.five.

When Katherine thought about the past and all the love they once shared, she sometimes felt as though she still loved him. There was a hopeful part in the corners of her mind that clung to the possibility that Luke might still have some good in him. She thought about the things that had happened in his life that brought him to that moment--where he was now. He was just a teenager who wanted to marry her and give her the world. Now he was a man who kept her cooped up like a bird in a golden cage. But she remembered a sad little song her mother used to sing to her when she was a little girl, an old legend about a princess trapped at the top of a golden tower. How she used to sing a desperate song into the night, hoping for someone brave to come and save her. Even if the cage is made of gold, it will never stopped being a prison. She never thought that one day she'd be relating to that old little tune more than she ever thought she would.

Those feelings of love were feelings she buried deep within her heart. Feelings she even kept from herself. If only he'd let go, just a little, just enough so that she could spread her wings and fly away. Perhaps someday she'd come back to him and they could be happy.

But he never gave her a choice. She was a prisoner in her own home. Their kids were prisoners too, they just didn't realize it yet.

And then there were rumors of various atrocities that happened in his kingdom ever since he came into power. The way people were disappearing every day--starting with the people who opposed him. Television and radio were censored, not that Katherine had much of either these days. Any form of media from television, radio, and even newspapers were banned in his home. He knew Katherine came from a political family and he didn't want her getting any ideas as he so liked to put it.

Then there was his strained relationship with his former best friends, Ashton Irwin and Katherine's older brother Brek. Things were growing ever tense between the three, but luckily Brek and Ashton still had a measure of influence in keeping Luke in check enough not to become an all around dictator.

His two best friends were like the only shred of moral conscious Luke had left. That slowly seemed to be coming to an end. Brek was busy running the orphanage and Ashton was being pushed away more and more.

Katherine walked past her bedroom door, and stopped short in surprise when she saw a shadow hovering near her bed. Her breath caught in her throat until she realized Luke had come back. She thought to herself how sad it was that she was more afraid of the fact that it would be Luke in there waiting for her instead of an actual stranger.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, trying not to sound too much like she was displeased.

"Your brother Brek." He said simply. The mere mention of her brother brought back many fond memories. He had always been such a good and protective older brother to her and Elizabeth. The way Luke's ocean blue eyes darkened and his lips tightened into a thin line she knew he was upset. He leaned up against the bedpost to her expensive canopy bed with his arms crossed over his chest.

Katherine didn't say anything to him yet, didn't ask him any questions as she slipped out of her robe then tossed it on a nearby chair. She wore a nightgown beneath, that hugged the curves of her slim figure. He turned away the moment she removed the robe, not daring to looking at her. Not wanting to upset her, less his needs were to come into play.

She climbed in bed and turned the light out. "I suppose you and my brother did a bit of arguing?"

For the moment she would humor him with some mindless chatter, questions about his day that was frankly unimportant to her. The only reason why she even cared about any part of his day now was because her brother was involved. She hadn't seen him in about four years. Luke never let her see him, or even for him to come see her. It was one of the conditions for keeping Brek in a position of power within the kingdom. Katherine thought it was worth it because her brother got to run an orphanage with that power he had been granted. It had always been his wish, and even one of Luke's at one point, to run an orphanage to help children in need.

Luke nodded and heaved an exasperated sigh. "I know Brek is only doing his job, trying to keep our interests in mind. If he can do that, then yes, I'll keep from crushing the all the motherfuckers who try to oppose me."

In the darkness, Katherine sighed. A yawn escaped her lips as she was beginning to grow sleepy. She didn't have much to do around the mansion throughout the day. But they had been out at the beach all afternoon and for someone who wasn't used to a lot of activity, or wasn't allowed much activity, something like that took a lot out of her. The response came moment later. "Good."

He stood over her bed, gazing at her curled up body on the large bed. "We have to figure something out." He said, seeming as though he had been mulling the words over for a while.

"Not now." Katherine answered, her words sounding like a groan.

"I want you to be happy--" He started, but was immediately cut off by her words which were full of accusation.

"You want yourself to be happy."

"Katherine," He whispered, voice pleading. But it was all false. He had proven time and time again that whenever he seemed to want to compromise, he was always lying. "Would it help if moved out for a while?"

"You're never even here!" She yelled accusingly, her voice exploding throughout the bedroom. "You're never even here and now you want to move out? You can't be serious, Luke! The kids never see you, I never see you. I know nothing about you once you set foot out the door, I get news of your fucking whereabouts from the servants."

He fell silent and Katherine clasped a hand over her mouth. What had she said? What did it mean? It the very back of her mind, she couldn't say that she didn't mean it though.

"Just...go. Get out." She yelled, tears brimming her brown eyes.

Luke drifted toward the door slowly. "Be angry all you want, Kath. But I'll always love you. And even though you try to deny it, I know you love me too."

"Just go." She repeated, sobbing.

-

re-writing this story has turned into my fun little project. i actually am having a really good time with it. i've been also taking my time because i want this to be something i can be proud of. unlike the first time i wrote this story.

i thought the story line and plot were pretty good. but i didn't like the way i wrote it, if that makes sense. i always felt like something was missing.

that's why i want to take my time with this. so i can make sure that it is something i can feel proud of. thank you all loads for the support. it means the entire world to me.

-clary