NINE

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts," Elijah mutters as I stand before the mirror, holding up a dress to my body as the moon begins to rise. Looking to meet his gaze in the mirror, I raise an eyebrow. "Why the Shakespeare?" I ask, putting the dress down as Elijah leans back in the chair, swallowing another mouthful of his brandy. "Random flash back to school?" He chuckles, pinching the bridge of his nose as he shakes his head. "I think you'll understand what I meant tonight." "What?!" I hiss, scowling at Elijah as he winks at me. "When you're awake the whole night like every other one here as you contemplate life." I scowl, grabbing a hair band as I tie it back, heading to the front door of my room. "Going to see your lover?" "No, to get your tampons," I snap, leaving the room in a hurry, heading back up the same stairwell that leads to the tower. My legs carry me fast as they begin to burn, my vision becoming a tunnel as I'm focused upon the door. As my fingers grasp the knob, I twist and open, the cold night breeze greeting me with open arms as I slam the door shut, looking out upon the forest. My wolf howls to be let loose as the moonlight hits my face, it's warmth absent but the power there. I bow my head, knowing the respect to pay to the moon when you are in a tough situation. Yesterday Zion discovered an Alpha was my mate, the man that rejected me, and for a day, I have no seen him. I've been told by countless people that he would like me at certain places at certain times, and when I am there, he never shows. For dinner I ate in silence as the maids made sure ai was attended to and the chef prepared a beautiful meal. I haven't asked as to where he is, but rather ignored his absence, finding it a gift. I spent my day wondering around the underground rooms, like the sorceress rooms from centuries ago when King's would keep sorceresses within the walls, using magic to work his deeds or interpreting riddles or signs from the stars. As I had ventured farther on, I found the dungeon, where the worst men and some women were kept, even one of the Queens where she spent her last days due to an affair with an Elf. Now, converted into storage for supplies for parties or meetings, extra wine storage, and countless other purposes. I rest against the brick railing, watching as guards walk around the walls, talking as they pass one another, their eyes watching for danger. Out to the West is the village of noble's and royals where massive houses stand, thick trees, and brick streets to show off their wealth and titles. For another two hours I stand within the tower, looking out upon the land as I can see the human world in the distance. Some of the skyscrapers can barely be seen by the naked eye, a small line that glows as I sigh. I miss it, I want to be back out there, away from here. I get it, most girls would be thrilled to be here, many would call me ungrateful or weird, many would be unable to understand why I still question the King. Why do I question him? Because second chance mates are myth and my mate rejected me, plus, he has the faint scar of a bite mark, a mark of a mate. Elijah once commented that he 'chose' me, and oddly enough, I think he is right, that the lunatic Elijah is right. Zion cannot simply want me for a mate, he's the King, there has to be a catch. But what catch? I'm a rogue, something not smiled upon, I'm barely even eighteen while he's way older, I cannot fight well, I'm not smart like some Harvard scholar, I'm of no nobility, and am just the plain Jane people see me as. In another hour I find myself walking past the massive ballroom, a group of maids washing the floor. My footsteps echo throughout another hall, the pale blue stain glass windows beautiful in the moonlight. "Lady Sybil," a voice calls out from behind. Turning around, I'm confused. I've never seen this man. He looks like the norm for this place, at least for the guards, a pair of navy pants tucked into boots and a navy military shirt, one made of a fine fiberglass armor that's form fitting. He had sandy blond hair, exotic green eyes, and average height while he's well toned. "Can I help you?" I ask, facing the man who looks to be no older than twenty. "I am the Delta Lyle of the King's Guard." There are three top positions for the King's guard: Alpha, Beta, and Delta. "I would like to run over some procedures with you for the events that will happen in fourteen hours." Nodding, I watch as he approaches, taking out with him a tablet, getting into a series of slides. "As you know, Lady Sybil, the Senate chamber will be used to house the massive meeting and with the amount of Alphas within the palace walls, various wings will be used. I have been informed by King Zion that you are to be temporarily moved to a more private sector of the palace for your safety." "What?" I ask, taking a look at the map. The place Zion has placed me in makes no sense nor have I