Aisling

Slowly, the room started to come into focus and I groaned slightly as the pain hit me, like a powerful wave. Where was I?

I tried to sit up but it caused excruciating pain to erupt in my body and I clenched my eyes closed trying to ward it off. The pain seemed to be everywhere, right down to my very bones.

Prying my eyes open and steeling myself against the pain, I tried to take in my surroundings. Immediately, my heart began to race as I realised I didn't recognise them. Where was I?

Trying to stay calm I tried to focus on everything around me, looking for anything I recognised.

I was lying on the softest bed I'd ever been on, with warm heavy blankets that actually kept me cozy. It was a feeling I had never experienced before and it helped to quell some of the pain as I revelled in their luxury. Looking above my head I saw a wispy canopy of white and light purple hanging from the four posts of the bed. I gingerly turned to the giant window in the room and looked out at the brilliant blue sky, filled with fluffy white clouds. The sun was casting a bright, comforting light over the room, a warm glow spreading across the lavender comforter.

How did I get here? Where was here? Last I remembered Malvolia was dragging me towards the fireplace.

My heart jolted at the memory and my body clenched in anticipation sending another pulse of pain through my body.

My breathing was short and sharp with every breath causing crippling pain to wrap around my chest. I winced at the pain and an equally unbearable agony spread from my cheek and through my head, until the pain was throbbing in rhythm with my struggling heart. If there were any other injuries on my body I couldn't feel them, the pain from the ones in my chest and head were causing me the most trouble, consuming all my attention.

Who put me here? Where's Malvolia? Where's Flora? I hope Adam never sees me like this.

I quickly squashed down the rogue thought as a tear fell from my eye, burning a path across my cheek and falling to the soft pillow my head was resting on. What was happening?

'Lady Zander?' A sweet voice asked beside me and I jolted in alarm and defence. Who did that voice belong to? My distress only caused all my wounds to scream in protest and I shut my eyes again to try and deal with the pain. Who was lady Zander?

'Oh miss you can't move,' they scolded lightly and I had a horrible realisation. They thought I was lady Zander. That couldn't be right. Had I woken up in an alternate universe? How hard had Malvolia hit me?

'Get the prince and the doctor,' someone else instructed and I heard hurried feet retreating from the room. Confused and frightened, I tried to lift myself from the bed but another round of blinding pain swept through my body from the tips of my toes to the roots of my hair. Struggling to keep my eyes open, my vision began to swim and black spots were dancing at the edges. I could feel myself slipping and all I wanted to do was give into the darkness.

'Miss, you need to keep your eyes open. The prince will be here soon,' they tried to reassure me but all I wanted to do was close them. I didn't care if the prince was coming. I couldn't breathe and I felt my panic rising only making it more difficult to get the air I needed. I just wanted it all to end.

Adam

'Adam?'

'Hmm…' I mumbled not looking up from my food I'd been playing with for the last half an hour.

'There are six girls looking at you like they're going to eat you and another seven who look like they want to hug you just so they can get that wounded puppy dog look off your face.'

'I don't have a puppy dog face,' I answered Marinda defensively, dropping my fork loudly.

'Nice,' she smiled and I looked up to find almost all eyes in the room on me.

'Great,' I mumbled ducking my eyes again. It had been three days since I returned with Aisling and despite wanting to spend all my time with her my parents had been keeping me busy. Dad had me doing more with him to help run the country and mom wanted me to show more attention to the girls of the selection but all I wanted to do was be with Aisling.

She hadn't woken up yet and everyday made me more and more nervous that maybe she wouldn't. I had them keep her in the room she had been assigned as one of the selected so she would be comfortable. When I had brought her in from the car that first night my parents had watched me sadly but said nothing as I took her straight to her room and rested her on her bed.

The doctor came immediately to stabilise her but that was all she was, stable. Who knew the damage which lay beneath the surface? I could only imagine the true scars Malvolia had inflicted. She had fractured ribs and a severe head wound along with several other injuries but they would all heal. I was afraid of the damage Malvolia might have inflicted on her heart. Did she even want to wake up?

'Adam,' my mother hissed as I tucked my hand in my pocket, holding her silver bracelet I wasn't ready to surrender to her yet.

'What?' I demanded angrily.

