I groan in annoyance. My Sunkissed hands mashing tiredly against my blue orbs. My aching body feeling like lead on my queen-sized mattress. Ever since that dreaded day. It seems like everything and anything. Is going wrong.

Between the band I hired canceling on me. To being caught sneaking out my window. Can’t I just catch a break. Removing my hands from my exhausted eyes. I stare in silence at the softly twinkling lights displayed on my ceiling from my space projector. It’s softly flickering stars relaxing my tense muscles. My eye lids beginning to droop beneath its gentle glow.

I am just beginning to drift off to sleep. When a loud rap on my door jerks me awake.

“Wha? Whose there?” I mumble catching myself before I face plant off the side of my bed. Blinking away my exhaustion I frown in annoyance at my closed door. My gaze promising death to whoever dared to disturb my rest.

After a moment of silence, I am just beginning to think the annoyance has moved on. When my doorknob begins turning. The lock catching and stopping the knob from spinning all the way. Keeping the door firmly closed.

I frown at this. Concern replacing my annoyance as I watch the knob jiggle unsuccessfully on the lock.

“H…hello? Is there something I can help you with?” I hesitantly call. My bottom lip pulled firmly between my teeth in anxiety. The knob stops at my voice. The room falling silent as if the intruder was put under a spell.

“Did I scare them away?” I hopefully mutter to myself. Relief filling my heart as the silence stretches. My hope is dashed into pieces a moment later as with a loud bang. The intruder begins throwing their body against the wooden door. In an attempt to break it open. By the cracks appearing in the wood. It’s working too.

Snatching up my phone. I scurry to my closet. Closing and locking the door behind me as I bury myself in my dresses. My phone trembling in my hands as I shakily dial Aaron’s number. Crouching pitifully beneath my clothes. I nervously place the receiver to my ear. Waiting impatiently as the dial tone rings in my ear.

“Come on. Pick up. Pick up.” I quietly beg. Listening in fear as the attack on my bedroom door continues.

“Hey. You’ve reached Aaron. I’m probably with my fiancé right now so can’t come to the phone. Leave me a message and I might get back to you. Beep.” I groan at this. Hanging up and redialing his number. Silently cursing my fiancé. I have just hit the call button when a loud bang signals the moment my bedroom door is finally forced open.

“Sasha. Come out. Come out. Wherever you are.” I shiver at the quiet rasp emitting outside my closet door. My eyes locked upon the doorknob as I beg Aaron to pick up.

“Are you in here? Awe you locked the door. Don’t worry. I’ll fix that.” He hums beginning to slam his body against the only thing keeping him away from me.

“Hello.” I nearly weep in relief as Aaron finally picks up. His tired voice filtering through the receiver.

“Aaron help. The stalker. He’s in my room. HE has me cornered. I’m hiding in my closet but the doors already beginning to break.” I quietly whimper. My body trembling beneath the gowns hiding me from view.

“What! Don’t worry. I’m on my way.” He promises followed by loud shouts to the guards as he races down the hallway.

“Hurry Aaron the door….”

“BANG!!”

“Ah there you are my sweet. I’ve missed you.” I Scream in terror as the door bursts open, followed by the clothes being yanked away. Revealing my trembling form to the masked intruder.

“NOOO! LEAVE ME ALONE!” I yelp throwing a heel at his head as I attempt to rush past him. Only for a hand to clasp painfully around my arm.

“Awe don’t run away. I only just got here.” He teased beginning to drag me closer to him. I was merely inches from him when loud shouts from the hallway grabs his attention.

“Looks like we will have to cut this short my dear.” He growls pushing me away and racing from the room.

“But don’t worry I will be back.” He calls over his shoulder as he disappears around the broken doorway. A second later Aaron appears. Panic clear in his eyes as he rushes to my side.

“Sasha, are you ok?”

“Oh Aaron.” I sob throwing myself into his arms and crying into his shoulder.

“It’s ok now. Your safe.” He sooths wrapping his arms around my waist and holding me close.

“No, I’m not. As long as that creep is still out there, I will never be safe.” At this Aaron has no response.

                                                                       ____

Now I know how a caged bird feels. I thought. Gazing miserably atop my bed. The loud clanging of Sir Ivan’s hammer filling the room. His chocolate skin dripping with sweat beneath his royal blue and gold uniform.

Fitting the last bar over my now blocked window. Ivan with a pleased grin. Steps back to admire his work. A hand rising to swipe his black dread locks out of his milk chocolate eyes.

“There. All done princess. I’d like to see him get in now.” Ivan crows proudly. Retrieving his toolbox and heading toward the new steel plated door with 5 locks, and an alarm. The alarm is programed to blare a loud sound up and down the halls of the palace, if someone without a key opens it. The only one’s with a key are Aaron, Conner, Fredrick, My dad, and I. So, by all accounts I should be safe.

Yet even with his confidence oozing out of him, and all this extra security. I still can’t help but wonder if this will really stop him. Somehow, I get the feeling these locks will hinder me more than him.

“Thanks Ivan.” I wearily say. Not wanting to break his air of satisfaction. He just looks so happy. Like a puppy who managed not to pee on the carpet. I wasn’t about to ruin that for him.

“Your welcome princess.” He hums. Closing the door behind him. The locks automatically latching upon shutting. Falling backward onto my pillow. My auburn curls splayed around me. I gaze tiredly at the ceiling wishing for a normal life.

I am just debating whether I feel up to going to lunch or not. When a knock on the door jolts me to life. Staring wide eyed at the door. I remain silent. Too terrified to speak.

After a moment of silence. Another knock sounds on the door before the locks one by one click open. I watch in fascinated horror as the door slowly swings open. Squeaking in terror. Common sense fleeing me. I fling myself under my covers. Hiding from the boogey man at the door.

