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Short Story Sample 2:

Disguised Love

~Kris

The thunder clapped outside as Scarlet stared deep into Elliot's eyes. Elliot turned to the door to leave but was stopped by Scarlet's hand resting on his arm, drawing him back into her arms. "Where are you going?" Elliot lowered her head away from hers.

"To a place far away?" He stared deep into Scarlet's eyes, his own almost over flowing with tears. He moved away trying to free himself to the door, but Scarlet drew him back once more.

"Why?" She demanded up to him.

"Because it's dangerous here?" Elliot said softly, trying to stay strong and hold back his tears. Scarlet raised her hand and rested it softly on his cheek, stroking him gently as if he was a small child in this giant world.

"What's the matter?" He sighed for a few second as his hand covered hers, and pulled it away from his face. He took a few steps away from her, and turned to hide the tears that were now falling to the ground.

"You of course. Our love." Scarlet glared slightly. From all the peril she went through from her parents and family, she began to almost feel betrayed.

"What does our love have to do with this?" Elliot dried his tears before turning back to her.

"It's complicated." Scarlet rested her hand gently on his cheek and began to stroke it, as the thunder clapped again outside. The sound of guns, fire, and mobs began to echo down the street.

"Please stay here. I can be brave." She looked out over the water and saw the flickering of the torches drawing near.

"If so, then you must let me leave. Anyone can face guns and knives, but only the bravest can give up those they love. So, if you are so brave, you will let me go." Scarlet drew away from him almost in disgust, that he could even think such a thing. Then she fell to the ground, mud covering her pale, angelic body. Tears began to fall and mix with the murky water, turning black as soon as it fell away from her.

"But…I can't let you leave me. I don't know what I would do without you." Elliot moved out of the shadows, and into the light of the barn, as her rested his wolf-like paw on her shoulder tenderly. His wolfen tail wrapped around her drying her tears.

"You would go on living, of course. I am not your air, or your water, or your food. You can very easily survive without me. Like you survived before you knew me. I must leave now." He stood up, eyeing the mobs progression along the dirt road to the barn. Scarlet jumped up hugging him tightly, not wanting to let him go.

"Please don't. Yes. You were right. You are not my air, nor my water, nor my food. But you were also wrong. I cannot survive without you because you are my very life! I need you to continue on. Without you I am nothing." Elliot pulled her back at arms length and locked eyes with her. He had a look of strength, and held a soft smile as awe.

"Don't talk like that." Elliot laughed softly at her determination. It was the reason he cared so much for her. He looked back out over the rain as the mob approached the gated property. His wolfen ears twitched in a soft fear but he looked back at her, with sadness hidden behind his strength front.

Scarlet followed his gaze, as her head began to lower again. Her voice was filled with hurt and pain as she whispered almost mutely. "But it is true and you know that."

Elliot took her head and tilted it back up locking their eyes, once more. "No. It's not." He rubbed her back gently trying to keep her from tears. Scarlet looked back up into his eyes, sadness clouding her own. She said the only thing she could think of saying to keep him there.

"I love you." Another small smile flashed over Elliot's face, as her looked down at her in happiness. Then he turned suddenly to a crash as the mob broke down the gate and began screaming for the monster to come out.

"I know. I love you too. And it is for that reason that I am going away. I pray that you will understand my motivations. I fear for your life. If you were to die because of me I could never forgive myself. So you must stay here, while I go away. We will meet again some day. I will be looking forward to it, but until then I must say good-bye my love." He leaned down and gave her a kiss on the lips, before sprinting away into the back forests. The mob reached the barn to find Scarlet laying on the ground, shivering, wet, cold, and unconscious.

Though they stared down at the little girl in disbelief as she continuous said: "Good-bye." A woman in very elegant clothing came forth and looked down in disbelief.

"How unfitting for a young princess…" That was over 10 years ago in our story, but as most say, a history is the best way to begin. Scarlet is now at the rightful age of 17, the perfect age to marry, well actually a few years off. Most princesses marry when they are 12 or 13, but Princess Scarlet is a bit of a "fighter for her rights", you can say. As for me, I am just a servant. Nothing special or fancy. Though, I found it necessary to tell their tale… Before it is lost like all the other fairy tales in the world, this should be told.

