A Fractured Fairy Tale (R)

[ambrosine]

I'm gonna laugh hysterically if Chloe goes back to normal world and accidentally calls him "Your Majesty" or Alexander. You are wonderful. I love you and your story! I have to go study for finals now.

[meeaz]

ew, i can't believe i forgot to comment! this chapter was so good! aw lex is in love right after he said he wouldn't ever fall in love-it happens to the best of us, even lex lol! great job again! and maybe now lex will figure out that chloe and the kitchen girl are one in the same and then they can be one step closer to living happily ever after! update soon! loving it, like everyone else!

[Louie]

Only one more more night tear tear that means the fairytale will soon end. Maybe he'll remember some of his feelings back in the real world.*looks hopeful*

[chril1]

love this fic soo romantic, and now i want to read some fairytales

lea
xxx

[Not An Addict]

Okay, here's the sitch (yes, I just used the word 'sitch'). I have an internship this summer. I have been given two articles to write. I have finished one, but have much work to do on the other. (*mutters* If that woman from Bacardi would just email me back. . .) I'm also going out of town for a large portion of today. Result? I might not have time to post the next chapter yet.

It bugs me, because I like to keep to the posting schedule that I've set up. And maybe I'll be able to get this thing done in time and have ten or fifteen minutes left over in which to format and post chapter 6. I hope. Anyway, I didn't want anyone who's figured out my super-sneaky posting schedule to think I've abandoned you.

Yes, I'm obsessive about punctuality. Shush.

[Augustine86]

I had it figured out and knew you hd to post tody, so I ws kinda dissapointed tht after my midterm of Semiology I didn't get n updte, but I work s well so I totlly get the extra need for time and the inability to meet dedlines. Don't beat yourself up over that.

All tht crap above does not imply, however, that I don't want you to post tody or that I don't expect it with ll of my heart. It just means tht I won't mon and rnt and rave if you don't. I might whimper, nevertheless. And sob wuite a lot. In highly embarrassing way.

[LarkLuthor]

I'm with Augustine...I was expecting an update when I got back just now... Please update! I miss His Magesty, I'm getting used to this fix!

Lark

[kimmie]

Really like this fic. Please update again soon!!!!!!

Kimmie

[Not An Addict]

A/N: I love my boyfriend. ^_^ After my really shitty day yesterday, and my really shitty morning today, he managed to cheer me right up. I mean, he brought me flowers! *swoons* Once again, my buoyancy has rendered me uncaring of how much formatting this took. Enjoy! And sorry about the lateness. ^_~ *drifts off happily*


Chapter Six: Someone Like You




The fire was crackling loudly behind the grate in the king’s sitting room, logs popping and hissing occasionally as the flames fed on them. Though the sun had risen several hours ago, the clouds that were currently scattering snow had darkened the sky outside the window, and the flickering firelight was the only thing keeping most of the darkness at bay. Alexander stood near the fire, preparing to leave for the village to start off the day’s festivities. He had been in the room since dawn, when he had woken from a particularly intense dream about him and Chloe in his great, soft bed. He had jerked awake with the sound of Chloe’s scream of release still ringing in his ears, and it wasn’t until the bed was actually out of sight that he had been able to calm himself down. He had dreamed of her after that first night, as well; but now that he knew how she felt in his arms . . . now that he had had a taste of how she would respond to him . . . It had taken all his self-control not to seek her out and finish what they had started in the garden.

He lifted the delicate chain that hung around his neck and frowned down at the charms he had hung from it, watching as the firelight danced over the ring and the tiny golden spinning wheel. Alexander didn’t know what kind of game Chloe was playing or why she was playing it, but for some strange reason he felt compelled to play along. And there was always the possibility that he was wrong about the whole thing. Of course, if he was wrong . . .

Tonight was the last night of the festival. If he was wrong, then he could very well lose any chance he had at keeping Chloe. Alexander’s hand fisted around the charms as that thought occurred to him. No; he would simply have to find another solution if his suspicions were proved wrong.

