He stood screaming at his daughter, who just scowled back in defiance, halfway wanting to pull out one of her hairpins and take care of the problem herself.
Jessina: Fiancee? Father, I'd never marry him as long as I live!
King William: You will do as I tell you to do!
Jessina: And what if I don't want to?
King William: As long as you are my daughter, you will do as I tell you!
Jessina: And what if I wasn't your daughter? What if I ran away?
King William: Ha! That wouldn't happen in a million years.
Jessina: And why not? Remember Great Great Aunt Josephine? Disappeared without a word...
King William: That was before I sent out the order to have the palace surrounded by guards 24-7, watching your every move and making sure that you stay where you are. I dare you to try to run away. See what happens. You'd be back in your nice warm bed in twenty minutes.
Jessina: Maybe I will!
King William: No matter how hard you try, you're still going to end up as his wife, whether you like it or not!
He stepped out of his daughter's room, slamming the door in her face. As soon as he vanished, she pulled a pin from her hair and threw it like a dart into the door, right where his head had been seconds ago.
Aderas: Why does she hate me so...? You'd think a child like that would know her place!
Aidan: Maybe she's just smart.
The prince's cousin chuckled as he took a bite into an apple.
Aderas: You think this is funny? I want her... I need her...
Aidan: Lust is a sin, cuz.
Aderas: Oh, and you're going after Jessina because of her politeness and subtlety?
Aidan: No, I'm going after Jessina because you told me to!
Aderas shrugged.
Aderas: I will make her love me. I will make her mine...
Lissabelle crept quietly from her bedroom and into the silent hall. By now, most of the guards were sleeping at their posts and everyone had retired to their bedrooms. It was the perfect time to make her escape.
Lissabelle: (Piano...middle C...)
Her mother's notes repeated themselves in her head as she stepped slowly to stay silent.
Lissabelle: (I can't believe it... I'm finally going to be free....)
Her hopes were high as she strolled to the great hall. That is, until she heard a second pair of footsteps behind her...
Aderas: Now what are you doing out here at this hour? Isn't it past your bedtime, young lady?
Lissabelle stopped in her tracks and turned to see her forced fiancee, smiling at her slyly.
Lissabelle: I....I was thirsty...I...
Aderas: Shh....
He pressed his finger against her lips, making her shudder.
Aderas: I know that you are a bit hesitant towards me...But you'll warm up to me...
He wrapped his arm around her waist and drew the princess closer to him.
Aderas: .....Once you're mine...
Lissabelle: (Yours?!? YOURS! I will never be a possession to such an arrogant, self-centered low-life like you!)
She wished she could yell to him such words, but all that would come out of her mouth was a soft gasp. She wished she could shove him off of her and into a wall, but she couldn't. She wished her sister was there to do and say these things for her, but she wasn't.
Aderas: And you will be mine...
He moved closer and closer to his fiancee, until their lips were brushing past each other and Lissabelle could feel his breath on her face.
Lissabelle: (Get away from me, you creep!)
She wanted to slap him, then run until her legs gave out, but that was what the Jessina inside of her was thinking. All that the Lissabelle on the outside of her could do was freeze.
Lissabelle: No...
She turned away, forcing his lips to make contact with her cheek instead of her lips to his dismay.
Lissabelle: I will never be yours...
He pulled away, taking her wrists and not letting go. He stared coldly into her hazel eyes shining with potential tears.
Aderas: Ungrateful little....!
He stopped as she looked away, closing her eyes and flinching in fear.
Aderas: (She'll never love me with this approach....)
He let go of her and shoved her aside.
Aderas: You should learn how to treat your husband.
He chuckled and walked away, leaving the girl by herself, scowling back at him with intense rage. Never before had she felt such hatred towards a single human being. But she didn't care. This would probably be the last time she saw him anyway.
Lissabelle: (Treating me like a possession? That's why he wanted to marry me? Just so I could be his? The nerve!)
She was fuming by the time she reached the doors to the great hall, mumbling quietly to herself about how rude and conceited he was and how dim her father was for not seeing it. But now it was time to be calm. She had reached the piano: a dusty old instrument that hadn't been played for years. It had always been here in the palace, though no one played it anymore. It just stood there in its faded glory as the dust collected and the paint chipped.
Lissabelle: (Middle C... Which one is that?)
She sighed. All those times her father tried to get her into piano lessons, she just shook her head and said "Oh, I'd rather just sing, thank you."
Lissabelle: (Um...well, since it's the middle C, might as well try one in the middle...)
The princess laid her finger upon a key and pressed down on it. The note rang as clear as it had done years ago, but nothing happened.
Lissabelle: (Uh...let's try this one...?)
She tried another clear, beautiful note, and still, nothing.
Lissabelle: (How about this one?)
Thud. No clear, lovely ring: just a thud. She opened up the piano and underneath the note, she found a small brass key. Her heart plummetted...
Lissabelle: (That's it...?)
She sunk down onto the piano bench and stared at the object.
Lissabelle: (But where's the lock it goes to?)
She sighed and stood up, pacing back and forth, until she stepped on a loose tile...
Lissabelle: (What the...)
She bent down and slid it with her fingers from left to right, seeing that it was completely loose.
Lissabelle: (Maybe...)
She lifted the tile off the ground and discovered a small wooden trap door with a brass padlock. Her spirits were raised once again as she slid the key into the lock, turned it clockwise, and herd a satisfying: click. She slid the lock off of the door and raised it. Below was a small, dark tunnel with dirty walls and little light.
Lissabelle: Should I do this?
She thought about it deeply. Since birth, she's had a breathing disorder that causes her to run out of oxygen quite easily. That tunnel didn't seem to be the greatest place for such a disease.
Lissabelle: (I suppose it's either risk it down here, or live the rest of my life in misery... It's worth a shot.)
With that, she placed the key back inside the piano where she found it, jumped into the dark hole, replaced the tile and closed the trap door. She was at the mercy of the tunnels.
-PREVIEW!-
Mikona: Puu! I'm here to help Starlite give a preview for her next chapter!
What's this? The King's blaming Jessina for Lissabelle's disappearence? That's mean! And hang in there, Lissabelle! You'll be outta there soon!
Next time, Chapter 3, Freedom and Dilema!
Mikona can't wait!
Mikona: Puu! I'm here to help Starlite give a preview for her next chapter!
What's this? The King's blaming Jessina for Lissabelle's disappearence? That's mean! And hang in there, Lissabelle! You'll be outta there soon!
Next time, Chapter 3, Freedom and Dilema!
Mikona can't wait!
