Hello! Okay, so I've got one last filler chapter after this and then onto the Selection! Here is another character I've introduced. He brings a little bit of darkness into the story, but no good story is all sunshine and lollipops. I still have spots open! Please submit! Maximum is two, so if you've only given one you can still post another.
So, without further ado, enjoy!
Prince James Frazier couldn't believe his eyes, but the tape didn't lie. While collecting film for the horror movie he was creating, James had been to every single creepy place the palace could possibly provide. There wasn't much besides dark closets and poorly lit bathrooms. Even the attic and basement, where all the old and banged up furnishings were stored, were organized and completely inappropriate for the suspenseful feeling that all horror movie scenes were supposed to have. He couldn't use any of the footage; even if he shook the camera or tinkered with the lights or added scary music, everything he caught on tape seemed unfitting and completely not scary. He was so close to just giving up and sticking with documentaries when his brilliant idea popped into his mind: the abandoned greenhouse! During the day it was spooky, but at night...
James couldn't believe how long it took him to remember it. Of course, he hadn't been inside of it since he was seven- when it was shut down- but he should've thought of the place sooner. It had been a play place for him and big brother Lucas when they were young and innocent, dashing around pots and soaking each other with the big green hose that always seemed to be leaking. They sometimes pretended the hose was a snake and the two of them were notorious hunters of Illea, always catching the latest dangerous beast.
He smiled fondly at the memories, but it soon turned into a deep frown as the video played again in front of him. He really had stumbled upon something horrific, and it was enough to make him want to vomit and break his brother's bones. His stupidity was incredibly immense and James couldn't understand how thoughtless Lucas was at twenty-one years old. He was a grown man, for goodness sakes! Illea didn't need a King who chose women when he felt lonely, but an independent man that can withstand being away from loved ones for months on end. Lucas was too dependent, too much of a people person to fit that role.
But James knew, deep in his heart, he should be Illea's next King, not Lucas. He was charming and cunning, intelligent and polite, all traits the brothers shared but were more prominent in James. The eighteen year old could just imagine what Illea could become if he became King; he would make sure that everyone had their place in society and that every single person contributed to the country. If he was King, he'd make sure every eight had a job, so there would essentially be no Caste Eight. He would officially end the everlasting war with New Asia; James knew of the nuclear bomb Illea's best engineers and chemists were building through his swift yet meticulous hacking in the Advisor's laptops. They were far too careless inside the palace, leaving their laptops in their rooms when they left for dinner or breakfast, and James had created copy keys for every room in the palace, so breaking in was never a problem. The guards always tried to stop him, which James found very annoying, but he had power and authority over them, so a few threats and the mention of his title as Prince gained him the access he desired.
Once inside the room, he set his timer for five minutes to be in and out. He had flash drives he used to upload the documents and videos, sift through a few emails, and check out if the Advisor was up to anything fishy. All of them were clean, but a few had some very...interesting choices in entertainment. It was always good to collect blackmail on each of them if he ever needed them on his side. They were all too vain and self-conscious, so James knew they would rather save themselves from humiliation than say "no" to an eighteen year old mastermind's plan.
Speaking of his plan, James was suddenly very grateful Lucas had screwed himself so badly; the evidence gave James spectacular blackmail to help further his wonderful and elaborate scheme. He would do anything to obtain the role of King, and James was perfectly fine with the whole world bashing on Lucas should he be revealed as the senseless boy he was. Besides, Lucas never seemed to care much about his little brother nowadays. His own father, King Carlisle Frazier, didn't seem to mind James' antics and mischief. It was all about Lucas and his preparation to become King. James felt so incredibly lonely and all he wanted was attention, but James knew he would never go as far as having a maid fill his emptiness. James was dumbfounded as to trying to find reason in his brother's odd actions. Why would Lucas want a maid's attention? He had the whole of Illea to fawn over him. As for girls, the Royals were always involved in balls and parties with other countries, and Lucas always had girls asking to dance with him. He should've been satisfied. There was no reason for him not to be. If any one of the Royals deserved to feel abandoned or unsatisfied, it should've been James. Not King Carlisle, who seemed to only be able to pity himself since Queen Lia died, and certainly not Prince Lucas, the all of the young women of Illea absolutely adored and swooned for. Sometimes, James couldn't believe how self-absorbed his family truly was.
Staring at the incriminating evidence that danced on the bright screen in the dark room he had devoted to editing film, James tried to distinguish any noticeable features of the maid Lucas was with. He saw she had an ugly shade of orange hair and was grossly muscular, seemingly more masculine than feminine. She didn't have the soft curves or fat that made women more attractive to James, but then again, he couldn't put anything past Lucas, even his taste in women. He could see she was maybe 5'7, a little on the short side for Lucas' tall height. Even on her tip toes she had to tilt her head far back to reach his lips, and he had to bend over to meet them. James was disgusted with himself for being so infatuated with studying the film, but it was part of who he was. He had to analyze everything before deciding on a course of action. In this case, James was trying to see if Lucas actually cared about the maid through his body posture. He was fully turned towards her and had his arms wrapped tight around her body, a loving gesture James had observed multiple times in the romance movies he had seen, and he decided that Lucas did have deep feelings for the girl. He wasn't too fond of romantic movies, but he thought that it was imperative he knew about each and every genre there was. How could he truly appreciate cinematography if he didn't experience everything it had developed and evolved? He was an aspiring director, hoping to leave his own legacy in the film world. He could just see Illea loving him for not only being a great and responsible King, but also and artistic and thoughtful director. The only thing James needed now was the blessing from his father.
