Fingering the softly twinkling gems on my new tiara. I gazed sadly at its structure. Wishing with all my heart to just burn the stupid thing. I never wanted to be crown princess. Especially not at the cost of my brothers life. Yet here I am the newly crown princess lost in thought in the garden. Memories of my brothers crazy pranks swirling sorrowfully through my mind. 

At the sound of loud angry footfalls rapidly approaching me. I lifted my head wary of who would be nearby. Before I could fully lift my head a hand came barreling toward my face. Slapping harshly across my cheek. Leaving behind a stinging red mark in the process. Staring in shock at the furious face of my brothers fiance. I listened stunned as she began screaming at me. Tears of pain and anger streaming down her face as the guards converged on her. 

"ITS YOUR FAULT HE IS DEAD! WHY COULDN'T IT HAVE BEEN YOU WHO DIED! YOU MISERABLE ESCUSE FOR A PRINCESS!" She shrieked as the guards cuffed her hands behind her back. Preparing to drag her away to the dungeons for harming the crown royal. Raising my hand to halt their progress. I sighed addresding them in a quiet pain filled voice.

"Its ok realease her. She isn't exactly wrong. The hemlock filled pastry was meant for me after all." Bowing at my orders the guards quickly uncuffed the miserable noblewoman. Retreating once more to their posts. Turning back to the sniffling woman I smiled sadly up at her. Taking note of the ring adorning her finger. No doubt my dad gave it to her to remember Fredrick by. After all Fred did buy it for her. 

"Annabelle..." Holding up a trembling hand she cut me off. Her eyes filled with nothing but hatred as tears streamed steadly from their depths. 

"Save it. I don't want to hear any excuses.  You may not have meant to cause his death, but your just as guilty since it was meant for you. If you had any honor at all you would do the kingdom a favor a kill yourself." She spat hatefully glaring me down. At my lack of response to her hurtful words she huffed. Turning on her heels and swiftly marching away. Leaving me once more to my thoughts. 

"Oh Fredrick why did you have to leave me." I sighed pushing myself to my feet and heading for my room. Annabelles words playing on repeat in my head the entire way. 

_______________

"Hey Conner can we talk?" I called knocking on his door. I frown in confusion at the lack of response from his room in the castle. My frown increased in worry when I noticed his door was slightly open. Pushing it cautiously the rest of the way. I gasp in horror at the sight of his destroyed bedroom. Chairs, glass, and is the blood? Littering the floor. His ripped curtains gently blowing inwards from his shattered window. Screaming in terror at the sight of so much blood filling the room. Conner was no where to be seen. I could hear the loud shouts of the guards as they responded to my shout.

Within moments the room was crawling with guards, and my dad the king. His furious burning gaze sweeping the bloody remainder of the room. His shaking hands balled into fists as he scowled. The grief and anger from Freds death still present in his gaze. After a moment of scanning the room his eyes landed on me. Immediately he softened. Reaching out to pull me gently into his arms.

"Oh my poor baby girl. You've been through so much heartache and now this? Don't worry though daddy will find your friend." He soothed. Part of me squirmed in frustration at his babying but I knew he was just worried. So I let it slide. My thoughts still on Conner anyway and whether or not he was even still alive. With how much blood is covering the floor he must at least be weakened. 

It was only when my dad finally released me from his grip that I noticed it. A blood red rose lying perfectly intact a top a neatly folded up paper. It rested on the only desk not overturned. Making sure my dad was busy talking to a guard, and the other guards were looking the other way. I snatched the paper from the desk. Shoving it in my bra so as not to be seen. (Plus I didn't have a pocket so therefore had to improvise.) Once I was certain the paper was safely hidden in my clothes. I turned my attention once more to my dad.

"Dad I think I will go lay down. I feel a little faint." Immediately my dads overprotective nature kicked in. Fussing over me as If I were a child and shooing my from the room and toward my own.

"Yes of course my dear. This must have been quite a shock for you. You go rest. I will handle things from here." He promised making sure I was safely in my chambers before leaving. Once gone, I quickly shut and locked the door. Pulling out the note and beginning to read. Grimacing at the fact that he used Conners blood to write this. 

"Hello Sasha dearest.