'You're being very rude,' she answered in a low voice so the many girls in the dinning room didn't overhear, despite all of them staring at me intently.

'This is ridiculous,' I muttered, angrily. 'I wanted to see Aisling this morning, but instead I'm here in a room filled with girls I don't even want to be here.'

'Adam,' my father's warning voice came over the top just as one of the maids assigned to Aisling came running into the room with a startled look on her face. My heart came to an abrupt stop in my chest and a terrifying thought ran through my mind. There was something wrong with Aisling.

I quickly got to my feet, almost knocking my chair to the floor in my haste to go to the maid.

'What's wrong?' I demanded in a quiet voice leading the maid out of the room of gawking girls.

'She's awake your highness,' she answered hurriedly and I didn't wait for her to continue. I broke out into a frantic run heading straight for her room. She was awake, she was finally awake.

Aisling

Suddenly, just when I thought I couldn't hold on any longer the doors to the room crashed open and a frantic voice called for me through my pain.

'Aisling!' They breathed as a large, warm hand wrapped around mine. Startled, I looked down to find Adam by my side, a terrified and relieved look in his eyes. How could someone even manage a look like that?

All of a sudden I realised my arms were bare. The one he was holding was the arm which had all my burn scars on it. I quickly tried to pull my hand free from his grasp to hide my shame but he held firmly, keeping it clasped in both of his own.

'Aisling, please you need to calm down,' he soothed, brushing hair back from my face as the tears began to bite at the back of my throat again. I never wanted anyone to see the evidence of my shame, my weakness. Yet, there they were on full display, for everyone to see. Looking at them the tears began to tumble down my face and collected on the pillow.

'Aisling,' he whispered gently swiping at the tear drops as they fell. Eventually, his gaze followed my own and I saw the anger consume his beautiful features and his grip on me tightened.

'Aisling, look at me,' he ordered, resting a hand tenderly on my uninjured cheek, keeping my eyes solely on him. The tears continued to silently fall but I was trapped in his intense gaze, momentarily forgetting the pain.

'Aisling, you are the most beautiful girl I have ever laid eyes on. More than that you have a strength many desire but very few possess. Every scar, every burn is a reminder of how strong you are. Do not be ashamed.' He finished fiercely but I knew the truth. Every time I looked at my marred skin I didn't see strength, I only saw my weakness. I only saw the reminder of what I was, who I was. Worthless.

Adam was looking at me intently when another man entered the room hurriedly. However, he maintained a practiced look of calm on his face. Adam placed a quick kiss on my forehead and stepped aside, but didn't let my hand go. The doctor dropped his bag beside the bed and pulled out a scary looking needle and my eyes widened in horror.

'Don't worry Lady Zander,' He soothed with a trusting smile. 'I'm just going to give you something for the pain. I'm sorry but it's going to make you a little drowsy.' I tried to nod my head, but all I could see was the needle, moving closer and closer to my arm. I vaguely felt Adam squeezing my hand but I didn't give him any reaction. All my attention was on the needle that kept moving closer to the vulnerable skin of my arm.

I let out a sigh of relief as he placed the needle inside the tube which I hadn't noticed was already inserted in my arm.

Almost immediately I felt the pain in my body begin to recede until it felt as if I was floating. It was as if a warm blanket was wrapping tightly around my body, squeezing all the pain out of me.

I noticed the doctor leaving the room after he muttered something to Adam but I was in a warm, liquid haze and nothing seemed to be able to touch me.

Suddenly, the bed dipped beside me and I forced my eyes to focus on Adam's face above me.

'I'm so glad I get to see your beautiful eyes again,' he murmured, leaning down and placing another kiss on my forehead.

'Adam?' I whispered, as sleep tried, mercilessly, to claim me.

'What is it Aisling?' He asked, his eyes never leaving mine.

'Where's Flora?' I questioned, trying to raise my voice above a whisper.

'How about you get some rest? We need to get you better,' he answered and I saw something odd flash through his eyes but it disappeared before I could understand what it was.

'Flora,' I muttered again as my eyes dropped shut and the rest of the world fell away.

Adam

I watched in relief as her eyes drifted closed. I couldn't tell her yet. She looked so weak and fragile. How as I meant to tell her that her only friend was gone? How could I possibly tell her that another person in her life had been taken from her?

