-Temporary Move

(Caroline's POV)

Just then a gun shot rang out and I heard something hit the floor. The lights came on right after the gun shot and I turned around to where I had heard the something hit the ground. Right behind me, Princess Victoria layed on the ground, a bullet hole through her head. A pool of blood surrounded her, it soaking into her light purple dress.

My hands flew up to my mouth and I felt my knees buckle under me. Gabriel caught me before I hit the ground and held me against his chest as I cried. Was I upset that a princess was killed? Yes, but not as upset as knowing that that could have been me. She only stood two steps away from me the whole dance. So, I just stood there crying. Why do I feel like that bullet was meant to hit me?

"Shhhh, it's ok, it's ok." Gabriel cooed in attempt to calm me down.

Soon enough everyone was told to leave the Ballroom and told to leave the Royal Investigators to do their jobs. I have to get to the bottom of this. They had questioned everyone and investigated the whole murder scene. Stephan had announced that everyone can return to their kingdoms and that the competition will resume a month from now.

I was furious now. I'm going to be having a nice conversation with the General. First I had to find my parents. Once I found them I march straight up to them.

"Mother, father." I said trying to keep my cool.

"Yes honey." My mother said.

"I would like to hold a meeting tomorrow." I said vaguely.

"What kind of meeting?" My father asked.

"A meeting with the highest ranks in our armies, some guards, and the Royal Court." I answered. "I also want all of the people who hold those positions from Gabriel's kingdom there as well."

"You are a queen now, so why not? You need to learn how to hold meetings anyways. I'll make sure there here tomorrow morning. You can talk over a nice breakfast." My father said agreeing.

"Why do I get the feeling your just going to be barking orders at them and questioning them a lot?" My mother asked.

"Like mother, like daughter." My father said chuckling.

-Next Morning-

"I JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU LET SOMEONE GET IN AND KILL A PRINCESS!" I yell at the highest ranks in my armies.

"Caroline, calm down." Gabriel said from the other end of the table.

We have all been in the Meeting Room for an hour now. Me and Gabriel on complete opposite sides of the long brown table. My highest ranks, Royal Court, and some guards on my side of the table and the same with Gabriel's.

"I WILL NOT! ROYAL BLOOD WAS SPILT IN MY KINGDOM AND IT WASN'T EVEN MY KINGDOMS BLOOD! SO THATS EVEN WORSE!" I continue to yell.

"Calm down." Gabriel tried again. I took a deep breath and spoke again.

"We are going to be deemed responsible for this. I can't have something like this being held against my kingdom. Their going to say we let someone come in and killing another royal." I say calmly.

"Was anything suspicious going on last night?" Gabriel asked.

"No sir. It was a regular night. Nothing suspicious was ever called in. Everyone was on high alert as well since it was such a big event." The guard said.

"Did one of your men fire the shot, General?" I ask.

"No Miss, my men have been trained not to fire when they can't see. It couldn't have possibly be one of them. But I could still check." He answered.

"What does the Royal Court have to say about all of this?" I asked the spokes person for the Royal Court.

"They said they will look into it. But they say for now your kingdom should not be having any other people here other than its own." She said and I let out a frustrated sigh.

"Ok, fine. All major events will be canceled." I said giving in. "General Corps, please tell all of your men to be on high alert. I don't want anything happing to your people because I'm attached to that kingdom now." I said to Gabriel's General.

"Will do." He said.

"Did the Royal Court say anything about me leaving?" I ask.

"They said it's half and half. You stay here or go somewhere else. Either way your at risk but you can't travel back and forth. They said choose where you will be and stay until this is resolved." She said.

"What about the Royal Investigators, what did they say?" I ask.

"They said that the shot was dead center. Who ever was shooting, was shooting to kill and their an expert too. They also said they would have to do an autopsy to get any better evidence." She said.

"Oh goodness." I mumbled and fell onto my seat. "Meeting dismissed. Except for you Gabriel." I said sternly letting everyone leave.

"Wasn't going to leave anyways." He said shrugging his shoulders.

As soon as everyone left I fell backwards into my seat tired and exhausted. I let out an exasperated sigh and turned to face Gabe.

"You ok?" He asked.

"Ya, I fine." I lied.

He narrowed his eyes at me and spoke. "No your not. Tell me what's wrong." He pushed.

"Promise you won't think I'm crazy." I said leaning forwards.

"What could you possibly say that would make me think that." He said gesturing for me to continue.

"I think the shot was aimed for me." I said quietly.

"Why would you think that?" He asked.

"Because, think about it. She was right next to me, and what did Princess Victoria ever do for someone to want her dead." I said whispering in case someone was listening in on our conversation.

"People want royals dead all the time. Remember, not everything royals do is on the news. She could have be dealing with bad people, did something she wasn't suppose to, and you know royals are famous for their scandals. I mean, come on, look at what happened to the Queen of Astorya. She was killed because she broke a secret contract that she had made with some dark people." Gabriel explained. So that's the story their going with.

"Would you mind if I stay over?" I asked out of nowhere.

"Stayed over? At my kingdom?" He asked.

"Ya. I mean my parents have got things handled around here and I don't want to leave you to run things alone." I explained.

"Sure, you can stay." He said.

"Ok. I'll pack for the next month, tell my parents I'm leaving and we will leave tomorrow." I said. "Do you mind if Celeste comes with me?" I asked.

"Celeste?" He questioned.

"My maid. Don't worry, she is highly trusted." I said.

"No, I don't mind, she could come. We have enough room to house her. It doesn't matter how many people you bring, we have room." He said, laying back in his chair and putting his feet on the table, crossed.

"So I can bring the rest of my kingdom while I'm at it?" I ask jokingly.

"I mean sure if you want-" He starts to say seriously.

"I WAS JOKING!" I say, cutting him off and burst into a fit of laughter at how serious he was being.

"Right, I knew that..." He trails off awkwardly.

"Right, you 'knew'!" I say using air quotes still laughing a little.

"Well, I'll go pack now. Bye." I said getting up and walking over to the door.

"I'll go tell your parents then." He said also getting.

-----

"Do you really think this is a good idea?" Celeste said as I sat on top of my suitcase, struggling to zip up my 15th one.

"Ya, why?" I ask, continuing to fight with the zip.

"Don't you think your putting your life a risk by not staying home?" She questioned.

"It's not like I'm going to be traveling all the time. Plus I have you with me in case something does go wrong." I said finally zipping the suitcase and going to pack another.

"Also, why am I going?" She asked.

"I'm staying for a month, I need you there for the normal stuff I can never seem to do." I answer.

"Which is..." She says waiting for me to fill the blanks.

"Waking up on time, getting the hard to reach zippers on my dresses, and I'm horrible at picking outfits." I list off.

"Your right, you do need me." She said.

"See." I said turning around to finish packing.

"So what do you plan to do when you get to the kingdom?" She asked.

"Let's just say, I have some business to attend to."