-wise. "His predecessor quit; because of conflicts with another cabinet member. Truth be told, the legislature has been on the rocks since the death of your mother; several of the loyal elders in the cabinet you would remember simply left because their loyalty died with the queen and they did not have hope you would return. Unfortunately, they've been replaced with a bunch of mongrels, in my opinion. My father has no patience for them; and Prime Minister Davidson and I are working on flushing out any corruption that might exist in them." I noticed his voice was quieter now. He looked around the empty hallway before continuing; he was still leading me around the palace as he spoke. "None recently, but lots of scandals were threatening the position of Regent in the previous years because of lack of heir and a royal family here, in the office and palace. Before you returned, the new chairmen had pressured my father into relishing the Lockett family as the royal heirs of the throne and pass the crown down to me as your mother's will instructed, should you not have chosen to claim your position. My father declined the notion, obviously; one because he was convinced you would come back, two because he knew it was a plot for them to take advantage of my inexperience and youth and get away with whatever they wanted. Now that you've returned, hopefully everything will smooth out."
I hoped the same. I listened intently to Nicki as he told me of many things, about the people, about the economic situation, about everything, really. We had found opposing seats in the record room to sit and continue conversation in. He drew the files on all of the new cabinet members and I made little notes about each; who I should watch out for, who I would like, who I would want to punch. Nicolas then tried to recall all of the laws I should know have changed or been modified, what loopholes the new cabinet members were squeezing through with his father to pass most of the new laws... and so on.
After awhile, the subjects that covered a colorful amount of my country switched to a more personal few. Nicolas began to tell me all about himself and what he had done with his life after I'd gone. He told me a little bit about his reaction toward my mother's death, which was familiar loss and immortal respect for the woman; (back when I sent Luis a newspaper article of her murder to inform my country of their queen's death, but then I disappeared further into the American society and avoided returning). I told him little of my life during this time; when he asked of me, I gave a simple answer and then prodded a subject about him again.
After hours of simply talking like this, the conversation plunged straight into our romantic lives. I, of course, had to admit I was single. (Telling Nicki I had a secret vampire lover would not pan over too well) and I was surprised to know he was also single.
"Are you trying to make me believe you're twenty five and not married yet?" I teased. I wanted to get away from talking about me and my personal antics and talking more about him. I had too many secrets to hold to be put on the spot to answer questions. I didn't want to lie to Nicki more than I had too. I stood and made my way over to a table on the other side of the room, near the window to play with an object that had caught my eye. "I thought you would have used that smooth talking skill of yours, that you get from Luis, to get you a wife and a few mistresses by now!" I laughed.
"Hey! I would never do that." he defended with a tricky smile. "And you're twenty three and not married yet! Queens inheriting the throne should have married within the year after they become of age, according to tradition. You're two years late." He stood as well and came over to where I was.
"Let's change the subject." I replied, a tiny bit of exhaustion in my voice. I did not need to worry about marriage on top of everything else. The finger-pointing game just got on my nerves right now.
"Lets." he said simply. In two swift moments he turned his body toward mine; I felt as if we were going to collide, so I took a step back and my backside greeted the wall behind me. Right where he wanted me, apparently, and his left hand found the wall my back did and he leaned in with an intimidating posture. "Al," he began smoothly. I had to bring up the smooth talking skill, didn't I? I raised a brow, daggers in my eyes toward his sudden change from moderate behavior to suggestive. His ran a quick hand through the auburn locks to move them away from his dark brown eyes, which rested on me precisely. "Are you going to tell me where you've been and what you've been doing prior to arriving?" Nicolas asked me. Apparently he'd noticed I'd been avoiding the subject of myself.
"You've heard the answer to that question already, I've been in America, investigating." I replied. My voice hadn't changed in tone, but I felt quite... uncomfortable to be trapped as I was. Nicki didn't know it, but I was with another man, and loyal to that man.
"I got that part. Now tell me details."
"Nicolas, it's my business." I told him sternly. The authority in my voice was enough to make him move; I walked out of the corner and attempted to avoid the subject by walking across the room to a bookshelf.
"And I'm your friend, Al. Maybe I could help, if you let me know what's going on. You said there was a connection between the curse and your mother's murderer..."
