Saving Her: Chapter IX
Summary: Carter knows this is a good idea. She really does, because she's going to be saving Rosie, and anything after that just doesn't register. CarterxRosie
Author's Note: Ugh, this chapter bit my ass so hard. Lols I am really displeased with it; not only is it boring but it's one of those annoying ass chapters where nothing really happens but you need it anyway to paint a lot of background. XD I know it's a day early, but I'm thinking about posting the next one tomorrow to make up for the lack of ANYTHING ENTERTAINING in this one. Lols
Disclaimer: I do not own Princess Rosalinda/Rosie Gonzalez, Carter Mason, or Princess Protection Program and all affiliated characters and environments. They are the property of Disney in conjunction with Annie DeYoung :]
Carter was sure that there was nothing in the world more terrifying and aggravating—all at the same time—than the sound of those rattling iron bars slashing into her subconscious.
She groaned, her vision blotted and swimming as for the third time since her arrival in Costa Luna, Carter was ripped from unconsciousness by the disquieting sound, her heart pumping in her chest.
You'd think she'd be a little less freaked out by now.
Nope.
She was all too aware of the ragged breaths wheezing from her lips, trying with all her might to squelch the fear rising up in her limbs. She pressed her cheek harder into the cold stone floor, squeezing her eyes shut as the sound of heeled boots drew closer to her fallen form. There was a sudden cold draft as the boots stopped in front of her head, and she forced her eyes open a crack, just enough to see one boot suddenly swing backward. She panicked, tensing, sure she was about to be kicked in the head.
'Don't hurt me don't hurt me don't hurt me—'
And then her view of that boot was obscured by a white pant leg, bent at the knee, and there was a warm hand on her shoulder.
"Miss Carter…wake up."
A whoosh of air audibly escaped the beaten girl's lips at the sound of a familiar, slightly high pitched male voice, the accented drawl sending her heart rate back down. She opened her eyes fully, turning her head upward to meet the concerned brown gaze of Elegante.
"…you scared the crap outta me. I thought you were Kane!"
The fashion designer had the decency to look sheepish. "I apologize." He twisted behind him for a moment, a decent sized white tin with a red cross in his hands.
"I thought you may need this."
Carter's lips twitched. "Where were you the first time I needed it?"
Elegante chuckled, setting down the first aid tin with a soft clatter to help her upright. He had barely began to tug on the girl's arm before Carter gasped and went rigid, the breath all but knocked from her lungs. She collapsed onto her back, eyes screwed shut. Elegante quickly let go, fearing he had hurt her.
"I can't," Carter gasped, "I can't move yet."
Guilt flashed through the young mans' eyes, but before he could open his mouth, Carter lifted her head again, her eyes flitting around in distress.
"Wait, where is—"
"Right here, mija."
Their attention turned to the adjacent wall, where Queen Sophia was slumped heavily on the stone. She gave a tired smile when Carter weakly slapped Elegante's leg, ordering him to "go help her!" He was kneeled before her in an instant.
"My Queen," he greeted, hand over his heart.
"Elegante," she smiled back. "It is good to see you on our side once more." She took his offered hand, one arm tucked into her side as the young designer gently brought her to her feet, supporting her weight when she wobbled.
Sophia settled again in front of the sprawled brunette, running soft fingers over her forehead. "Where are you hurting Carter?"
The Louisiana native looked reluctant to complain. "Um…pretty much everywhere." She gave a weak laugh, cutting herself off when the action sent pain rippling through her torso. Carter's sad eyes found the big, yellowing bruise covering a good portion of the older woman's face, guilt tugging her lips down into a deep frown.
"I'm really sorry…"
The queen looked surprised. "For what?"
"They only hurt you because of me."
Sophia's face turned stern, and she turned to busy herself with the first aid tin, tutting sharply.
"Nonsense."
"It's true—"
"Carter Mason, I do not want to hear another word out of you."