I brushed the hair from her face my heart beating a little slower knowing that she was sleeping peacefully when I heard footsteps approach behind me. I quickly tucked her arms under the covers before turning around to face my father. It was her choice whether she revealed the pain other's had inflicted upon her, not mine. I wouldn't take that decision from her.

'Adam, how is she?' He asked softly, lingering at the threshold of the room.

'She's resting now, I think the pain was too overwhelming for her.' I informed him, keeping my eyes on my sleeping angel.

'She just needs time Adam,' he said quietly.

'I know it's just so hard to see her suffer. If I could take her pain away I would, but I can't.' I answered in frustration.

'I know, I was the same when your mother was hurt.'

'How did you cope? I want to tear the palace apart and see the person who did this to her suffer, just as she does.' I growled.

'I tore my room apart after your mother was shot. I was so angry. At myself, at the people who had done it to her but mostly I was angry at your grandfather. All the time he wanted America gone and he didn't care how.' He admitted darkly and I looked up at him in shock. I always knew there was an underlying tension between the two, especially when mom was around but I never thought this was the reason.

'Grandfather wanted mom dead?' I asked, outraged.

'He wanted her out of my selection and as far away from me as possible. At the time I hated him for what he had done but I feared him too much to confront him. When I did try to protect her from him you mother begged me not to. She wanted to protect me even though she was the one lying in the hospital bed with the bullet wound.' He remembered, shaking his head at my mother's stubbornness.

'Why would grandfather hurt you? You're his son,' I asked confused. Dad had never threatened any of us. Any threats of bodily harm would always come from mom and you knew she would never follow through on it.

'Your grandfather was a different man back then,' he answered in a low voice as something dark crossed his face and I wondered what about his past could cause such a look to cross his face.

'Why don't you stay here for the rest of the day? You should be by her side so she knows she isn't alone.' My father announced shaking the darkness from his eyes. 'Whatever you saved her from Adam was truly horrific. She deserves to know she is more than others have treated her in the past.'

He rested his hand on my shoulder and gave it a tight squeeze before turning to leave.

'Thanks dad,' I replied keeping my eyes on Aisling, who was still sleeping peacefully beside me, her rhythmic breathing a comfort to me.

I stayed by her side for the remainder of the day, content to watch her sleep. I tried to keep my thoughts away from who had done this to her but I often found myself trying to control my anger thinking about the hateful woman who had caused her so much pain. How could she be so cruel to such a beautiful girl with an innocent soul?

She hadn't woken up before today and still I only had mere minutes with her before she was unconscious again. Everyday my heart became uncertain of what she would need when she finally did wake up for good. I didn't want to overwhelm her. Everything had changed for her. How could I ask her to be more than what I guessed she was ready for? I would need to wait, play out the competition. I just hoped that someday she would be ready. I could give her time, I would give her anything.

I wanted to be by her side when she woke again. I wanted to reassure her of her safety and more than anything I wanted to bring a smile to her face and see the stars dancing in her eyes.

When my younger sister came trotting in hours later, I didn't welcome the intrusion.

'Adam,' she said hesitantly from the door, opening it a sliver, allowing the hallway light to peek in. 'Mom said you need to come down for dinner.'

'Not tonight Nia, tell mom I'll get something later.' I replied, not willing to take my eyes off Aisling for a moment. I was sitting beside her on the bed now, with a book beside me, but I had no intention of reading it.

'Mom, said you have to come down. She said you can't keep ignoring the other girls like this.' She repeated what our mother told her to say and I wondered why she didn't just come here and tell me herself.

'I don't care Nia, tell her she can send them all home if she wants,' I replied angrily, rubbing my thumb across Aisling's hairline.

'Is this really her Adam, the girl from that night?' Harmonia asked quietly, stepping cautiously into the room.

'She's the one I intend to marry Harmonia,' I replied with conviction. If I could feel her loss this deeply when she hadn't even left I knew I needed to keep her by my side always. I just needed to convince her of that.

'She's very pretty Adam,' my sister mused sitting gently on the edge of the bed.

'She's perfect,' I whispered reverently, trailing my hand down the side of her face.

'What happened to her?' She asked innocently and I felt the anger rise from the bottom of my feet and begin to build.

'A very bad woman hurt her,' I said simply, trying to control my emotions.

'Did you rescue her Adam?' She questioned looking up at her older brother with unmasked hope and adoration.