Only, the blessing was given to the eldest child.
Which meant Lucas either had to die or be revoked of his title. Obviously James couldn't fulfill the first option; too many people would have to be involved and when multiple assets are brought in, there is always a growing chance someone will tattle. So that left James with the other option, and the only way Lucas' title could be revoked was from their father. This was where things got a little tricky. King Carlisle had always favored Prince Lucas over James. At first James thought it was because he was the eldest, but now he knew it was because Lucas reminded his father so much of his dead wife. James was much like Carlisle; they both wanted control and always went with their heart over their head. Lucas and Queen Lia shared the qualities of self-control and problem-fixing.
The only way James could get his father to revoke his most beloved child's rightful title was if it was to save him, whether from embarrassment or death, James wasn't completely sure yet. The threat of death, as explained above, was much more risky. He didn't know how far or drastic he'd have to take his plan, though. James tried to decide if the death of his brother would sadden him or not, but he already had a black and blue heart from the loneliness and the multiple rejections his father and brother had bruised him with, so James wasn't sure he would completely mind the eternal absence of his blood brother. He was positive, from all the movies he had seen, that a broken family was supposed to mend from a tragedy together, but it had seemed that Carlisle and Lucas had recovered with each other while James had been left to cope by himself. At such a young age- only eight when Queen Lia passed- James had had many years for fury to build in his heart and create a monster inside of him. Outside he may have appeared cool, calm, and collected, but on the inside he was a roaring tyrant, ready to destroy any obstacle that stood in his path.
It was how he protected his cracking heart from shattering; the relentless planning of his revenge and letting anger smother his conscious kept him from falling into depression. The anger gave him life, the dangerous fire burning though his veins and letting it consume his brain until he was fire. Could anything extinguish this agonizing flame? James wouldn't care if something could; he had wanted the Crown and Throne for far too long for anything to stop him. It was too late for apologies and bribery- no, they had missed that chance ten years ago. Now it was James' turn in the spotlight, and they would definitely remember who he was. No longer was he "that kid" or the "one in the corner"; no, he would no longer be a nameless being. He was Prince James, future King.
His heart could've burst in excitement hearing that last sentence. Prince James, future King. It felt so right, so fitting. He could imagine Illea rejoicing his names and he could see the parties, with the alcohol and the beauties and the gifts- all for him, of course- and the pure joy his country would feel all because he was their wonderful King, not Lucas. He could just picture the pathetic despair written all over Lucas' face as he watched his forgotten little brother rise to fame and glory as he sunk down into nothingness.
Nothing would please James more than that day.
Lucas would feel James' hurt. He would cry and cry and cry and wonder why, and James would remind him each day that it was his fault. It was Lucas' fault for letting his little brother suffer from grief alone. Lucas was supposed to take care of him. Lucas was supposed to be his role-model. Lucas was supposed to be guidance in times of need. But where was he?
Enjoying himself with all the gifts from Illea- for their poor future King, who had endured the same traumatic loss James had.
And Carlisle would understand the feeling of regret. He would surely feel guilt for forgetting about his other son. Carlisle would fade into an old, crazy man as he would try to mend his ways. James had devious plans set aside for his father, none that were finished or polished, but dark ideas that had passed through the determination of it being logical or not. Many terrible occurrences would befall upon his father, and a grim smile spread across the eighteen year old's face as each option flashed across his vision.
A knock appeared at the door, startling James from his thoughts. Who dared disturb him in his peaceful place? Who was actually giving him attention?
He paused the still replaying tape and closed out of the computer. He yanked the door back to peer into the hallway. Nobody stood in front of him. He sighed in sadness. No, of course nobody was there. He was simply imagining someone actually cared for his presence. He was about to turn and close the door when he noticed a newspaper on the soft carpet in front of the door.
Picking it up, James wondered who bothered to give him a newspaper. He never read them and all the delivery maids knew that; everything in them seemed so stupid and needless, always about little things and nothing about the big things like New Asia or Illea's lack of a good ruler. But nonetheless, James read the headline. The words danced before him in it's fancy font. In disbelief he read and reread each word, hoping his mind wasn't processing them right. Realization crashed into him before a light bulb blinked in his head. A wide smile stretched his cheeks wide and he bounced a little in excitement as he turned and closed the door, retreating back into his sacred place.
The possibilities of sabotage and humiliation seemed endless now. Prince Lucas would never survive this. No, not if James could help it. He let the newspaper drop on his desk as he reopened the tape and watched it play again, the beauty of it now appreciated as he knew how he could use it.
James laughed out loud as he read the headline again. Swirling letters in black ink displayed Another Selection: Prince Lucas Looking for Love. James shook his head at the irony; Lucas had already found love. He realized he held a secret that nobody else knew, and he planned to exploit it in the most painful fashion possible. Poor Prince Lucas and his lover. They would have to split apart for a little bit if they didn't want to be caught...
But the country wouldn't know that.
He would the tape to not just Illea, but the world. He would make his brother such an irresponsible fool Carlisle would have no choice but to take his son's title of King away, thus making James the rightful ruler. The younger brother was giddy. He felt impatient for the time to come when he would spread the tape in every place there was a television, but he knew when that day would come, and he had to wait.
After all, the best part in a movie is the twisted ending.
So I give to you Prince James Frazier. Lots more to come from him. Lots. He is just as important as Vivienne and I can't wait to show you how they come into play. Please review! And please submit!