Five

Ash stared up at the castle in awe. An ivy-covered stone building with tall spires and domes separating the east and west wings from the center point. Lengthwise the building disappeared into the mountainside of Mt. Genevive, from which the castle was carved.

“You know the inside is pretty nice too.” Charlie said. Ash broke from her trance and looked at the grinning prince.

“All right then show me.” Ash said.

“As you wish. Just got to the castle and already giving orders.” Charlie replied as he offered her his arm, she took it with a grin.

“Only to you, after all you almost hit me with a horse.”

“Fair point.” Charlie conceded offering her his arm.

Ash took it and they walked side by side into the castle. Ash’s eyes sparkled as she drank it all in. The interior was decorated with blue tapestries with Alonia’s symbol, a wolf curled protectively around a torch burning with a silver fire emblazoned on the fabric. The floors were polished marble and decorated with deep blue rugs. There was a walkway that went straight to what was probably the larger parts of the castle as well as a large staircase that went to a walkway that could lead anywhere.

Charlie led her up the steps glaring at servants who stared too long. He led her down a few halls and eventually they stopped at his mother’s study. He knocked on the door. It opened to reveal a tall man with light brown skin and brown eyes with waved brown hair wearing a grey business suit.

“I need to see my mother, it’s important.” Charlie said.

“She’s on the phone right now, give her three minutes.” the man said with a glance at Ash.

The man came further into the hall. “What have you done?” he asked Charlie crossing his arms.

“Almost hit me with a horse.” Ash deadpanned.

The man just laughed. “I like this young lady, Luca Caito advisor to Queen Anabelle.” He said with an outstretched hand.

Ash took it. “Aislinn Black, heiress to Black Diamonds Consolidated.”

“Ah Bernard’s daughter. It’s been a while since he’s been to the meetings between all the business owners. I believe your stepmother would take his place. Nice lady.”

Charlie quirked a brow. “She’s been abusing Ash for the past four years.”

“Never liked her, she has contempt in her eyes.” Luca rescinded.

Ash let out a laugh. “You know I can just go stay at a friend’s house I mean I already have a bag I’ll just-“

Charlie gently grabbed Ash’s arm to stop her as she turned away. “We’re doing this, now.”

Luca looked down at his wristwatch. “It’s been three minutes, go on in.”

Charlie led Ash into a large to a room decorated with white furniture and baby blue walls. There was a large mahogany desk with a computer setup and phone in front of a window overlooking the beach. There were two plush chairs placed in front of the desk.

Sitting at the desk was a green-eyed woman in her thirties with platinum blonde hair and fair skin. Queen Anabelle De Lupa watched Ash and Charlie enter the room.

“Mom, this is Aislinn Black, daughter of Bernard Black.” Charlie said.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty.” Ash said with a curtsy.

“The pleasure is all mine dear. Please sit. Now what is this all about?” she asked.

“Ash’s stepmother has abused her. She treats Ash, an heiress, like a servant and has physically harmed her.” Charlie explained.

Anabelle’s green eyes turned to Ash. “How so?” she asked.

Ash rolled up the sleeves of her jacket to show the thin scars on her arms. “I see, is that all she has done?”

“No ma’am, I have more.” Ash said.

“Could I see them?” Anabelle asked.

Ash hesitated, but then nodded and stood up turning around and seeing Luca standing at the door. She unzipped her jacket hesitating to take it off. Luca reached out a hand and Ash handed the jacket to him. With a deep breath she lifted the back of her shirt.

Charlie turned to his mother to gauge her reaction and saw the flash of anger in her eyes.

“Thank you, Aislinn.” The Queen said.

Ash lowered her shirt and Luca gave her the jacket back which she quietly accepted. She kept her eyes on the ground. She refused to turn back around.

Charlie turned to face his mother. “Ash’s father is out travelling for business.”

“He’ll be back on Sunday.” Ash added.

“Morgana Fai-Black is a Gray, and she has used her powers against Ash.” Charlie stated.

“I see, then Luca and I will contact the Mage’s Union. In the meantime, Aislinn you are our guest. Feel free to use any accommodation you please.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Charlie escorted Ash out of the study. He could tell that she was shaken. “You did great.”

“Charlie, what will happen to Caleb and Alexandra?”

“That will be up to your father.” He replied. “Your stepmother never abused them?”

“Well, not in the same way as me. She…she kind of just ignores Caleb. He did get hurt trying to stop Morgana from whipping me, and they got into a duel.”

“Duel?”

“Caleb’s a Gray too. He was stronger so after he knocked Morgana out he got me medical treatment.”

“So, there are medical documents about this?”

