Protection

Sky's POV-

Diary Entry

The constant pretense with Dakota is suffocating. I don't know if I can take it any longer. Last night he tried to force himself on me. Just thinking about it made tears accompany the rims of my eyes. And here I thought I'd never have to experience it again since my Gerald was far away. I was clearly wrong. I tried to calm down but I failed miserably. My hands continued to tremble, the tears just kept falling. "You will have to prove you love me sooner or later!" That was what he yelled angrily before storming out of the room. I guess he slept in his room. I couldn't force myself to care or love him. Yet had he kept up the nice guy act I might have started to see him as a human. I quickly wiped away the tears when there was a knock on the door. Trying to pull myself together.

End of diary Entry

"Come in" I called, going over to place the diary back in its hiding spot under the mattress. I realized it was quiet and turned to find Lou standing by the door. And suddenly I have the hiccups. Talk about bad timing. I thought. "Lou, what are you hiccup doing here?" Hiccup. He started to move closer when I yelled for him not to. "You didn't mind me being here before" he countered. I rolled my eyes. Hiccup "What do you hiccup want Lou?" I asked, watching his every move because he just kept getting closer. "You know for a moment a brief moment I almost believed you wanted Dakota" he chuckled. "Lou hiccup I already explained hiccup that I want hiccup Dakota, what other proof do you need?" I asked, getting frustrated. He's just barely recovered yet here he is.

He just stared at me momentarily. He took a step closer when I walked over to the nightstand and pulled out our wedding rings. Lou, I'm getting married to Dakota. We have our rings and we started making plans. I stuttered badly in a rant. Trying to convince him. When it didn't stop him from moving closer I thought about the camera and glanced at it several times trying to send hints to Lou that it was there. He either didn't catch it or he just didn't care. "Sky I should have come sooner but don't worry I'm not leaving you with him. He's really going to have to kill me for that to happen" he started before picking up Dakota's laptop from the nightstand behind me and throwing it at the camera. -Crash! and both the laptop and the camera sat in pieces on the floor. I stood stunned, hiccups gone just as quick as they arrived. "Lou you... My words felt trapped in my throat.

Lou gently took my trembling hands in his. His eyes, full of concern, locked onto mine. "Sky, you don't have to pretend anymore. I won't believe anything you say if it's about you wanting to be with him," he said softly. "I know you're scared. I swear, I'm not going to let him hurt you again." I felt a wave of relief mixed with fear wash over me. "But, Lou... he will check the footage and see all of what happened before the camera was broken if he hasn't already. What if he hurts you again?" My voice was barely a whisper, the terror I felt evident. Lou shook his head. "I'm not afraid of him, Sky. What I'm afraid of is leaving you here alone with him. Please, come with me. I can keep you safe." I glanced around the room, my eyes lingering on the shattered camera. "But where can we go? He has eyes everywhere." Lou squeezed my hands reassuringly.

"We'll go to my treehouse, the secret room. He won't get to you there. I promise, Sky, I'll protect you." I hesitated, the weight of my fear holding me back. But looking into Lou's eyes, I saw the sincerity and determination in those bright orbs. He really would do anything to keep me safe. That's what scares me. Him putting himself on the line. "Okay," I finally whispered, my voice shaky but resolute. "I'll go with you." Lou gave a small, relieved smile and wrapped an arm around me. "Come on," he said gently. "Let's get you out of here." As we left the room, I couldn't help but glance back one last time, my heart heavy with both fear and a glimmer of hope. For the first time in a long while, I felt like maybe, just maybe, things could get better. I have a feeling that this is a bad idea, but either I hide now or continue acting.