Carter's mouth glued itself shut, looking decently chastised. Sophia flipped open the metallic latch, pulling out several bandages and placing them in Elegante's waiting hands before reaching for the bottle of hydrogen peroxide.
"You are in no way at fault for my injuries, nor for your own. Magnus Kane is a monster, and though I had not expected such abuse out of him it seems that he is capable and very willing to do whatever it takes to destroy our peace." She set the bottle down, looking the young girl in the eye. "We are all unfortunately pawns in his game, and for the time being nothing can be done about it. However, do you understand what you are in this game, Carter?" At the timid shake of her head, she continued.
"You are our saviour."
Carter's eyes widened as she opened her mouth, but Sophia saw her protest coming a mile away. She held up a hand, her movements eloquent and somehow calming.
"Rosalinda is the only hope this country has to return to peace. I cannot take the throne; I am by default ineligible because I do not directly descend from the royal family. Rosalinda, however, is the last pureblooded surviving member of the Fiore family, and naturally the next in line for the throne. As long as she is safe then there is still hope for stopping this madness. If you had allowed her to return here then General Kane would have won."
"There would be no hope for my people…" Sophia's voice wavered, dipping low. "He would have killed her." Carter reached out to lightly touch her arm with the pads of her fingers, the thought equally distressing to both of them. The queen smiled lightly at the young girl, patting her hand as she looked back down at her.
"Do you understand your importance now, Carter? There is still a chance to stop the General from monopolizing our countries into La Republica de Las Costas. There is still hope for our people to believe things will get better, motivation for them to help resist General Kane's changes. This is all because you have kept Rosalinda away. As long as she is alive the General cannot have full rein over Costa Luna. And she is still alive because of you. You are our saviour."
Carter's throat was thick with an emotion she couldn't place. It swelled from the pit of her stomach, captured her heart in its rolling tides and brought it up to nestle inside her throat. She had always wanted to make a difference in the world, make an impact. Do something in the world that means something, like her dad. She never thought she would get that opportunity so soon. The girl's very heart was smiling; Rosie had given her so much.
"You have become a part of our history. People will speak of this; of you and your bravery. Perhaps we will soon tell stories of you to our children."
Elegante chose this moment to chime in. "I will be the first to spread those stories. I have many willing ears." Carter laughed as he playfully wiggled his eyebrows.
"That is true." Sophia chuckled lightly.
"Do understand Carter?" At the girl's meek nod, she smiled, and that was apparently that. "Now, no more words from you. Let us treat your wounds."
Elegante turned away respectfully as the queen helped Carter into a sitting position, peeling away the remaining shreds of her dress to begin dressing her various injuries. The fashion designer walked over to the iron bars, gripping them between his nervous fingers as he peered into the darkness, on the lookout.
"The General has been in talks with his advisors all afternoon. He plans to unite Costa Luna and Costa Estrella into one republica under his control."
"Yes, and my people will never adhere to that." Sophia stated calmly, swatting Carter's hands away from her newly bandaged torso.
"With all due respect My Queen, I fear that they may not have a choice in the matter."
"Why?" Carter asked.
"For all his idiosyncrasies, Kane is not a stupid man. He knows our people will never accept him as king." Elegante sighed. "This is why he has kept the both of you alive. He has set up a press conference for his announcement…" Elegante's hands twitched as a loud noise echoed off from down the corridor. "…which he will be coming to collect you for. He wishes to make an example out of the both of you in the eyes of the public. There have been several outbreaks of protests already since the Princessa has been gone, and he has had several squadrons of the Royal Guard to go and squander them. Many people have already been killed."
Sophia's jaw was tight. "When is this announcement?"
"Tomorrow morning." The designer's face tightened. "He also plans to marry you to him, My Queen. At the conference."
Carter's brows knit. "But why? He said the marriage announcement was a fake; he was just trying to get to Rosie."