'Yeah, I did Nia. No one deserves to be hurt like Aisling has been.' I replied fiercer than I intended.

'Does she love you Adam?' Harmonia asked and I felt the question lodge deep in my heart. How could she love me? She didn't even know me yet and the last time I spoke to her she didn't want anything to do with me.

'I'm not sure, but I hope she will someday soon,' I answered looking at her resting body hopefully.

'You should stay Adam, I'll tell mom.' Harmonia said quietly, running her little finger along Aisling's forehead.

'Thanks Nia,' I whispered returning all my attention to my resting beauty.

'She's special Adam,' She said quietly before getting up and leaving the room.

'I know,' I murmured. I didn't need my twelve year old sister to tell me how valuable Aisling was. She was everything and it terrified me.

Aisling

When I woke the second time in the darkened room, I was far less startled than before. I was grateful to whatever the doctor had given me because my body no longer felt like it was trying to come apart at the seams. I was blissfully numb to whatever healing my body was trying to achieve. There was still a dull ache in my side but mostly I was ignorant to any pain.

I slowly turned my head, sensing a presence beside me and found a sleeping prince slumped awkwardly in the pillows. What was he doing here?

'Adam?' I croaked, my voice rough from not being used. I wondered how long I had been out for.

At first Adam didn't stir, so I tried again, this time a little louder.

'Adam?' Slowly he pried his eyes open and blinked a few times staring down at me until a wide smile spread across his face and I was stunned by his handsomeness. I quickly tried to shake the thought from my head but it was already there, circling around in my thoughts.

'Aisling, you're awake,' he announced, shifting into a less awkward position, obviously trying hard not to jostle me in any way.

'What are you doing here?' I asked a little confused, I had almost convinced myself that last time I woke up was a dream and when I woke up for real I would be in the cellar, curled up on my bed of old clothes and blankets. 'Where is here?'

'The palace,' he answered cautiously, watching me for the reaction he must have been expecting to come. He didn't need to wait long.

'What? Why? Where's Flora?' I demanded trying to push myself out of the bed, but even if my body wasn't refusing to cooperate with me and my side hadn't started screaming at me, his arm pinning me down would have kept me in place.

'You have a fractured rib Aisling and god knows what else. You need to rest.' He instructed firmly but I could see the worry swirling in his steel blue eyes.

'Why am I here?' I asked again.

'I brought you here,' He said, before cautiously removing his arm from my shoulders.

'You didn't even ask me,' I answered incredulously.

'You weren't in a fit state to answer and I did ask you.'

'I told you I didn't want to come, did you forget our conversation out by the tree.' I answered angrily.

'And I said it wasn't an option, you were coming with me, I am the prince,' he retorted arrogantly.

'You can't take unconscious girls away from their homes. It's immoral.' I accused, clenching my fists.

'That wasn't a home Aisling. I wasn't going to leave you with that monster.' He growled, his eyes taking on a darker blue shade.

'It was my home, Flora's my home. Where is she?' I demanded defiantly. He couldn't do this, I didn't care who he was.

'Aisling,' he spoke gravely and I felt my heart tumble from my chest, dreading what he was going to say next. 'Flora…Flora didn't make it.' Suddenly, I felt my world shift from beneath me and my head began to spin uncontrollably. She can't be gone. I just saw her yesterday coming back with this conceited prince.

'No, you're lying. I saw her yesterday. She's fine.' I whispered weakly.

'I'm sorry Aisling, I wish I were but she died beside you after she came to your rescue. It was too much for her. She died holding your hand.' He affirmed sadly and I felt a crack in my heart begin to form. The pain I was feeling was more powerful than anything Malvolia could have inflicted on me. How could she be gone?

'I don't have anyone left,' I whispered as despair engulfed my body. 'She was everything I had.'

'No Aisling you're not alone, I'm here, you have me.' He declared emphatically reaching for my hand but I pulled it away and didn't even care that a look of devastation crossed his face.

'When is she being buried? I want to go.' I said in a low voice, watching as a fresh wave of pain dashed across his face. It was as if it physically hurt him to tell me what he said next.

'Aisling,' he started cautiously. 'You've been unconscious for almost a week, it's Wednesday night.'

'What?' I gasped, how was that possible? 'No.'

