Zach's POV:

I am so dead!

"Come on," My friend stands with sword in hand breathing heavily. "Get up and fight, Zachary."

Ow! My breathing labors as I dodge her attacks to the best of my ability. "Lily! Watch it!" Her sword almost slashes my body into two pieces. She's gone crazy!

"Are you trying to kill me?!"

"Pick up a sword and fight!"

"You of all people know that I can't fight-Ahhhhh!" I let out a yelp as I barely manage to dodge her sword.

"So what?" A slash resonates in my ear as I gulp. "Didn't you say you wanted to learn?"

"But not like this!"

"Someone help! She's trying to murder me!"

"Just fight! Don't tell me that you can't even use a sword."

"It's the truth!" I run towards a wall. Uh-oh! Why did I run towards the wall?!

My hands flail around to shield my head as I crouch down. "Ahhhhh! I'm sorry for everything that I've done. Mother, Father, help!"

I shut my eyes bracing for the blade to assault my neck. This is it… I'm dead! What did I ever do to deserve this?!

"Lily,"

My ears perk up as I cautiously open one of my eyes. A clang rings throughout the air as a figure of a man blocks the sword with his sword. "What did I say when I taught you how to fight?"

Thank goodness! I'm saved!

She growls as her eyes narrow. "Move."

"Calm yourself." His face defaults to a neutral expression. "You're being reckless."

The grip on her sword tightens as her eyes flash bloody red. "I said move!"

The man in front of me shakes his head slowly blocking every one of her attacks. Finally, he flings the weapon straight into the wall with a clang. My friend breathes heavily as her eyes widen in what seems to be shock.

"A sword should only be used for defense, not for offense. Especially not for attacking the weak." He said after a moment of silence as my friend stares at her trembling hands. "Did you really forget the first lesson I taught you?"

"I…" Her hands shake a bit as tears drip down her cheeks. "I apologize, father."

What about me? I'm the one who almost got killed over here.

Her purple eyes turn to me. "I'm sorry. That was impulsive of me."

"Don't mention it."

"Honey-"

"I'm fine." She holds up a hand walking towards the chair.

Lily… no way she's fine after that.

"Liliana," A girl with white hair and green eyes enters as she glides gracefully towards her with a concerned gaze.

"What is it?" She sat down on one of the chairs. Her midnight black hair flows elegantly past her shoulders as she directs her eyes at my friend.

"Are you okay?"

"Of course, why am I not okay?"

She's in denial.

"About the wedding between-"

"Stop," She holds a finger to her lips. "I don't want to hear about that right now."

A sigh escapes my lips. "You're in denial." I sat down across from her as my three friends join us.

"I'm not in denial."

My hazel-eyed friend raises a brow. "Oh? Then care to explain why you almost killed him?"

"Oh yea," I turn to my so-called friends. "How come you didn't save me?! You all were right outside!" Seriously, I had to endure all of that! I will get them for this.

They flinch as nervous smiles and giggles escape their lips. "Well, we were thinking how to diffuse it without getting one of us maimed."

"I almost died!" I shout as they gulp.

"You know what she's like when she gets angry," My friend mutters under his breath. "How can we interfere?"

"The only one who can calm her down is him but he's currently occupied." He whispered glancing at her cautiously. I wonder how it's going with his plan.

(Flash):

"What are you doing here?"

(Flash)

Have they met? Why else would they seem so shocked?

"Excuse me?!" I stand up as they inch back. "I almost died, Brandon! If she didn't stop, I wouldn't be standing here yelling at you."

I steady my breathing and sit back down. "Some friends you are,"

"Aw, come on," He swings his arm around me. "We didn't mean to not help you."

I stare at him. "You did."

"Ok, yes, but we have to protect ourselves first before we go into battle."

"Such a lame excuse." I roll my eyes and look towards my purple-eyed friend.

"Lily,"

"Maria, I told you, I'm fine."

"You're not." My green-eyed friend said as she holds her hand.

"You're touching your engagement ring." My friend points out. "You have a habit of doing that when you miss him or feel sad." He explains as she looks at her hand in shock. Who knew he paid attention that much.

She lets out a frustrated sigh and stands up. "I told you, I am fine."

Like we will believe that. "It's been a long day. I'm going to bed." My friend glances at us. "Goodnight."

The door slammed as we stood there in silence. Will she be okay?

"Will she be alright by herself?" Derek asks in concern as I sigh.

"I don't know."

"Don't worry," Maria said as she sits back down. "All she needs is a bit of time snd space."

"Still, shouldn't we probably check up on her to see if she does anything reckless?" Star asks then quickly added. "Not that I think that she will do anything reckless but you know, just in case that happens."

I nod. "You've got a point but she's always been a strong person. I think that she will be fine."

We look at the door again as we sigh once more. "I wonder how this will play out?" Brandon asks as we nod. This will be highly interesting to watch, to say the least.

Liliana's POV:

The door to my room slams as I bury my head in a pillow. What a tiring day.

I managed to escape their questions but they are bound to ask again tomorrow. Why can't they just leave me alone? I pull the blanket up to my neck. Ok, now's not the time to think about this.

My eyes drift towards the clock. 10:30.

