“Oh crap.” Ruby suddenly exclaims. Slapping her forehead as she groans in dread.

“What’s up?” I worriedly ask. Frowning at the distort girl.

“I completely forgot. I am supposed to pick up my brother from his choir trip tonight. They went up to sing in a choir festival at another school. The bus should be getting back any second now. If they are not already there.” Ruby groans. Covering her face with her hands.

“Will you be ok to drive us home?”

“Well Kelly isn’t a problem since she is staying with me until the landowners can fix the heating at her house. Some how instead of spitting out heat. The stupid thing has been freezing her apartment. With it being the middle of November. It’s much to cold for her to stay in a place with out heat. You on the other hand….” Ruby trails off at this. Biting her bottom lip in worry.

I understood though what she meant without explanation. His school is in the complete opposite direction from the palace. By the time she dropped me off and got back to her brother. He will have been waiting there for half an hour, and with the school not being open after hours. He would be waiting out in the cold during that time.

“What about your parents?”

“They are out of town celebrating their 20-year anniversary. They asked me to look after him for the week.”

“Do you have time to drop me off before then?”

“I….”

“BZZZZZ!!” Ruby cuts off. Pulling out the flame-colored cell from her pocket.

“Hey kiddo. No, I didn’t forget you. I know it’s cold. I will be there soon ok. Any chance you can wai… Everyone left already. Yes, ok I will be right there.” With that Ruby hung up. Stuffing her cell back into her pocket. A pensive look in her eyes.

“Apparently he got back 10 minutes ago. Everyone has already left.”

“Even his teachers?” She rolls her eyes at this. A scowl on her face.

“Apparently they didn’t see the need to stick around to make sure he got home ok. They left 5 minutes after the bus dropped everyone off.”

“But that’s not right. What if the kids were kidnapped while they were waiting?” Kelly gasps horrified.

“Yeah. Trust me I know. That school is going to be hearing from me. That’s for sure.” Ruby scoffs. Her forehead pulsing in agitation.

“How about I just walk home?” They both balk at this. A horrified look in their eyes.

“Are you nuts? Did you forget who you are?” Kelly rasps. Looking at me like I’ve lost my mind.

“No Kelly I have not forgotten, but Robert is waiting out in the cold alone. Not to mention the fact you were complaining earlier about the fact that he forgot his coat in your car earlier. So not only is he alone, but he is with out a warm coat. In the middle of November. Not counting the fact that he is super skinny for a 12-year-old. He has no body fat to keep him warm.” I argue. Worry bleeding into my voice.

“Yeah but…” Ruby weakly tries before I swiftly cut her off again.

“Ruby. I will be fine. The castle is only a 5-minute walk from here. I have my phone if anything goes wrong. If needs be. I can always call Aaron to come pick me up.”

“Fine, but you call the moment you are home.” Ruby sighs. Clearly unhappy with the arrangement but not wanting to leave her brother waiting much longer.

“Try not to get yourself kidnapped.” Kelly begs. Giving me a hug before climbing into Ruby’s car.

“I’ll try.” I laugh. Watching as they pull away from the curb, and speed away. Stuffing my hands in my pockets. I slowly start heading home. Yeah, I guess I could wait in the store and call Aaron to pick me up. So, I don’t have to walk, but I want to stall the moment my dad pounces on me. No doubt I am going to be grounded for life after this.

So instead. I enjoy the cold November air. My thoughts a thousand miles away as I walk. It isn’t until a white flake hits my nose. That I truly start paying attention to my surroundings. Frowning and glancing up at the sky. I groan in dismay upon seeing the little white angels. Descending from their homes above.

“Of bloody course it’s snowing. Why ever not.” I sarcastically groan into the sky. Sighing and pulling my coat tighter around myself. I pick up the pace. Even with the frozen angels leaving wet kisses on my face. I refuse to call Aaron. It’s not until the wind really starts to pick up, and the snow starts to fall at a faster pace. That I finally admit defeat.

Pulling out my phone. I quickly dial Aarons number. Holding the screen to my cheek as I keep moving. Finally, after a few beeps. He picks up.