Alexander inhaled deeply, forcing himself to relax, and tucked the chain back inside his shirt where the charms rested reassuringly against his skin. His left hand slipped into his pocket and brushed up against smooth, cool metal. Alexander nodded absently to himself. One way or another, his suspicions would be answered tonight. He squared his shoulders and strode from the room ready to begin his day.

Nothing he could do now but wait.


**************************


Chloe ducked out of the stable and into the open air, shivering as fat snowflakes fell and melted on her skin. She cast one longing look behind her, more regretful than ever that she couldn’t take her thick, warm mantle with her, then trudged ahead through the newly accumulated snow drifts. As they were on the night of her escape, her slippers were quickly becoming soaked; tonight, however, she was too preoccupied to notice right away. Instead, her mind was busy trying to figure out just what it was she was supposed to do after the ball. She’d dance with Lex again, go back to the kitchen, put the charm in his soup, deny knowing anything about it, and then . . . what?

Try as she might, Chloe simply couldn’t remember how this fairy tale ended. From what Margot had told her she figured it must have something to do with the king discovering who she was, but . . . how? Should she arrange to meet him again? Memories of the night before swept through her mind, and a shiver that had nothing to do with the cold danced over her skin. She definitely needed to keep those encounters to a minimum. Maybe she was supposed to show him the bracelet so he’d know that the charms came from her. But then how to explain how they got in his soup? Chloe shook her head in frustration. She needed to come up with some kind of a plan before she did anything. Her body broke out into a particularly violent shiver.

Step one of the plan: get the hell out of this snow.

She was approaching the main road to the castle, and she paused, chewing nervously on her lip as she shivered. Before now she hadn’t wanted to risk someone seeing her walk up instead of arriving in one of the carriages. But it was so cold, and if she timed it just right then she might be able to pull it off. Chloe began to hurry down the road, suddenly grateful for the slight cover that the darkness and the snow provided. The nickering of horses grew louder as she walked, and suddenly the black, box-like shapes of the carriages outside the entrance loomed out of the driving snow. She wove her way between them, and just as she was nearing the foot of the stairs a large, chattering group of people came pouring out of the nearest carriage. Seizing her chance, Chloe slipped in at the back of the group and managed to pass inside unnoticed by either the guests or the servants.

The group turned to the left down a long hallway, passing suits of armor and enormous tapestries without a second glance. Thick, blood-red carpet muffled their footsteps as they moved, and absorbed most of the moisture that had soaked into Chloe’s slippers. After a length of time that had Chloe wondering if the people she had mixed in with were blind not to have noticed her yet, the hallway made a sharp turn to the right and a dozen yards later ended in an open set of huge double doors leading into the ballroom. The chattering people paused at the doorway while a well-dressed man in a loud, booming voice announced them as ‘the Halbrook party,’ and Chloe stayed as close to them as possible as they swept into the room. Once they were inside Chloe separated herself from them and set off to her right, heading straight for the dais where Lex had been the past two nights.

She was halfway through the sea of bodies before she could get a good view of the dais and see that it was empty. Chloe stopped, frowning, and looked around. Lex was nowhere in sight. Okay . . . what the hell? Masses of people were crowded around on either side of her, and it was all Chloe could do to keep herself oriented in the crush of bodies. Not relishing the idea of searching the entire ballroom for Lex, Chloe had just taken a deep breath and prepared to fight her way through the crowd when she felt a strong hand on her shoulder. She was already smiling when she turned around to face . . . Clark.

“Cl—Sir Kent!” Chloe glanced down at her shoulder, at the hand that Clark had yet to remove. He pulled away with a slight flush and offered her a deep bow.

“My apologies. I called your name, but you seemed not to hear me in all this noise.”

“It’s all right,” she smiled at him. “I was just looking for . . . his majesty.”

“Ah. He seemed to believe that you would be coming in through those doors, for some reason.” Clark gestured towards the large doors leading outside. “He decided to wait for you there.” Did he just get closer? “Before you go off to find him, perhaps you would be so kind as to favor me with a dance?” Yeah, he’s definitely closer.