We didn't stop and speak to anyone along the way. No one saw us. We needed to get to the treehouse as fast as possible. Not wanting to be in the castle when Dakota arrived. "Lou this is a bad idea" I voiced after we had made it to the basement of the treehouse. "Have a little trust in me" he said with a wink before placing his hand over a black screen and suddenly there's a beeping sound and the screen reads "Welcome Lou" There's another beeping sound and the whole wall splits in half opening to a space that looked similar to a studio apartment. I'm sure I looked like a deer caught in headlights. As I looked around I could feel Lou's gaze on me the entire time. "It's not big but it's a space only I can enter. You can't even get out without me. For now you don't need to get out. You're safe here"

"No one knows about this place but me," He said. I took in a deep breath as I sat on the nearby sofa. The room had no windows which made it feel more like a cage. Lou sat next to me wrapping his arms around me. "Can you tell me why you lied to us and pretended to want him?" No first tell me why you were crying. Actually it doesn't matter what you tell me first just... Just tell me everything" he said calmly. I tried to be as calm as him but failed miserably. I took in another deep breath before starting. "The... I... I couldn't even form a sentence trying to spill everything I bottled. His grip tightened around me one hand giving a comforting squeeze on my shoulder the other rubbing my arm in gentle strokes.

"Take your time" he said before giving a small kiss on my temple. "Lou, he was going to kill you. All of you" was what I managed to choke out. "What do you mean?" He asked his once calm composure now a shadow of curiosity, concern and fear. "I was on my way to tell the King that I wanted to be with you that I chose you but then I overheard a phone call Dakota was having. He... Hired a hitman to take out all of you. Everyone except me. I pretended to want him to stop his plan and I thought I could keep pretending, keep acting but he... I trailed off not wanting to finish. Lou pulled away before raising my head so that our gazes met. "Sky, tell me. He what? Did he hurt you?" He asked, his worried expression made me a bit unsure. What will he do when I tell him?

"No he didnt he... I...we... Again I couldn't form a sentence. "Sky?" Lou called out. "He just tried to but he didn't. I'm fine" I stated quickly before standing to walk over to a bookshelf. "What do you mean he tried to? How can someone try to... He trailed off and I knew he caught on. "He tried to rape you" he stated in a way that was more meant for him to confirm it out loud then to ask. I didn't say anything, I just kept looking at the books. The words blurred into each other as the threatening tears obscured my vision. Lou turned me to face him and engulfed me in a protective hug. I didn't even hear him move from the sofa. We stood quiet. Me silently putting tears on his shirt and him just quietly comforting me. "He lifted me holding me tightly against him and laid me on the bed.

I attempted to sit up when he stopped me. "Just rest for now. You don't need to be scared or worried about anything. Just sleep. Can you do that for me?" He asked, pulling a quilt over me. Him asking me to sleep made me get this uneasy feeling that he was planning something. "Are you planning to leave me here alone?" I asked. He attempted to shush me by pecking my lips when I shoved him away. "So all guys are horny dogs" I said annoyed. -Ouch! "So I'm being compared to him now? Just wanted to give you a concrete answer to your question" he said. How exactly does shushing me with kisses answer me? I asked. "Well it means I will be staying right here in this bed with you all day" he said with a wink. I rolled my eyes before pulling the quilt over my head attempting to hide my smile and not laugh.

"Sky?" he called suddenly so seriously. I removed the quilt and stared back at him. I felt so tired I didn't bother to ask what it was he wanted to say so I just waited for him to continue. "I do need to go back to the castle. I need to speak to my Dad and Jason, grab some clothes for both of us"

He said taking my hands in his. "Just wait for me" he started to let go of my hands but I held onto his hands tightly. "Can't you call them? Have them meet us here?":I asked. That bad feeling is still lingering. Something is telling me to keep him here as long as possible. "They don't know where this place is and plus I just need to leave just for a bit" he voiced, removing my hands. "Lou tell me you're not going to go pick a fight with Dakota" I said sitting up in the bed now worried.

"Relax,I won't. I'm going to speak with my Dad and Jason. Just rest for now till I get back. I pulled him into a hug. "Lou if you don't come back I won't speak to you again" I half whispered because I was really too sleepy. "Promise you're coming right back" I could feel his grip tighten. Which didn't exactly reassure me. "I promise" he voiced, still holding me tight.