Missing something? I seem to have come across something quite valuable of yours. I assume you would like it back yes? Well your in luck my dear. I will gladly return what I have stolen for a price. I want you. You will come alone to the old abandoned graveyard at exactly 12 a.m. tonight. If you aren't here by than, than I will kill your precious boyfriend.  I repeat come alone and give yourself up. Only than will Conner be freed. Until than my dear. 

Forever yours Aaron." Swallowing harshly at the thought of what Aaron planned for me I shuddered. Yet still I couldn't exactly decline. Not if I want Conner to live, but if Aaron thinks he has me trapped like a rat. Than he has another thing coming. I will play your game Aaron but I am done being the victim. Watch out boys the horns are out and ready to play. 

______________

Taking a deep breath I stepped wearily into the old grave yard spotting Conner immediately upon entrance. His head bowed as his short breaths puffed out of him from where he was chained to an old spruce tree. The cut on the side of his head dried up and caked with matted blood. His body trembling from exhaustion. His legs looking ready to give out the moment the ropes no longer held him in place. 

The irrational part of me wanted to race to his side and unchain him, but still I held my place. Warily scanning my surroundings.  No way would Aaron just leave Conner alone like this. It was so obviously a trap. So than where is the pyscho path in question.  Hmm. My silent question of what to do was anwsered by the barely audible crackling of leaves beneath a foot behind me. Spinning around and barely jumping out of the way of a knife aimed for my back. I stared angrily at the smirking face of my ex fiance. His eyes gleaming in barely suppressed insanity. 

"Well if it isn't our newest crown princess." He sneered mockily twirling the blood caked knife calmly between his fingers. His baby blues locked on my face as I watched him begin to circle me. Like a predator stalking its prey.

"Release him Aaron. You have me now let him go." I demanded straightening and glaring him down with as much courage as I could muster. 

"Hmm I could but that would be awfully boring if it were that easy." He hummed enjoying my growing frustration.

"Lets play a game instead. A game of find the key before I find you." He happily sang stopping directly in front of my slightly shaking body. 

 "I'm not playing your game Aaron. You promised you would release him if I surrendered to you. Well here I am so let him go." I spat my heart screaming in agony as the blue eyes I once melted for stared softly into my eyes. His soft blood stained hand reaching up to gently carress my cheek. Making me flinch away from him at the contact.

"True but I didn’t say when or how he would be released. Just that I would if you came. Now your here so you get to play a game to save him. Somewhere in this graveyard I have hidden the key to his chains. Find the key and unlock his chains ethier before the time runs out or I find and kill you and he and you are free to go. Fail and you both die. I would hurry to as you only have 5 minutes before he explodes." He chuckled wickedly drawing my attention for the first time to the bomb attached to his chains. I stared horrified at Aaron as the implications of the game finally caught up to me. 

"Thats right Sasha. That there is a bomb and the only way to deactivate it is to find the key. Once the key is inserted the bomb will instantly defuse and the chains will unlock. Better hurry though the timer is already counting down. Bewarned while you are hunting the key I will be hunting you. If found I will kill you in the most painfully slow way possible. You will be begging for death by the time I am done with you. I will give you a 2 minute head start. Begin." He sang lifting his wrist watch to his face and smirking as he watched me turn tail and run through the graveyard. 

How in the crap am I supposed to find the key before 5 minutes is up. It may be a small graveyard but there are still at least 100 grave stones. Frantically checking every gravestone, and in every tree. I gulped in dead as the soft sounds of Aarons sing song voice searching for mereached my ears. Which means I only have 3 minutes before Conner is blown sky high. 

Must hurry. I can't let Conner die. No I won't let him die. He means to much to me to lose him as well. I freeze at that thought realizing for the first time. That although Aaron’s betrayal still breaks my heart. I no longer feel the same for him. Placing a trembling hand on my chest over my heart I gasp. Tears pricking my eyes as I realized exactly why the thought of Conner dying hurts more than Aaron’s betrayal does. I'm in love with Conner, and its stronger than it ever was for Aaron. 

Even though Aaron was my fiance I was always a little cautious around him i could see how much he hated Conner and his jealousy and anger always worked to put me on edge. With Conner though. Thats not the case I only feel a warm happy glow for him. One not marred by jealousy, distrust, or caution. I'm in love with my best friend and I find I have no problem with that. Smiling I resume my search. More determined than ever to find the key.

