Chapter Four

After the man’s little speech, everyone begins to get back to what they were doing before and talking amongst themselves. My eyes remained on the floor as I tried to rationalise what just happened, how and why did I feel like that when him and me made eye contact? Could it be down to me staying in the attic for too long and don’t know what it means to socialise?

Before these questions could swirl around my mind any longer, Patrick who still had my arm begins to pull me out of the crowd of people. For a second, I also forgot that he was a person!

“Me and the girls are going to do some shopping around the stalls, do you want to come?” My mum turns to ask Patrick, not that she would ask me if I wanted to join their little bonding time.

“No, I’ll stay behind and make sure this disgrace doesn’t try to make a run for it.” He responds looking down at me, my mother sends me a disgusted look before walking away with the two girls. “Now you may see why we keep telling you that you’re too much trouble, look at everything we’re having to do to make sure you don’t wonder off.” Patrick tells me finally releasing my arm, I knew one thing that my arm would have a bruise with how tight his grip was.

“I wonder if I could have a moment of your time.” A man’s familiar voice says from behind us, I turn around and come face to face with the king man from the stage.

My eyes go wide that he was now stopped right in front of me, what in the heck is happening?! But I take a look to the side to also see Patrick standing there, this causing my eyes to drop to the floor like they always.

“Of course, I’m Patrick.” Patrick says speaking for me like he always does, but let’s be honest I haven’t been around many people to even talk myself. “I wouldn’t bother talking to this one, she hasn’t uttered a word in years.” He says which did make my heart ache, this man looks to be so great but due to me not speaking, I’ll never get to know why he wanted to talk to us.

“I will soon see for myself, what is your name?” The king asks which does make me look up at him again, his beautiful brown eyes looking into mine, my mouth wanted so badly to speak but I couldn’t.

“She is my wife’s first mistake, came along before she met me and ruined her life.” Patrick says when I don’t go to speak, but he knew I wasn’t anyway.

I could see the way in which the king was standing, he didn’t like what Patrick had called me but if I’m being honest, I was used to them saying that very thing to me so I didn’t mind at all.

“You must have miss heard me, I asked for her name.” The king says in a more deep and frustrated voice than before, I wanted to smile slightly that someone was finally standing up to Patrick, something I had never done.

“Fine, it’s name is Evermore.” Patrick says with a sigh, but I knew he felt like he won something as he managed to call me an it.

Before any of us could talk anymore, I hear the voices of my mum and sisters getting closer to us. I sigh a little knowing that my little outing was soon to be over, I guess it’s back to my old attic for me. I didn’t have to turn to know that they had stopped, but I did catch a glimpse of all their bags that were in their arms.

“It looks like you all had fun, but I think we’ve had enough of this place so it’s time to head home.” Patrick smiles over at them, before he takes my arm once again and turns me around to walk along with them.

I turn my head to take one last look at the King, he was stood in the same place but anger had taken over his expression. I send him a tiny smile before turning back around, I know he’s someone that will take me awhile to forget, or perhaps I never will. We walk for around a minute more, but I hear footsteps behind us which makes me turn around. This is when I see the king was following us, his eyes looking right at Patrick. He takes him by the shoulder and turns him around, before Patrick to utter a single word, he swings a punch to his face which sends him flying to the floor in a heap.

“You need to learn how to treat others, I hope my little example helped you.” He says down to Patrick who was holding his mouth, I know it will be bad of me but when I looked down at him in a heap, I wanted to smile that he might be feeling what I have for years.

Before I could react, a hand takes mine where intense sparks make their way up my arm and through my whole body. I look up to see who the hand belonged to, where I see the king who had just punched Patrick was looking down at me. I gulp taking a scared step away from him but I couldn’t get far, his hand was tightly holding mine but not hard enough to hurt me.

“Please Evermore, you do not have to be scared of me but, I do need you to come back with me.” He says looking me in the eyes as he spoke, confusion and fear soon take over my senses as I look back at him not understanding what was really happening.

I continue to try and pull away from him, there was so much inside of me telling me to do the opposite and run into his arms. But the part of my mind which was making sense, was telling me that I needed to run because something about this whole situation just wasn’t making any sort of sense.

“I can’t let you go.” He tells me once again with a slight hint of sadness, I could tell by his face that he didn’t like the fact that he was making me scared.

Before anyone could move, a ton of people who looked like guards rush over to us. In an instant, we were in the middle of a sea of people that blocked us on a circle shape. The only people in the circle was the king and I, even Patrick and the girls were lost in the crowd. My heart rate picked up as I looked around, what on earth is happening?!

“I’ll look after you.” Is all the king says before I’m picked up and thrown over his shoulder, a scream wanted to escape my lips from surprise.

Before I could utter a word, not that I was going to let’s be honest. He had taken me to a very expensive looking car, the door opens up before sounds of chaos behind us fill air. Shouting and smashing noises came from the direction of the village, the fun times that were evident no longer existed. I was soon placed in the back of the car in the most comfortable seats I have ever sat on, I shimmy over to the side by the window as he climbs in. Before too long, we were speeding down the road and away.