“Sasha?” My tense muscles instantly relax at the deep baritone voice of my fiancé. Throwing the blanket off my head. I glare heatedly at the confused man standing at the foot of my bed.

“Aaron! You scared me half to death.” I growl earning a laugh from Aaron.

“Sorry sweetheart.” He chuckles placing a kiss on my forehead.

“I just came to see if you wanted to have lunch with me.” He offers a sweet smile tugging at his lips. Melting the last of my anger in seconds.

“Sure. Let me just get ready.” He looks me up and down at this. Confusion marring his face.

“What do you mean? You look ready to me.” I snort at this. Glancing down at the bunny PJ bottoms. I still wore. Running my fingers through my curls that stuck up at all angles from laying on it. My mascara smudged from the blanket.

“Yeah no. Give me 10 minutes and I will be ready.” I huff rolling my eyes in fond exasperation.

Pecking him on the cheek. I quickly retreat to the bathroom. Fixing my hair and reapplying my mascara, before changing into a pair of blue jeans. Before rejoining him in my bedroom.

“Ok. I’m ready now.” Grabbing my shoes. I slip them on. Before slipping my arm through his. Allowing him to lead me from the room. I can hear the door lock behind us as we left. Ensuring that no one without a key can get in.

I frown in confusion as we walk. Noticing the guards are no one to be found. The castle seeming empty without the guards. A sense of foreboding began creeping over me.

“Hey Aaron.”

“Yeah Sasha?”

“Where are all the guards.” He stops at this. A frown pulling at his lips as he finally notices how empty the halls are.

“I don’t know, but I don’t like it.” He muttered. Pulling me close as he sped up.

We had just reached the courtyard leading into the main part of the palace. When we noticed a huge crowd of guards outside the doors. Angry shouts could be heard echoing around the courtyard. Sharing a glance with Aaron. We hurry to reach the crowd. Pushing through the mass of blue and gold uniforms to reach the center.

I gasp in alarm at the sight before me. Sir. Patrick, Sir Thomas are lying in the middle of the crowd. Covered in blood.

“Oh no!” I gasp. My hand flying to my mouth in horror.

“Look. Their chest is moving. They are still alive.” Aaron sooths. Pulling me away from the gruesome sight.

“Well, that’s good.”

“I’ll say. We might finally be able to catch this creep.” I glance over my shoulder to see a furious Conner stalking toward me. With a scowl on his face Aaron swiftly pushes me behind him. So, he is facing the furious guard.

“What happened? Why are Sasha’s personal guards injured?” Aaron demands. Matching Conners glare with his own.

“I don’t know your highness. You tell me.” He spat stopping inches from my fiancé.

“And what is that supposed to mean?” Aaron huffs in outrage.

“I think you know exactly what I am suggesting.” Conner spits folding his arms over his chest. Scowl firmly in place.

“How dare you! Do you have any idea who you are speaking to!” Aaron roars straightening to his full height and balling his hands into fists. At this Conner smirks. Eyes gleaming in anger.

“Doesn’t matter who you are if your threatening the princess.”

“This is outrageous! Are you really accusing me? The princess’s fiancé? If anyone is to blame it is you.” Stepping in between the angry males. I placed my hands on their chest. Pushing them gently away from each other before speaking.

“That’s enough both of you. Honestly blaming each other is getting us nowhere. Now Conner what exactly happened?”

“I’m not sure Sasha. I was patrolling the halls when I heard a commotion in the courtyard. I gathered some guards and raced to investigate. Only to find these two looking like this. While the guards were clearing the area of servants and workers. I went searching the area for any suspicious characters. I returned after finding nothing to see you two.” He dutifully replies. Gesturing to the bloody men that were now being carted off to the infirmary.

“Hmm. Well hopefully once they wake up. We can find out what exactly happened.” I thoughtfully stated. Running a hand through my curls.

“By the way. Where are my brother and dad? Shouldn’t they be here.”

“The king and prince are currently in a council meeting with the nobles and couldn’t get away. So, they asked me to oversee the investigation until they could escape.” Conner answers. Casting a glare at Aaron before returning his eyes once more to me.

“Ok thank you Conner. You can go check up on your men. Aaron and I are just going to grab something to eat.” I dismissed. Already turning away from him. My thoughts a million miles away. Slinging my arm through the pouting prince’s. I drag him away from the object of his ire. Honestly, I am not hungry and am not even sure if I can stomach food right now. It’s something though to keep me distracted from my morbid thoughts.

We are just rounding a corner. When I realize. I had dragged Aaron all the way back to my room. Rather than the dinning hall. I am about to ask Aaron if he wants to head over there when I realize. Aaron hasn’t spoken a single word since I intervened. Turning my gaze to the prince by my side. I frown at the scowl still on his lips. This time though it’s directed at me.

“Aaron are you ok.”

“No Sasha I’m not. Why do you trust that creep? Its obvious he is the one after you.” My frown deepens at this. Disappointment clouding my sea blue gaze.

“Aaron. Conner is not a creep, nor is he, my stalker. He just gets bristly when my safety is in jeopardy.” He scoffs at this. Obviously not buying it. Rolling my eyes. I decide a subject change is in order.

“How about instead of going to the dinning hall. We stop by the kitchen and grab some food for an unplanned picnic. I know the perfect spot too.” I suggest. For a moment he remains silent. Glaring down at me.

“Please.” I beg giving him the puppy dog eyes. He crumbles at this. Just like I knew he would.

“Fine, but I still don’t trust him.” I hum at this. Looping my arm back through his and leading him toward the kitchens.

“I’m not asking you too. Just give him a chance.” With that the argument ended. The tension leaving as we headed off to enjoy the rest of our day.