 I have 2 minutes left when I find it attached to a tomb stone that doesn't seem to fit in with the rest. It was too new. The words were to clear and there wasn't any cracks or vines on the stone. Crouching down and retrieving the key. My eyes scan over the name. Terror building as I realized why this grave didn't look right. Aaron had only just added it to the place. The words engraved on the stone serving to make me shudder in terror. 

"Sasha Juliet de marcs,

March 15, 1997 - April 17 2017

Died a cheater to her loyal fiance. 

May she burn forever more."

"Do you like it. Thought it only fitting for a traitor such as you. Don't worry though I also made one for your dear sweet Conner so you can stay together even after death." Aaron laughed. Catching me unawares as he pulled me harshly to my feet. Holding me tightly to him. My back against his chest as he pointed to a similar grave next to mine. 

"Conner Aaargon Rufus

May, 20, 1997 - April 17, 2017

Died A theif and traitor. 

May he burn forever more"

"Have to admit its more than you deserve but since I am such a loving fiance I decided to give it to you anyway." He hummed spinning me to face him. His arms trapping me between his arms. Frantically I began wracking my brain for some way to escape. Suddenly it hit me the perfect plan. I just hope it works.

"Well Sasha its not been fun but this is goodbye." He sang raising the knife to bring it crashing into my back. 

"WAIT!!" I scream stopping him just as he is about to bring the knife down. At his questioning gaze I nervously lick my lips. His eyes immediately falling to follow the action.

"If you are going to kill me can I at least have one more kiss before I go. As a final goodbye." I pleaded allowing tears to prick my eyes and sorrow to fill my face. He smirked at this. Slowly lowering the knife and pocketing it in the knife loop on his pants where the case is attached. Once down he wraps his arms around my waist drawing me closer as his gaze falls to my mouth.

"I guess I can grant your final request." He smirked lowering his head to smash his lips onto mine. Wrapping my arms likewise around his waist I slowly inch my fingers toward the knife. Wrapping my hand around the hilt as quietly withdrawing it. Praying he doesn't notice as he continues to kiss me. Seemingly lost in the sensation of my lips on his once more. Once I am sure it is out. I point it toward his chest before swiftly bringing it down between his ribs. His scream of agony as he leaps away from me tells me my plan worked. 

Spinning on my heel. I scoop up the key I dropped and race toward Conner knowing that Aaron’s injury would slow him down quite a bit. At least I hoped it would. Apparently I did not push it in enough to slow him down enough for me to escape. As his bloody hands reached out and grasped my hair between his fingers. Yanking me by the hair back to him. Using the momentum to spin and knee jim between the legs. I watched in satisfaction as he whined in distress kneeling down as his watery eyes glared up at me. Not wanting him to come after me agsin and slow me down more. I sent a flying kick to his head knocking him out once and for all. 

Turning around I am just about to leave when I suddenly freeze. Gazing down at the emeral ring still adorning my finger. I slowly pull it from my hand before walking back to him. Placing the ring on his chest I give him one more sad glance before turning my attention back to my task. I only have 1 minute left. Racing as fast as possible. I make it back to Conner with 20 seconds left on the count down. His tired eyes watching me beneath his bangs. Inserting the jey. I hold my breath praying Aaron wasn't lying. I sigh in relief when the countdown freezes at ten seconds. Shutting off as the chains fall away from Conner who immediately slumps into my arms. His soft breath tickling my neck hair as I carefully throw one arm over my shoulder and help him limp from the grave yard. 

The moment we make it back to the castle my dad explodes on me. His face turning every color under the sun as he yells at me. Needless to say I am now on house arrest until further notice. The guards managed to find Aaron a short distance from the grave yard having woken up and tried limping away. Only to pass out again from loss of blood. He is now in prision facing the death penalty tomorrow morning. Finally after so much fear and tears of pain. This nightmare is finally over. After tomorrow Aaron never again will be able to hurt me or anyone else. Guess happily ever afters do exist after all. 

Unknown to me that happily ever after would be short lived. For shortly after midnight when the castle is asleep. The guards are knocked out by some knock out gas as a mysterious intruder sweeps through the dungeon. Stopping in front of Aaron’s cell. Beneath the intruders hood a slow venamous smile appears as the cell door is unlocked. Freeing Aaron to once more terrorize the kingdom.