A NEW WAY

King Derek returned to the room to meet Special giggling like a school girl as she looked at the mirror.

"Do you want some more twinkling?"

"No I am very satisfied. I don't want my ribs to hurt more than this."

Sitting on her bed, he stared intensely making her blush. She refused to move from the mirror.

"Have they gone?" she asked.

"What do you think?"

She feigned innocence and he smiled.

"I am king My darling. I am a ruler, an authority and I am wealthy. if I don't want your presence, you disappear immediately."

"Please slow down, my head is spinning"

"It shouldn't. You are mine. A part of me which makes you an authority and I need you to start seeing that. I need you to stop being scared. I will always support you but I need you my darling to take a stand for yourself. You are a person not an object.

The tears threatened to fall but they were distracted when he pulled her into his arms. Holding her tightly,he planted kisses on her hair as she wiped her eyes.

"If you do not like something, say it. if you do not want to see anyone, say it also" He encouraged.

"I am not letting go Special. I will be with you" Derek assured his wife who suffered from extreme low self esteem.

"Now let's get some large and private breakfast."

They exited the room together and truly had a private breakfast. Special enjoyed every bit of the menu and Derek let her eat to her fill.

Not knowing what had transpired between the king and her family members, as Derek deliberately refused to tell her, Special opted to see them. She dressed in her royal apparel, walked alongside Mrs Lola to her family suite.

Her father watching a game was the first she could find and he summoned the rest of the family to her presence.

Special hinted that she would like to talk to only the ladies.

John reluctantly left them but looking at Mrs Lola he was confident that the queen would be fine. He knew his daughter was scared of Hope and he always wished that was not the case. But unfortunately that was the case. His daughter was terrified due to all that happened when she was growing up.

"Yes what can we do for you Madam Special?" Hope asked as soon as John was out of the room. Special sat down besides Mrs Lola with the suite door opened. She ignored the arrogance of Hope and decided to talk.

"I was told you wanted to have a talk with me but I was busy" Special offered.

"Yes we know you were busy laughing and having sex shamelessly" Treasure attacked.

"Would you mind your language young lady. You are talking to the Queen." Mrs Lola attacked.

"Exactly, mind your dirty words. How is the Queen's sex life your business bitch! Talking any how!!" Susan added.

"Would you shut up Susan? Are we mates? Simply because you are married now, you don't have one single respect" Treasure shouted.

"You are stupid for demanding respect. Prostituting freak"

"What?!! Susan am I your mate?" Treasure screamed.

"Everyone calm down" Young Ashley wailed but the ladies began quarreling on top of their voices, calling each other names while Special stayed quiet watching them all solemnly.

"By the way, Mrs Lola who called you into this family meeting? Do you see what you have caused?" Hope asked.

"Am I your family?" Special surprisingly asked. This made everyone turn to the Queen. No one was expecting her to speak, how much more ask Hope any question in such manner. Everywhere suddenly became so silent.

"Hope am I your family?" Special asked again.

"Is this fat buffalo calling my name because she is Queen?"

"What did I hear you say to the my wife?!!!" roared a voice everyone feared. He emerged at the entrance, blocking the door frame with his size and attire. Derek looked very furious as he had heard it all.

"Eh mm your majesty, it was just a slip of tongue.My Queen I am sorry" Hope said kneeling down before Special who looked calm yet frowned at her.

"It is not a slip of tongue. You are a disrespectful, wicked and arrogant" Mrs Lola attacked.

"Exactly, very disrespectful. You think this is the small child you almost drown to death or starve or beat down. She is a Queen! a full fledged Queen in the country." Susan added with SK much emphasis.

At the mention of all that had happened in the past, Hope held Special's leg pleading profusely to Special who had tears in her eyes as she remembered how Hope maltreated her greatly.

"If you don't have any reason why you wanted to see me, excuse me." Special stood up pushing her slightly and walked out with the king in her arms and Mrs Lola following.

"You are a devil. I am not sure I am your mother. How can you say such things to the king" Hope attacked Susan who simply stood up, hissed and walked away.