“One more time?”

“No. It was just a... thank-you kiss. For making me feel better about running away from home.”

“You’d make me feel better if I got another kiss.”

Courtney rolled her eyes as she and Duncan rose up to the 23rd floor of the hotel elevator. Of course, Duncan was heckling Courtney just to piss her off. Secretly, Courtney did want to kiss Duncan again. But she would never admit it.

“Seriously Duncan. Stop asking me to kiss you again.”

“But why-hy-hy?” he whimpered.

Courtney smirked as she handed Duncan his room key.

“Good ni-ight.” she said mockingly as she walked into her room. As the door of Courtney’s room swung shut, Duncan walked into his room and sat on his bed.

She so wants me.

*******

“Hello? Clara? Dad?”

Courtney was walking up a winding staircase, the same staircase that led to her bedroom. The sky outside was dark yellow, and black crows were squawking on the dying trees outside.

“Courtney... Over here... We must prepare you...”

Courtney froze mid-way up the steps.

“Who-Who’s there?” she said nervously. A figure tapped her on her shoulder, causing her to jump. She ran up the steps screaming “Duncan! Dad! Clara!” Her eyes stung with tears as she flung herself onto her bed, forcing herself to try and sleep.

“Courtney... Wake up... A king is nothing without a queen...”

Courtney’s eyes flew open as she stared at the figure at the back of her room. Julius was there, only his body was black with dark yellow eyes and bright white teeth. Slowly, he progressed towards her... No matter how much she screamed he wouldn’t stop coming...

*******

Courtney’s eyes flickered open. She was covered in sweat from the nightmare about Julius she had the previous night. Just a dream...she thought to herself. She let out a massive yawn and slowly stretched her arms behind her head. After she had gotten on her clothes, she walked across the hall to see if Duncan was up.

“Can I come in?”

“Who—may I ask—is at the door?”

“Just the hotel maid to come and clean up your room.” Courtney said with a huff. Man, was he annoying in the morning.

“You can come in.” said Duncan with a muffled voice. She turned the handle and walked into the now filthy hotel room. Leave it to Duncan to mess up a room in one night... she thought to herself. Ironic how he's so good at cleaning dishes...

Duncan walked into the room with a toothbrush in his mouth. Half of his face was covered with toothpaste.

“Careful, Duncan,” she said sarcastically, “you’re getting some toothpaste in your mouth.”

“Ha-ha. You’re not only a bossy princess, but you’re also a comedian.” said Duncan as he walked back into the bathroom.

“I am NOT bossy.” she yelled. She walked over to the window and peered outside. People in the streets were laughing and walking around the square, shopping bags swaying in their hands. Maybe she would go out tonight. It would kind of be like a mini-celebration for not having to marry Julius, even if it meant not going back to the palace.

“You wouldn’t believe the dream I had last night,” said Courtney, “it was really horrifying.”

“What was it about?” he said. Duncan walked in smelling like peppermint shaving cream and he was wearing a white shirt and jeans.

“Well, I dreamed I was back in the palace, heading off to bed. This... figure tapped me on my shoulder and it whispered something about ‘preparing me’. I ran upstairs and was crying out for you or Clara or daddy but nobody came. I tried falling asleep, but Julius was at the bottom of my bed whispering ‘a king is nothing without a queen.’ And then it just... ended.”

“Wow,” said Duncan with wide eyes, “that is pretty messed up. But it does sound like something Julius would do.”

“Do what?”

“Try and convince you with cheesy sayings like “a king is nothing without a queen.’”

“Well, having that dream doesn’t matter at all. I’m deciding to never go back. I really like it here.” she said happily while she lay sprawled on his bed, her hair fanned out all around her.

“Whoa whoa whoa. Hold on just a minute,” Duncan said slowly, “you’re gonna have to go back eventually.”

Courtney sat upright on the bed, frowning.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, Julius might try and do something less-than-friendly to try and get you to come back to the palace. He could send out guards to take you back by force, or take someone in your family hostage if you don’t marry him. I mean the threats to make you come back are really endless.”

“Well,” said Courtney as she headed to the door, “let’s try to enjoy it here as much as we can before we go back.”

*******

“So, what should we do first?”

“I’m not sure. I’ve never been outside the palace before... What do you normally do when you go out?”

