All recognisable characters belong to SM. I just own the plot.
Thank you to A Jasper For Me.
Here's the next chapter, as promised.
The funeral was what was to be expected. Sullen … sad. And the entire nation watched. Everyone was an audience to our misery.
I hated it.
I held Mother's hand in mine through the whole ceremony. Father walked ahead of us behind the carriage that held the coffin where the body of Alec lay. The sovereign flag and the flowers adorning the top made it hard for anyone to clearly see what color the coffin was.
It was black. I had chosen it for him. For the first time, my father had relinquished this part of the decision to me. He knew I know more of my brother than he did.
The thousands of people who mourned with us didn't give me reprieve, but instead it made me bitter. The constant scrutiny just intensified my grief, although I refused to show it to anyone. Nobody had the right to see me cry… to see the hurt Alec's death had caused me or see how much my life spun out of control ever since the accident. His favorite plane had plummeted down into the sea and that was that. I was now without a brother – a brother who was also my confidante, my best friend.
What in the hell would I do without him?
OOOOOOOOOO
I hissed as the burn of the alcohol slowly spread across my tongue and down my throat. Alec's smiling face stared at me and I felt my eyes sting from the unwanted tears. The ache because of his absence weighed heavily on me, and I downed another shot of scotch. I wanted to forget.
If only I could.
The picture, the one of Alec and me in Hawaii two years ago, was still clutched in my hand when Emmett entered my room. Emmett had been Alec's right hand and my father had assigned him to assist me now that I was to become the future king. My new set of obligations curtailed me to be more in demand in meetings and decision-makings than ever before, and he was the one who had accompanied and assisted me through all of them. I had more to learn and he was here to help me do that. He was close to my brother, and I was grateful my father had put him in charge of me instead of Aro. I wouldn't know where to start, and there was certainly so much to do. The pressure started to get to me, and most times all I could think about was how I wanted to take a very long nap and wake up from this awful dream. I still had a hard time believing Alec was gone. It had only been five days since the funeral, but it seemed like a lifetime ago. I missed him!
I knocked back another glass of scotch and placed the frame back on the table.
"Are you okay, Prince Edward?" Emmett looked concerned.
I shrugged in response, not caring that I looked like shit. My eyes were still wet, and I wiped them with the back of my hand.
"Do you need anything?" he asked. I shook my head and waved for him to sit beside me.
"Why are you here, Emmett? Didn't I tell you I'd be taking the afternoon off?"
I wasn't really in the mood to face the press today, and if that was the reason he came, then he could just fuck off!
"Heidi's here. She asked to see you."
I raised my eyes to him. My confusion was sure to show on my face.
"She didn't tell me the reason for the visit. Just said it was important and that she really needed to talk to you," he continued. "She's in the library."
"Okay, tell her I'll be right with her."
OOOOOOOOOO
"Hi."
"Heidi." I leaned forward to give her a kiss on the cheek.
"I'm sorry if I disturbed you," Heidi started. "I just needed to see you before I go away."
She looked so uncomfortable standing there dressed in black. The frequent social functions and family gatherings she came to with my brother allowed me to get to know her. She was a good person and she loved him. That was why I like her.
"Please sit down," I said, waving for her to take the seat nearest her. "You know you can come to me whenever you want, Heidi. Alec would have wanted me to be there for you."
"Th-thank you," she replied, her smile wavering as she reached for something inside her pocket. "He always did say you were someone who could be counted on … even though others believe otherwise."
"He was always my champion, you know that." I could hear my voice crack. I cleared my throat before proceeding. "I know these past couple of days have been hard for you. I'm sorry if I wasn't there to help you with … the press and shit-"
"No, no! I understand you had to deal with it, too. It has been a circus-" she gave a big sigh –"and that's why I need to go away … just for a while."
She glanced down her feet, looking guilty. I couldn't understand why she thought she needed to feel that way.
"The press is relentless, aren't they?"
She raised her head and gave me a sad smile.
"I don't think I can do this," she said, and waved her hands around then started sobbing.
I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and allowed her to cry. She needed it, and although I was never comfortable around crying girls, I think I owed it to my brother to take care of his girl.
"I'm sorry," I murmured. It was all I could think of. Her pain triggered my own, but I held it in. It was neither the time nor the place to show weakness.
It took a few minutes for Heidi to settle down.
"I'm so sorry," she said, sniffling as she did. "I didn't mean to add to your burden-"
"Alec would have kicked my ass if I didn't at least listen to what you have to say," I said, trying to lighten the mood. "And let you ruin at least one shirt."
"Oh, my God. Your shirt!" she shrieked, looking panicked when she saw the stains her mascara left on my crisp, white shirt.
"Yeah, it's ruined," I joked. She looked like she was about to apologize again when she realized what I meant. I started laughing and soon she joined in.
It felt good to laugh, even for a little while. Heidi and I lost Alec, and somehow we were connected together in our grief.
"Well, before I forget, I just wanted to-" she reached for something inside her pocket –"return this."
She placed something in my palm. It was a ring.
"I don't understand."
"Alec gave that to me. It's … was my engagement ring." She took a deep breath. "It's a family heirloom."
"But why? He gave it to you, so then it's yours."
"N-no! You don't understand. I know the Queen will want it back in your family, and I don't think it's proper for me not to give it back."
I started to protest, but she stopped me.
"I have this, Edward." She showed me another one that was on her left ring finger. "Alec gave me another engagement ring. This is my ring so I'll keep this one."
She had tears in her eyes, and although I couldn't understand any of what she wanted, I would respect her wishes. I reached for the ring in silence, finally agreeing with her.
"I need to go. Tell your parents I'll make arrangements to go see them one of these days." She gave me a smile.
"I'll do that." I watched her move towards the door, not really knowing what to say after that. It was weird now that Alec was gone. She was supposed to marry him in three months, but that would never happen, and I didn't know how to deal with that. I was just dealing with the loss of a brother, so I wasn't sure how to deal with a supposed-in-law who just lost her fiancé.
"I forgot to tell you. I saw Isabella."
"W-what?" The surprise could be heard from my voice. I wasn't sure if I heard her right, but the hammering inside my chest was clear as day and told me I knew exactly what I heard.
"She came by my place three days ago."
Suddenly, jealousy pierced me. She went to visit Heidi, but not me.
Heidi fished something out of her purse. "Here. I think you can find her there." She came forward to give me a calling card. "Just don't tell her I gave that to you."
She reached up and kissed me on the cheek. Before I could even say goodbye, she was out of the door.
I glanced down to see an address written on a clean, white card. There was no doubt it was Isabella's. It was a good thing Heidi was no longer there; I didn't need to inform her that the card was of no use to me.
I knew where Isabella lived. I just chose not to use the information I had.
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Next chapter will be posted within the week.
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