#princxroyce

Mina remembered that day all too well. The brakes of the car squealing to a crashing halt as she began to watch the world spin around her as if it was in blur as she began to scream in shock of what was happening. It was only then did she suddenly see darkness surround her vision, as it seemed as if minutes passed before she was surrounded by a bright light. Confused and dazed by what was happening, she began to fumble her way towards gaining her bearings before she realised just where she was. “My parents, where are they?” She began to ask, moving to turn towards the nearest nurse; anyone who could point her to what was familiar, her loved ones. But it seemed that there was no one in the next bed that she recognised, nor was there anyone that she could see that resembled her parents.

Just what was happening? She wondered as she began to wonder what was truly happening. “Tell me! Where are they?” She began to ask frantically as the nurses began to flood towards her as they realised she was finally awake.

“Sweetie, I’m so sorry but it seems that they didn’t make it through the crash” Came the comforting tones of a nurse as she moved to pat Mina’s shoulder, sounds of a flood of voices beginning to come through, as if the nurses had continued to speak as if she wasn’t there.‘Poor thing, to be left with no parents — orphaned after that car accident / I would hate to be her, can you imagine waking up alone? / She comes from that rich family, Augustine; how ironic that she’ll have enough money to survive after this even if she won’t have anyone to share it with.’ 

And it was with that last voice that Mina finally snapped. “Stop it! Get out of here!” She screamed, tears beginning to stream down her face as she realised she would never see her parents again. She would never be able to spend another late night with them as they would play good old fashioned board games, nor would she be able to go on the spontaneous road trips with them, just like that day had supposed to be. However as these thoughts continued to roll around in her mind, she continued to hear the same voices of those nurses despite the fact that they had left the room.

What was wrong with her? Why were these voices so loud, even though there was no one in the rest of the room? The tears continued to stream down her face as she began to hear other sounds, other voices that reeked of people thinking of immediate death; the images burned into her mind as they begged for any sort of relief from the pain they were feeling. Confronted by the voices and the images that were depicted in her mind, she began to scream — for any sort of relief, beginning to beg for it to all stop.

She craved for silence, for something to stop it all; as it began to become much louder and faster — the voices beginning to hum in her mind like a gathering of bumblebees in her ears, never able to get rid of them. Why wouldn’t they stop? She didn’t understand what was happening as all she could hear was the sounds beginning to increase in volume, especially those of the ones closest. ‘Ugh, what’s wrong with that girl? I know her parents died but what is wrong with her? / Why won’t she stop, how irritating that we will have to listen to this distressed girl for the rest of the evening / How long till she’s out of here? I’m sick of this.’ 

Drawing her knees up to her chest, she began to rock forward and backwards as she begged for some sort of peace; something that didn’t seem to happen as she continued to cry out and babble, “Please stop — I can’t take it anymore, I beg you, just please.”

Numbness had settled over her while she quietly sat, scrubbing at her clean hands. The blood that had coated them yesterday was long gone but the feeling of it weighed almost as much as the anger that had clouded her yesterday. It seemed like a dream- one Mina had watched from above as she acted in a way that she couldn’t believe. She wanted to regret it- to regret the loss of life by her own hands but it had been a Royce or them situation. And Mina would always choose him. She just needed the blood to leave her hands.

The way that they had turned against them- turned against her, so easily, raised a new wave of anger within her chest. Fists clenching, her arms folded around her knees as she brought them up. The two parts of her- horror at what she had done and satisfaction that she had gotten them before they got her- were warring within her. What would her parents think of the woman she had become?

Even Royce had looked at her differently after it had happened. Had seemed almost as surprised by her actions as she was. “Do you-” Mina started roughly, trailing off as she lifted her eyes to lock on Royce. There were so many ways that question could end. All of them wanted to push forward. “Do you think of me differently, now?” She finally decided on.

If he did, if things changed because of it all, Mina wouldn’t be able to live with herself. She had seen into their minds, for him. she had seen their plans and learned how far they were willing to go to betray her prince and she wouldn’t allow it- couldn’t stand for it.

☝️Tap my muse on the shoulder 

They needed to be quiet, speak without words, lest they be caught. It was easy for Mina, with her gift to know what Royce wasn’t saying. Even without it, she was pretty confident with all the time she had spent around him that she would be able read him like a book. Walking closely behind him, her mind brushed against an unknown source and her hand reached out and grabbed him before they were discovered. It was a game, technically, but she was determined to win with their flag safely guarded between the two of them.

Reaching up once the coast was clear, her finger tapped lightly on his shoulder, indicating that they could move once more.