"Stop." I swallowed and took a moment before responding to his plea. "I don't want to talk about this." I couldn't tell him the truth. Not yet. If I told him about Luke and vampires and Courtney, there would be no safety left for him. If a safety existed around him at all; I knew Daniel never had a safety barrier and that was my fault. Uneasiness swept through me when I thought of Nicki in the same pose that Daniel had been found in; I looked away from him and his dark, pleading eyes. Eyes that wanted me to tell him everything, wanted me to hold no secrets just as we did as children... But I had to censor myself. "I haven't found out anything besides that there was a connection; the investigation was a giant dead end, so I came home. That's it."
"Fine." was his simple, nonchalant response, detached from interest or care. I didn't know if he bought what I said or not. Probably the latter. For now, he backed off the subject because it was obviously something I did not want to discuss.
The awkward and uneasy silence pitted between us was broken by the chime of the wall clock in the room.
"Oh, that clock is an hour behind..." He remembered quietly, then glanced at his wrist watch. "That means it's really eight-thirty... We're very late for dinner." He added candidly, without much care. I found myself very angry with that piece of information, however, since I was starving because Nicolas wouldn't let me eat lunch. He excused himself to turn-in with a very limited amount of words. "But you can take care of that yourself, your majesty, because I'm going to turn in now." The absence of fondness in his goodnight gesture almost hurt me. I grabbed my little notepad and marched down to the dining hall without him.
He was being impossible and unconcerned and insistent... Not things Nicolas was. I hadn't even considered the fact that maybe he felt hurt because I wouldn't tell him the truth, and he was suddenly being very unconcerned with me now to 'punish' me or something... I didn't know how that boy's mind worked, nor did I want to.
I descended into the dinning room to discover dinner had already been cleaned up and if I wanted something I'd need to ask Chef Joaquin.
I thought this was a great idea, since I've been wanting to visit with Joaquin and catch up with him. I was highly upset about Nicolas' behavior and the subject he wanted me to reveal in the record room, and how I had to lie to him when I made my way into the kitchen. I found a metal counter and sat on top of it and waited for Joaquin to walk by. Chef Joaquin entered from the doors to the washroom and flung a towel over his left shoulder. He was half surprised to see me sitting on his counter; a position he discouraged from everyone (never sit on the chef's counter, he would preach) except me.
"Allison!" He began with joy, until he noticed my obvious discomfort. "Tell me what is wrong, child." He added more genuinely.
Joaquin was a very round, plump man. His voice was kind and his laughter was deep; his eyes were a forest green color and beamed with compassion as well as passion for what he did best; cook. I imagine if he ever grew a beard out, he'd make an excellent Santa Clause. Every "Bertoli" instant Italian food commercial in America reminded me of his image; the icon big-bellied cook with a white hat and wooden spoon always in hand.
"Oh..." I began, sighing in my complaint. "Everything is so different... I don't know whether I should transition myself into the change or try and revert things back to how they were." I didn't want to bring up Nicki; because then I'd have to say why he was detached toward me right now, then explain how I lied to him, and about Luke and Courtney and vampires...
Joaquin handed me a plate full of mouth-watering comfort food and a golden fork. I took it, thanked him and smiled. This was how it always was with Joaquin; I would come to the kitchen when I was troubled, he would ask me what was wrong, then give me a plate of comfort food while he cooked up some delicious wisdom and that usually help me see the situation clearly. It was very uplifting to know that after all of these years, the ritual wasn't lost.
"It's going to be a little bit of both. Like today; you did a very charitable thing by taking leftover food into the city. Giving to the people would be something to revert back to if that ingredient was lost. Yes, almost the entire castle has been refurnished since you last saw... but if you are able to adapt to the surroundings given to you but still change things within it for the good of everybody, then you will be the ruler that this country has waited for since your father passed. True, Regent Salvador has done a good job with keeping the country stable while you've been gone, but everybody knows only a Lockett will be able to lead the country the way that they want it to be lead."
"I know you're right, but I feel like I need to prove myself to the public. I've let them down for so long, with my absence... At first I wanted to prove myself simply because it was something I needed to do, for myself as well as them. Then I found out that I need their support... there's a chance I won't ever wear the crown, Joaquin." I was deeply troubled by this possibility alone.
