The Hidden Princess and Her Alpha Prince

EPISODE 2: THE VOICES

AGATHA

After zoning out again, I woke up at least eight hours later and took a good bath before having supper. I also noticed that my grandmother is sick and unable to move her body. She is lying down on the couch, since the only bed that we have is my father's bed and I have occupied it for the past six months.

My father and I were having supper at the dining table. He was telling me how I fainted at the river in the past six months when I was with my friend, Nancy. They didn't believe that I was going to wake up.

I have been unconscious for six months, but why do I feel like I have been living somewhere. Yes, my body was right here at home, but my soul was far away. I had a dream and I don't even know if I should tell my father about it. Or, maybe I should tell my grandmother… yes! I am going to talk to her about my dream, but after supper.

"Baba, I am sorry I scared you." I hold my father's hand and rub the back of it.

"You don't have to apologise. I am your father and I am certain that I am going to be scared with most things that you do. For now, tell me about the dreams you have been having." He gives me his relaxed smile and takes over my hand.

"What dreams? How do you know that I have been having dreams?" I shriek.

"I know. You've been murmuring some things I couldn't make out. So, tell me about it all."

I smile and shake my head. "Baba, there is a lot that I dreamed about, but all I can tell you is, I was very happy in my dream." I say to him and he just nods his head. "Baba, can I ask you something?"

He gives me a worried look and leans back on his chair. "Go ahead, Mbali."

"Why don't you have a wife? You are almost forty years young and I still don't have siblings." I pouted my lips. He pressed his lips together, suppressing his laugh. I smiled, shyly.

"Why do I need a wife when I have you? You are here and you will get married one day and bear me grandchildren. Isn't it so?" He brushes my cheeks, like he used to when I was a baby.

We ate in silence and when we finished eating, I gathered all the dishes so that I could go and wash them. Something pulled me back to my father and I held his hand.

"Baba, it's not your fault. Mama Eve said I should tell you that." I said and kissed his cheek, before I left for our kitchen.

***

As soon as I was done with the dishes; I was about to go to the living room when something weird happened. This house is an open plan. I don't know why I keep describing everything like it is in a separate room. Or maybe, it is because we use curtains to divide every room, which is only three rooms. The kitchen, living room and the bedroom.

"Where are you? Why aren't you answering me anymore!?" I heard his voice. The voice that I have been hearing in my head even in my dreams. A male sonorous voice. The male sounds to be in trouble.

"Are you okay?" I try speaking to the voice, but this time, it can't hear me.

"Flower, where are you!? Speak to me; I need someone to talk to." His voice now sounds sad. I am finding difficulties to responding to him.

"Please, follow my voice. Find a way to hear me, please!" I raise my voice, closing my eyes.

I begin to hear the male sniffing. I don't get how I am unable to communicate with him like I used to in my dreams.

Dream! That's it. I need to fall asleep in order for me to communicate with him.

"Mbali! Open your eyes… Mbali?" My father shakes me and I flip my eyes, very frightened. "Who were you talking to? Are you sleeping on your feet?"

"I need to go to sleep, baba."

***

LUKE FRIEDRICH

I woke up on a very cold floor, shivering. I can't believe my stepmother did this to me. She got me locked up in a cage for the whole night. You know, I should have left the palace on the first day this woman stepped into the palace, but back then, I just couldn't. I couldn't leave my father alone with this woman. After yesterday when my father gave her his word to get me locked up, because I made false accusations which are true about her; I don't think I still want to stay in the palace.

"His Royal Highness." I heard Hendrick, whispering my name. I looked up to the battler proofed window and saw him trying to sneak his head in.

"Hey, Hendrick. I am glad you are here. I need you to do me a favour, while I am trying to figure a way out of here. I need you to go to my room and pack everything that you think I will need when I visit another country. Most importantly, do not forget my important documents." I ordered him. Hendrick has always been my right hand man. He has never left my side and always protected me.

