Two

I WON'T BE SENT AS A SPY

AVERY'S POV

It's noontime. I stretch lazily on my bed. I just woke up from sleep a few minutes ago. I really needed that rest more than anything. You won't accuse me of being lazy, right? My evil stepmother always stresses me, so how am I not supposed to get tired. 

I've been having a banging headache. That, I'm sure was as a result of stress. I look at my bedside clock. It's 3pm. There's nothing left for me to do since I finished all my chores before sleeping. Reminiscing on the incident of weeks ago, I sighed for the umpteenth time. I was able to escape without being caught, the story would've been different if he had caught up with me. Who knows, maybe I would be six feet below the ground level now. I forbid that! I don't want to die now. 

No one, except my best friend, Danika that knows about my encounter with the 'water prince'. That's the pet name I gave him. Well, that's because I chose not to tell anyone but her. If my stepsister, Phillipa knows about this, it's as good as the entire kingdom knowing about it. She's a blabber mouth. The only reason I told Danika about it, is because I can swear her to secrecy, I'm sure she'll never tell anyone. My secrets are always safe with her, that's how much I trust her. 

Father would have locked me in my room for a week as a punishment for flouting his rule, if he ever find out that I crossed the boundary. When it came to obedience, my father could be stern. He hated when someone knowingly disobeyed his order.

"Pshh!" I sigh at the thought of her mother, screaming on my head if she had found out. It's what she knows how to do best. 

That would have given her an edge over me and I didn't want that. It's like we both had resorted to scoring points against each other.

What if he had caught me? What would have happened? I'm grateful he didn't though. The guy looked so handsome. Even in the moonlight, he looked like a fallen angel. I wanted to meet him once more. Yet, I knew that once would never be enough.

His silky skin and raven hair added to his irresistibility. "Arghh Avery why can't you get your mind off him? You'll never see him again" I hiss, rolling on my bed.

Just then someone knocks on my door. It is Phillipa in her faint voice no doubt.  

"You can come in. What is it?" I invite her inside while I turn to look at her. She peek her head in and says "Papa is calling for you in the parlor," and left immediately as if someone was chasing her. That girl will never cease to be crazy. 

"Alright, I'm coming," I say to her receding footsteps in the hallway. I snort while standing up. I'm so sure she's still angry at me for not borrowing her my bracelet yesterday.

Yes! I chose not to borrow her because she would misplace it again like my hairpin. Phillipa can be so careless. It irks me to the marrow. 

It was the night of the ball, she came dashing in for it as her own got broken. Seeing the despair in her eyes, I lent her to use it on her long brown hair.

Phillipa came back the next morning with her tumbling down and an "I am sorry. I don't know where it fell off," I have never been more dazed in my life. She said it with an ease that disgusted me. I almost slapped her but I refrained myself from doing so.

So, I made up my mind not to borrow anything she asked for next as a punishment. That would serve her better. I hope she learns her lesson.

I wear my slippers and pad out from my room along the passage. Father is sitting on the sofa reading a book when I enter. 

"Father, Phillipa says that you called for me," I say sitting down on the chair beside him. He drops the paper and stares at me intently. I look at him and the way he folds his hands on his lap, I quickly noticed that something is off. I can deduce. It would amaze people how much I know him so well. I know him like the back of my thumb. We were a close-knit happy family before Beatrice came along. So yes! I know when something is wrong and right now, something is up.

Since he chooses to stare at me instead without saying anything, I clear my throat and break the silence between us. "Father, what is it?" I say moving closer to hold his hands and rub them. The more I do this, the more the tension subsides. 

It's a trick I've used on him many times without a number. "Avery, I don't have a choice but…" He drops his head before continuing.

"What's wrong? I am listening," I continue working my wonders on his fingers. I just hope this isn't bad news. 

"Well Avery, the king has decided that you'll go be a spy for us at the arbedour pack where the werewolves resides," He released the bombshell and my eyes slowly narrowed in shock and confusion. 

"What!?" I drop his hands with utmost alacrity and get up to my feet. Did I just hear him well? Maybe it's a joke. 

"Father, you are joking, right?" I ask, towering over him in anger because that question was rhetoric. I know what he said was true. They have been acting weird lately and I also learned that he had an argument with some of the member of the councils, so this was the reason? I've been thinking about it, the fact that my father doesn't fight with anyone, made me wonder why he had a fight with those council members, but now everything is making sense to me. Everything is clear to me now. 

"Why does it have to be me?" I ask with fury written all over my features.

"What about all other families? Even if it must be this family, why can't Phillipa be the sacrificial lamb? Why does it always have to be me!?" I screech, letting the tears that suddenly build in my eyes, find their way out.

"Avery, if it were left to me, you won't go but the king has decided. What can I do?" He replies to me like a helpless man. "You have to go. You must go, " He added.

I hate being pressured or being forced to do anything. Of all families, why am I the one who has to be sent as a spy? What if I'm killed in the process? The thought of those werewolves spurs my next outburst.

"I won't go anywhere, father! And you'll do nothing. Watch me!" I dash to my room...