Scarlet is a beautiful princess, flowing blonde hair, hourglass shape, and blue eyes that shine for miles, rather typical I must say. Then we get to Elliot… He is only half human as you may have already figured out. He had a normal boy figure, but has a few extra features: Wolf tail, wolf ear, sphere-like yellow eyes, sharpened teeth, and well… A little bit hairy. Not to typical for our Prince in shining armor, correct? Well good news! He isn't…

Scarlet woke up in her giant bed, with the golden posts, glinting slightly into her eyes. Her arms flew over her eyes as she glared. "Every Morning! Those post drive me into sheer madness with their light!" I walked over briskly and closed the curtain.

"Miss Scarlet… It is near noon. Your mother told me to wake you." She turned towards me, with a defiant look in her eyes and I held up a hand. "I know…: I am an adult and will soon reign. She should learn to focus more on her land. But! You have still yet to wed. Maybe Elliot won't return, have you thought of that?"

Scarlet glared and got out of bed angrily, she ripped off her pajamas, and slipped into a white flowing dress. "He said he would return… I would dying waiting." She stormed out of the room defiantly as I merely looked back out the window.

"There she goes again." I mumbled to myself as Scarlet stormed across the front courtyard to the barn and stables. My eyes flashed to the forest as something moved with effortless speed. It was to fast to catch a real glimpse of the creature, but… Well never mind. To much work to be done to worry about a creature from the forest. Not like Elliot would truly ever return, a young boy almost being killed by his love's father… Then being charged with murder on self defense? Load of baloney if you ask me or Scarlet. I think the King is better of dead from his country anyway, he always had a tendency to control things. I wouldn't blame Elliot to never return… But… Maybe…

I reached down and took the pajamas to the wash room. The stairs were rather empty, and pretty dull like always in the castle. "Kristophy… What am I to do?" I jumped, turning to the Majesty Kira.

"Oh ma'am. You gave me an extreme fright." I held the wall in support as my hear raced, then I sighed trying to relax. "Do about what Miss Kira?" Kira turned toward he glaring and I gave a soft laugh. "Don't worry… She will marry soon."

Kira walked into the front visiting hall, and sat on a chair, her dress exploding around her, in a luscious wave of blue. "I am very worried. Every suitable host we find, she either punches them black and blue, insults them to tears, or just completely ignores them… I may need to arrange a wedding."

"Umm… Ma'am… Are you sure that would be wise?... Wouldn't that just turn it for the worse." Kira sighed softly and nodded, but she had a look of desperation locked deep with her eyes.

She stood up, her dress flowing like waves over the ground, and laid a hand on my shoulder. "I have no choice… I am growing old, and having her was my last wish. If she doesn't chose by the end of this week… She'll marry Tolbert." Ahh, Tolbert, the sneaky snob of the country. He is smart, cunning, and challenges everything that comes his way. Ever since Scarlet became of marrying age, Tolbert has been after her by all means, from disgusting to down right cold.

"Tolbert?" I stared at Kira with a sight of confusion, then I turned around to leave. "You force her to marry him, you force her to death." I stormed out to the wash room, handed the dress to the washers and, walked briskly to the stables to warn Scarlet of the ordeal that would cover them all shortly. Thunder was already out of the stable, and being ridden in the enclosed fence line, by the time I arrived to the stables. After leaning again a fence post I called out to scarlet, hoping to get her attention from her would of thought. "Scarlet… How would you like Tolbert for a husband?"

She pulled on the reigns to tightly then the horse neighed deeply in pain. "WHAT?!?" I nodded softly as she jumped off the horse, and a stable boy, wrapped almost completely in clothing came, taking the horse back into the barn. "What are you talking about?"

I pushed off the railing and pulled scarlet in close, so the stable boy wouldn't hear. "You mother earlier was speaking of how you couldn't find a husband and how… If you don't find a suitable one by the end of the week… You'll be arranged to marry Tolbert." Scarlet's eyes widened slightly, as tears began to fill her eyes, a small crash came from in the barns as the horse reeled up from the stable boy dropping something. I held Scarlet close to comfort her, but she simple pushed me away and ran into the house, back up to her room. "I wish I could help… I really wish I could."

The stable boy sighed from one of the side doors of the barn. "I wish I could too." He walked over to me and leaned against the railing with me, still completely covered with her horse cleaning gear. "She is a sparkling jewel… To be given to Tolbert..." He gave another sigh, as my own echoed with his.

"I know… It would be an extreme shame." A few minutes passed as we both just stood there thinking absently about everything, and then I turned towards him and asked him about something I was curious about. "Why are you always wearing so many clothing like that Eddie?" Edward's skin blushed a bit and he laughed gently.

