Chapter 13
My eyes flutter open and I am laying on a king-size cloud, or at least it feels like a cloud, with the sounds of waves crashing soothing my aching head. I slowly sit up and the pain goes from a dull throb to a steady pounding. Closing my eyes to relax my mind, I will the pain away. Once I am coherent and pain free I survey my surroundings. The walls are a bright white, with one all glass wall providing a view of the... How the hell did I get to the beach? I wonder to myself. The fluffy, white comforter is warm and inviting. Pulling the blanket off of me I realize I am no longer wearing what I wore in the park. I have a lace, white night gown with Swarovski crystals lining the sweetheart neckline. Throwing my legs off the bed, I stand to see the crystals also line the bottom. My surroundings are magnificent but add to my confusion about where I am. Right next to me are blue Manolo Blahnik, pumps at a perfect 4inches. I reach down and find they are my size. "What are the odds," I say out loud to myself.
"Only the best for my little Princess, I mean Queen," my father says as he stands by the door smiling. "You look well rested sweetheart. By far the prettiest bride I have ever seen, well next to your mom of course."
"I'm sorry, bride. What, bride?!?" The shock and confusion is overwhelming and my head begins to spin. I sit back down on the bed, close my eyes, and begin to take long, deep breaths. "Where are we?"
"Sweetheart, although you don't look hung over, I think you drank too much at the rehearsal dinner. Here is some Tylenol and orange juice."
"Rehearsal dinner, bride, I don't understand. The last thing I remember is playing orb ball with my friends and a bunch of amateur practitioners. I don't get what the hell is going on."
"I have no idea what you've been dreaming about, but you need to get up, Don Javier is waiting in your bathroom to do your hair and makeup." A light bulb goes off in my mind.
"Of course, this must be a dream." My father tilts his head and looks at me with worry. If this is a dream, and I am pretty sure it is, I should go through the motions and hope there is vital information that lies within. Maybe this is a glimpse into my future. "Um, you are probably right dad, I'm just hung over. I'll finish up my orange juice and meet with Don Javier shortly." My father nods but hangs by the door a moment longer unsure whether or not to leave me. "I'm fine, I promise," I say with a beaming smile. Satisfied he turns to leave.
"I'll be downstairs if you need me."
"Thanks dad," I say as I take a seat on the cloud bed. Finally alone I get back up to search the room. I begin with the closet as I open the doors the angels of heaven begin to serenade me as I step into the largest walk-in closet I have ever seen. On the right clothes are organized by article and color. The various shades of blue warm the cockles of my heart. I walk further in and am in awe of the floor to ceiling shoe rack. It really is a girl's dream come true. I look to my left and it is all men's clothing. The sleek black, grey, to blue suits look straight out of a GQ magazine. I am guessing the wardrobe belongs to whomever my fianc? is supposed to be. I am struck with dread as I think about my upcoming nuptials. How far should I take this "dream" and is it really a premonition? I wonder all this and more as I find myself in the middle of the closet looking at the expansive amount of accessories my fianc? and I possess. Remembering the task at hand, I walk out of the closet giving it one more look and sigh as I close the doors.
I move over to the night stand and begin to rummage through. In the top drawer I find a cell phone and power it on. While waiting I find a book, a charging cord, and letters held together by rubber bands. The return address is Massachusetts and my heart starts to ache as I think of Grams. I am just about to pull out the first letter when I hear my phone's jingle that indicates it is fully on. My mouth drops as I see the lock screen. It is a picture of Bash and I standing on the edge of a cliff with a view of red mountains in the background. He's standing behind me, holding me at the waist, both of us are smiling like two fools in love.
"I marry Bash, OMG!" I exclaim.
"My sentiments exactly Maddie." I am taken back by the voice standing by the window. It turns out the center of the floor to ceiling window is actually a door. And standing looking as scrumptious as ever is Lance.
"Hi," I say shyly as I stand.