“Not necessarily. We went to my friend’s house. One of her uncles is our primary physician so we kind of used their kitchen as an emergency room.” She said sheepishly.

Charlie stopped dead in his tracks and Ash turned to look at him. She bit her lip seeing that he was straining against appearing irritated.

“How many people are aware of your situation?” he asked in a strangled voice.

“Uhm…eight…not including my siblings or you and...” Ash gestured around the castle. “All of this.”

“And the whipping wasn’t reported?”

“They forced me to go to Alonian Patrol, but…I…uh…I lied about everything.” Ash admitted.

Charlie’s face fell. “I see, but there was a report?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay.” Charlie noted.

They came to the residential wing of the castle. There were large windows looking out towards the Lorian Ocean and many rooms. Ash peeked into the ones where the doors were open and saw a game room, a room with a mirrored wall, and a room full of nothing but sofas and mattresses. So far it was the darkest room they had passed.

She pointed at the room with a questioning look.

“The nap rooms.” Charlie explained. “Open to everyone, the staff use it the most.”

Ash nodded impressed.

“Your room will be down here, and my room is further down the hall, it has my initials on it.” Charlie said as they turned a corner.

He opened a door to a guest room and Ash went in he followed watching her reaction.

“Holy shit.” She whispered.

“Not exactly the response I was expecting, but yeah.”

The room was very impressive. In it was a canopy bed with blue four fluffy pillows and duvet, a sitting area with plush white chairs in front of a fireplace with a flat screen TV over it, and an ensuite. Ash sat down in one of the chairs.

Charlie sat down as well then noticed that she was glaring at him. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.”

“What?”

“I told you not to get involved.” Ash said crossing her arms and turning away.

“I thought we discussed this! Ash you can’t stay in that environment.”

“Says who?”

“Me! The Prince. One of the few people in Alonia who’s word is law.”

“That doesn’t explain why you care.” Ash stated.

Charlie huffed. “My father and his siblings had been a victims of abuse. My aunt and uncle died at the hands of my grandfather. Dad kept most of what happened to him a secret, but once he came to power he made the law to protect Alonians from domestic abuse, including children. I just want to make sure the law is enforced.”

Ash sat back. Princess Inara and Prince Ezekiel didn’t live to sixteen. Their father would make the siblings fight each other and himself, Stefano was the only one who ever beat his father in a fight to the death.

“I’m sorry.” Ash finally said.

“Why are you so upset about this?” he inquired.

“Because this doesn’t just happen!” she said motioning from her to him. “Princes don’t just rescue random girls from abusive homes.”

He quirked a brow. “You don’t know that. But you can’t deny that this is better, I can tell you like it here, why are you fighting me on this?”

“I don’t know. I’m just freaking out and I took it out on you. I’m sorry.” She said. “This is a huge change and it completely threw off my plans for myself and…” she buried her face in her jacket and screamed in aggravation.

Charlie placed a hand on her shoulder. “You don’t have to worry Ash. You know that, right?” She looked at him with a hopeless expression. “You’ll be okay. I promise.”

Ash sighed and closed her eyes. “In a way I was too scared to leave. What if when I did, I found out that they would carry on without me, like I never mattered?” she confessed.

“You matter Ash. You won’t always feel like it, but you do in fact matter. You have purpose and there are people that care about you. Your father loves you right?” she nodded.

“He would’ve noticed that you disappeared, and then he would’ve been scared and confused, right?” she nodded again.

“Seems to me like you matter to the person you care about most, that means he cares about you too. You’ll get to see each other again soon. I know it won’t solve everything right away, but it’ll be a start.” He said.

Ash looked up at him she had started crying halfway through Charlie’s speech. He reached up and wiped the tears away. She chuckled.

“What?” Charlie asked.

“This is honestly the most surreal thing. I’m crying, being comforted by the Prince of Alonia, who has already seen me sweaty, covered in dirt, and practically naked. I can never get married!” Ash said crying and laughing.

“It doesn’t help that your faceplant into me transferred some of your make-up onto my chest.” Charlie said revealing the smugdes on his shirt.

“Shut up!” Ash said laughing.

She wiped at what was left of her tears and took a deep breath regaining composure. The room fell into silence and Charlie cleared his throat.

“Have you eaten?”

“I’m not hungry, thank you though.”

Charlie frowned knowing he had taken her from her home right before dinner. He stood up and smiled. “Well if you need anything the phone next to your bed has a directory. The kitchen is open all day, so someone will take care of you.”

“Alright, I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Right, well I’ll see you tomorrow. How does a grand tour of the castle sound?”

“I’d like that, thanks.”

“Cool, well, good night.”

“Good night.”