We both stand and leave with people walking behind us. Before we reach outside Christian tells us to be careful and that before we leave the country we should try telling him or visiting him. I nod but Michael doesn’t say anything. He looks pissed. We get into the car and the first thing Michael says is: “What the hell is wrong with you!?” “Why? What did I do?” “You were not meant to tell him that you agreed with him.” “But I did agree with him.” I say. “We need to kill Leonard because he’s also one of the reasons why my mom locked me up in the first place!” “Who is he to you?” “My half brother.” “Then why do you want to kill him?” “Because he deserves to die, okay!? You won’t understand. No one ever does.” I don’t know what to say. It doesn't even matter because he starts the car and immediately starts driving off. We reach our home and he slams the car door shut as he walks into the house I follow behind him. I dunno what to say. I wait till he steams off before I g
TWO MONTHS LATER For the past few weeks, Michael and I have been going to various countries to speak to the rebels. Each and every single one agreed to our choices. I’m presently opening a gift box. It’s Christmas and Michael says it’s a tradition to open gift boxes on Christmas. He says that our mom made sure we knew about this tradition even though we weren’t raised together. “Which country are we going to next?” I ask. “Well we’re done with the entire Europe…” he says but starts thinking. “We haven't done Italy.” I say. “I don’t want to go there yet.” He says. “But why? I mean… didn’t you say the people you want to stay away from are in Rome?” I ask. “Yes but it’s mostly because everyone still wants you dead and it’s too risky.” “Or it’s because the man you hate is king now and he will most likely come for you.” I say. We’re in my room right now so Michael grabs a pillow and throws it in my face. I block it and start laughing. “Ugh… fine I’m just not ready yet.” He
Just as we agreed to go back to running we hear the sounds of fun men surrounding our hiding spot. “Hide.” Michale whispers to me. I immediately do as he says. I’m now hiding behind a wall and so is he. I hear light footsteps approaching us and I just hold my breath because the worst thing that could happen right now is them finding one of us. “All clear.” One of the gunmen says. I hear their footsteps move further away. I released a breath I didn’t know I was holding. I come out of my hiding spot but I shouldn’t have. All the gunmen are aiming their guns at me. “Drop all your weapons! You have the right to remain silent. Hands up!” They say. A smoke bomb is immediately thrown in the middle of us and everywhere gets filled with it. Michael grabs my hand. “I told you to hide!” “It’s not my fault I don’t have experience in this shit.” We start going back down the uncompleted building but notice a wide range of gunmen downstairs. Some are on their way up. “I know wha
“Once your memories are back you’ll definitely want to come out.” Emaine says. “Even if they came back I’m not leaving my brother, I know how much he tried to protect me whilst you were using my body like some kind of experiment.” I say. “I’m not taking this anymore. Young lady, come out!” Emaine says. “Come drag me out.” I say. “Don’t worry Michael. I’ll get you out of here… no matter what I know your intentions were pure even though you went about it the wrong way.” Shannon says to Michael. Emaine enters my cell and tries to grab me. She doesn’t know I’ve been training for months. Once she’s near me I put her directly on her nose. I hear a crack and I know I’ve broken a bone. Hee nose starts to bleed so she goes back outside the cell and quickly brings out her phone. She checks her face. “You stupid girl what have you done!” She yells. “Nothing you don’t deserve.” Shannon says. “I’m leaving! If Leonard wants me to help him bring you out he might as well come do it himself
“I need you to tell me the reason why you did what you did.” I say to Michael. I’m still in the cell. The rest of them have all left so I decided to use this opportunity and privacy to talk to my son. “You kept me hidden from the world for years!” He says. “I let you out when you were 18. And you know the reason why I did that.” I say. “You can’t punish me because of your mistakes. And I do not even look like that stupid king of a father of mine. Nobody would have known it was me.” “I know I made huge mistakes in my past and I’m very sorry. I had no right to hide you away either. I hope one day you’ll be able to find it in yourself to forgive me.” “This isn’t about you mom. One of the reasons I was closer to Emaine than you was because whenever I was with her she’d always let me play with kids my age.” “Emaine tried to kill you!” I say. “How do you think that made me feel when I found out!” I sit on the floor in front of his cell. “Is that the reason why you want to sta
I woke up to hushed yelling downstairs. I don’t even understand what hushed yelling is but it sounds like people yelling at each other but trying to keep it low key. I ignore it and go do my duties in the bathroom. I’ve been thinking about how to go with my plan of getting michaels cells key from leonard. I’m sure that Kane has a spare one but for some reason when I was on a call with Shannon yesterday she didn’t mention him. I dress up and go downstairs. I was indeed right about the hushed yelling that was going on here. “-Why would you force her out like that!” “It doesn’t matter, we both got what we wanted didn’t we?” It’s Kane and Leonard. I’m wearing a red dress today. They immediately stop bantering when they see me. They both just stare at me. “What?” I say. They don’t say anything. I wait till I’m in front of them to speak. “You two can’t talk?” I ask with a raised brow. “I got you a phone. My contact and your mothers are on it.” Kane says and hands me a phone.