😉Pull my muse in by the hips

She could feel every inch of space between the two of them. Their arms bumping ever so often. The alcohol coursing through her veins had seemed like a great idea at the time, have a few drinks and spend time with Royce. But now, it simply made everything feel heightened. The night had drawn to a close, and ever the dutiful anchor, Mina walked him up to his room, not quite ready to let the night come to an end. It had been a freeing night, one that she would hopefully remember for days to come.

The walk seemed to pass by faster than normal, the doors to his room appearing before she knew it. Fingers tingling, she dug her nails into her palm to keep herself from reaching out to him. She couldn’t cross that boundary, that line. But it didn’t stop the want within her. “Well- I guess this is goodnight, Prince Royce,” she murmured quietly, not quite looking at him. He had known her for so long, she feared he may be able to read what she wasn’t saying.

She wanted to turn- To walk away and put those thoughts to bed, but her feet wouldn’t move. Her hands reached out, unfurling only to grip his hips. She pulled lightly, if he hadn’t wanted to come forward, it wouldn’t have been enough to truly move him. It was simply a guiding pull, to close the space between them. “I..” Mina trailed off, unsure of what to say- what to do. She had never imagined herself blurring this line, didn’t know what was supposed to come next. “I shouldn’t have don’t that, Royce.”

😉 Pull my muse in by the hips

August 13th 2016 --

“No, it’s not final. Just his Anchor,” Sofia commented. Rumors had spread at court about Jean-Pierre and herself, rumors about a possible girlfriend for the prince and future king of Athos. “We’re not dating, if that’s what you intend to ask, Royce,” he’d made his way towards her chambers, at night, knocking against the door of her chambers after he’d sent her guards away. Looking around once, she could still heard a few ladies-in-waiting to the queen laughing and saw a fire in the far back. Nikita must’ve celebrated yet another successful conquest of hers -- maybe the king, as many believed. With her eyes focusing back on Royce, Sofia sighed and rolled her eyes simultaneously. “Look, you can chase me all you want -- I’m not spoken for, yet I don’t feel like being a price to be won and thrown away afterward. Prince’s love doing that, don’t they?”

The noises started to become louder, and louder, until Sofia had to pull him into her room. In order to do that the Anchor grabbed him by the hips and dragged him towards her while kicking the door shut with her heel. So close she could feel his breath against her skin. “Fuck,” Sofia whispered, breathlessly. 

🔪 Point a weapon at my muse

To say Aurora was jumpy was sometimes an understatement. She had grown up the daughter of the most feared man in Omerta. And being a Banshee who secretly exposed the secrets of so many also put a target on her back should anyone find out. She’d been taught to fight and keep herself safe since childhood, lest anyone try to get to Giacomo through Aurora.

She did not hesitate when things in the shadows frightened her. If something strange shifted which Aurora could not make out, she would immediately get on the defensive. It was that late evening in town that made it clear her reactions did not change much over the years.

The second she heard a strange sound come up behind her, one that she thought might have been following her for a while now, Aurora began to finger a small pocket knife she held in the pocket of her coat. She halted, flipped it open and spun around. “I swear to God-” She pulled the man in the shadows to her and then pushed them against the alley wall. Her knife at their throat. “Who the hell are- Oh.” Oh shit. Aurora’s eyes widened and she immediately let go. “Your Highness... sorry. I, uh,” She paused, catching her breath. Shit. “I thought you were... someone else.”

Fear was pumping through her veins as she tore out of her apartment in a rush. Athos was burning. The streets were of mess of people, either running towards the far off blaze or running far away, but Mina's only thoughts were to get to the palace. They needed every man they could spare to control the inferno which would leave the castle understaffed. Even if she hadn't been summoned, that would be the place she was headed.

Passing by people at a quick pace, her legs burned from how hard she was pushing herself. Mina was ever grateful for her daily runs in that moment. Her apartment, while as close as possible to the castle, was still a good distance away, but with each passing minute it seemed to be further away. She knew that was just the adrenaline, but it didn't stop the disgruntled pant from passing through her lips.

Finally, after what seemed like it could have been hours, she was passing through the familiar doors to the castle. If it was any other day, any other time, she may have notified the guards of her arrival, but she didn't have time. She wanted- needed to find Royce. Mina had to ensure that he was safely tucked away from the disaster out that. That he wasn't a cause of the mayhem. Feet pounding against the stairs, she turned off at the familiar hall of his rooms. “Royce! Royce are you here?” She panted, thoroughly out of breath from her run, with desperation laced through her voice as she banged open the door.