You all are so awesome! All of your reviews were spectacular and I just wanted to thank a few (in my case all) of the people. Lady AMS thank you for favoriting (again can anyone tell me if this is actually a word?) my story and I hope you read on! theselection-divergent-thehost thank you for also becoming a favorite for my story and for following me! Btw I loved the last chapter! Please do a One-shot! Oh and thanks for the review too! Meg-sters52 I'm glad you like the king and I'll bet you'll like him in further chapters! Panda-Crazy-19 I'm excited to hear you liked the story so far and hope you fall more in love with it later! Gilmoregirls1197 don't worry I got you! Maxon's heart is in the right place! Mockingjay04 thank you for following my story and being another favorite! Also for being absorbed into my story! Your review was very nice. jordankmills thank you for being another favorite and read on! goldensnitch7 I'm glad you liked my writing and I hope this chapter defines 'long' for you. Thanks for the review!
That's it for announcements everyone! Please enjoy this next chapter of Elite Take Two!
Love, Smashleigh
Chapter13:
The king's loud confident voice made me shudder. What was I doing? I know I love Maxon but his Father frightens me. After hearing his conversation with the queen, I find myself feeling worse.
"Come on." Maxon says bravely and takes my hand.
He pushes open the door and we see his parents sitting in matching chairs in from of the fire. "Ah Maxon good to see-" he stopped midsentence upon noticing me. "And Lady America. What a surprise."
"Clarkson…" the queen whispered softly.
He glanced at her briefly to see her disapproving scowl. But he brushed it off and turned his attention back to Maxon and I. For a moment he just looked at us. Maxon's arm was wrapped around my waist and my hand rested on his shoulder. He had to see we looked adorable together right? But for a brief moment I noticed disgust in his eyes, followed by rage.
"I won't allow it!" he exclaimed. "I will not allow you to throw away such charming women for a Five."
The word made me cringe. Why did he care? His son was in love and all he cared about was caste? I opened my mouth to speak but Maxon beat me to it. "Well whether you like it or not I am going to get rid of those other girls and I will marry America!"
The king stood and came over to us. Maxon shielded me partly with his shoulder. Was he afraid his Father would strike me? I know he seemed vicious but would he really hurt someone?
"Maxon I think we need to talk." he said glancing at me. "In private." A mischievous look passed over his face and I saw Maxon stiffen.
"Of course." Maxon agreed and they left through a door opposite the one we entered. Maxon glanced back at me once and then shut the door behind him, leaving me with his Mother.
"Please sit with me America." she said patting the place her husband once sat.
I walked over and cautiously sat across from her. It was odd really, sitting with the queen with no one else around. It was almost peaceful.
"Your Majesty-" I began.
"Call me Amberly." she said.
"Okay, Amberly." it felt odd saying her name without 'Queen' in front of it. "I am dreadfully sorry for bringing this down on all of you! I never expected King Clarkson to hate me! I guess I got so caught up with Maxon I-"
"Darling, darling it's alright!" she laughed. I gave her a confused look and she let out a giggle. "America I've watched my son grow and cared for him myself since infancy. I can tell what he wants, when he wants it, and also why. Judging by him defying his Father," she paused, "he loves you a great deal."
To be honest I don't think I've heard of a queen to care for her own child since infancy. But she must've grown attached to more than one child during her miscarriages. I guess she didn't want to take the chance.
"It's nice to hear that from you, truly." I told her. "But I don't want Maxon to fight with his family. To pull you apart would be too dreadful!"
She placed a hand on mine and I looked up into the same color eyes I've known to love for months. "My dear listen to me." she said. "If you love something this much, meaning my son, why would you let him go? You've come this far, haven't you? Lord knows you've fought hard enough! But why would you give up?"
"It just seems…I don't know, too much." I admitted.
She laughed again and pulled me into a hug. "Oh my darling! Of course it's overwhelming! We came from completely different worlds! But look at us now!"
I returned her hug. It was nice to receive some motherly affection after so long. Maxon was always there when I needed him but a mother was ever present. You needed someone to talk to that understood you. The Queen knew just how I felt.
"Thank you." I said pulling back from the hug. "I don't know what I could do without you."
Tears swelled in her eyes. She placed a hand on my cheek and kissed my forehead. "You know I've always wanted a daughter of my own?" she asked. "Now I think I've finally got one."
