Nodding, she laid her hand on his arm and prepared to leave the comfort of the room that was away from all eyes. The doors opened and the pair began a steady pace down the aisle. Her vision blurred with tears, as she became closer to the end, closer to her fate. She looked over and saw JC. A pained look mixed with determination covered his face. Char was next to him and had the same look. Alex began to wonder if they were planning something.
They reached the end and Alex was transferred to Justin. Her veil was lifted and he looked at her encouragingly. Neither paid attention as the elder began the ceremony. They once again wondered if they were doing the right thing. They looked at each other as the elder said, "If anyone wishes to speak out against the bond about to be formed, speak now or forever hold your peace." Closing their eyes, Alex and Justin said, "I do."
Everyone gasped, but Alex and Justin joined them. See two other voices also said, "I do."
Alex and Justin both turned to see JC and Char standing behind them. Alex almost yelled with joy. She wouldn't have to marry Justin. Forgetting about everyone else in the room, she threw her arms around JC's neck and sent her lips on a direct path for his. Justin grinned as he saw Char standing there; trying her best to act undeterred. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him, engaging in a feathery kiss in the process.
"What is the meaning of this!?" roared Roald. Both couples disengaged and turned to look at him. "Stop this nonsense right now."
"Nonsense?!" asked Alex already becoming enraged. "Thy love is not nonsense."
"Don't you dare use that tone with me Alexandra," warned her father. "You have no authority here." Alex glared defiantly at her father, all oblivious to the kingdom that watched their argument. "Oh, but thine hand shalt rule in this matter. Dei!"
Dei came out and produced a large book, holding it up so everyone could see it. "This book proves that the marriage is void. It says if the parents make the marriage without consent of those involved, to find a true spouse will make the marriage void."
Roald stared from one pair to the other. "You cannot and will not do this."
Alex could feel herself waver under her fathers stare. JC held onto her hand as he stepped up next to her. "She will do what she wants. It's her life." Cythera came up and put her hands on Roald's shoulders. He shrugged them off, as daggers seemed to shoot from his eyes. "You DARE disobey me?!" screamed Roald which silenced the whole hall, including the argument between Justin and Char with his family.
Fear raced through Alex's body. She had never seen her father this angry before. All she could wonder was why her refusing to wed with Justin would make him so furious.
"Come with me," he hissed and grabbed her arm, pulling her away from JC. Guards held JC back as Roald pulled Alex from the room. Everyone was surprised by how abrupt he was being. "We will discuss this later," said Lynn to Justin and Char. In truth, she was happy for them. She was proud that he had done the right thing.
"Please, everyone," said Cythera trying to get the crowd's attention. "Please go and continue on with your normal lives and we will update you on everything." People filed out of the room, still in shock. JC stared at the door, the guards still keeping a firm grasp on his arms. He was scared and he wasn't afraid to admit it, though only to himself. He was scared for Alex. He had finally admitted to the fact that he loved her and she might be taken away from him. He couldn't lose her. He had to get to her.
He looked around, silently pleading for help from anyone. Catching the eyes of his father, Roy walked over to him. "Let him go," he said commandingly. "He will not hurt anyone. Right Joshua?" JC nodded and the guards released his arms. Bending down, Roy whispered into his ear, "Go find her and help her." JC didn't need to be told twice. He ran as fast as he could out the door in pursuit.
Alex tried to dig her heels into the ground, but they just slid along the slick tile. She tried everything that she could think of short of grabbing his sword and trying to get free. He pulled her further down the hall till he came to a door. Alex looked at it curiously. This door led to the catacombs of the royal family. He pulled her inside and a dank smell invaded her senses. Terror began to float up to her conscious mind. She had never been in the catacombs, she was always forbidden. She looked around as they ventured deeper underground, deeper into the darkness. She shrank away from the walls that were thick with moss.
The steps cracked from the pressure of holding up the rest of the castle. Crumbling rocks littered the hallway that they walked down. Roald pulled her into a side room, her white wedding gown now stained with dirt and torn. He pushed her down, blinded by his anger and frustration. "I cannot talk to her!" he yelled to know one. "It is left up to you!" He stormed out of the room, leaving Alex in the supposedly empty space. The torch in the corner of the room blew out, causing the hairs on the back of her neck to stand up on end. A cool breeze flew through the windowless space. An eerie glow filled the room and Alex let loose with a blood-curling scream.
JC was talking to Chris and Arianna trying to figure out where Alex was. "Everyone was in the throne room so no one was out here," explained Chris.
"I think-" began Arianna before she was interrupted by a scream. "That's Alex!" she shouted. JC turned and took off in the direction of her scream, not missing a beat as he dodged people in the hallways. Stopping at a door he opened it curiously. He had read that this was the door to the catacombs, but why would she be down here? Hearing her scream again, he ran down the stairs, almost tripping in his haste to reach her. He jogged down the hall, looking into every room as he passed it. He stopped when he saw Alex passed out on the floor in one of them.
He ran and gently lifted her into his arms, looking around the empty room. Not seeing anything, he left the room, not stopping to notice that there weren't any torches helping him see. As he made his way up the stairs, he met Chris and Arianna there. "We came to see if you're all right," he said. JC nodded. "I'm fine. She was passed out on the floor when I got there, I'm not sure from what." They let him pass and followed him up the stairs. Bypassing everyone, he went straight to Markus. "I found her passed out," JC quickly said in answer to Markus' questioning stare. He pushed him out of the room and began to look at Alex.
"How is she?" asked Justin as he and Char walked into the room. JC shrugged. "I don't know. I don't even know what's wrong with her." As if in response to all of their unanswered questions, Markus emerged from the room. "JC, she wants to see you." He jumped up from his chair and went into the room, closing the door
behind him. He turned and went over to the bed where Alex was curled up tightly. "Alex?" he asked. She looked up at him and wrapped her arms around him, drawing him close to her. "I promise it won't happen, I promise," she whispered into his shirt.
"Won't let what happen?" he asked confused.
"I won't let it happen," was all she said.
"Lexi, why don't you rest?" he suggested. She looked almost terrified. He helped her lay down and then kissed her lightly. "I'll be right back."
Leaving the room, he stormed down the hall into the sunroom where all of the parents sat. "WHAT IN THE WORLD DID YOU DO TO HER?" roared JC. JC was past talking; something or someone had scared Alex so bad that she looked terrified. That in turn made him angry. Roald stood up. "I simply let her be put straight."
"PUT STRAIGHT?! She looks like someone faked throwing her off a cliff!"
"That room is sacred and points members of the royal family in the right direction."
"So I take it the direction that Alex is supposed to take is one of fear."
"NO! When a member of the family goes into that room, the spirits awaken. They show that person an image, either of what could happen or what will happen. The effect is vital." JC couldn't take listening to that anymore. He turned and walked out of the room, going back to Alex's room. He walked past everyone and went inside, to hear Alex whimpering in her sleep. He sat down on the bed and put his strong arms around her protectively. She fell into him and her breathing became less labored. JC sighed and fell asleep, only wanting her to be safe.
Eighteen