“Um . . . maybe later. If he’s waiting for me I-I really ought to go find him.”

Clark looked vaguely disappointed but covered up with a grin and another deep bow. “As you wish, my lady. Perhaps I should escort you over . . . there.” By the time Clark had straightened, Chloe had melted into the crowd. “Damn.” His brow furrowed in confusion. "How does she do that?"

A short distance away Chloe was trying her best to fight her way through the throngs of people. It became easier as she moved farther and farther away from the door, but it still took her an irritatingly long time to make her way to where the crowd was thinned enough that she could move freely. She began to walk more quickly to the doors leading outside; they were closed now, and she could see the snow drifting down even through the fog that had clouded the panes of glass. As she drew nearer she could clearly see Lex standing by the doors looking through the small pane he had cleared, his expression concerned. Trying her best to repress a smile Chloe adjusted her path so that she came up right behind him and laid her hand on his back, unable to help a small shiver when she felt the muscles beneath her hand. Lex whipped around, surprised, and now she did smile up at him.

“Chloe.” A confused frown crossed his face. “How did you get in here?”

Chloe let her lips curve into the smirk that she had seen so often on Lex’s face and stepped a few inches closer to him.

“Why Lex,” she murmured, her voice low and teasing. “Through the front door. How else?” Lex smiled down at her and Chloe’s smirk changed to a grin as the warmth of his expression washed over her. “Since I’m here, your majesty, would you do me the honor of a dance?”

Lex bowed slightly and slipped a hand around her waist, his other hand grasping hers lightly. “I believe that’s my line,” he grinned.

“Ah, but not the ‘your majesty’ part,” she teased as they started to dance. “I’m not a queen.”

Not yet. But Lex kept that thought to himself and simply smiled at her. The material of her dress felt remarkably smooth, with none of the rough texture of diamonds that he had expected to feel. If he closed his eyes he could almost imagine that it was Chloe’s bare skin beneath his hand. That thought had his heart beating faster, his breath coming just a hair harder.

It was only through a supreme force of will that he was able to keep from leaning down and capturing her mouth with his, and to hell with the rest of the people in the ballroom. He had to feel her in his arms again; the need was so strong it was bordering on pain. Luckily the orchestra started winding down, and he guided her off to the side, slowing their steps until they gradually came to a halt with the rest of the dancers. He released her waist but kept her hand in his.

“Could I interest you in a tour of the castle?”

The deep rumble of Lex’s voice sent a shiver running through Chloe’s body, and a single look at his eyes left no doubt as to what he really meant. Chloe wrestled with her better judgement for a brief moment before she nodded her head, her heart leaping into a frantic race at the heat that flared in Lex’s eyes. He began to lead her out of the ballroom; Chloe saw that the eyes of most everyone in the room were following them and felt a hot blush creep over her skin. Still, she followed him, unable to fight down the urge she felt to be with Lex again.

He led her through the hallway, his steps quickening as they went, and Chloe felt a laugh bubbling up inside. They turned a corner and before she knew it Chloe found herself pressed against the wall with Lex’s mouth hot and insistent over hers.

It all happened before Chloe could form a single thought, and by the time she realized what was happening it was too late to think. Her head was spinning so that she couldn’t do anything but respond to the kiss, her arms wrapping tight around Lex’s neck to pull him closer. All she could focus on was the feeling of Lex’s tongue sweeping through her mouth, the delicious pressure of his body pressing her hard into the wall. She felt his hands move to grip her hips and their lower bodies came crashing together. Chloe ripped her mouth away from his with a low moan and Lex moved his mouth to her jaw, then her ear.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured, and Chloe shuddered as his lips grazed the skin beneath her ear. Lex let out a soft chuckle and leaned back, brushing his thumb over Chloe’s swollen lips. He offered her a smile that bordered on sheepish. “This wasn’t what I had planned for tonight, I swear. But you were all I thought of last night; as soon as I saw you in there, all I could think of was . . .”

“This,” Chloe whispered.