"That was true, but now that he does not have her he is trying to devise another way to bring her here. He wishes to keep you around in hopes that you may suffer, My Queen, when he—"
The man cut himself off, looking down as a heaviness stirred in his heart. He couldn't say it.
"When he what, Elegante." Sophia's tone was as hard as her eyes. She sealed off another bandage around a cut on Carter's cheek.
The man swallowed. "When he issues the Princessa's execution."
The silence in the cell was powerful. Sophia's motions ceased, her hands flying back to her lap. Carter couldn't help but feel sick. How had things gotten so out of control?
Elegante sighed, rolling his shoulders in an attempt to relieve some of the tension. "I will be honest, I fear for you Miss Carter."
Carter's breath caught. "Wha-why?"
"I think it is you the General is planning to kill."
Carter's face drained of all colour. She knew, but it was still hard to hear. This refocused the queen's attention back to the petite girl, as she smoothed away an errant lock of Carter's hair in comfort before resuming her cleaning of the breaks in her skin.
"That um, that's not new info you know."
Elegante's frown grew. "But I think he may wish to speed along his plans."
She felt like the world was slowing down to a stop, her heart beating against the drums of her ears slower and slower with every passing moment. Her voice sounded small as she spoke.
"How…how much sooner?"
Elegante swallowed, his words low and grim. "In but a few days, at most."
That was when Carter's mind finally whirred to a stop. A few days? She was going to—in a few days, she was going to be…And then her irrational brain screamed, and the panic set in. She didn't want to die; she was sixteen for god's sake! How had something that was supposed to do so much good turn out to be so bad? But then again, what did she expect? That she would be stopped? That someone was going to just pop out of the helicopter and save her, and none of this would have happened? That someone would have saved her? Why hadn't someone saved her? Hadn't they noticed she was gone? Her dad, Rosie, Ed, anyone? How long had it been already? A day? Two? Ten? Why hadn't someone come to save her?
"—ter? Carter!"
Air squeezed from her lungs and through her lips as Carter looked back at the two pairs of eyes watching her in worry. Elegante gave her a sympathetic half-smile.
"I apologize, I did not mean to cause you further distress."
The Louisiana native shook her head. "You didn't, it's just—I'm fine. It's nothi—ow…"
Carter hissed as Sophia found a spot on her back that she wasn't aware was even hurting. The queen leaned forward, offering her an apologetic smile.
"I am sorry."
Carter smiled. "S'okay."
Sophia wrapped the bandage taught once more around her torso, giving it a final tug before she tied it in place. She pat her head once and stood, retying the dress around Carter's neck.
"Do not worry Carter. We will not let him get to you." Sophia turned to Elegante. "There must be a way to stop this."
The eccentric designer slumped against the bars. "I do not know how. So many who I had thought to be friends have now turned out to be enemies. I can trust no one." He beat his fingers against his pant leg nervously. "I have tried hard to remain in General Kane's good graces for information, however there is not much I can do without allies."
Carter worried her lower lip. "Call the PPP."
Both adults in the room looked at her curiously. She clarified. "The Princess Protection Program. They can do something. My dad can. They can send people to help." She looked at Sophia with wide eyes. "You have to know how to contact them. My dad was here for weeks on and off before all this. He must've left you some way to get in touch with him, or the Program."
Sophia shook her head. "I have no way of contacting them, mija. For security purposes your father had not given me any information. They had simply appeared when we were in need."
Any hope that had been rising in Carter's chest was instantly squashed.
And then the sound of a distant chamber door opening rang through the darkness in the corridor, and the chatter of heavy voices filled the air. Elegante started, inching the bars open wide enough for him to squeeze through. The panic in his eyes was evident as he looked back at them, but there was a promise there as well.
"I will find a way."
And then he was gone, and Carter and Sophia were left with their fear in darkness once more.
Author's Note: Thanks for suffering through that. Lols The next chapter will have a little bit of CarterxRosie fluff, because even I'M getting tired of waiting for them to reunite. Lols Anyhoo, you'll see :]