'I'm sorry, but she's gone,' he continued gravely, watching me as if I might crumble at any moment.

'I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye,' I choked out as tears strangled my words.

He sat silently beside me and all I wanted to do was be alone. Why did he need to be here? I didn't want him to see me cry for my lost friend. I just wanted to be alone.

'Why didn't you leave me there?' I hissed, after several minutes of silence.

'I couldn't leave you there,' he answered a little outraged.

'Why not, I never wanted to come here.' I could feel myself lashing out at him irrationally but I couldn't hide my pain and all it wanted to do was escape.

'I did want you here and there was no chance of me leaving you there when all I want to do is hide you from the rest of the world so no one can ever hurt you again,' he answered earnestly.

'Please just leave me alone. I want to be alone,' I begged. 'You owe me that.'

'I'm not leaving you Aisling,' he replied fiercely trying to take my hand again.

'Get out,' I said in a low menacing voice, feeling the tears start to pour over from my eyes. I couldn't hold them anymore. Why couldn't he just leave me alone?

'Aisling-,'

'Get out!' I cried and he startled beside me falling back slightly with a wounded look on his face.

After several moments of silence he pushed himself off the bed, his head hung low and his shoulders slumped. He shuffled defeatedly from the room and when I finally heard the door fall shut I let out the breath I had been holding and the tears cascaded from my eyes.

They wracked my body, each sob causing searing pain, but it was nothing compared to the pain in my heart. Who did I have left? No one, I was alone.

All I had left in this world were my dreams. They were what I always had. What was I going to do now that Flora couldn't be a part of them?

Adam

I was leaning against her door in despair, listening to her sobs, each one ripping through my chest painfully. I may have been a masochist to continue listening after she had brutally kicked me out of her room but I didn't want her to be alone. Even if she didn't know I was there.

I was so focused on her tears and sorrow that I didn't notice the three girls approaching until it was too late.

'Prince Adam,' they chorused, curtseying gracefully. I quickly straightened up and tried to school my features into something less despairing. However, if they noticed my melancholy mood they never let on.

'Good evening ladies,' I answered stiffly, shuffling uncomfortably in front of Aisling's door. I didn't want them to hear her tears.

'Is that lady Zander's room?' Lady Medea asked curiously, in a sweet voice.

'Yes, but she is still unwell,' I replied sadly, running a hand nervously through my hair.

'I hope she gets better soon,' Lady Corabella crooned, but I could sense the falsehood in her words and it grated on me.

'I hope so too, I'd love to meet her,' lady Poppy said kindly and I let a small smile escape my lips. I took comfort in the knowledge that when Aisling finally could leave her room that some of the girls would be accepting of her. Hopefully, the girls would be able to see her beauty like I did. Maybe then they'll understand my choice.

'I'm sure she'll be able to come and visit you all very soon,' I replied vaguely. 'I must be on my way. I'll see you all soon.' I walked away from them quickly, shying away from their unwavering attention.

Maybe mom was right, I really should be spending more time with the other girls. This isn't fair on them. I looked back and saw the three girls crowded together in a tight group, locked in an intense conversation. Medea motioned towards Aisling's room and I got a little nervous. What could she possibly be saying? Medea had always been kind whenever I had spoken to her, but the three crowded together like that still made me feel uneasy.

Amberly

'Marinda, he won't speak to me, can't you ask him to come to the phone?' I demanded, almost yelling at my younger sister.

'He's been with her all day, Harmonia said he refused to leave her side. She woke up today Amberly,' Marinda yawned. I still couldn't work out the time zone conversion so I had no idea what time it was over there.

'Fine, it doesn't matter anyway,' I mumbled preparing to hang up the phone.

'Whoa hang on there, you kept me up, I deserve to know a little about Anthony,' she demanded causing me to groan.

'Come on Amberly, be a good older sister and tell me what you think of him.' She teased obviously already hearing about what I thought of him from our father or our mother or even grandfather when I had called to complain to them over the past few days.

'You know what I think about him Marinda,' I grumbled hating this conversation even more. I should have never called her looking for Adam, that was my mistake.

'Oh please-,' I lost interest in her begging when I heard the startled voices coming from somewhere outside me room. There were even screams echoing up the halls. My heart rate increased in fear and anticipation, what was going on?

