The One

by bella72401

America Singer went into this competition totally disgusted by Maxon Schreave and now she finds herself desperately fighting for him. What is she willing to give up? Can the death of someone of someone she loves change her mind about the life she had envisioned? What I think should be the One, the final book in the Selection Trilogy.

2. Chapter 2

Chapter 2: King Clarkson's Rampage

Chapter 2: King Clarkson's Rampage

A/N: To maggiebswim: Well, I love love love you for reading my story! Thanks to everyone else who is reading my story too! And I really appreciate the feedback!

I walked into the princess's suite, and I couldn't help but gasp. There was a table with platters of food and four chairs, but the room had been redone since I had last seen it. The walls were varying shades of greens and blues and bedspread now consisted of intricate beading in teal. I was overwhelmed with happiness. I felt arms wrap around my waist, 'Do you like it?", his whisper tickling my ear. "I love it!" I exclaimed. "I am afraid he can't take all the credit." Queen Amberly came in from the door in Maxon's Room followed by the King. "That is true, my mother knows more about your taste than I do" Maxon said modestly lacing his fingers with mine. "Shall we eat?" the King suggested stiffly. He pulled Queen Amberly's chair out for her and gave her a kiss on the cheek, she blushed and they both sat down to eat. Maxon did the same to me, as if he were a prodigy, yet when he kissed me it came with a tenderness that I don't think the King could ever grasp. For dinner we had steak and mashed potatoes, which I had the pleasure of trying for the first time. "Why are you laughing?" Maxon asked Queen Amberly. It wasn't until I looked up that I realized she was looking at me. Maxon began to laugh as well. King Clarkson and I exchanged a glance and finally I just asked, "I am doing something wrong?". This made them laugh harder but the Queen restrained herself long enough to answer my question," You are poking and prodding those potatoes like a child with brussel sprouts." "Oh well, I've never seen them before and originally I thought they were fluff balls but then I tried them." I tried to explain it in a reasonable way, but my explanation had Maxon howling with laughter. "Oh my dear, you are something special." Maxon's eyes began to water. I glared at him. King Clarkson took one look at my scowling face and then he began to chuckle to himself. Try as I might to fight it off, I could feel a smile growing on my lips. I let out a small giggle and then went into a laughing fit myself.

After a minutes the commotion died down and we finished our dinners. Two maids came in with desserts, I noticed that the strawberry tarts Maxon and I bet on were at the table. That seemed like centuries ago. Suddenly I missed May terribly and the rest of my family. It was if Maxon could read my mind, "They'll be here, soon all of them." I saw King Clarkson harden at the reassurance.

Queen Amberly spoke,"I have an announcement, Maxon I know that this will come as a shock as it has always been the three of us but-" King Clarkson slapped Queen Amberly fiercely across the face. Her wine glass shattered to the floor. She fell backwards hitting the floor. Maxon pounced out of his seat and onto his father. I screamed for him to stop, but he couldn't hear me over his rage, it consumed, it blocked out everything else. I ran over to Queen Amberly and helped her stand. "Oh my dear child!" she kissed me on the cheek. I put her on the princess's bed, and worried about the men now. They wrestled on the floor until the King had Maxon pinned down. "Did you really think you could win?" King Clarkson mocked him. He punched Maxon in the nose and it began to gush with blood. Queen Amberly screamed, and that was all it took for me. King Clarkson smiled maliciously Maxon's blood engulfed his fist, I ran and smacked him across the face. Pain tore through my hand, but I didn't feel it. I didn't feel anything, I saw King Clarkson slowly stand up and begin to walk toward me. I broke out of my paralysis and tried to run but I tripped over the carpet and fell to the floor. He stood over me menacingly "Get up! Run America! Get up!" Queen Amberly screamed. "Don't hurt her Clarkson, be reasonable! Please don't do this!" she begged. "It doesn't even matter that you told them about the baby, she won't last long." King Clarkson said to Queen Amberly. "How can you be so sure?" she asked. "Because I killed them all. They were all girls, I needed a man to lead in my place! All it took was a pill! You fool!" he said matter-of-factly. Queen Amberly wailed, but he turned his attention back toward me. I saw Maxon get up but I wanted him to stay down, I wanted King Clarkson to hit me and get it over with. I closed my eyes waiting but it didn't come. When I opened them Maxon was standing in front of me, "GET THE HELL AWAY FROM MY WIFE!" he seethed. All of a sudden King Clarkson stormed out of the room. Maxon offered me a hand and he pulled me to my feet. "I'm sor-", his words were replaced by my lips. "You have absolutely nothing to apologize for!", I kissed him again. I went down to the hospital wing and got some bandages and antiseptic, then brought them back to the third floor.

I bandaged Queen Amberly's cheek and Maxon's nose, staunching the flow of blood. "I better get back to my room but I'll leave the bandages here. I can sleep in Bariel's room if the Queen wants to use mine." I offered. Maxon looked to his mother, she gave a slight shake of her head. I nodded and headed toward the door, "America?" Maxon called. "Yes?", we stepped into the hall. "I meant what I said to my father." He pulls me in for a long lingering kiss, passionate but delicate. 'Good night your Majesty", I tease. He chuckles his nose sliding against my jaw. I give him one last kiss and head back to my room.