"Being charitable was a good start. I'm sure you'll take care of winning the public over without even trying, Allison. Just keep doing what you know is right, or what you know will be beneficial. Their loyalty will resurface faster than you think."
I sat in silence for several moments, thinking over what he said and what I knew already in my heart. On a side note, the food was astounding and made me feel a lot better.
"So, how has Rosa been?" I asked hopefully. Rosa was Joaquin's wife.
Or, she had been. As soon as I said this, the chef's face lost all expression and an immediate sense of loss came over him. I regretted speaking as I saw the heartbreak in his eyes. "She passed, almost six years ago. Her health failed dramatically during the winter and she just couldn't recover."
"Oh, my... I'm so sorry."
"No need to apologize, Allison." He replied. He touched the edge of the towel to the corner of his eyes. "There are many things you have missed, but you will catch up into the flow of things. Don't doubt the power that you already have."
"I won't." I replied with a thankful nod.
With that piece of wisdom and a full stomach, I traveled over to the queen's hallway, to my chambers. I checked in with Lucy, since I hadn't seen her all day; I felt my heart swell when she smiled and told me all about her day with Tony, the fashion guru, and several amusing things about their debates of fashion.
Soon after, I wandered down the corridor toward my room. A weary look was cast toward the library door; I recalled Taylor's aggressive behavior this morning. I shivered to myself at the thought and decided against checking up on him, or telling Luke, and simply entered my room, wondering if Luke was here.
When I entered my room, I was curious to why I heard orchestra music playing in the entertainment section of my quarters... I found Luke shirtless, stereo remote in hand, body sprawled out wonderfully in a chair with his head tilted back so he was looking up at the ceiling, though his eyes were closed. He couldn't possibly be...asleep?
I fully surprised him when I walked over and crawled into his lap. I squeaked when he jumped to life, so to speak, and a strong set of hands found my arms, tightly. I winced and he instantly removed them. "Allison..." he began in a low tone. "Don't ever sneak up on me or any vampire when they are in a state of sleep or concentration. It's instinct to automatically kill whatever disturbs me." His fingers stroked my backside gently as he told me such gruesome things.
"Noted." I replied rather innocently. He smiled and placed a kiss on my cheek. I noticed he was easily warmer than usual, still cool. "Dinner made you sleepy?" I teased. I knew the underlining meaning in the back of my mind, though; he had killed somebody prior to coming up to the privacy of the room to wait for me. The questioning look in my eyes asked if the victim had met the requirements I wanted him too.
"Don't worry." He replied with a vivid smile. Fangs and all. I nestled deeper into the blanket, more into his touch from those. "There was a young girl who escaped with her life tonight; can't say for the same of the man about to throw her down and do very naughty things..." His lips touched my neck and he told me this in a very deep, dark tone full of suggestion.
Somehow, somehow, even though he was telling me a woman had almost been raped tonight and he was a vampire with interest in my neck, I was turned on greatly. More so than I should have been for the conditions. I had to bite back a moan and remember not to automatically arch into him further when his hand slid up my back.
"U-uhm, Luke..." His actions did not pause. I tried to shift, to protest since I felt as though we shouldn't do this... My hand knocked the stereo remote over and when it hit the ground, the orchestra music changed to a tango number. Luke looked up and grinned, ice blue eyes shined with that blond hair and teeth...
"Dance with me."
I didn't object. I was placed on the ground and my hand was held gently into his as he rose and pulled me into him for a dance. I laughed bashfully but took my stance with him; I guess we would put my tangoing skills to the test now!
"Tell me about your day." he commanded next. I was speechless, caught off guard for a moment. Before I could think, he had initiated the both of us into the intimate dance sequence. I thought about just showing him the events, the highlights, like a news broadcast. After a moment I realized he wasn't reading my mind. See, when he was, there was this tingly feeling inside me; almost a dizzying effect was cast over me, too. That wasn't present now.
"Can't we just save words and you read my mind?" I replied, trying to concentrate on the dance. He paused and shook his head at me.
"I've been waiting all day to hear your voice. So, I want to hear it." he replied. What was this, seduce Allison night? I felt a flush rise to my cheeks as he spoke in that certain tone and flaunted his gorgeous eyes. He was close enough to kiss me; his breath lingered over my cheeks but he refrained from leaning down to reach my lips, parted from surprise.
