Title: Untitled
Authors: Domino and Anne
Email: zahfat@yahoo.com and
partypooh@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: Not ours…
A/N: Alternate Universe
Summary: A fairytale, in the kingdom of Antarra, a prince, a bodyguard, a Ball…
Chapter 3
The sun, shining in through the window, lighted the small room. The room was
almost Spartan, small with only the necessary furniture. A bed, closet and desk
made of oak.
A girl moved between the closet and the bed, packing the few belongings she
owned. It wasn’t much, but then again if you were on the road all the time you
didn’t need much.
Taking out all her clothes she divided them into to piles, the large one went
into her canvas bag, the other in the small green suitcase. It was a good thing
that Isabel had said they’d go shopping for some suitable clothes tomorrow,
Maria doubted that she could keep her cover if her wardrobe consisted of the
black Royal Guard uniform. The only other clothes she had was a light blue
dress, a jeans and sweater and those she was wearing. Maria never had any need
for other clothes, the Royal Guard was her life and her team her family.
Maria and Kyle had adopted each other from their first day at the academy when
Maria had wiped the floor with him during sword practice and Kyle had beaten her
at horse racing.
Neither had any other family. Maria’s parents had died when she was still a
small girl, she’d grown up at her grandfather’s near the small village of
Locknad in the Semarion district. The district was known for it’s untamed
nature. After her grandfather’s death, Maria enlisted in the Academy, as soon as
she was of the required age.
Kyle came from the Rohnan district, known for it’s thoroughbred horses, the best
in the whole of Antarra if not the entire planet. Kyle’s father had been the
sheriff in a town full of horse breeders and traders. He died in the line of
duty, shot by thieves, when Kyle was seventeen. His mother died shortly
afterwards of a broken heart. The following year, the day after his eighteenth
birthday he had enlisted.
“Hey sweet cakes.” Kyle grinned as he closed the door behind him.
Maria turned to roll her eyes at him. “What do you want?”
“Oh come on, can’t I just come and visit my favourite person in the world.”
Maria stared incredulous at him for another beat. “Fine. The Cap. just told me
about your new job. So …”
“So what?” Maria grabbed the painting standing on her desk, it was of a cliff
near Locknad, her mother had painted it and it was one of Maria’s most treasured
possessions. She laid it on top of her blue dress.
“Oh come on you’ve got to give me more then that.” Kyle plopped down on the bed.
“You’re now the Big Cohunes new personal bodyguard.”
Maria shrugged while sheathing her sword and laying it by the suitcase.
“What’s wrong with you? You get picked out to do the most important job in the
Kingdom, protecting the heir, and you’re all like pff... Maria, it’s an honour,
a privilege to get chosen for something like that.”
Maria shrugged again. “It’s no big deal.”
With a sigh, Kyle pulled her onto the bed with him. “Now tell your big brother
what’s wrong?”
Maria gave him an impish little smile, Kyle really was the best, no matter how
many times he acted like a jerk. “Fine … I’m supposed to be his new lady
friend.”
She could feel Kyle stiffen beside her, he never did like the idea of Maria
dating other men, well really any men. “Yeah, and …”
“They’re gone make me attend all those official functions, like the ball and
stuff.” Maria couldn’t help the horror from sounding through her voice.
Kyle shrugged, not understanding why this would put her off. “So, you’ve been to
other balls before.”
“Not as a guest. The date of the prince of Antarra, not some guard nobody will
notice.”
“You mean like with the whole make up, hair, ball gown thing.” Kyle couldn’t
hide the smirk forming. It was a rare thing to see Maria out of the standard
black but to imagine her in one of those frilly things the nobility wore was a
whole different thing.
He never noticed the pillow flying at him.
~*~
Michael pulled the brush through it’s mare’s mane. He’d just returned from a
long ride alone through the woods, probably the last one for a long while. It
always relaxed him, to feel a horse moving underneath you, the wind in your
hair, the speed, … And he’d needed it after what his parents had sprung on him.
Maria DeLuca, a Royal Guard, his new bodyguard, one of the most beautiful and
attractive woman he’d ever laid eyes on. He could almost still feel the tingle
in his fingertips.
“Good day, Michael.” An alluring voice came from behind him. A girl dressed in a
pink dress with lace trimmings, was giving him the once over. Her brown hair was
teased high, and her lips were lathered in pink gloss.
Michael acknowledged her presence with a simple nod before turning back to his
horse. “Davina.”
His lack of response didn’t deter her in any way. “That was quite an event
yesterday in the throne room.”
“Mmm.”
“So, who was the little lady? A friend of yours.”
