Chapter 23~

(Rosie) It's been a while since I've spent the night in my old bedroom at Nana and Papa's. It looks the same as it did when I was eight, except maybe a little smaller. I never thought I'd come back. Feared, of course, but never expected.

After we gained control back from General Kane, my mother and I took steps to make sure something like that would never happen again. One of those steps was installing the hidden room in the palace, the one where I took Carter to talk to Director Rogan. The other was to make Nana and Papa's into a safe house.

We stocked my old bedroom with everything I would need for a quick disguise – colored contacts, hair dye spray, change of clothes – as well as a stun dart gun and a handful of fake I.D.'s. If I needed to get out of the country in a hurry, I could be redhead Betty Jo, dirty blond Ella Mae or raven-haired Francesca Marie. I always thought it'd be nice to have in case of an emergency, but secretly hoped I'd never have to use any of it.

When I was at Lucio's, I realized being someone else did more than just protect me. It made me invisible. It took the most famous face on the island and faded it into the background. I can't find answers to my questions anymore as Queen Rosalinda. There are too many doors closed to me, too many other responsibilities to distract me. If I'm going to take some time off, I need to do it as someone else.

Cutting my hair was the hardest part. The PPP made me cut it to my shoulders to become Rosie Gonzales and it's just now reaching my mid-back. But having long hair makes me too recognizable, even after spraying it down with bleach blond hair dye.

"Who are you and what have you done with my granddaughter?" Nana exclaims when I walk into the kitchen in my new floral romper and short blond hair.

"Everything looks okay?" I blink through the blue colored lenses covering my brown eyes.

"You look perfect, nieta," Nana assures me.

"Gracias." I lean in to kiss her on the cheek. "I'll be back in time for dinner."

I grab a sunhat and pull it down over my face. I know this is risky, but if I can pull it off, it will be more than worth it.

Outside the sun is bright. I slip of a pair of dark sunglasses and head out onto the streets. As I weave my way through the village, street vendors call out to me, trying to convince me to buy bread, meat and handmade bags. It's refreshing, really, to be able to walk through the streets like everyone else. I wish I could stop and smell the fresh cut flowers the lady on the corner is selling or wander through the farmer's market, but it's too risky. Someone might recognize me.

I try to keep my pace as relaxed as possible as to detract any unwanted attention, but inside I feel the clocking ticking. Every minute I'm here is one less minute I have to complete my mission. The queen can only be MIA for so long before the island turns inside out looking for her.

A teenage girl walks past holding hands with a teenage boy. They stop and kiss, then walk to the nearest street vendor where the boy buys the girl a pretty scarf and they kiss again.

Sometimes I wonder what that would be like, to be in love. I've never gotten a chance to experience a real relationship. Maybe I never will. Sure Father married Mother because he fell in love with her, but they're the exception, not the rule. More often than not royals marry for power or title or peace between warring nations. Love is rarely a part of the equation.

Not that I mind. It's my job as queen to serve my people. But I wouldn't mind falling for a guy who really loves me and getting married. That's my idea of a fairytale.

I've reached the edge of the village. Only a few buildings are here, scattered amongst the sand. I know exactly which one I need, yet I still hesitate. What if I made a mistake in coming here?

I linger by the shop windows a minute, admiring the beautiful shell necklaces through the glass. After a while, I take a deep breath and push open the front door. A tiny bell announces my arrival. The store owner looks up and smiles as if he had been expecting me.

"Find anything you like?" he asks.

"The one with the sea glass," I surprise myself by saying. But it's true. I might buy it for Carter for her birthday.

I continue to walk around the store, checking out some of the other pieces. My heart thumps so loud, I'm sure the store owner can hear it. There's so much I want to say, need to say. I'm just not sure how to say it.

"Signorina," the store owner says finally. "I get the sense that you're looking for something."

"I am." I turn slowly to face the aging Italian gentleman. "Signore Sevalle, I'm looking for answers."

I take off my hat and sunglasses. A slow smile stretches actors his face as he finally recognizes me.

"Sit down, signorina. Ask me anything."