Not Protected, page 15
"It's because I like you, Maria. I care too much about you to let you get hurt, and yet you run off every chance you get." He stared at me, a look of pain and sadness mixed in his eyes. I didn't know what my face was like. I couldn't understand what I was feel. My heart forgot how to beat properly--the pulse lacked the rhythmic pattern, its beat pacing unevenly behind my ribs as I tried to settle the fluttering sensation in my stomach.
"Look, I don't want an answer," Michael said, his words cracking at the end. "I just want you to understand. It sucks, Maria. Understand how difficult it is when you like a girl who is constantly moments away a bullet to the heart, or a knife to the throat, but she won't let me do one single thing to protect her."
"Don't," he cut me off. "I'm just asking you to start thinking about others for once." He turned away and soon, he was off the boat. Michael stayed right at the edge of the dock, though, waiting for me to join him. I knew for this one moment he would never leave me behind, no matter how vexatious the atmosphere may be.
But only the gods knew how long he would keep waiting in the future. "So let me get this straight," my father said, placing his hands together and leaning across his desk once more, "you called Zen, asked him to trace the signal with you by illegally using XYZ's intel and database, left the hotel on your own, and faced Alec by yourself?"
"Bingo," I said, giving my father a thumbs-up. He tried hard to hide his smile, but I could see the corners of his lips threatening to tug upwards while my mother began rubbing at her temple, muttering something about the idiocy of the Banks clan.
"Why didn't you just let XYZ do it?" my mother asked, irritation plain in her bottle-blue glare, a disapproving frown set on her lips.
"Do what? They weren't there when I got to the ship," I shrugged, "and I left after they did. Clearly that agency should get a new second-in-command."
"Sweetheart, the anonymous call was for Maria," my father pointed out. "If Maria hadn't left and contacted Zen, we might've never located Jasper and the boy wouldn't be tucked in his bed right now." "Don't praise her!" my mother scolded, flabbergasted at my father's support for my actions. My father laughed as my mother smacked his arm, which only infuriated her even further.
"And what about Alec Darkwood? What do you have to say to him?" she asked, placing her hands on her hips. "You're taking this far too lightly, William."
My father sighed as he turned to face us. "You do know I should just chuck you in jail," he said in a grave voice to Darkwood. "I am nothing like my daughter."
At this point, both my mother and I made noises in the back of our throats. "What he means, Stacyander, is that he's exactly like Maria and that you can take any bedroom here that you'd like," my mother corrected. "But first, we'd like to hear the story from your mouth. I hope you understand that I'm a bit uncomfortable with having a potential double agent being under the same roof as my children."
So Darkwood told his story, starting from the fire all the way until earlier today, where he had been carrying out an order to kidnap Jasper Banks. He was less angry recounting his life with my parents, but that's probably because they weren't holding a gun to his head.
"You don't know how the person you work for knows of Jasper's birthright?" my mother asked, biting her lower lip.
"I was just told his true identity was with the Banks clan, and he needed to be kidnapped," Darkwood replied. "I'm not allowed to ask questions. The results are pretty ugly if I do." "Did they believe your money could be of help, Alec?" my father asked
"Nope. The inheritance wasn't passed to me," and his tone took on a bitter quality. "I was just plucked off the streets and told that the royal family needed to be taken off the throne. Retribution for their neglection."
"No questons allowed and a serious unbalance of information," I said. "Tell me how exactly did you not find any of this fishy."
"After you, Darkwood." "Children," my father said, raising his voice a volume louder. "Now, Alec, we understand your situation, and we will do all in our power to right our wrongs. You will never have to face anything like that ever again. But, as a security measure on our part, we will need to keep our eyes on you to make sure you're not going to commit any more treason."
"Sure, sure. Keep a bodyguard on me or something. I don't care," Darkwood agreed, not seeming bothered at the thought of being watched. "In return, we ask that you show us that you are loyal to the kingdom once more," my father pushed. "My daughter extended her hand to you. Show us that you are someone that deserved a second chance."