I was too flushed to continue pressing against him the way the dance required us too, torso to torso. The two of us abandoned the dance and I told Luke about my day as I made my way to the bed chamber to change. Even with my obvious protest, Luke watched me change and couldn't take his eyes off of me. The strength of his attraction tonight was unstoppable. By the end of my informative conversation, I sat against the head of my bed, with Luke before me spread the length of the bed on his stomach, chin being held up my his arms.
"I can safely assume you had a good day?"
"Yes, except for the part about learning I have to be voted into my throne. Voting! On who gets to be the monarch! That's the most ridiculous-"
"You're going to be fine. Just show up to that ball your people here are planning, dazzle everyone with your charm and wit..." During his sentence, he had crawled up toward me and trapped me against the headboard of the bed and kissed where my sternum met the dip of the collar bone. I was set on fire by it. Was it me or did he seem a little... was horny right right word to use for him? "And after you've got them all underneath your spell, use that witchcraft you're using on me right now and make them all vote for you."
"Witchcraft?" I laughed unevenly. "I'm sure..."
He sighed, laughing as well. "Well, you must be doing something to make me feel this way about you, Allison. I've missed you all day, too much to be normal for such a detached being of darkness as myself, and as soon as I can get my hands on you, I can't stop myself..."
I blushed deeply. His eyes raised level with mine, I smiled as I looked at him.
"I have to thank you."
"For what?" he asked lively, smirk on his lips.
"You made me myself again. Since the first time we met, you forced me to see who I really was, the me I was hiding from and trying to pretend I wasn't. And now, because of it, I'm back home, where I've wanted to be all along. I feel so... complete."
We continued to stare into each other.
"It's thanks to you." I added in a soft tone. My hand reached up and stroked his cool cheek. "And your ability to persevere and piss me off a few times in the process of forcing me to see my true self." I paused as a shiver ran up my body when Luke pressed his cold lips to the palm of my hand. He took in my scent and his eyes fluttered as he seemed to be intoxicated, then kisses began to be pressed along the vein in my arm, making a trail closer and closer to my shoulder tucked under the lace of the nightgown I'd changed into. "That's why I'm thanking you. You really got under my skin."
In a quick movement, I was pushed off balance from my sitting position and my back lay flat against the covers. Luke hovered over me a blink later. "You are very welcome, your majesty." he replied with a grin and a slight bow of his head. Shimmering blond hair fell over his liquid eyes, closer and closer his head came until his lips molded gently over mine. Instantly my body responded to his touches, completely on its own. I didn't have a tremor of nervousness until my mental ability kicked in once the hem of the nightgown was pulled well over my waistline.
"Wait."
Just as quickly as his actions began, they stopped. Question was on his face as he raised his head, not after placing two kisses on my neck.
"It's just..." I had to think before I formed words. He decided to resume kissing my neck while I did this. "I want.. I mean, I don't want..." I couldn't concentrate with those cold lips touching my skin, setting the passion ablaze!
"You're not making any sense." He whispered against my neck. His body shifted; I gasped when I felt every curves of his anatomy over mine. My hands flew to his arms and squeezed; his actions ceased again. I felt we shouldn't do this, even though I wanted to...
"It's just, last time-"
"Times." he corrected smoothly. He produced a blush on my cheeks again and smirked when he saw it.
I continued sharply. "Our arrangement was very evident on me physically the last time." The love marks, the soreness... "I'm going to have dozens and dozens of people monitoring every step I take for awhile. If they were to suspect something... I'm not saying no, it's just, you were so-"
"Rough." he interrupted again. Slight pet peeve; the annoyance of it was transferred into my voice.
"Strong, I was going to say. You are very strong and I'm so-"
"Fragile." I groaned when he interrupted again! Somehow, he overlooked every drop of my annoyance and shifted so that his stern body hovered over me. "Are you telling me you want a gentle lover, Allison?" His entire tone changed to a more seductive one; I was completely vulnerable to it and my frustration with him melted under the intense gaze he held with me now.
"I... Yes." I replied quietly. I couldn't lie, not with him pressing against me the way he was.
"Your wish is my command." I shivered as he spoke to me in such a desirable way, then he molded against me the way he had only nights before...
Needless to say, the queen did not arise till later than scheduled the next morning.