He ran a hand through the hair that showed on his head. "I am not really sure… I always like to be prepared I guess." He turned around and began to walk away. "I-I got to go…" Edward has been with us for about 5 years now, I remember finding him in the market searching for a job, and we needed a new stable boy. So I offered him housing in the barn, food, and a low salary. He oddly accepted without hesitation and worked confidently in the barn, cleaning and keeping mainly to himself.

"Looks like there is nothing I can do. Scarlet will never marry by the end of the week, and I'll have to cater to that excuse of a man." I pushed off the railing again and head to the castle to begin my work, though at the front step, I turned back to the barn with a soft look of sadness. "You should have returned to save her." I sighed again, as in under a blink of my eyes, a week passed before me, and Scarlet was crying in her wedding dress, asking for it all to end. She had a hidden dagger in the back of her dress, which I didn't find out until later.

I sat in the front row, watching her come up the isle, as Edward was joining me, still covered up like always. Though, unlike me, Edward was already in tears. Even though he always wore those sunglasses type things that hid his eyes, you could tell from the tears that kept streaming down his face. I gave him a soft nudge trying to cheer him up, but he only turned away from me. "What is it?" Edward merely just waved me off as her turned away. I guess he is just a wuss for these type of things.

Tolbert stood at the end of the golden carpet, waiting to take Scarlet's hand in marriage. Man, I hated him. He only wants to marry her for her looks, and the ability to control the lands in an effortless ruling. The bands played as Scarlet walked up, matching the beat with a look of death covering her body. The stunning white dress, decorated with gold embroidery, and the perfect fresh roses that covered hair and that sat in a bouquet within her hands, shined with life… But her body stance, and look showed she was dead on the inside. I turned toward Kira and glared softly as she cried with happiness her daughter was going to get married.

I punched Edward in the shoulder to get his attention as he nudged me back angrily. "What?" He whispered into my ear trying to remain quiet.

"We need to stop this…" Edward sat there almost stunned and turned away. I punched his shoulder again. "I mean it. This is going to kill her."

More tear began to stream down Edward's face as he watched Tolbert take Scarlet's hand. Then he whispered, more to himself then to me. "This won't kill her…" He took the glasses off slowly, revealing his yellow sphere-like eyes. "I already have." I stared at Elliot for a few seconds and laughed. He looked at me in complete shock. "What?... I am sorry I hid but… I was… I wanted her to be happy… I was wrongfully accused for killing her father I promise…. I tried but… And I couldn't come---" I laid my hand over his mouth to make him remain silent.

"I know who you are, and who you were when you were at the marketplace." Elliot stared now kind of dumb founded, and tilted his head. "I know. I was there in the stables, I was tending to Star Fire, and I saw you both run through the gates and into the barn." Elliot's gaze softened a little and he hugged me slightly.

"Thank you…" He whispered into my ear. "But what are we to do? They are almost at the 'I do.'s already…" A smirk crossed over my face as Elliot, replaced his glasses onto his face.

The tall priest began to announce over the church. "And if anyone objects, they shall speak now or forever hold their peace…" An awkward silence filled the church as Scarlet turned hopefully, though nothing came. "Now Scarlet do you promise to love and…" Scarlet's hand ran to the back of her dress as the priest droned on. She took a hold of the small dagger tightly in her left hand, then she slide it almost invisibly to the front of her dress, trying to mask it from anyone to see. Elliot began to move against me as if he couldn't sit still.

Then the church went into another utter silence, even the priest's speech disappeared from the look of the scene. Elliot jumped up and held onto Scarlet's hand, stopping her from moving the knife into her body, which no one could see… So in other words, it looked as if Elliot was groping the Princess. I looked up and whispered to him. "Nice way to pause the wedding… But they might kill you now." Elliot looked down realizing how he looked to everyone.

He coughed slightly and whispered in Scarlet's ear. "Don't do that… Please." Scarlet glared and turned to Elliot still thinking he was the stable boy and pushed his hand away as everyone saw the dagger in her hand. Tolbert still confused with what was going on, oh did I mention, Tolbert is also slow. Then Tolbert drew his sword seeing the dagger, but soon realized it was in his soon-to-be wife's hand.

"What is going on here?!?" Tolbert boomed into the Church. Elliot sighed and left go of Scarlet's hand, as the dagger still remained within her hand.

Scarlet turn towards Tolbert and glared. "I hate you. Every little bit of me does. I rather die then marry a sick, lifeless soul like you. I know who I love, and he will return! I will not give up on him!" Tolbert drew his sword to Scarlets throat.