"Should I swear an oath or something to prove myself worthy?" Darkwood gave a yawn and made a move to rub his eyes, but the two of us were jolted in our seats when my father slammed his hands down on his desk.
"No, Alec, you can't say it so dully!" My father rose to his feet. "This family is about pizazz! You've got to talk with enthusiasm, with spirit! Say it like, 'Yes, sir! On all my honor as a Darkwood, I will make you proud. I will show you what true loyalty is. I will not let my redemption go to--"
"Will, I think it's time for you to go to sleep," my mother interrupted. "Maria, show Alec to a room and then get some rest. We've got big things coming our way now that someone's back from the dead." "By your command," I obliged. As the two of us were by the door, I turned around, a smug smile on my face. "Father's right, by the way. Zen always calls XYZ for me, so technically, it was because of me that Jasper was found. So remember this fateful day as the day that Captain Maria Banks saved the world."
"You saved two people," Darkwood scoffed once we were out of the room.
"The world," I insisted.
After that, the two of us walked in silence. I could see Darkwood take in the vast halls of the palace as we strode past galleries and polished swords. My mind was running through all the rooms we passed, wondering which one I should offer up to Darkwood.
"You're not as bad as they made you out to be," Darkwood said as we passed a painting of Helena the Conqueror. "They made you out to sound like some kind of brat after you grew up, but you're a much bigger idiot than I expected."
"I'm absolutely flattered."
I stopped in my tracks and Darkwood halted as well, raising a black brow at me. "What?" he asked. "I don't remember you," I stated. Were he and Michael in some kind of practical joke together? A makeMaria-feel-as-if-she's-missing-part-of-her-memories kind of thing?
"
The lights flickered on as several loud clicks resounded through the silence. Darkwood made a noise at the vast interior before I heard an exasperated sigh follow. "Oh, look at that: it compliments your eyes," I snickered. The Darkwood clan colors were forest-green, mahogany, and silver, meaning I had chosen the room consisting of fifty shades of green. The walls were as dark as the woods of Egypt, with furniture and sheets a variety of green. The floorboards were a tenebrous mahogany and there was even a portrait of Helena's Garden hung on the wall.
"Green for the giants of the forest, mahogany for the land that we conquered, and silver for the blood of the river," I quoted, pleasantly surprised that I had remembered what the colors of the clan stood for. "You know, just because my clan colors were green doesn't mean I'm the biggest fan of the color." "That's not what your socks say."
"Have a wonderful night, Banks," he said, turning on his feet to push me out of the room. "Call me if the queen comes."
"Alright, alright." I held up my arms and backed out of the door frame. "Call me if you need anything, Darkwood. I have plenty of green in my room." I dodged out of the way right as a pillow flew past the doors and slammed into the wall. The doors shut loudly right after and I let out a small laugh before continuing down the corridors towards my room. Too bad he didn't know the queen wasn't due back until August.
The solitude, I thought, would help me. However, by the time I stopped in my hallway, my head was a collective mess, with too many thoughts cluttering up mind. Words and memories flashed through my eyes and I sank to the ground, my back pressed up against Michael's door somehow.
Michael Cross liked me. Michael freaking Cross. The boy that I've shared a bitter rivalry with since my first year at Cross Academy. The boy who dropped snide comments as we passed in the halls, with comebacks that made me want to rip my wig off and then slap him silly.
I debated over whether or not I should knock on his door to give him my answer. And then I remembered I didn't even know There was only one thing I could say to him, I desperately didn't want to say it. If I uttered the words, it would put a stop to all our little fights. It would stop the exchange of coffees in the morning and the sodas bought in the afternoon. The arguments over math problems. The flower crowns. The city strolls at dusk, the plane rides asleep on each other's shoulders. The late nights at my house as we waited for my cousin. The simple things, like the brush of our hands, the intertwining of our fingers for strength and comfort.
"Michael, are you there?" I said out loud, getting to my feet. There was no reply. Was he there? Or was he ignoring me?
"I'm sorry," I began. "I'm sorry for making you worry so much about me. You're only eighteen, so I apologize in advance for any grey hairs that might start showing up due to the stress I've caused you."