Her heart was still racing—possibly because Lex’s body was still pressed against hers, his lips still just inches away. Lex seemed to have come to this realization as well, and her breathing stalled at the desire that was slowly creeping back over his face. He started leaning towards her again and with one last heroic effort her better judgement had her turning her face aside. Unfazed, Lex simply let his lips brush along her jawline. Chloe let out a breath that was almost a whimper, unconsciously tilting her head to give him better access.

“We can’t do this,” she said, and almost winced at the lack of conviction in her voice. Lex made an assenting sound but continued his gentle assault, trailing kisses across her cheek to her mouth. Chloe turned her head again and Lex gave the other side of her jaw the same treatment he had given the first. “We shouldn’t . . .”

This time when his mouth returned to hers she made no effort to evade them. His lips rubbed over hers with gentle pressure until every ounce of tension in her body had melted away. She felt as if she were floating; as if her grip on Lex, far from holding her up, was anchoring her, keeping her from flying off into the clouds. Then Lex wove a hand into her hair, tilted her head, and deepened the kiss with a speed that left her dizzy. She was drowning, nearly undone by the feeling of his tongue sweeping through her mouth, exploring and exploiting each new treasure that he found.

His hand slipped up to cover her breast and Chloe arched into his touch, beyond caring or even knowing that they were in the middle of a hallway where anyone could discover them. The broken sound she made was swallowed in Lex’s kiss, and even as her response drove him on it called him back to the present and the impropriety of their situation. This time it was he who broke the kiss, fighting down the urge to simply drag her to the floor when he heard her whimper of protest. He leaned his forehead against hers and simply stood there for a moment, holding her as their breaths panted out between them.

“I’m sorry,” he panted again. He took a deep breath and stepped back from her, doing his best to ignore the sudden emptiness of his arms. He held out his arm to her and, with a quirky grin that he couldn’t help but echo, Chloe looped her arm through his and allowed him to lead her back to the ball.

Chloe’s grin began to fade the closer they came to the ballroom, and by the time the other guests were in sight she was searching for the best escape route. Her interlude with Lex had cost her precious time; she had to be getting back to the kitchen before it was too late to make the soup. Her hopes were dashed, however, when Lex immediately pulled her into his arms to begin the next dance. There was no way out of it then, and Chloe felt her heart racing faster and faster as the dance progressed. The orchestra played and played and played, with no end of the song in sight. But it had to end soon. It just had to. If the song didn’t end she’d never get out of there, and she wouldn’t be able to fix the soup and Lex wouldn’t find the last charm and she’d never get to go home.

Would that really be so bad?

The thought popped into her head before she could stop it. She couldn’t possibly stay here forever. After all, there was . . . and then she had to think about . . . it was just wrong. Wasn’t it?

“Chloe?” She looked up at Lex and saw that he was observing her with an inquisitive gaze. She wouldn’t go so far as to call it suspicious, but— “Are you all right? You seem distracted.”

“Hmm? Oh, yeah—yes—sorry. I just . . . I—”

“Have to go,” he finished with a smirk. His hand on her waist pulled her closer, and his eyes locked on hers. “But surely you can stay to finish out the dance.”

“Well, I . . .” She sighed, smiled. “All right. I suppose finishing this one dance won’t hurt anything.”

But the dance lasted longer than she had expected, and before she knew it the next one was beginning and she was twirling around the dance floor once again. She had to quite literally pull the ‘look over there’ trick in order to get away; she made a break for it as soon as Lex’s back was turned, all but running out of the room in her haste to get back to the kitchen. By the time he turned back to her she was gone once more, and his disappointment was tempered this time by a growing sense of satisfaction. Chloe had not noticed what he had done as they danced, and if his suspicions were correct she would be far too busy for the next few hours to take any notice of it. Surly he would have his answer by the end of the night.

He nodded to himself, ignoring the nervous tension in his stomach. By the end of the night, all would be revealed.


