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Ethie burst out laughing, she couldn’t hold it back anymore. “Oh, Bella, sweet Gods, that was hysterical!”
“Wha... what the hell....?” Then the realization hit Bella, hard. “You absolute bitch! What the fuck are you trying to do to me!?!” She grabbed a satin pillow and beat her friend soundly with it, which did nothing to curb Ethie’s laughter. Eventually, Bella couldn’t help but smile, relieved that her friend was alright, in spite of the prank. Ethie calmed herself and spoke.
“Really, Bella, I’d think you’d at least check my heartbeat or breathing or something.” She smiled, her eyes still flashing with intense amusement. Bella suddenly became utterly fascinated with the lace trim of the bed sheet.
“Yeah well,” she said quietly, “You should know better than to do that to me. I mean,” her voice now got louder and more accusatory, “What the hell was I supposed to think? Yesterday you get picked up by His Royal Bastard-ness, and today I find you in the fucking palace, all alone and still as stone!” Bella crossed her arms and pouted, turning slightly away from her friend.
“Oh Bella, I’m sorry.” Ethie crawled over to her friend and wrapped her arms around the other girl’s neck. Bella smiled, welcoming the touch of this one person, the only contact she allowed, or enjoyed. She returned the embrace briefly, then stood, putting her hands on her hips.
“Now, where the fuck is this prince,” she spat out the last word. “I have a few things to... discuss with him.” Bella was not very tall, and more full-figured than Ethie, but when she stood like that, she dominated the room. Ethie couldn’t help but smile, despite her friend’s obvious anger.
“I don’t know where he is, Bella. Leave him alone.”
“Why the hell should I?! He fucking kidnapped you, Ethie, or did you forget!?!”
“Well, I wouldn’t go that far...”
“Why not? He picked you up off the street while you were sitting there, shaking and helpless, and he brought you here to a strange place without consulting you! I’d call that kidnapping.”
Ethie smiled, it now her turn to obsess about the lace. She spoke softly, “He didn’t have to consult me.”
Bella gave a confused look. “What? Of course he did. I don’t give a damn if he’s the prince, he’s got no right to just carry you off like that!” She sighed, flustered, and flopped down on the bed again, this time stretching out on her back. “Tell me why he didn’t have to consult you.”
Ethie continued to fidget with the lace, still smiling. She thought about the day before, the long night spent with Bane, trying to formulate an answer Bella would understand. Bella didn’t like men, didn’t trust them, and although Ethie didn’t know why, she respected that. She knew Bella wouldn’t want to hear about the romance, how gentle he’d been, so she had to find something that would express it, but not so directly. She sighed, and finally settled on a reply she hoped would be sufficient.
“Because I wanted to go.”
“What?” Bella’s red eyes grew wide with incredulity.
“It was my choice and I made it, Bella. It’s too late for regrets now.” Bella closed her eyes and drew in a long breath. Ethie’s young mind was so naive sometimes that it hurt. She couldn’t fathom wanting to be that close to a man, to actually want him to touch her and to.... No, the rest was utterly impossible. But Bella had to accept that Ethie was young, and that despite all she’d been through already, she hadn’t seen the worst of it. Bella opened her eyes again and attempted a smile.
“Alright, I suppose. Just know I’m here, always.”
Ethie looked up and returned the smile. “Always,” she agreed. She leaned over to give her friend another hug, with Bella accepting it gladly.
The serene moment was interrupted by a guard clearing his throat. The two girls looked up at the sound, startled.
“Forgive my intrusion,” the guard bowed slightly as he spoke, more out of habit than respect. “His Majesty, the Royal Highness Prince Bane, approaches, and requests that you be in whatever state of ready is necessary.” The habitual bow came again, and the guard backed out of the room, closing the door softly behind him.
Ethie turned to look at Bella, whose gaze was still trained on the heavy doors, trying to gauge her reaction. The red eyes became stormy, and Ethie could swear she heard a slight growl. She thought it best not to smile, as was her first reaction, and instead climbed out of bed to get dressed. Now Bella’s eyes did turn to her friend, and she gasped.
“Ethie, umm, why aren’t you wearing anything?”
“Because I never got dressed after.... my bath... last night.” She hesitated to tell Bella anything of what happened the night before. She wouldn’t lie if asked outright, but until then she wouldn’t say anything.
“I see,” was all Bella said, but her eyes narrowed in suspicion. Ethie dressed quickly, and just as she finished she heard the guard outside the door say, “Good day, Your Majesty.”
Bane entered the room with a smile on his face, which broadened when he saw Ethie. Despite knowing Bella’s reaction, Ethie smiled back and walked quickly to the prince. He took her into his arms and whispered a greeting, then pulled her away just enough so he could kiss her passionately, ignoring the other person in the room. Ethie returned the kiss eagerly, but cut it short for Bella’s sake. She turned to her friend, who, despite being wide-eyed, had never looked so utterly infuriated. Ethie blushed and mouthed an apology, and felt relieved when Bane broke the silence.
“Ethereal, I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of meeting your friend.” A royal and diplomatic smile replaced the one of pure joy on his lips as he spoke, but yet did not completely over-shadow it. As he approached her, Bella tensed, knowing he would want to kiss her hand and appear the gentleman. She resigned herself to this eventuality, but showed no reaction when it happened. The prince was slightly amused at the disgust and rage he saw in the red eyes that glared so forcefully at him, quite sure he could repair the damage that had obviously been inflicted on this girl.