"And also...I'm sorry that I've never caught on fast enough," I said, my breath shaky. "Maybe if I had, this wouldn't have gone on so long. It's not that I like you back or anything, it's just...it's really complicated." I put my face in my hands. "I actually do like you--"
I cut off. He didn't need to hear that.
"But I can't do this--whatever
I stopped talking there. I wasn't sure whether it was because I couldn't force any more words out or it was because there tears that were beginning to swell in my eyes. "Holy shit!" I screamed when I saw a figure standing in front of me. "Michael?"
"Have you been standing there the whole time?" I asked.
"Is there anything you want to say? Maybe, I don't know, acknowledgement to my emotional speech back there?" I asked, suddenly fearing his response. Michael brushed past me, his hand stopping on the knob of his door. I felt as though we were ships in the night, passing one another by, but the both of us headed on a collision course for the rocks. Neither of us seemed as though we could walk away unscathed.
Michael glanced over his shoulder, giving me a long look that had my nerves jittery.
"Apology accepted," was all he said before he disappeared into his room.
Weddings have dances, and I can't dance
* * * "I really hate weddings," I muttered as I flexed my shoulders, feeling the ache of keeping a perfect posture for over an hour and a half. "Darkwood, give me a massage."
"No, Darkwood denied, then he gave me a malicious smile. "Get your boyfriend to do it," and he nodded in Michael's direction. Of course that prick would use that card. He knew, of course, that there was something odd between Michael and me. It took him an hour of watching our daily activity in the castle (or lack thereof, I should say), and a few questions answered by Jasper to piece together that Michael and I had something bad going on.
So now he made it a habit to bring up the tension as often as possible--his personal revenge for me accidentally spilling orange juice over his head after he told me my shirt looked ugly one morning. Key word being 'accidentally.'
"I'm not her boyfriend," Michael said.
There was a voice in my head that urged me to look over at him but I refused to let my head turn to face my bodyguard. To take my mind off of the heightened awkwardness of the atmosphere, I decided to focus on the glamour and magnificence of the Whitepine wedding for the fiftieth time as a method of distracting myself. But there's only so much you can awe at the breath-taking beauty before your amazement becomes forced.
The Whitepines were one of the twelve noble clans of Egypt. Today, we would be standing together to witness the holy matrimony of Olivia Whitepine and Marcus Alistair, Olivia's childhood sweetheart who apparently proposed the moment the two graduated.
The wedding was set in Helena's Garden because Olivia Whitepine was obsessed with having the perfect fairytale wedding. Technically, it wasn't even a garden. It was named such because centuries ago, Helena the Conqueror took out an entire army camp in this forest with her forces, and seated herself upon a makeshift throne before declaring this part of the woods her garden.
My life goals right there. With tall evergreens, deciduous giants that had the most beautiful colors on their leaves throughout the seasons, and flowers with vibrant petals that artists spent their whole lives trying to replicate, Helena's Garden was the perfect place for a wedding. Even if the ghosts of the enemy army still lingered around here somewhere.
All the trees had been strung with golden lights, and hanging from the black cords were clear glass jars that held small candles inside, the flames dancing merrily, their light flashing against the glass. At the moment, there were white chairs set up alongside an aisle covered by a long red carpet with gold lace clinging to the edges. At the end of the carpet stood a wedding archway, wrapped with green ivy, spotted with white and red roses that patterned the green.
I felt as though I was attending a fairy dance and I half-expected Tinkerbell to fly out and sprinkle pixie dust all over us. Maybe she could give me some and I could fly away from all my problems. That would be nice.
Michael pressed a finger to the com in his ear, a frown upon his face. "Your Highness, I'll be back in a short moment. There's a problem outside." I watched him stride away from our little group, already feeling the sting from the absence of his presence. The two of us rarely even stood in the same room anymore, and even though we were barely talking, at least he had been by my side.
"Your Highness?" Darkwood said with his eyebrows raised. "That's not a cute pet name at all. I thought the two of you were..." He trailed off to pucker his lips at me.