"I will certainly do so, your royal Highness. What would you like me to pack for you?"

"I don't know, Hendrick! I don't know what Sammy always packs for me whenever I travel. Just ask her. But, just make sure that everything important is there. Oh, and you are coming with, Roger. Get your things too. Oh, tell Sammy the same. No one except the two of you should know about this."

Sammy has been taking good care of me. She is one of the loyal servants in the palace. She is the one making sure that I am wearing the best outfit everyday.

After Hendrick disappeared, I looked for something pointy that I could use to open the lock, until I remembered that my cufflinks can do the trick. I first need to get feedback from Hendrick before I attempt my escape.

***

I understand how difficult it was for Hendrick and Sammy to do as I ordered against the will of the King and the Queen. I had to wait a week for them to get everything together until today, at this time of the night when Hendrick assured me that everything was ready.

"Thank you, Hendrick. Your loyalty means very much to me. Go and rest now. I will meet you tomorrow morning at the far end of the palace, tomorrow morning."

"As you say, your royal highness. Good night."

When Hendrick left, I started working on the lock. I thought they would have let me out by then, but I was lying to myself. Whatever that woman is feeding my father it is very much stronger than I thought.

The cufflink finally unlocked and I was very much Happy. Let me also rest, because I am going to need it.

"Have you decided where you want to go, Prince Luke?" I was startled as I heard her voice. The voice I haven't heard in a long time. I was very lonely and longed to talk to her, but she wasn't responding.

Flower. That is what I decided to call the voice. It really calms me and takes me out of my misery.

"I have been trying to talk to you, but you were not responding." On any day, I would be angry at her, but not today. I am just too happy that my plan is coming together.

She chuckled. "Did you miss me, handsome Prince?"

Only if you knew, Flower. Only if you knew.

"To answer your first question. I really don't know which country to go to, but I want to be somewhere sacred. I want my father to sweat, before he finds me. Where would you suggest I go?"

"I don't know, I mean… I myself have never traveled before." So, I am speaking not only to a voice, but a person. How is it possible that I can hear her voice? Even her accent is very different from my German accent. Where is she from?

"Would you like to, someday?" I asked.

"I would love to. For now, we are talking about you."

"Let me sleep on it. I will decide tomorrow morning where I want to go. Thank you for keeping me company. I hope to hear from you soon."

"Good night, my prince."

"Wait … I still don't know your name." I am really hoping that she will tell me.

"That's because you never asked. But, you will know soon. Sweet dreams." With that being said, I fell asleep.

***

"Hendrick, don't ask anymore questions. Just drive, because the guards saw me escaping and they are right behind us." I ordered him as I jumped in the car. We need to leave the palace as of now.

Without asking any questions, he just did as I said and Sammy just sat in the car quietly. I held her hand and gave her an assuring look.

"Don't be scared. I promise I will protect you. Both you and Hendrick's loyalty will pay off one day. I promise." I kiss the back of her hand. Sammy is just a year younger than I am. I see a sibling in her.

She nodded and smiled at me.

"We lost them, your highness. So, where to go from here?" Hendrick asks, looking at me in the rearview mirror.

"To the hangar. Did you call my private pilot as I asked you?"

"Yes, your highness."

"Good then. How does Waverly sound?" I asked them both and they looked at me shocked. "I guess it sounds perfect. Which country would you suggest we go to?"

"Well, the King's rivalry is in Waverly. So, we cannot go there, because…" I didn't even wait for Sammy to finish explaining.

"Waverly sounds perfect." I said, smiling as I looked outside my side of the window.

I need to disappear out of Wimbledon, before I make it to the news and then everyone will know that I escaped out of the palace. I hope they also put 'The Queen locks up Prince Luke in the cage without food and water' in the front page.

If it wasn't for Roger, I probably would have died there. Damn, I stink. When I get on the plane, I am taking a long bath, probably until we get to Waverly.

***