**************************


Chloe was in deep, deep trouble. She hadn’t meant to stay so long at the ball, and as she wove her way around the general chaos in the kitchen she cursed Lex, cursed the bracelet, and cursed her own stupidity for getting her into this situation in the first place. After staying so long to dance with Lex she had had no time to change out of her sparkling dress. Instead, she had simply thrown her cloak on over it and dashed into the kitchen, thinking that surely after she made the soup there would be ample time to change.

Unfortunately, she hadn’t counted on one of the kitchen workers wandering too close to the fire.

She had only just begun to smear her face and hands with ash when a huge cry went up. The man in question—who had since made it into Chloe’s ‘too stupid to live’ category—had stumbled over a loose brick in the hearth and stumbled into the embers of the fire. The burns on his feet and legs were severe enough that he couldn’t possibly work any longer that day, and Martha had sent him off. Unfortunately the kitchen was already in an uproar—the last day of the festival meant the largest celebration, and that meant a greater variety of food and plenty of it. Coming up a man short had thrown Martha into a veritable panic, and she had seized on Chloe with the blind desperation of a drowning man.

There had been no opportunity to change in all the bustle, she hadn’t been able to smudge her face up any more, the cloak was only just barely on as she hadn’t had time to do it up properly outside, and if Lex were running true to form he would be calling down for her at any moment. The longer she went without being able to fix her disguise the less she was able to think. But things were winding down now; dishes were being cleaned and soon there would be no need for her. If she could simply hold out another few minutes—

“Hey, you! Roughskin!”

Chloe’s hope deflated at the familiar rough voice calling for her. She looked up, and sure enough the man who had called her was pointing to the stairs where a well-dressed servant was standing, his nose wrinkled in distaste as he surveyed the smoky chaos of the kitchen. Her heart galloping fiercely in her chest, Chloe slowly crossed the room and began to follow the man up the winding stairs.

Try as she might, Chloe simply couldn’t remember how this fairy tale was supposed to end. Margot had told her that she had to drop the final charm into the soup, that the king would call for her again, but . . . after that . . . what was going to happen? If she had gone wrong along the way, then everything was lost. She would never go home, never be able to go on with her life. Instead she would be stuck here . . . with Lex.

Without her friends.

But haven’t they all been ignoring me for the most part anyway? I don’t really have the friends that I used to . . .

Without her family.

Dad’s always at work. I barely even see him anymore, and let’s face it—we’ve never exactly been close. Not since Mom left.

Without the Torch.

Even the Torch has seemed to pale lately. No one listens to what I have to say even when I have solid proof. On the rare opportunities that people do listen, it’s because someone else is taking the credit.

The sudden realization almost made Chloe stop in her tracks, and she had to scramble to catch up with the servant again. She had been focusing all this time on going home, but maybe . . . maybe staying wouldn’t be such a bad thing. After all, Lex was here. Well, ok, technically Lex was in both places; but the Lex here cared about her, wanted her in a way that she had never thought possible at home. And if she stayed, she would be a queen. A queen. Chloe just barely managed to hold back a chuckle at the thought. Wouldn’t that just kill Lana if she knew?

Lana. Chloe’s silent laughter died at the thought of the other girl coming into her room to wake her up as she inevitably did on Saturday mornings. Would the bed be empty? Or would she just be caught in a coma, a kind of never-waking dream? Either way, her father would be hurt. And it was the knowledge of that pain that decided her. One way or another, she had to go back. They might not have been close, but that didn’t mean that Chloe could stand to see him hurting if she could help it. Besides, surely things were still on-track. And as far as this meeting with Lex went . . . well, she’d just have to play it by ear. Whatever happened, she was sure she could handle it. By the end of tonight, she would be going home.


**************************


It was all Alexander could do to keep from pacing the floor of the solar. He had sent for the girl; she would be arriving soon. For what was likely the fiftieth time he glanced at the table to his left. The goblet, the pitcher, the small, soft cloth; everything was there, ready to go, just as it had been every other time he had checked. Everything was going according to plan so far. Footsteps sounded outside in the hall, footsteps that were growing closer to the doorway. Alexander took one final deep breath and sat up a bit straighter in his chair, doing his best to regain his customary air of authority. He was the king, after all. The greatest authority for miles and miles around. There was no reason for his stomach to be tied in knots. He rubbed absentmindedly at his midsection. No reason at all.