I’ve been waiting for approximately an hour or more and Shannon is nowhere to be seen. I’ve filled my face up with a lot of makeup. I called some of the staff in this warehouse to help me with my hair, clothes and so many other things. I have even come up with a fake name and alibi. I have on a wig and I’m wearing clothes that make me look way bigger than my actual size. I put on shades even though it’s not even that sunny outside. I just need to stay in character. Now I’m downstairs patiently waiting for my so-called mother. She finally appears. Not that she’s inside. I just hear the blaring of the car’s beeping. I roll my eyes and go out. She doesn’t want to come out because she doesn’t want anyone to know about her role in this yet. “You are such a late comer.” I say and enter the car. “You do not look like my daughter.” “Do I sound like her though? I’ve been tryna change my voice too.” I say. She just looks at me. “Just drive!” I say. The car starts moving. “So why a
I forced a smile and curtsied. "Your Majesty, I wished to speak with you privately. There are matters weighing heavily on my mind." I only say this because of the guards everywhere. His gaze softened, and he gestured for the guards to leave us. Once the doors closed behind them, he stepped closer, his eyes searching mine. "You know you can always come to me, Aurelia. What troubles you?" “First of all.. how the hell did you recognize me?” “It’s you. Even if you dressed like a man I would.” “So you want me to swoon?” “Maybe.” “Not happening.” “Didn’t expect it to.” “Both you and Kane are the most frustrating people on earth.” “Can you stop mentioning Kane when you're with me.” “Why? Because you're jealous. Wasn’t he the one that told you I was coming in the first place?” I smile and come closer to him. I move back immediately because he’ll know I’m onto something. I sigh. “Why are you here Aurelia?” He says ignoring my question. Swallowing my revulsion, I meet his gaze
My eyes have been shut this whole time that when I open them I realize none of this makes sense but I don’t even care. I get off him and kiss him so hard I’m sure I left a bruise somewhere. I finally allow us to breathe. “I’m so sorry baby.” I whisper whilst hugging him. “Shh..” he says and rubs my back. I step away and he wipes my tears. “I know you have many questions.” He says whilst holding my waist. I nod with snot probably coming out of my nose. “Ask.” He says. He’s trying to distract me. “How are you here.. the letter! Your silence on the phone? London?” I speak without thinking . “Michale called yesterday. He told me he didn’t want to tell me about your wedding but I told him we already met and you told me about it. He then told me it’s happening today but I still didn’t want to bother. I had concluded that I’d kill myslef the day you get married. So I was prepared until he told me the kind of danger you might be in and I immediately got on the plane. The only
“I’m so sorry Leo.” I say but he ignores me and I can see his heart shattering. I know how much he loved his sister even though he loved to pretend otherwise. I then look at Luca who seems to be staring at Isabel like he’s in a trance. He’s not even crying. There’s not even tears. He’s just staring at her. I sit flat on the floor between the two dead bodies whilst the war outside is still happening so it’s not like I can go anywhere. Elena suddenly calls my name but I’m too shocked to look at her. She shows up in front of me and hands me the same envelope that mom gave her. I take it from her and open it. I look down first because I want to see who it’s from, this is not the time. I see the name Kane there and I immediately start to get the most painful headache ever. I close my eyes and I could swear I’m in a trance where all I’m seeing are memories. They're all coming back. Rune was my stepbrother. Leonard killed him. I loved Kane alot and I also loved Rune a lot. Emaine
I sigh when I realize Michael and I have walked past half of the aisle and look up. I finally have eye contact with Leonard and the way he looks at me makes me want to drop my gaze back down. He looks amazing in his black suit. His hair is slicked back as well and he’s carved his beard. He’s staring at me like I’m the best thing he’s ever seen and that makes me smile. We finally reach the small stairs and Michael untangles his hand from mine. I see him glare at Leonard before he lets me go and I walk up the stairs. I stand right in front of Leonard. He's on the right side whilst I’m on the left. The priest is in the middle. My girls are behind me and vice versa with Leonard’s men. I so badly want to ask Shannon where Emaine is but I don’t think it’s appropriate. I hear some whispers whilst I’m up here but I can’t hear what their saying. Everyone sits down and I finally hear someone say that it’s not right for my mom to be here but the king's mother isn't. I snort and Leonard rai
One week later I’ve been thinking about Kane and I’s conversation all day and my heart feels like it's exploding every time. I don’t know whether it’s the memories of my past that have been coming back lately but they are affecting the way I feel about this entire situation. Leonard decided to rush our wedding because he felt like something bad would happen in between. Apparently the rebels are angry at me for betraying them. they’ve started to riot again. I didn’t betray them but it sure as hell looks like I am now that I’m getting married to one of the revolution's enemies. They must be feeling the same way Michael feels. I would definitely try to find who is commanding them now that me, Michael and Luca are no longer there just so that I could talk to them and try to find a reasonable understanding or come to an agreement between one another to stop the violence and just let the wicked leaders lead. The people will handle it during the elections when they are choosing their own l