"Hello." Lance looks me up and down before a taking a deep breath and exhaling. "How can you marry Bash?" He says without hesitation. I quickly had an internal debate on whether or not to tell Lance about my dream theory and how important it is for me to see this to the end, or whenever I wake up. I hope I wake up, I think with horror.
"Look I can't give you an explanation, but if I have gone this far with this decision it has to be what I think is for the best."
"What the hell does that mean, Maddie? Do you love him? You swore you would never marry for position. Has something changed?" Although I don't remember making that claim, it does sound a lot like me.
"It's really hard to explain, I'm sorry, but," before I could finish my sentence Lance grabs my face gently but with purpose and kisses me. My body starts to shiver and I wrap my arms around him drawing him closer. His hands move away from my face and down my body.
"Get your bloodsucker hands off the Queen this instant!" Lance and I maintain our hold but look over at the door. Hailey is standing at the entrance with her arms crossed and a murderous look on her face. We turn and look at each other.
"Maddie you don't have to do this. We can be together," Lance says almost pleading.
"Why on Earth would she leave with you? She loves Bash, and he has never betrayed her. Unfortunately, we can't say the same for you," Hailey adds. I look up at Lance, release my hold on him and take a step back.
"What is she talking about?" Both Lance and Hailey look at me with confusion in their eyes. I exhale a sigh, "I know you are not going to believe me but, I'm dreaming." They look at each other and then back at me.
"Maddie, I think all this wedding stuff and running the underworld has really gotten to you. I think you should have some tea, while Don Javier begins your hair." Hailey looks at me with concern.
"Look you two, I know it sounds crazy, but the last thing I remember before waking up in this room is playing orb ball in Saddle Brook Park. I don't know anything about running the underworld, or marrying Bash." I have my eyes facing the floor during my rant, and as soon as I am done I raise my eyes to the both of them. Hailey closes the distance between us and places her hands palms up in front of me. "What?" I ask.
"Place your hands palms down over mine." I glance at Lance but do as I am told. I take a deep breath and can feel a tingling coming from Hailey's energy, but nothing more. Looking up at Hailey I expect to hear an explanation, but all I find is the wide open mouths of both Hailey and Lance.
"Okay, now you guys have to tell me what is going on." Hailey drops her hand and looks at Lance.
"I believe you," Hailey says quietly.
"I don't want to push my luck, but why?" Lance is now sitting on my bed staring straight ahead clearly in deep thought.
"After the coronation you were gifted power from various powerful beings. Placing our palms in that position should have caused a reaction. I felt a lot of strength but nothing like you are supposed to possess. And that can only mean that whatever version of Maddie you are has yet to be crowned. You said the last thing you remember was all of us playing orb ball?" I nod my answer too stunned to speak. "That was five years ago, when you were training Brandon and his coven."
"Well I wouldn't exactly call the five boys a coven," I said with a giggle. This broke the spell Lance was under prompting Hailey to give me another one of those, WTH looks.
"Clearly you don't know how well of a teacher you are either," Lance said. "Brandon's group is one of the strongest covens in the world next to your own." Shocked I look between the both of them and take a seat before I pass out.
"Your Highness, there is something else we have to keep in mind
now that you are here from the past," Hailey said killing the silence.
"What is that?"
"Your presence could be altering the course life has taken you. It is important that we get you back to your time, so that events do not change too drastically."
"Well, now let's think about this," Lance interjects. Maddie you have a chance to get a glimpse of what your life would be like as Queen of the underworld, and wife to Sebastian. If you stay a little longer you can get enough information to make a sound decision when you head back to your time." Lance is making a good point and it would be foolish of me not to consider it.
"No, no, no, absolutely not! You could alter all of our lives. Lance I know exactly what you are up to. You don't give a rat's about her feelings, you just want to be the one that wins." Hailey speaks with venom.
"Hey, what is going on here, Don Javier has been waiting, and yes I know you are Queen, but really Madeline it's not polite. What the hell is he doing here?" My eyes open wide and tears begin streaming down my face.
