The Hidden Princess and Her Alpha Prince

EPISODE 4: TWO DAYS

LUKE FRIEDRICH

"Prince Luke, it is not safe for you to leave the premises. There are predators preying on you." Hendrick said.

This was beginning to frustrate me. My father has tarnished my name and made me famous in every country. Now, everyone walks with my picture on their hands, looking for me. Everyone wants to be rich by my name. I am in a foreign country and I bet not everyone likes foreigners. They probably won't hesitate throwing me into the lions' den. Especially if they are hungry for money.

"Dammit!" I groaned.

"My prince. I can help us disguise ourselves. I can go out, of course if you allow me to. I will get something to give you a different look." Sammy suggests. I look up at her from the couch. I looked at Hendrick to see if that was a good idea or not, but he didn't say anything.

"It's still not safe for you to travel out alone. Besides, it is only a matter of time before the hotel staff discovers my name in their systems. We need to go somewhere to a place that does not attract too much attention. The countryside."

"But, how are we going to get there?" Sammy asked?

"And, how are we going to get out of the hotel without even being recognised?" Hendrick also asked.

"We cannot be seen together. Each of us will have to leave this room individually… I will be the last one, because I am going to have to check us out of this hotel." I announce.

"No, your royal highness! I refuse to let you walk alone. I took an oath to be by your side no matter what. I will not leave your side." Hendrick protests.

"This is not Wimbledon, Hendrick. We are in Waverly. This is not our territory, but someone else's! If you took the oath to protect me as you say, you will do what I ask you to. Now, get our bags ready, because tonight, we are going. Sit down so that I can tell you about the plan. Sammy, can you please pour me cognac with,"

It's been seven days since we arrived here in Waverly. Our private jet landed in Waverly International Airport. I got to explore this beautiful place the first four days before I was all over the news. People here are very traditional. Everything about them is traditional. Their food, language, how they wear, etcetera. It's just amazing, because we don't have such in Wimbledon.

"With two rocks; I know my prince." She smiled and I smiled back at her.

"What would I do without you, Sammy?"

She pretended to be thinking hard and smirked. "Mmh, let me think… well, nothing actually." She laughed as she walked away.

Hendrick cleared his throat, sounding irritated.

"Is there something wrong, Hendrick?" I asked.

"No, your royal highness. All is well." He said, avoiding my eyes. Something is really bothering him, but I am not going to ask him for now.

"If you say so."

***

Night came and the clock struck 11 PM. This is the only time we can escape. Our luggages is packed and we are ready to take off.

"Sammy, you can go out first. Hendrick will follow you behind." She nodded and threw herself on me. She hugged me. I didn't know how to react, so I also put my hands on her waist.

"Be safe, my prince." She said,

"Uhm, you too, Sammy."

"We have no time. We need to leave as soon as possible." Hendrick said. He is right!

I pulled myself away from Sammy and cleared my throat. "You are right. Go now before we get caught. Remember, if I don't get down there on time, you must catch a cab to any place you think it's safe." I address them.

"Prince,"

"No, Hendrick. You do know that if we all get caught; you both might not get to live to see the next day when we are returned back home and I will live my life? Trust me, I'll be fine." I assure Hendrick.

As soon as they both left the hotel suite, I paced around, trying to think of a way to get out of here without being seen or noticed that I am Prince Luke Friedrich, the son of King Lukas Friedrich – it's over for me.

A knock on the door disturbed me from my thoughts. I didn't respond, but froze on the same spot.

"Prince Luke Friedrich. We know that you are in there, open up!" A male voice shouted from outside.

Damn! It's not easy to get away from here.

Think, Luke Think!

"Prince Luke! You are hiding in the wrong territory! The King of Waverly knows that you are here. You have been spotted around. If you don't open for us, we are going to break down this door!" A different male voice said.

I had to think of a solution, quickly. And the only thing I had in mind was jumping out from the balcony. Yes! I mean, it can't be that hard, jumping from the tenth floor, can it?

Opening the sliding door, I stood at the balcony and glanced at the ground. It is too damn far! There is no way I am going to make it down there alive.

"Why am I not surprised? You are a coward, my Prince." Flower?

"Flower?"

"Do you know what is going to kill you? King Hosea Buys! You better jump or you die!" Flower said.

"I would rather die. I don't even understand why you are so adamant about helping me. We don't even know each other and most probably, I wish to smack you for calling me a coward. I am no coward, you little girl!"

"We are counting down from five! If you don't open before we get to one; we are breaking the door down, Mr Friedrich!" I can hear the man getting impatient with me before he begins to countdown. "Five,"

"They mean it, my Prince. How are you going to smack me when you are dead! Just jump, for crying out loud!" Flower shouted.

"So, you really want me to smack you, little girl?" I asked.

"Four!,"

"Gosh, Just jump already!" Flower get frustrated.

"Three!"

"Not until you tell me that you want me to smack you!"

"My prince. If they get you… they will kill you." I can hear how hurt she sounds right now. "Do it."

"Two!"

My heart beats very fast, because I am about to risk my life for someone who probably will never do the same for me. Someone who probably wants to kill me. Why am I even saying 'someone' when it is only the voice I hear?

"One!" With that being said; the door was kicked down. I don't know why they even had to break it down, because I didn't even lock it. Waverly warriors like drama.

Several warriors rushed in the room and I stood by the balcony, trying to think very hard. On what I should do.

"Jump, for me… please." I heard Flower sniffing. Is she crying?