"I don't recall us being good enough friends for me to tell you," I replied, rolling my eyes. Darkwood feigned an expression of hurt as he placed a hand over his heart. "That hit me right here, Banks. And here I thought trying to murder each other was the the seal on our eternal friendship."
Before either of us could untruthfully protest that we weren't aggressive, a couple of guests came up to us, bowing before me before asking how Jasper and I were. Of course, that wasn't their real aim. The moment we said we were fine, the guests snapped their attention Darkwood, the star of the show.
Everyone knew that Jasper had gotten kidnapped for a short while. When my parents left the hotel, the guests there immediately began documenting their day onto social media, and it didn't take long for the cameras and reporters to announce that Jasper Bishop was missing.
"I should just write a book. Maybe that'll stop everyone from bringing up the fire," Darkwood muttered as the guests finally walked away.
"Think of all the copies you have to sign though," I pointed out. His nonchalance was a facade, I realized, because the moment Jasper turned his laughter to the side to greet some passerby, I saw the muscle in his jaw twitch before the moment passed. I knew better than to pressue the issue--talking about emotions with Darkwood was never a fun ordeal. It was best to let his irritation simmer and blow off rather than ignite the flame. I'm reckless, not suicidal.
It was a while later that something interesting finally took place. And when I say interesting, I mean that the three of us were deep in a conversation nearing ultimate geek territory when suddenly, my insult at Darkwood was cut off as a ball of brilliant violet tackled me. I was knocked backwards in a flash, and for a second, I was unable to understand what the hell was happening.
"I can't breathe!" I coughed, flailing my arms.
"Let me go, Zen!" Minnie Bellamy demanded, her French accent seeping into her Egyptn dialect. "I haven't seen that girl in forever!"
"Neither have I, but you don't see me trying to kill my best friend," Zen said.
Like his gaming controller. Just try and take that thing away from him. His grip could crush the Kraken into dust.
"Not to mention it's not very nice to tackle people," I coughed, rubbing the base of my throat and shooting Minnie an angry look.
"But you do it to Zen all the time!" Minnie frowned.
"I meant for it to be offensive," I shot back. "Anyway," I broke off, smoothing the front of my gown before I glanced over at Darkwood, "I have someone for you to meet."
"Darkwood. Alec Darkwood," he introduced himself, though he kept his hands in his pockets to avoid his three-hundredth handshake of the day. "You're a well-dressed corpse," Minnie commented, her hazel eyes giving Darkwood a quick once-over. Being a fashion designer's daughter, Minnie was blunt and straightforward, always having a crude remark about everything (and I mean, literally
Unfortunately for her, she wouldn't have anything to complain about regarding Darkwood's appearance. My mother had had a suit tailored for Darkwood--and the company that provided the tailor was Bellamy & Co., the company Minnie's mother happened to be the chairwoman. It was a black suit with a sharp cut and notched lapels, nearly identical to Michael's. However, while Michael had opted for all black, simply finishing the outfit with a dark gold tie, Darkwood wore a dark green shirt underneath his jacket and a solid black tie.
"This is Minnie Bellamy, daughter of Adalyn Bellamy. Praise the suit, Darkwood. Compliment it like it was your girlfriend or else this girl will murder you," I introduced. Minnie smiled proudly at her mother's name, smoothing the violet dress that complimented her ebony skin whilst completely brushing off my jab at her violent streaks.
"And this loser here is Zen Li," I continued, jabbing my thumb in Zen's direction, "the half-and-half Chinese-Japanese gamer who managed to pin down the last signal you were by." Zen had shown up in black jeans, a white t-shirt and a black blazer. At least he had the common sense to wear dress shoes rather than the colorful sneakers he loved to sport. The kid better hope that Olivia Whitepine didn't find him or he'd be kicked out the wedding.
"I sound like a dairy product, Maria. Don't introduce me like that," Zen complained, pushing me aside so he could pull Darkwood's hand from his pockets. "Hi, my name is Zen Li. I am the suave, amazing, and much more talented genius acquaintance of the princess of Egypt. You just need to know that if you need any sort of help with technical machines, you can just come to me."