The man he had sent finally came into sight, standing to the side and gesturing for his unseen companion to enter the room. A moment later she appeared, as slight and fur-laden as she had been on their past two meetings. Her steps were hesitant, but she crossed the room without protest to stand before his chair. A nod to the servant had him quietly closing the door, leaving the two of them alone with only the crackling fire for company. The girl bobbed a slow curtsey with a mumbled ‘your majesty’ and then stood, waiting for him to speak.

“I suspect that you know why I’ve called you up here.” When she didn’t speak he held up the charm from his soup, a golden hook this time. He watched it for a moment, enjoying the way it caught the light from the fire. An appropriate token, I suppose. She has well and truly hooked me. Still the girl stayed silent, and with a smirk Alexander decided that it was time to try a different track.

“It occurs to me, looking back on our previous encounters, that I have been unforgivably rude.” Ah, there, that’s gotten her to look at me a bit. “I’m told that you wear that heavy thing at all times, even in the heat of the kitchen. If that’s true then you must be in dire need of refreshment, especially after as hectic a night as tonight. Here.” He filled the waiting goblet with cool water from the pitcher and held it out to her.

“Oh. Um. Thank you, your majesty, but . . . I’m fine, thanks.”

“I insist.” The authority was back in his voice now, his tone that of a man used to getting what he wants.

Chloe looked at the outstretched goblet, trying to see where the trap lay. And there was no doubt in her mind that it was a trap of some kind; how she played into it could determine how the story ended up. But try as she might, she simply couldn’t see the harm in accepting a little bit of water. And it was awfully hot under all that fur . . .

The rest happened so quickly that it was only later that Chloe was able to see how it had all happened. She reached for the goblet and saw, too late, that the ash had worn off, clearly showing her pale skin and the small golden ring that she hadn’t even noticed was on her finger. In a flash she was pulling her hand back, but Lex was quicker than she was. He grabbed her hand with a triumphant expression, and as she tried to tug it back her mantle fell askew. The light from the fire caught her dress, setting off a galaxy of sparkling stars that a blind man would have noticed. It took no more than that for Lex to pull the mantle completely off, and before she knew it she stood before him, her dress sparkling in the firelight and her hair tumbling down around her shoulders, and nothing left of her costume but a few smears of ash on her cheeks.

Chloe held her breath, waiting for the outburst she was sure must be coming. But instead of shouting, instead of giving her a wounded look and launching into a hypocritical lecture about keeping secrets—as she was only too certain that Clark would have—Lex simply stood and looked at her as if she were his fondest dream made flesh. Without releasing her hand he set the goblet back on the table and dipped the handkerchief-sized bit of cloth into the water. Then his hand was at her face, wiping away the last traces of her disguise. When her face was clean and Lex dropped the handkerchief in favor of her other hand, Chloe finally snapped back to herself.

“You knew,” she whispered, and Lex’s mouth quirked up into a wry smile.

“I hoped,” he corrected. His thumbs were brushing lightly over her knuckles, and Chloe tried to block out the sensation so that she could focus on the questions she had.

“How?”

There was no escaping the amusement in Lex’s eyes now. “In the garden, after you had left, I noticed that there was ash on my fingers. The rest followed logically after that. The way you disappeared just before dinner; the way these little trinkets kept appearing in my soup; everything fell into place.”

“And . . . you’re not upset?” she ventured hopefully. “About the secrecy?”

“I’m confused, and . . . I suppose you could say I’m curious. Why did you hide who you were? Why were you working in my kitchens? Just . . . why?”

“Okay. Well. That’s kind of a long story.” She gently drew her hands from his and moved a few paces closer to the fire. She felt him come up behind her, closed her eyes when he gently closed his hands around her arms, rubbing the flesh there comfortingly.

“I’d like to hear it.”

