"Per aspera ad astra"

"What a pleasure," I said turning and making myself on a smile.

I never liked him. I want to kill him. He changed my best friend. He convinced her to go in that..that..

I was such an idiot thinking I could work with him. Only seeing him was horrible.

"I know." He answered and stepped in the light.

He was in a light grey shirt and black pants. He had boots like the prince and he moved so quietly I almost didn't hear him getting close to me.

"We need to talk." He said and jumped.

He scared me. He is so quiet.

"No, we don't," I said turning and wanting to get in the closet.

"Yes, we do. This all is getting pointless. You are hiding something. You don't want to say what. You did not see Dort since that day. You are avoiding him. You are avoiding everyone. I want to know why." He looked at me with dark eyes and I stepped a little back.

Why is he acting like this? He wasn't like this.

"What happened to you?" I whispered and met his gaze.

"Mines happened. That is what. You did not step inside but everything is bad. People are dying; they can't take that anymore. Towns around us are getting their rights. They are killing soldiers, they are fighting and what we do? Nothing. Not a single thing. They don't want to take this anymore. Things are getting heatened. And the conference will be a grand finally."

My brain emptied. I didn't have an idea what is happening. What is happening in towns? Why are people fighting? Are they killing soldiers? They fight for their rights, and I walk in the castle and enjoy. Shame washed all over me.

"What are you saying?" I whispered.

"We will fight, and a little snake," he touched my hair, "you will help us." He moved one wisp, and I stepped back, frightened.

He is not normal. He talked like he is talking about the weather, and not about killing hundredth of people. They wanted to fight I realise but that much of a killing. I wasn't ready to that.

"No. I won't." I said and stepped further from him.

He moved from me and sat on a chair. He put his right leg over right and touched his boot.

What is he doing?

"I agreed to help with informations. Never, and I mean never I agreed to help you kill hundreds of people," my eyes saw fingers resting on the closet doors. They were shaking. "I want you to leave," I said suddenly showing at doors.

He didn't move.

"We are not finished." He said and took something.

My hands wrapped around the handle when I realised what is that. Knife. I was sick of that thing. I maniacally touched my neck. What is happening?

"Relax. I won't do anything." He said and smiled.

His lips curved into a smile, showing teeth but his eyes stayed cold. Just like his soul.

"You need to go," I repeated suddenly moving to the bed.

I put my head on hands and exhaled.

I can't deal with this. This is just a mistake.

"Oh, but I don't want." I heard his voice, and I jumped scared.

He was in front of me kneeling, knife in one hand and other was in his hair. That sick smile was on his face.

"Go." I felt tears in my eyes and I turned head.

"Listen." He grabbed my squeeze, and I had to gasp.

That hurts. And it's my hurt wrist. God.

"You will help us wanted you that or not. And maybe," he paused, and I looked at him. "We leave prince alive."

I laughed.

Leave prince alive?

"You are an idiot," I said smiling like crazy.

"I watched that person for three months. He is powerful. You are nothing in comparison with him. He knows everything and besides that, he can drive you crazy." I laughed again.

They to kill prince?

"And that is why we need you." He squeezed harder.

"Be a good girl, and no one will die."

I lifted head.

"Who else?" I said shakily.

He didn't answer.

"Who else?" I asked worriedly.

Please don't say, mom and dad.

Plese, don't say.

"Your family. That little precious family which have a little house next to mine. Flowers, garden. Everything."

My heart just stopped. He just threatened to my family.

I looked at his dark eyes trying to find something but it was worthless. He felt nothing. He is just a monster. Without feelings and he will kill.

"No," I said trying to take my hand.

"Yes." He whispered.

"No!" I repeated terrified.

"Yes." He moved his face toward mine.

"That little scar is nothing compare to what I will do to them. It's a shame, after all. We are the same." He looked away, and I wanted to scream.

He can't hurt them. They are all I have in here. In this world. He can't do that.

"No," I repeated, unbelieving.

"Yes." A wide smile was across his face.

"So this is how it will be. Listen carefully."

He let my hand and instantly I massage it.

It hurts.

"First you will found out when that is happening. Where? And is there a list? Who is invited and who is not? Simple. Few words with a prince and done. A piece of cake."

He touched my hair once again and stood up.

"This place tomorrow in midnight. I will visit you." He turned.

"Act nice and they will live."

I looked at one place. There is nothing for me.

I will be a shell if he kills them. They can't die.

I need to do this even though it will kill me.

Again I was on the rope, walking not to survive but to escape, to save my family and to save everyone I could.

****

I was awake for too long. I couldn't sleep and I just sat in the bed. I followed the little pattern I draw in my mind and just looked at nowhere.

I was more awake that sleeping in this three months. I was frightened, hurt, repeatedly. I met hospital like my second house. I met Mrs Gren like my second mother. Queen and Marissa like my best friends, and, and Prince, like mine.

My.

I couldn't finish that though. I didn't know what he is. Is he acting like a friend? (Friends don't kiss each other like that), like a brother. (No.) Like a tormentor (at begging, but now no), like a Prince (hell no). I was confused.

I looked at every part of my brain searching for something that could cause him to kiss me like that, but I couldn't find anything. I pissed him off, insulted, mocked, everything.

He was on edge of killing me, hurting me but he would step back. He had some control. He had different voices for all occasions and he never, I mean, never, hurt me in a physical way.

No.

I remembered analyses. I had to ask him for that. I need to know that. What my father though under 'she is not our child anyway' I needed answers and everyone held me in dark. I was sick of that.