It's only 10:30? Wow…

Ok… I have to sleep. Sleep is a priority. My eyes shut trying to drift off into dreamland.

The only noise is the ticking of the clock. Why is that clock so loud? An irritated groan escapes my lips as I cover my ears with my hands. Argh! How can I still hear that clock?!

Ignore the clock. Just ignore the clock. I need to sleep. I need to sleep. "Just sleep," I mutter. "I have to sleep."

(Flash):

"Ahem, since nobody objects, Prince Astral, do you take Princess Starlight, to be your one and only wife, to live together in matrimony, to love her, to honor her, to comfort her, and to keep her in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do."

(Flash)

Tears well up in my eyes as a hand clutches my chest. I shut my eyes tightly. This hurts… it feels as if a thousand knives are penetrating my heart stabbing it over and over again.

Just sleep. I need to sleep! "I have to sleep." I choke out as tears drip on the bed.

(Flash):

"This ring is a token of my love for you." He said as he slips the ring on her finger.

(Flash)

"I have to sleep." I covered my mouth to muffle sobs as tears streamed down my face. "I need to sleep!"

I must sleep. I don't want to think about this!

(Flash):

My fiancé sighs pulling her closer with his arm around her waist as she wraps her arms around his neck. "We're going to do this for real."

"You mean we-"

"Yes."

Her face sports a tint of red. "B-But I-"

"The faster we do this, the faster we'll be done."

"Just, don't think too much about this and keep your lips closed, okay?"

She nods as he leans closer. Their eyes shut as their lips connect. Her arms pull him closer still wrapped around his neck deepening the lip-lock while the photographer snaps picture after picture.

My hands curl tightly on the chair to prevent myself from storming over and doing something irrational.

"Liliana," My mother looks at me in concern.

"I'm fine, Mother," I reply not looking at her as my heart breaks. "After all, this is a political marriage. He said that he doesn't view her that way."

"Just as Her Majesty said. It's just acting. It doesn't mean they like each other romantically."

My vision blur with tears as I quickly blink them away. My father places a hand on my shoulder. "The fact that you can think like that proves that you're an adult. I'm proud of you, my daughter."

My lips strain a smile ignoring the pulsing pain in my chest. "Thank you, Father."

(Flash)

My breathing labors as I clench my jaw. God damn it. Why can't I sleep? I have to sleep. I absolutely need to sleep!

My hands cover my mouth. My body trembles as tears stain my face flowing like a river. "I don't want to think about this."

"I-I need to sleep." I stutter in a raspy tone. "Stop thinking about this!"

I curl up into a ball silently muffling my sobs with a hand. Astral…

"Sleep."

"Sleep."

"Sleep," I mutter over and over rocking myself back and forth. Why can't I sleep? Why is it so hard?

"Please, I have to sleep!"

My voice cracks as I curl closer sniffling.

(Flash):

She pecks his cheek with a soft smile as he pats her head.

(Flash)

"I don't want to remember." I choke out between gasps. "I don't want to!"

(Flash):

"I now pronounce you husband and wife."

(Flash)

My breathing hitches and I begin to cry with the force of a person vomiting, curled into a ball shutting my eyes tightly that I see white spots in the darkness.

"Just sleep." A cough turns into a sob as air stops for a moment. My throat gasps for breaths as my heart aches and pounds in my chest with thousands of knives stabbing, picking at my fresh wounds.

"I-I ne-need to sleep!"

"I must sleep."

A lump forms in my throat as tears soak the bedsheets.

(Flash):

"I do."

(Flash)

Like a glass vase, my heart rips and shatters at two simple words. Why? Why? Why?! I pound on the bed as hard as I can with my hand trembling.

"Why?" I heave blinking away the tears. "Why does it have to be her?" It has to be done for the sake of this world. I know but why? Why does it have to be a marriage? Do you know how it feels to see the man you love marry another woman in front of your eyes?!

"Astral…" I hiss clenching my teeth and fist to force back another sob from existence. This is just a temporary thing. It's not like he loves her. It's a political thing. Just a political marriage.

I touch my engagement ring blinking the tears away with a smile. "My fiancé…"

(Flash)

Luminous silver and gold eyes stare at my purples lovingly. "Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

(Flash)

It's beautiful… I gulp back a sob as I trace the outline with my damp fingers carefully. Astral…

My chest moves up and down with my breathing as I try to calm myself, wiping the tear stains on the back of my hand. Right. I can't cry. I have to be strong. He doesn't like her that way. It's a political marriage.

"I have to sleep," A whisper emanates from my lips as I pull the blanket closer. It's so cold… why does it feel so cold in this room?

My eyes drift towards the bottle of sleeping pills on the table. Hm… if this can help me sleep peacefully then so be it.

I sit up and turn on the bedside lamp with a click. My vision adjusts like a camera lens zooming in to focus as I sniffle, pour out two pills, and plop them in my mouth with a glass of water. Ok… sleep time!

I lay down on the pillow. Hopefully, I can get a decent, if not good night's rest. My eyes drift towards the door.

"Goodnight, my beloved," I whisper and take a steady breath. No more tears. Crying doesn't solve anything.

From now on, I must be strong.