“Lemme see... I usually have to go out and buy your family food, get myself cleaning supplies, and some other things I’d rather not say.”

Courtney giggled as she and Duncan strolled around the square. After they had left the hotel, they decided to go out and stroll around the town. Courtney was amazed at what she saw around her, mostly because she had never been outside the castle grounds before. Duncan wasn’t that amazed. He goes out at least twice a day to buy the necessities for Courtney’s family.

“Come on. It’s not that bad. There are only three people in my family to buy food for and to clean up after.”

“Yeah, but soon to be four people when you go back.” he said with a smirk.

Courtney punched him in the arm as they approached the heart of the town.

“Oh, be quiet. I’m NOT marrying Julius, no matter what my father has to say.”

Passerby glanced in Courtney’s direction, whispering to others about how she ‘looked just like the princess.’ Courtney and Duncan ignored them and continued walking. They approached the part of the town they had walked through yesterday. Courtney could see the broken bridge waaaay off in the distance. She felt a shiver go down her spine.

“How ‘bout we get something to eat? I’m starved.” whined Duncan.

They made a few more turns around the square and approached a café called Le Petit Gustante.

“I swear, I think that we’re in France with all these stupid French names.” Duncan mumbled.

When they walked inside, the waiter couldn’t stop staring at Courtney. Finally, he found his voice.

“I know that this sounds strange, but are you Princess Courtney?”

“Who, me? Oh, no. Uh, my name’s... um, Claire. Yes, Claire. And this is my brother, um... Dan.”

“Oh,” said the waiter curiously, “well you look just like the princess. Strange... Anyways, let me show you to your table...”

After they had been seated, Duncan set down his menu and covered his mouth, trying hard not to laugh. Courtney ignored him, but he started to laugh really hard. She set down her menu and glared at him.

“What’s so funny?” she asked impatiently.

“Oh, um, I’m sorry. It’s just um... I’m not, uh...” he said mockingly. Courtney smacked him on the head with her menu.

“OK, let me set this straight with you: One, I DO NOT talk like that, and two, I’m not good at making things up on the spot.”

“Yeah, yeah. You’re a really bad liar, Princess. You say ‘um’ and ‘uh’ every time that you make something up.” Duncan said breezily. A thought popped into his head. “Can you answer something for me, Princess?”

“Sure.”

“Quick! Tell me why you didn’t want to kiss me earlier!” he said quickly.

“Um, well, uh I just don’t, um...” she stammered.

“A-ha! I knew that you didn’t have an excuse when you said you didn’t want to kiss me. You’re afraid of liking me!” he said proudly. He leaned over the table, inches from her nose. He kissed her gently on the tip of her upper lip and sat back down.

“I am NOT afraid of you.” she said quietly.

“You should be. I mean, I guy like me... is... Courtney, get down.” he said while he stared at the figure in the distance.

“Wh—”

“Just do as I say.” he said firmly. Courtney grew nervous as she slid herself under the table. She curled herself up in a ball as she heard loud clunkings of shoes approach the table.

Oh no.

“I thought I’d find you here.” a deep, dark voice bellowed.

“What? It’s just little ol' me. Sitting in a café innocently. Isn’t your princess asleep in your bed?” Duncan hissed.

“Oh no. I woke up, went into her room, and she was gone.” said Julius, “So I just called up some of the men from the palace, told them the princess was missing, and we started searching every nook and cranny in the kingdom. We just came in here to see if the waiters had seen the princess walk by, but you made my search way easier.”

“What kind of gay man ARE you?” said Duncan sarcastically, “No guy says ‘nooks and crannies.’”

“Silence! I know that the princess is here! Show yourself!” he roared, turning around to see if she had given in and showed herself. Courtney shivered and stayed still under the table.

“Well. I didn’t want it to come to this...” said Julius quietly as he snapped his fingers. Four very large men came from behind Julius and grabbed Duncan by his shoulders and his arms. He tried to fight it, but failed.

“If you’re here, princess—and I know you are—just know that your little dish cleaner won’t be around much longer if you don’t return to the palace. Goodbye.” he said darkly as the six men left the café. Courtney sat under the table, cowering and breathing very quickly.

Like Duncan had said earlier, the threats to make her come back are really endless...