Around morning dreaming came so quietly I almost wasn't aware of it. One second I was awake, next one I dreamed.

I followed a little girl. She was two years old.

Litle girl run through doors. She didn't want to listen to her mother. I mean she was just five years old, and she wasn't too good with words, but she liked to learn. Father would put her in a lap and she would smile, playing with his ring while he would tell her stores. One day she was with dragons, second with fairies, third she was in the past, fourth with monsters.

She had a story for every day, and that was his little tradition.

But nights were the worst.

He would stay awake frightened by some monsters. He was convinced that someone wanted them dead.

"They will come when it's dark." He would stay awake watching at hills and trying to find some way to get on another continent.

On the other side, his wife was like a place where they were. She liked nature, she liked playing with animals, clean air, a calm life.

But her man was in the move. He practised every day and every third day one man would come. They would talk, and then he would be even more frightened.

She tried to calm him, by putting some plants in tea, but nothing. He would continue on its way like nothing happened.

But one day everything was over.

She didn't see it coming.

Everything was peaceful. Girls played outside man practised little further, and no one heard a few soldiers.

They were hidden. They found a cave inside mountains. They looked for them over five days.

But everything was done in just a few minutes.

Women played with the girl. She would take a flower and put them in girl's hair. One second she did that next one she was dead.

The little girl jumped from hers, now dead, mother and screamed.

She ran around trying to get out of the house. Father heard screaming. He also heard everything that is happening. He just showed behind the hill, tears running down his face hands-on the front of him. He did something with fingers.

He heard the second bullet but suddenly everything stopped. Almost everything, a little girl was still running around the house, in a long dress and moments shared her from the fall.

Father stopped surprised but then he run toward her hiding her in his chest.

She needs to stay awake.

He looked at her and for the first time, a girl was feard. Her father's eyes were green.

He killed that guard, but it was too dangerous to stay there, but he to do that. All five days while a process of forgiving was alive.

His wife needed someone to remember.

He would risk everything just to bury his wife.

After that surviving instinct was main.

He needed to get the girl safe. It hurt him so badly that he avoided that, but finally one day he needed to do that. He needed to make her safe.

He was in some town. He hid his face under drops and hugged his girl for the last time.

She will be safe here.

She just needs to stay alive.

She will take his throne.

"Come one little snake, awake." I felt someone's squeeze on my shoulder and maniacally I opened eyes.

I was awake.

My hands were shaking even though I didn't know why.

That dream was scary. And green eyes.

I shook my head and watched at white eyes. That would become green. No.

"Finally." He rolled eyes, and I shook head again.

"What are you doing here?" I said shakily. I couldn't believe what is happening.

"My mother wants to see you." He raised an eyebrow.

"Why?" I said rubbing my eyes.

"Don't know. But she sent me to go for you. So hurry because I don't have a whole day." He shook head like the still can't believe.

"Why?" I repeated.

"Asking why won't get you ready. Get up." He showed across the room to the closet and I get up.

"Why?" I asked again, and he rolled eyes.

"Get ready." He said, and I took a deep breath.

Okay, Dianna focus. That dream didn't have any relationship with Prince and you.

That must be something you made up. You are too close with Prince.

I took a deep breath get done in the bathroom and put something on myself.

"Okay done." I get out ten minutes later in shirt and pants.

He looked up from my bed.

"You are not going looking like that." He said and turned again.

"Why?"

"It's Queen for god's sake!" He raised hands.

"You need to look acceptable." He made can't believe look and turned. Just now I realised that he is holding my notebook.

"Queen will forgive me and you leave my notebook!" I tried to take that, but he held it.

"No." He said strong and for a second I let it go.

"Why?"

"You are really in the mood for that why? Why this? Why that? Why? Why?" He imitated my voice, and I looked at him.

"Very nice." I raised my eyebrow and looked at him.

He exhaled shut eyes for a second and get up.

"Fine. Fine. Let's go." He shook his head and opened doors.

I thought he will lead me to Queen's fun room but no.

I remembered this way. That was a way to their restrooms.

"Why are we getting in here?" I asked quietly and looked at Prince.

"Queen asked to see you in her room." His voice was quiet but sharp.

Cold prince back again.

I exhaled and nodded.

"Why?" I asked.

"How would I know?" He said, his voice little angry.

"Okay," I said and looked at the floor.

I said nothing, but I heard his footsteps. We are now close to the doors.

He opened them and said.

"Mother. Here is she." He said coldly like he is talking with an army.

Not the first time I asked myself why is like that with her? Why is the cold to her? Why?

She sent me in the war when I was 14.

I remembered that but I didn't know is that because of that or something else.

"Oh, nice. Get in Dianna." I heard her voice, and I smiled.

"Queen," I said a little shaky and bowed.

"Oh stop with that. Come." I was in front of the prince and I looked around the room.

Beautiful big room with a dark design. Elegant but minimalistic. And huge.

"Vlad you can go." She smiled, and I looked at the prince.

I heard him exhale, and he rolled his eyes.

"Like I would stay." I heard him talking and next second he was out.

I tuned to a Queen again.

She was sitting in a big chair with a deep purple dress on. Remarkable. With silver and gold almost invisible lines it looked like its fluid. It moved like her.

"We will get beautiful dresses." She said smiling and I had to ask.

"Why?" She smiled again and moved her hand.

"For the conference. I said I want you to be with me."

"Per aspera ad astra" Through the hardship to the stars.

At this point we have ten more chapters till the end. I will be sad when that happens. This book means me a lot. I don't know what will happen when I finish.