Michael turned around to tell Davina to beat it, when he saw the two figures
entering the stable.
Davina turned as well, to see what had captivated his attention. A Royal Guard
and the girl that had caused such a stir yesterday.
~*~
From a distance their eyes caught, and held. Everything else faded into the
background, and no one else existed for that moment in time. Davina wasn't even
a blip on the radar, and in those seconds that it took to walk towards her new
charge Maria forgot Kyle was even with her.
Their total absorption in each other had the slight air of familiarity to it, a
memory surfacing of the day before's first meeting. It had only been a day, but
already it felt like forever.
Neither had ever felt this way before, Maria because she had avoided
relationships and rarely dated with her constant undercover work, and Michael
who despite, going out with hundreds of women had yet to let a single one in. He
was jaded, and well aware that his status had a lot to do with his appeal.
They stood facing each other. Kyle's eyes swung from one to the next, and he
frowned. He had heard the rumours, of course, of the prince's numerous liaisons.
He looked at the way Maria was looking at the Prince, and for the first time he
worried - he had never seen her look at anyone like that before.
"Sarisan," she said softly.
"Jakan," he replied, equally soft.
Kyle looked at the two, and cleared his throat loudly, in an unsubtle gesture.
Maria jumped slightly, barely noticeable, and Michael lifted his eyes of her to
glare at he who dared interrupt.
"This is Kyle, my bes..." Maria began, but was interrupted by Kyle before she
could say best friend.
"Bodyguard. I am her bodyguard," he said quickly, catching sight of the curious,
not totally without malice eyes of the woman behind Michael.
Maria turned to frown at him, in question, and Kyle gestured imperceptibly to
behind the Prince of Antarra, where Davina stood looking inquiringly at Maria
and Kyle.
Immediately, the look in Maria's face disappeared and she turned to glare at the
prince. Michael looked surprised, he watched the silent communication between
the two and controlled the urge to punch Kyle. He saw Maria's face change, and
felt the loss of her gaze, before turning slightly to see who had caused that
glare. Davina. He had forgotten she was even there.
Davina moved in closer, determined to get an introduction, and as she walked
closer to Michael, Maria moved in to stand next to him. It wasn't the stanza of
a bodyguard, but of a woman claiming her territory, a possessive one. The men
missed the significance but Davina, another woman understood, and she nodded her
acceptance at Maria's unconsciously regal posture, her acceptance of her claim,
and in agreement moved back, she knew her place after all and with a soft,
"Milady, Your Highness," disappeared past the stables.
Kyle moved in closer as well, a protective move, but was cut of by Michael, who
stood possessively next to his bodyguard, similar to Maria's claim on him. He
glared at Kyle, warning the man off and for the first time Kyle felt relief. It
was well known that the Prince of Antarra never felt jealousy, despite several
attempts by various ladies throughout the years to invoke that particular
feeling - and yet there was no mistaking the emotions that rolled of the Prince
on this sun.
Kyle observed the two carefully, they were back to being oblivious to
everything besides each other - he noticed, that Michael looked at Maria the
same way she looked at him...maybe she wouldn't get hurt after all, he decided.
He moved back to give the two some privacy, but stayed close. At this rate, they
would get attacked and not even notice. He didn't have to wait long, whatever it
was that kept the two oblivious soon changed when it occurred to both of them
what they were doing. Kyle hid his laughter, as conscious thought returned and
smirked when he noticed the walls going up. The two were very much alike, he
observed silently - it was those skills that made him so good at his job.
This was going to be interesting. He wouldn't miss it for the world.
~*~
At the same time, someone else was also staring but not at a beautiful and
deadly girl but at a courtyard filled by troops in dark green and red. With a
cold grin he bared his teeth.
Turning away from the window he crossed the room, his velvet green suit rustling
with each step. He turned his hands towards the fire place, trying to chase the
cold out of his limbs. The golden flames reflected in the thick golden rings
embedded with heavy rubies around his fingers.
Matters of state were preoccupying him, precious time that he could spend
otherwise, enjoying himself at a party or something.
Hunger and cold were making his people restless. The state treasure chambers
were empty and even he knew, that he couldn’t squeeze any more out of his
minions.
Anger bubbled up in him until he saw nothing but red. Picking up the crystal
statue standing on the table next to him, he threw it across the room. Shards of
glass flew all around reflecting the light as it smashed against the stone wall.
This palace if that was what you could call it, was cold and windy, not even the
huge fire burning day and night in the throne room could warm it up. Soon his
time would come and he would trade this musty old palace for a better one, a
gleaming white one.
Khivar smiled again, a cold heartless smile.
~*~