~~~

The best gifts you can give to someone are not things. The best ones to offer are a little time, love, care and respect.

~~~~~~~~•••~~~~~~~~

"What in Aria's name."

Red with embarrassment, Ella gazed up into the perplexed face of Prince Eric. He had returned from seeing his father, the King, and was on his bed about to take a quick nap when he saw Ella fall.

"I'm really sorry, I really am." Ella hastily said, rubbing her sweaty palms together.

Prince Eric pulled away from his bed and came closer. "I've been dying to ask why you're here."

Ella glanced down at the rug. "Uh-er...what do you mean?" She internally cringed when the stammer escaped her lips.

Ella couldn't deny the uncomfortable feeling at the pit of her stomach that originated from being in the same room with the Crown Prince of Aria.

"Don't try to hide it. You're Courtney's-"

"-Step-sister. Your highness you can throw me into the dungeons but please don't send me back there, please..." The tears that trickled down Ella's cheeks left Eric astonished.

"Step-sister? She told me you're the help."

Of course she would. Ella thought.

Prince Eric vividly remembered how Courtney said Ella was an insignificant help Brian had picked out from the dust in the streets. Initially, he was impressed by Brian's benevolence but now it all made sense to him. Courtney was lying and Ella wasn't a servant as he suspected when he looked into her eyes.

Ella bit down her lips upon seeing frown lines disrupt Prince Eric's peaceful countenance. "I'm sorry for intruding upon your privacy. I should leave now." It didn't matter what Courtney might have told the Prince. The girl was a liar, Ella had always known.

Just like the day Courtney broke her father's expensive watch and accused Ella. Brian punished Ella by asking her to clean the entire mansion upon an empty stomach.

"Wait-" Prince Eric called as Ella got to the door. Ella turned to meet his calm stare.

"Why are you here then?"

What was she going to tell him now? Afterall this was the opportunity Ella had been seeking, an opportunity to earn the trust of one of the royals and warn them about the upcoming insurgency. And from the way Prince Eric didn't yell at her to leave, it seemed she had already gotten his trust.

"I don't think you'd believe me if I told you that the palace is in grave danger. Most especially, you the royals."

Eric was stunned. He had always considered his father a capable and fair leader, but he never suspected anyone would like to rebel against the throne.

"How do you know this?"

"Because my step-father is behind the plot to assassinate your family."

Ella watched the way Prince Eric's fingers drove through his auburn hair, whether from annoyance or frustration, she didn't know.

"I don't believe this." Prince Eric said finally.

All traces of warmth eluded Ella's face. "I thought you might say that." And she turned around and left.

~~~~

"We've been searching all over for you Ella." Star said as soon as Ella reappeared in the garden.

"I got lost." Was all Ella said. She wasn't in the right frame of mind for a lengthy conversation now. All she needed was a decent rest to make her forget what happened earlier.

"You look pale, are you sure you're okay?" Emerald questioned.

Ella nodded and glanced at the girls briefly before she strode up to Mrs Myra and asked to retire to the Maid Chambers.

Ella twisted and turned in her bed that night unable to get the Prince out of her head. He didn't believe her. If he didn't then there was no use of her trying further, he might see her as desperate and there was no way she would lower her self-worth, but then there remained the fact that lives would be lost if she stayed mum.

As soon as the clock struck twelve at midnight, a loud explosion filled the air accompanied by gunshots, screams and more screams which increased in frequency. There was the sounds of feet running here and there with mighty thuds following.

Mabel, Lily, Grace, Emerald, Theresa and Star were panicking in their beds with their comforters drawn up to their chest.

The door was opened to reveal Mrs Myra. "The palace is under attack. Everyone, to the bunker now."

The girls flew out of their beds and ran out through the door. Ella joined them. She couldn't say she wasn't frightened by the news but she expected this to happen and it didn't shock her a bit.

But, an attack means lives will be lost and that means...Oh no, the royals, the prince, Princess Charity.

Ella stopped running towards the lift that would take her down to the bunker instead she turned around and hurried straight to Princess Charity's room.

More explosions and more shouting. The walls were starting to crack, some had even fallen, letting in a bit of the moonlight.

Oh how she wished the moon wasn't shining this night, it ruined every positive thoughts Ella held about the moonlight.

Her mom used to tell her that moonlights signify a lot more beautiful things ahead. What was so beautiful about this situation?

When Ella reached Charity's room, she entered inside at once, meeting an awful and dreadful silence. Charity was nowhere in the room that was at least five times bigger than the maid quarters.

"Charity." Ella whispered, peeking under the bed.

No answer.

Then she heard a rustle coming from Charity's closet. Ella ambled over at once, careful not to break any thing.

She opened the closet to reveal a frightened Charity. The poor girl was deadly pale but she hugged Ella at once.

"Ella." Charity whispered.

"We have to get to the bunker, now."

Charity shook her head. "But-"

"If we don't go now, we won't make it in time, come on." Ella tugged Charity's hand and encouraged the Princess to follow her to the door. Just then, Eric entered, looking a little confused when he saw Ella holding his sister's hand.

Charity broke away from Ella and ran into her brother's arms.

"We need to get to the bunker." Eric told his younger sister and his eyes went to Ella who was still dripping with nervousness.

He didn't need to say anything to her because that look was enough to convey what he should have said in words. Ella was right.

*
*
*

As they bounded down the eerily quiet hallways, all Prince Eric could think of was his family, his Mother, father and sister. He made a silent prayer hoping they were safe in the bunker.

When they reached an intersection of two passage ways, one leading to the Council hall and the other to the Kitchen, Prince Eric heard voices and he immediately pulled Charity and Ella to a halt.

Despite her distraught state, Ella was startled at the tingling sensation that washed over her when their fingers touched.

They concealed themselves behind a huge flower pot and listened.

"Take them to the dungeons." Ella could recognize that harsh voice anywhere. Brian.

Since Ella was standing close to the end of the wall, she peeked, gasping softly when her eyes trained on the Queen and King manhandled by Brian's men. The same men Ella saw in the tunnel.

Prince Eric looked too but he broke his eyes away regretting that he could do nothing at all to help his parents.

"Where's the Prince?" Ella heard Brian ask.

The Queen struggled in the firm hold of her captors. "I've told you, I don't know and even if I did, I would never tell you."

Brian laughed a laugh that belonged to only a villain. He was one afterall. "Oh, such motherly love. Pity. Roger, take them both away from my sight, I never want to set my eyes on them again."

Roger, more terrified of Brian than he was of hurting the royals pulled the King and Queen away.

Prince Eric and Ella exchanged a look. They knew what they had to do. They had to run away.

~~~~~~~~•••~~~~~~~~

Phew, I seriously don't believe I wrote that. In all my writing history, I have never written a menacing scene as this.

By the way, I'm offering my sincere apologies for abandoning this book. Well, I didn't really. I had what you'd call a writer's block. More often than once, I thought of deleting this story. But seeing the comments and encouraging messages gave me confidence to continue writing.

And I'm telling you, I'm never going to back down from writing this book until it's finished. Can I get a couple of hell yeahs? 😂😂😂😂