So she told him everything. Everything, at least, that she knew. About her father wanting to marry her, about her attempts to keep it from happening, about her escape. Told him that she was afraid if she had come to him for help that he would have turned her back over to her father. That she wasn’t sure he would be willing to contaminate his kingdom with her father’s madness, as it were. And she made up something about simply being unable to stay away from the party that had been so much like those she used to attend. When she finished he turned her around and drew her close to him, cradling her against his chest until she returned the embrace and burrowed closer.

“Your father doesn’t matter,” he murmured as he stroked a soothing hand over her hair. “You are not defined by the madness of your parents. If you were . . .” He gave a sharp laugh. “I’d hate to think where that would leave me.” One strong hand slipped beneath her chin, lifting her face to his. “What matters now is that you’re here, and as crazy as it sounds after so short a time . . . I love you. Please, Chloe, tell me that you will agree to be my wife.”

Despite her better judgement, Chloe felt her heart skip a beat when she finally heard the words. Okay. Now or never. Goodbye, Lex, it’s been wonderful while it’s lasted. She took a deep breath and smiled.

“Yes. Yes, yes, I’ll marry you, yes.”

Alexander had never felt so happy, and without wasting another second he captured Chloe’s mouth in a kiss he knew he would willingly drown in. It was only through supreme force of will that he was able to end the kiss without dragging her to the floor, secure in the knowledge that no one would dare interrupt without his express consent. Chloe stared up at him, her eyes dazed and tinged with what he would think, if he didn’t know any better, was confusion. He smiled at her and led her to the door.

“I’ve had your rooms prepared for you in the hopes that my suspicions were correct. You should go and get some sleep in a bed that’s not made out of hay. I’ll see you again in the morning, and . . . you should go while I can still control myself.”

Chloe couldn’t help but smile at that, and she was grateful for his decision when she saw that the man that had led her up there was still waiting outside the door. If he was at all surprised by her transformation it never showed on his face, and without a word he began to lead her through more hallways. Just when Chloe thought that she couldn’t possibly walk another step he stopped and opened a large, ornately carved door, standing aside once again for her to enter.

When she walked inside Chloe couldn’t quite suppress a gasp at her surroundings. The room was more luxurious even than the bedroom she had woken up in. Pale rose and gold fabrics adorned heavy furniture of dark, slick wood, and while she normally would have felt that the colors better suited Lana than herself, at the moment it seemed like heaven. A fire was already crackling in the fireplace, and while there was no bed in sight it was all Chloe could do to keep from tearing up when she saw a maid filling the large tub sitting on the rug in front of the fire. A hot bath. The thought was enough to make her feel like dancing for joy.

“Do you require any assistance, your highness?”

“What? Oh.” It took Chloe a moment to realize that the girl was addressing her, and another moment to realize what she was talking about. She glanced at the supplies that were neatly arranged on a table next to the tub and shook her head. Privacy was something she had learned to treasure in the past few weeks, and she certainly wasn’t going to give it up simply for convenience’s sake. “No, thanks. I can manage on my own.”

The maid nodded. “Very well, your highness. Your bed has been turned down for you when you finish.” She gestured to a second door leading to what must be the bedroom and bobbed a curtsey before leaving the room, closing the door behind her.

Chloe wasted no time, but immediately stripped away her clothes and stepped into the steaming hot water. She couldn’t quite suppress a groan of pleasure at the feeling of the warmth surrounding her, so much better than the chilly or lukewarm water she was used to washing with. Swearing that she would never take a hot shower for granted again, she set about brushing her long, surprisingly untangled hair and sorting out which of the pretty glass bottles contained what. When she was finally clean she sat back in the warm water and simply relaxed. Her relaxation didn’t last long, however, as the thought that had been plaguing her since she left Lex finally popped back up. She had delivered the final charm, she had been found out. She had gotten her happy ending.

So why hadn’t she gone home yet?



TBC . . .

[Louie]

hehehe cause tecnically the last line is "and they lived happily till their death". can't wait to see what you do with that.