She and I must've fallen asleep talking because when Maxon came to wake me up she was sound asleep beside me in the chair.
"Ready?" Maxon asked weakly.
I glanced at him and noticed he was hunched over oddly. He lost his confident strut and seemed in pain. What had the King done to him?
"Maxon are you alright?" I asked him softly so the Queen couldn't hear.
"Just help me to my room." he responded.
He placed an arm around my shoulder and I half walked, half dragged him to his room down the hall. Thankfully the guard opened the door for me without question- odd -and I walked in and placed Maxon on his bed. Immediately he flipped over so he wasn't lying on his back. He let out a great moan of pain and started removing his jacket.
"Can you open that bottom drawer?" he asked motioning to the nightstand.
I bent over the little table and opened the drawer. Inside was a metal case with his name inscribed on the lid. I wouldn't open it until he asked but I have to say I was quite curious.
"What is it?" I asked examining the small case.
"Can you help me?" he asked trying to unbutton his shirt.
I placed the case on the table and went to help him. His hands were shaking violently and he couldn't get them to stop. "Maxon what's wrong?" I asked. But as soon as I tried slipping off his shirt my hand felt something wet. I removed my hand and saw it covered in blood. "Maxon!"
Swiftly but delicately I removed the rest of his shirt. On his back were multiple slash marks. Some were healed and others partially healed. But all of them left nasty scars. I heard him chuckle. "You would've found out sooner or later." he said. "But you tell no one. Not even Mother."
"Your Mother doesn't know!" I exclaimed in shock. When he nodded I was frozen. These wounds looked years old and were only reopened when… when Maxon disobeyed.
Tears crept down my cheeks and I tried stifling a sob. But Maxon heard it and tried turning to face me. "No, no!" I said. "I've gotta clean you up."
He obediently turned back around and I opened the case. It's a med kit. My family has one back home but not with as many medicines and disinfects as this. I pick out the ones I know will work and a few bandages.
"This may sting a little." I told him as I softly rubbed the disinfect pad around the wound. He cringed and let out a low moan. "Sorry."
Once it was clean I found some soothing lotion and massaged it around the wound as well. This time he sighed with relief and I watched the tension leave his body a bit. The wound looked a lot better but it was just awful to see Maxon have to suffer through these.
Finally I applied a bandage and went searching through his closet for a new shirt. I found another one and handed it to him, sadly watching his muscles disappear under the cloth. Wait where'd that thought come from?
Maxon smiled. "You just looked as if you'd eat me up!" he teased, sounding a little like his former self.
I smiled back and sat down next to him. "Well of course! But I'd only eat you bit by bit and make you mine every day." I said.
He brushed my hair off my shoulder and placed a hand on my cheek. I leaned into it and turned my head to kiss it. "Oh Maxon." I sighed. "Whatever am I going to do with you?"
He pulled me closer to him. "What do you mean my dear?" he asked a little confused.
I wouldn't let his closeness, no matter how distracting, get to me. "Why does he do this?" I asked him. "Why does he treat you like this?"
"I'm not one hundred percent sure." he said. "At first I thought it was to make me stronger. The first cut was when I was fourteen maybe. But then I realized it was a punishment for disobedience."
I looked down; meeting his eyes was just difficult. Here he was, probably taking beating after beating for me, and he wouldn't tell me. But now he shared his secret and something in me made me want to share mine to. But I couldn't.
Would he harm Aspen? I don't think he would but I just didn't know. For sure I'd never see Aspen again because Maxon would kick his ass from here to next year. But I couldn't wish that on him. Even if he did break my heart and try to win it back. Aspen's still my first love.
"What are you thinking?" Maxon asked tilting my head up to look at him.
All thoughts of Aspen fled my brain when I looked into his eyes. His brown eyes were just so absorbing I don't think I could've looked away if I wanted to.
"You." I said softly.
He smiled and leaned down to kiss me softly. When I pulled back I heard a grandfather clock out in the hallway strike eight. Eight in the morning? Could that be?
"You better hurry and get ready." Maxon teased pushing me towards the door.
I let him push me. His hands on my waist felt tender yet firm. "Alright, alright." I said. At the door I turned and looked into his eyes again. "See you soon."
He took my hand and kissed my palm, folding my fingers over the kiss. "Always." he whispered.