'I need to go, I'll talk to you later,' I told Marinda absently as she continued to protest until I ended the call.

I walked cautiously to the door still hearing the startled voices and ducked my head out into the empty corridor. There was nothing, only the plants and the tapestries.

Curiosity got the better of me and I quickly made my way down the corridor in the direction of the frightened voices. With every step I took the voices grew louder and the dread in my heart increased. What was happening?

Finally, I reached the foyer of the castle and found the source of the hysteria. I froze at the top of the stairs, looking down at the scene in horror. There were staff running everywhere, shouting things and calling for people. It was so loud and frantic, my senses were having trouble taking it all in. However, it only took moments for my eyes to land on the source of the panic.

In the middle of all the chaos was a body laying deathly still. There was a pool of blood encircling the body and a knife sticking out of his chest, sickeningly. When my legs remembered how to move, I raced down the stairs almost tripping in my haste to get to him. I fell to my knees beside him and ran my fingers through his dark hair as the fear crippled my heart. How could this have happened?

'Anthony?' I whispered, unable to make my voice any louder. 'Anthony, what happened?' I asked dumbly, as if he could answer me. I leaned forward hoping to feel his warm, steady breathing on my cheek but I felt nothing. He...He was dead.

'No, this can't be,' I breathed looking down at the knife protruding from his chest. None of this made any sense.

'What, happened?' I demanded trying to fight off unwanted tears, but no one answered me. They all continued running around frantically, uncertain of what to do.

'Anthony, please,' I begged retuning my attention to him and awkwardly wrapping my arms around him. 'Don't go.' I clung tightly to him wishing it would make him breathe again. Unknowingly, a tear slid down my face but I was in so much shock and disbelief that I didn't even bother to wipe it away. I didn't want him to be dead.

'I knew you liked me love,' I started at the amused voice, as it rumbled in his chest against my ear. My eyes went wide and I felt the blood run from my face. Did he just…?

'I'm so glad you admitted it Amberly,' he chuckled and I pulled back from him in alarm.

'What…?' I asked dumbfounded, watching as he sat up and ripped the knife off his chest. It didn't even have a blade.

'It was fake love,' he smiled obnoxiously and I could feel my confusion slowly morphing into anger.

'You aren't dead?' I asked even though it didn't need clarification.

'No love, I'm very much alive and now I know you care for me I'm feeling quite pleased with myself.' He answered getting to his feet and looking down at my shell shocked body.

'It was a trick?' I continued with my idiotic line of questioning still reeling from his fake death.

'Yes, Amberly,' he smiled leaning down and placing a soft kiss on my forehead and for some reason I let him.

'You scared me,' I said quietly and then immediately regretted my words.

'Jared and I had a bet love and I won,' He smiled.

'I can't believe I lost, I was certain she would hate you after the paintball incident, maybe even dance around your body gleefully. This, I was not expecting.' Jared complained walking over to us as the staff disappeared, completely calm. They were in on it too.

'You were wrong little brother, I can't wait to see you wearing that tie at the ball.'

'You failed me Amberly,' Jared accused looking down at me as well.

'I-I…you are horrible people.' I finally managed, getting to my feet, my dress stained with Anthony's fake blood.

'And you like my brother,' Jared answered gravely. This was ridiculous. Who did they think they were, toying with people's emotions like this?

'I don't like either of you,' I ground out. 'Elliot is the only decent person in this castle.' I fumed storming away from them.

'You like me love, you can't hide it anymore.' Anthony chuckled as I let out of a groan of frustration marching determinedly up the stairs. We'll see who likes who but I most definitely did not like him. Anyone would have reacted that way. I thought he was dead. This was ridiculous. When I finally reached my room I slammed the door and flung myself on my bed in anger, not even caring if I stained it with the fake blood on my dress.

I did not like Anthony.

I'm so excited you guys are enjoying the story, I hope you enjoyed this latest chapter as well. I would have had this up sooner, but I fell asleep, but it's here now :)

To my wonderful guest (I'm just guessing but I think GfA means guest from Austria, I'm sorry if my deductive skills are off, they never really have been my strong point.) You are so sweet and yes I hope to one day write a book and have it published. It's comforting to know that I'll have at least one person to buy it :) Thank you so much for your amazing reviews.

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As always my amazing people, until next time and happy reading :)