"Mommy," I manage between sobs. I bolt off the bed and jump into my mother' s confused arms. "I just can't believe it, you're so beautiful, exactly how I remembered."
"Oh, well Don Javier does do a great job I suppose. I see this wedding has all of us going crazy." My mother awkwardly maintains a hold on me as I rock us from side to side. Words to describe what I am feeling at that moment fail me. I still cannot believe I have my mother with me at this moment, calming me down on my wedding day. To say this is a dream come true is an understatement. Pulling my face up to meet hers, my mother wipes my face of my tears, and kisses my forehead. It is the look of concern on Hailey's face that snaps me back into reality. It is comforting to know I will have my mother once again in my life, but I have to accept the time is not now.
"I just need one more minute with Hailey and Lance. I'll be right behind you," I assure her. She looks suspiciously at Lance, at me, turns and heads toward the door. She pauses for a moment scowling at Lance once more. Once she is gone from view, I turn toward Lance.
"Why is everyone glaring at you? What have you done in the past five years to alienate yourself from the group?" I ask tersely.
"What makes you think I've done something?" Lance asks defensively.
"You wouldn't have been sneaking in through my bedroom window. Instead you would be here with a tux on waiting for the ceremony to start." The look of shock is obvious but only for a brief moment. He replaces the look with a sly smile.
"Maddie you always knew me better than anyone else. Sometimes better than I know myself." Lance stands and closes the gap between us. "They are mad at me because I love you and I have spent the past five years trying to get you to admit you feel the same about me." His words hit me like a ton of bricks. The me from five years ago knew very well she had strong feelings for Lance. Feelings that started in a previous life. Why would she, or I deny those thoughts now. And then it hit me. I walk past Lance and approach Hailey who is sitting on my bed with her head down.
"What did you guys do to me? I want the truth and I want it now!"
"I don't know what you mean Maddie," Hailey says. She can't look me in the eye, which is very un-Hailey like.
"You are keeping something from me, I can tell. My memory has been messed with, or something. There are puzzle pieces missing."
"Your Highness, you have to understand?"
"No, I understand completely, or at least I am pretty sure I do. I just want confirmation. So let me be more direct. Did you guys alter my memory or thoughts in some way?" Hailey didn't answer, but the look on her face when she finally looked up is all that I needed. I take a deep breath to calm my anger and slowly let it out.
"Maddie, we can leave right now. You don't have to go through with this wedding. I have a place and followers that once worked for your Grams and they are ready and willing to risk their lives to protect you. You can still rule the underworld from above. It doesn't matter where you live. And I will accompany you down every day if you wish." What Lance is offering sounds perfect. Perfect for the Maddie from 5 years ago. I don't know enough about current events to make a sound decision. I have to admit a chance to escape all the lies and deceit surrounding me. But the easy route never worked for me. I end up missing out on something by taking the path that felt safe.
"Lance I appreciate everything you have done and for your love. I remember the feelings I have for you, but I also remember the conflict that was mostly caused by the fact that I feel the same for Bash. Considering the betrayal I am dealing with in the present, I would love nothing more than to leave with you." Lance looks up with a smile that reaches his eyes. Hailey's eyes widens and she prepares to argue, but I immediately put my hand up at her not to speak. She closes her mouth and looks back down at the floor. "But Hailey is right in the sense that I cannot alter what is currently going on because it will affect the past. I can't run the risk of the negative consequences associated with time travel. Maddie of this time is set to marry Bash in a few hours, and that is what will happen." Lance looks at me with a mix of anger, sorrow, and understanding.
"You're making a big mistake," Lance says with venom in his tone. And with that he walks out the window and out of my life, or at least this one.
I look over to meet Hailey's regretful eyes and with a stern and haunting look, I say, "We will discuss this further, later."
"Yes, your Highness." And with that I storm out of the room and in the direction of a loud boisterous voice booming from down the hall.