"Why? Why is it that your voice is the only thing that I can hear, but I can't see you? Why do you want to help me so much?"

"Because… because, only you and I can help each other. I need you to… to help me. I need your help."

"But, how am I going to find you? I don't even know where I am." I said as I saw the men approaching me at the balcony.

"I will guide you. Jump!" She warns.

"It's flipping far! I can't."

"I want you to smack me! Just jump, dammit!" She said it! That turned me on so much that when the warriors tried to catch me, I jumped off the balcony.

My body started heating so much that when I reached the ground, I landed on my feet without getting hurt. I roared out loud.

"I AM PRINCE LUKE FRIEDRICH! THE VAMPIRE-WEREWOLF! I AM COMING FOR YOU, FLOWER!"

"There you go! I am proud of you. Now, get to the car and get out of here as quickly as possible! They have already took your servants."

I don't know what took over me, but I felt so much power within me.

"I can't leave them. They need me."

"My Prince! Even after I landed you down to the ground from the tenth floor you still won't put your trust in me?"

I sighed.

"It's just, I am the cause of everything. Now they have my loyal servants. How do I know they won't hurt them?" I asked.

"Because, they are going to use them as bait to get you to them. Now, if you want both you and them to survive, you will get away from this place. I will see you in two days, my Prince."

"What do you mean I will see you?"

"I will be waiting for you."

***

AGATHA

I woke up panting and my father was right beside me when I woke up.

"It's okay, my baby girl. I am here." He said.

"I am glad it's you, baba."

"Still having nightmares?" He asked.

"Baba…" I looked around to see if my grandmother was not at sight or awake, but she was fast asleep on the mattress on the floor. "Baba, I need time with you alone. I don't want her to hear what I want to tell you. Can we please take a walk to the river? I have something important to tell you and I also need you to tell me the truth." I whispered

"Why? What's wrong?" He asked in a worried tone.

"Can we talk about it when the sun rises? It's safer."

***

When morning came, I woke up and took a bath before preparing breakfast – porridge as always.

"You came with a bag the other day, Mbali. Who's bag is it and what does it have?" My grandmother anxiously asked.

"Oh, it has magazines to keep me busy. Nancy gave it to me." I lied under my breath so effortlessly. Lord forgive me, but I don't trust my gran… I mean, this woman anymore.

"Uhm, I have to go and meet with her right now. I should return a few magazines back to her. I will see you later." I said, getting up on my feet. My father has been quiet all the time… deep in thoughts.

"For your sake, I hope you are really going to Nancy. I would hate it if you were going to boys." My grandmother started.

"And why can't I go to boys? Why can't I date like girls my age do?" She gasps, looking shocked.

"Is that how they are teaching you to talk to me?"

"No, grandma! I am sick and tired of not being able to do what I want with my life, Miss Van Rensburg. You are not even my mother!"

"THAT'S ENOUGH, YOUNG LADY!" My father shouted, his voice echoing in the house. "You are being disrespectful right now. Apologise to your grandmother, right now Mbali Agatha Buys!" He warned me. I darted my eyes between him and my grandmother before I grabbed my bag and stormed out of the hut.

I was not going to stand there and listen to them scold me like I am a child. This woman robbed me my right to know my family. She kidnapped my father and I.

I got to the river, but I went at least far away from everyone.

"The water is pure." I remembered what I was told in my dreams.

I threw everything that was in the bag to the ground. There were white cloths, matches, incense, red and white beaded jewelry and a little animal skin bag. I found a rod that has horse hair at the back of it.

I remembered the woman who gave me the bag; she was wearing the same things. I stripped naked, not caring about whoever is watching. I found a way to wrap the cloths, to cover my body. As soon as I wore the beads, I started hearing the sounds that I have heard before. The ones that took me in my dreams to come to this river.

The drums.

I don't know how, but my body started dancing. I started to dance to the drums.

"Aaooow!" I incarnated. I started clapping my hands before I dropped on my feet and lit the incense. "Dear father Lord. I love you, I thank you and worship you. You are the Alpha and the Omega. I am about to embark on a new journey. Please protect me through this and block every evil that tried to disconnect me from you. I leave all my enemies to you, because I have better things to be thankful for in my life – like my father. Please protect him for me and I pray he gets to live to see all the beautiful things that are awaiting him, in Jesus name. I call upon all the Buys ancestors. I am Mbali Agatha Buys, your great-granddaughter. Please shield me, because I am in a war between good and evil. I accept the gift that you have passed on to me."

"MBALI AGATHA BUYS! WHAT NONSENSE IS THIS THAT YOU ARE DOING?" I heard my father yelling at me from behind.

"Uh, baba. This is what I wanted to talk to you about."

"Take off that rubbish, right now!" He charges towards me.

"I refuse, baba. This is not rubbish. It is a gift from our ancestors. Baba, why can't you see that grandmother is no good? She killed my mother and robbed me of a chance to get to know her!"

"Who is feeding you this nonsense?"

"I know everything, baba. Deny all you want, but all these years when I read in the newspapers about a Prince of Eshowe who is still missing… I didn't know it was you. You have to return home, baba. You have to take over the throne."

When I didn't expect it, my father slapped me. I was really shocked by his move that my tears instantly fell down to my burning cheek.

"Don't talk rubbish you don't even know. Never mention anything about the throne or the missing prince of Waverly. Do you understand?" He turned on his hills and walked away.

***