I lean back in the seat, tracing the edge of the invitation card in my lap. It’s still strange, seeing my name next to Leonard’s in elegant, golden script. I went to see them today, to invite Michael, Elena, Shannon, and the others to the wedding. A part of me hoped they’d all be there, that maybe they’d want to share this with me. But every single one of them declined. Their rejections feel like tiny, sharp pinpricks, pressing deeper the more I think about it. As we slow at a red light, I glance out the window, watching people hurry across the street, faces blending into each other. Then I freeze. In the car beside me, a familiar face leans against the window, lost in thought—Kane. My heart skips. Without thinking, I lean forward and tap the driver’s shoulder. “Please, pull over. Right here.” He raises his eyebrows at me through the rearview mirror but nods, steering us to the curb. I roll down my window, sticking my hand out to catch Kane’s attention. “Kane!” I call softly, hop
Everyone keeps congratulating me but for some reason I don’t even feel like this is real. Leonard told me he doesn’t want to waste much time on our wedding and I agreed so we’re getting married in a week. I decided to go to kanes place to tell Michael and the others. For some reason I can’t get Kane out of my mind….ever since he helped me that day by getting me away from that weird ass man in the library stuck with me and I haven't been able to thank him. I didn’t even thank him for trying to get to me the time that Leonard had kidnapped me. Leonard invited his hateful relatives for our engagement. Apparently the tradition is that they have to all come and dine with me, I refused to do so.. they came regardless but I wasn’t there to see them. Leonard had understood that I needed to leave so he let me go to kanes place which is where I’m heading now. He insisted that I take some of his guards so I did. I don’t know how Shannon, Michael, Elena, Luca and even Kane will take this news…
Hearing that Aurelia was in love with Leonard was one thing but seeing it in her eyes did something to me. The moment we got home I didn’t speak to anyone no matter how much they tried to get me to speak. There’s no use for me to stay in Rome if the reason I’m here is clearly gone… I don’t want to give up but as long as she doesn’t have her memory back I have to leave. I decided to write her a letter, I hope that when she gets to read this her memory will be back. I’m presently packing. I'm going back to London. I don’t plan on getting talked out of this so I’m planning on going when everyone’s asleep besides Shannon, I'm going to give her the letter personally because I know she’ll deliver my message. I step out of my room silently and knock on her door a few times. She opens it whilst brushing her eyes with her hands. She looks like she hasn’t been sleeping… but she does look very tired. “Kane?” she asks, voice hushed. "What are you doing here? And...with a suitcase?" I st
I sit in my room, the dim light casting shadows on the walls. My heart still races from the commotion downstairs. I expected my mother, Shannon, to leave with the rest of them, but she didn’t. She’s here. I hear her soft footsteps approaching before there’s a light knock on the door. “Aurelia, may I come in?” she asks, her voice gentle but firm, like always. “Yeah,” I whisper, unsure of what to expect. My fingers fidget in my lap as she steps in and closes the door behind her. She sits beside me on the bed, the mattress dipping slightly under her weight. There’s a brief silence as she studies me, her eyes soft but observant, the way a mother’s should be. I look away, my throat tight, already feeling the emotions bubbling up. I know what this is about. “I didn’t leave with the others because I needed to talk to you,” Shannon says, her voice soft but serious. She reaches out, taking my hand. Her touch is warm, familiar, and it instantly begins to break down the walls I’ve tried to
I sit on the edge of the couch, my eyes scanning the room. Kane leans against the wall, arms crossed, his face unreadable. Shannon and Luca sit across from each other, both looking deep in thought. Elena is quiet, but I can feel her eyes on me, waiting. Emaine sits off to the side, her posture stiff, clearly uncomfortable. I clear my throat, trying to break the silence. "The revolution has been regrouping. We don’t know who their new leader is, but I have reason to believe they’re planning to take action soon." Kane uncrosses his arms, his lips curling into a grim smirk. “Let them. If their first plan is to kill Leonard, I’d be more than happy to let them.” Before I can respond, Shannon jumps in. "That’s not a good idea, Kane. Especially if Aurelia isn’t leading them anymore. They see her as a traitor. If they try to kill Leonard, they’ll go after her too." Her words hang in the air, and I can feel the tension rising. Luca’s phone suddenly rings, cutting through the weight of the