ever seen it. "Would you like me to expand on some area, Miss?" He asks, pulling open a document. I don't understand why he would move me. Why he would move a rogue into a more secure location? Why he would care so much for a rogue. Hell, I've survived more than he ever has as a rogue. "Yes, what wing of the palace?" I try to keep my cool, not waning to show any hate towards the King nor any argument that I should not be moved. I don't want a pissed off King to get me more anger than I already am. "I would be happy to show you, please follow me." I give the Delta no trouble, following him to the fifth floor of the palace, a massive lounge area surrounded by bookshelves and tall windows. "There is a hallway through this door," he explains, walking right to a shelve, and as he traces the door with his finger, I see the small line around the shelf. All he does is tap a book and the sound of a small lock clicking and pulls upon a book, opening the door to a narrow but beautiful hallway hidden behind the walls. I follow him through, the wooden floors beautiful and dust-free, a pale blue wallpaper covering the walls as few doors on located upon the left side. "This is your key." I'm handed a light and small, silver key, simple and a small design upon the top, one of a crown. I'm led to a door, Delta Lyle showing me the wooden door. "This will be your room for the next nights until the Senate is released." Sliding the key, I hear the door unlock and I push through, my jaw dropping at the mere size. Enough for a whole Frat party to have their own personal bubble, my footsteps echo across the empty walls, the white and black checkered, marble floor, the pale blue walls with silver designs, a bed fit for a Queen in the center, raised by four marble steps surrounding the bed. My fingers land upon the mahogany table before a sky blue, velvet couch with golden ends, the fireplace bare except for the beautiful painting above of a mountain range at sunset in winter. "Maria had the clothes you will be required to wear moved here in the last five hours." Looking back to Lyle, I see him about to leave, bowing his head. "Do you have any further questions?" "I am allowed to leave whenever? To venture out?" I ask, watching as confusion crosses his face. Of course he wouldn't know that I'm here against my will. "Yes, Lady Sybil, the King has told me nothing else." "Thank you." Lyle is gone and I walk to the massive windows, both wide and tall, overlooking the lake like all the rest, holding me prisoner from reality. Running my fingers over the duvet upon the bed, I let out a much needed sigh, only to then groan as I take one of the pillows, throwing it across the room as I slide to the floor. I pull out of my pocket the key, looking back down to the details upon the key, only to suck in a deep breath. Upon the key is the engraving, one that makes my blood boil. I get to my feet right away, heading towards the closet as I drop the key to the floor, wanting to land a hard slap across the King's cheek. Pulling the doors open, I march right to the back wall, my wolf growling as we see what sits upon a glorified shelf. "Asshole." But no matter what side I take on this, I know that the thing before me is beautiful, the platinum, the gems, the polished metal as it sits without a holder. It looks exactly like the design of the key, the crown, the Queen's crown. He gave me the Queen's secret chamber. That little- I bang my head against the wall, gritting my teeth together, only knowing that his actions are digging himself a deeper hole, not to mention my own. Who knows what Sebastian will think, what he will do, what he will say. "Sybil?" Throwing my head around, I meet his eyes, but his are not upon me, but upon the crown. "King Zion." "I take it you like the room?" I frown, crossing my arms as the King walks by the rows and rows of royal gowns. "The view is quite beautiful as well." "I'd like my old room back," I mutter, watching as he frowns, furrowing his eyebrows together as I keep a close eye upon him. "I was used to it." He stays silent, c*****g his head to the side as I watch in silence. As he passes bye, his shoulder brushes mine, the hair on the back of my neck standing up. "Every Alpha in the empire will be here." My throat runs dry. "In just a few hours, Sybil, I will have that name." "I won't give it to you," I mumble, hearing him move behind me, his presence right behind me as I feel his chest brush my back. "I won't," I say sternly. He chuckles, fingers skimming my shoulders as I train my eyes upon the closet door. "No, you won't say it," he begins, my heart filling with some hope that he will leave it be. Hands lay upon my shoulders and my body tenses. "But you actions will tell me enough." My skin pales as his lips brush my ear, my breath hitching as my heart skips a beat. "Besides, I enjoy this game that we are playing." I nod, turning around to face him. "Then let the games begin."