"Now, Honey… Don't speak such sorrowful lies…" Elliot turned and used his steel gloved hand and pushed the sword away from Scarlet's neck. "And you… A mere Stable boy… Are you her love?" Elliot sighed softly.

"Of course he isn't…" Scarlet spoke out with authority. "My love went away when I was 7! And he said he would return!" I just sat there watching this happen, and looked back seeing the whole church doing the same, as if this was just a show. Kira was even among them, it was as if she was glued to her seat, and her mouth was taped over with incredibly strong invisible glue. "You can kill me. For he is my life."

Tolbert glared with incredible fiery and pointed the knife at her throat. "You will marry me. You have no choice." Scarlet turned away and moved to a place where Neither Tolbert or Elliot could reach.

She stood on the landing, where the garland mocked her dress. "Then I'll die…" She drew the dagger close to her heart, over the white laced dress, and Elliot sighed speaking softly to where no one could hear him.

Then he tiled his head back and spoke more loudly. "Please don't. You are not my air, nor my water, nor my food. I cannot survive without you because you are my very life! I need you to continue on. Without you I am nothing." Scarlet stopped right as the knife began to pierce through her dress.

"Wh-what did you s-say?" Elliot held out his hand to help Scarlet from her perch. He took the dagger from her hand, and removed his glasses slowly. The yellow eyes glowed gently as tears fell from him. "Ell-Elliot?"

"Please don't… Please don't kill yourself… I have waited to long… I wanted you to be happy… I cannot survive without you because you are my very life! I need you to continue on. Without you I am nothing." He took of his coat slowly as his tail came easily out from beneath it. Then his hat, and scarf soon followed, exposing him fully to Scarlet. "I told you we would meet again… I… I love you."

Tolbert drew his sword and lashed through Elliot's right arm, as he screamed out in pain. "You think I would give up that easy? To a half-breed?... You are not even human." Tolbert continued walking towards Elliot, as Elliot took more and more steps backward to get away from him, until Elliot was pressed firmly against the wall. "When I first saw her with you a long time ago… How you two somehow loved each other and she ignored me… I told her father she loved a creature…" Tolbert pinned Elliot against the wall with the tip of his sword, by driving it through his shoulder.

Once again I sat there watching, I wanted to get up and help but… As I turned around, everyone was still glassy-eyed watching what was happening as it is were a stage. "Stupid zombies…" I mumbled to myself softly. Scarlet even joined the crew, watching Tolbert and Elliot almost in a state of shock.

"He was supposed to kill you. You are not worth her love. You are just a monster." Tolbert drew out his sword and pointed it over Elliot's heart, ready to take the final blow. Then a scream echoed the entire church. I turned around to see if anyone in the church was shocked by this, and many of them held a look of shock, but still did not move. Not even the queen herself seemed to shiver from the scream, as Tolbert fell to the ground , dead. Scarlet kneeled over him, holding the dagger tightly in the middle of Tolbert's back.

Elliot leaned up from the wall and kneeled with Scarlet. "I told you…I---" He was cut short as Scarlet tackled him against the wall again, hugging and kissing him. By this time I stood up from the mass of zombies and glared at them. From all this they were still silent as if they were too, also dead.

"Run away for a few days… Go Now!" I yelled at Elliot and Scarlet as they escaped through the back door into the woods. I stood in the middle of the newly placed stage and called out over the church, or well, newly placed auditorium. "If I hear anyone hurt either of those two… You will answer to me, and every maid or servant in your homes." With that, I walked down the isle, out of the church and back to the castle. "So much work… So little time…"

I stood on the first step to the castle and looked out over the barn. Before I knew it… I blinked and 5 years passed before me. The land was not in ruins, there was actually more laughter it seemed. I turned and looked up to the top window as someone called my name happily. Scarlet was in her wedding dress, and was ready to finally marry her true love. I smiled and singled I'll be up in a minute or so, as Elliot walked out of the castle to head to the church.

He gave me a tight hug. "Thank you… For everything. It is amazing how much more accepting they were…"
I laughed gently. "It is no problem dear. It is what I do for anyone I love. You'll be a great King." He smiled, and turned towards the gates and left to the church to finish getting it ready. I looked up as Scarlet called me once more. Then I walked up those step into the castle, holding a smile. "So much work…" I began to close the door. "But so worth it." Then the door closed softly.