“Sasha? Where are you? Your security unit just returned 10 minutes ago. Spouting something about you ditching them in the mall. They spent 30 minutes looking for you. Until one of them finally thought to check the cameras and saw you and your friends sneaking out the back. Before driving away. Your dad is threatening to declare war if your not back in 10 minutes.” Aaron said. Fond exasperation clears in his tone.

“Yeah. We ditched them because I was tired of them snatching the dresses out of my hands. Just so they could check them for explosives.” I dryly stated. He laughs at this. His laughter loud in my ears.

“Yeah. I can see them doing that. Anyway Sasha. Where are you?”

“I just left Rachels Tattering’s beauty boutique. Ruby forgot that she had to pick up her brother, so I decided to walk home. So, she could go pick him up.”

“You did what!?”

“Calm down Aaron I’m fine. Apparently, his teachers thought it a clever idea to leave 5 minutes after the bus dropped him off. Everyone else has already left. He is over there by himself.” I soothed.

“You know what. We will discuss this later. I am on my way. Oh, and you get to explain to your dad why you decided to not only ditch your protectors but walk home in a blizzard alone.”

“It’s hardly a blizzard.”

“Ha try telling that to your worry wart dad.” I groan at this. Knowing that he is right. My dad won’t care. He no doubt see this little amount of snow as a blizzard.

“Alright. See you soon.” I sigh. Hanging up and stuffing the phone back into my pocket.

“Well. I guess I can meet him halfway.” I hum. Continuing my progress home. About 1 minute after I hung up. I notice a soft tapping behind me. As if someone were following me. Glancing over my shoulder. I frown at the seemingly empty sidewalk.

“Must have been hearing things.” I mutter. Turning back to my path and continuing on my way, but a few minutes later. I hear it again. This time it’s louder. Closer to where I am walking. Pausing and spinning around. I squint into the snowy night. Searching in vain for the sound.

“Hello! Is someone out there!” I call before I can stop myself. Cursing myself for doing the one thing I scream at characters in horror shows for doing. I spin back around. Speeding up my pace and pleading silently for Aaron to hurry. Expect this time its not a quiet walk behind me. Now it sounds like someone is running toward me. Glancing over my shoulder. I squeak in alarm at the masked figure racing toward me.

Breaking into a run. I book it down the path. My mind blank as all rational thought leaves me in my panic. I scream in terror as a gloved hand closes around my arm. Yanking me forcefully backwards into a muscled chest.

“LET ME GO! LET ME GO!” I screech. Squirming in his grip and kicking my legs in a vain attempt at escape.

“Now why would I do a thing like that princess?” A soft voice whispers in my ear. I whimper in horror as he tightens his grip. Effectively cutting off my struggles as a hand clasp around my throat from behind.

“Please. Just let me go home.” I pathetically beg. Tears pooling in my eyes as I tremble like a leaf in his grasp.

“Sorry my sweet. No can do. You see you did something I did not like. You gave your attention to someone other than me, and I can’t have that. You see Sasha. You may not realize it, but you are mine, and no one but I will ever have you.” He states beginning to drag me backwards. No doubt to a car that he left nearby.

Thankfully before he could get far. An angry voice cuts through the howling wind. Followed by loud thunderous footsteps.

“LET GO OF MY FIANCE YOU CREEP!” I sag in relief at Aarons voice. I have never been so glad to see him this angry than now.

“Looks like we will have to finish this later my sweet. Until then.” He growls pushing me away and racing toward a car hidden in an alleyway.

“Sasha, are you ok?” Aaron asks. Stopping in front of me and pulling me to my feet.

“Ye…Yeah. I’m ok.” I shakily answer. Leaning my weight against him. Throwing his arm around my shoulder. He leads me to the waiting limo. Where a guard waits with the door open. The driver already behind the wheel.

“Lets get you home. Your dad will want to know what happened.” I wince at this. Oh, my dad is going to be furious. All I can do is hope and pray I will never see that creep again. Of course, old Murphy is cackling at this thought.