Princess of the Damned

For the next two days I spent most of my time perfecting the whole Princess thing I had to start being. I holed myself in my bedroom with a pair of high heels and book on etiquette, forbidding anyone to enter for fear I might lose my concentration and never go back to the goal at hand. In my time of solitude, I also perfected blocking Benjamin from my brain. The silence, while overbearing at times, also proved to be quite nice while I paced back and forth muttering things to myself as I perfected walking in heels.

Before I knew it I had to face the first of a few dreads on my list of things to not look forward to, declaring peace between my realm and humans. If there had been pressure before, I was definitely feeling it double time.

“Tiffany breathe,” Aether’s voice cut into my head and I forced a smile, letting out a long breath as we stood outside the Department’s headquarters. Actually creating a new treaty was the easy part, declaring peace in front of the millions of my people was what I dreaded with every ounce of my being.

Aether placed a comforting hand on the small of my back, holding the glass door open for me as we entered the building. Phoenix stood at the front desk, already equip with a guest badge. He bowed; his smoldering eyes locked with mine and held out a badge for myself.

“Benjamin is already here, he has begun the drafting process in your stead,” Phoenix informed me, holding his arm out to point me in the right direction.

In fear of puking from nerves, I just nodded and followed him down the hall, Aether remaining in the lobby. I glanced over my shoulder at him and he flashed another supportive smile, his eyes letting me know everything would be fine. For some strange reason his reassurance filled me with warmth and I turned, letting a grin cross my face before entering the office of Derek Burnes, Head of the PHSAFE Department.

Phoenix stopped in the doorway, his face stony as Ben and Mr. Burnes looked up from the document they’d been working on. I stopped just behind Phoenix, afraid to do anything stupid and he cleared his throat and stepped aside.

“May I present Tiffany Scott, Princess of the Damned,” he announced flatly.

I stepped forward, plastering a smile onto my face as Mr. Burnes assessed me from where he stood. From the quizzical look on his face I assumed he thought I’d be older.

“God Evening, Mr. Burnes,” I moved to the desk, holding my hand out as gracefully as I could manage.

“Please, call me Derek, Princess,” he smiled, taking my hand and kissing the back of it. From the corner of my eye I could see Ben clench his jaw and had to fight the laughter bubbling in the pit of my stomach.

I smiled, keeping my eyes locked with his as he moved back to the desk there a formal document sat, the first few pages covered in scribbles. Derek looked rather young compared to what I pictured him to be, his cropped dark hair was parted in the middle and slicked away from his squared jawed face. His gray eyes held specks of black in them, shielded by a pair of plastic black thick-rimmed glasses. He was altogether handsome save for a long scar on his left eye starting at his hairline and stopping just above his cheekbone.

“I guess we shall continue then, if you don’t mind, Princess,” he smiled, bearing a set of slightly yellowing teeth. Clearly, he drank a lot of coffee.

“No, please,” I nodded, standing beside Ben while Derek leaned over the document.

I quickly tuned their conversation out as they discussed the treaty. Phoenix joined in and I found a seat in the corner as they debated the final copy of the document. I let my mind wander, the first thing popping into my head being the wonderful feel of silence. When Benjamin wasn’t clouding my mind so frequently I actually had time to think clearly, without his persistent presence, which now that I thought about it was quite relaxing. But if Ben not being around was relaxing wouldn’t that mean I didn’t want him around? But I thought you loved him? So did I. Then why do you enjoy it more when he’s not around? I don’t…know. Do you really love him? Of course! He protects me, he cares for me, I’ve had a crush on him for… AGES! But that still doesn’t mean you love him. Stop questioning me! I can’t second guess myself like this. And what about Aether? He’s such a gentleman. I don’t know what I would do without Aether. He respects me so much… What am I saying? You’re blushing! Shut up! Go away!

“Princess, would you mind rereading the final negotiated treaty before we write up the finished copy?” Derek’s voice pierced through my jumbled mind.

“Of course,” I got up from my seat and ghosted across the room, startling him. I had to fight a grin at his wide eyed face and took the document from him, reading it in seconds and holding it out to him. “It’s written well, I agree to all terms.”

“Oh, very good then, I’ll just have my secretary write it up and we shall have it finished in no time. If you wish we have various offices within these walls if you wish to explore while you wait,” he said with a flourish.

“I just might, thank you,” I faked a smile again and moved toward the door. Ben appeared at my side as I made my way toward the lobby, an irritated look on his face.

“Why are you blocking me?” he demanded, his eyes furious as they bore into mine.

I batted my eyelashes at him and grinned as evilly as I could, “Because I’d rather keep my thoughts to myself.”

A hurt look crossed his face and he grunted angrily, “Why where you blushing in there? I hate not knowing what you’re thinking.”

I had to fight a burst of laughter at the pout on his face and rolled my eyes, “I was thinking about things that you aught not to know anyway, Benjamin. Your constant presence has been a bit wearing of late.”

He looked incredulously down at me, his eyebrows disappearing into his hair, “Constant presesnce? I’m trying to protect you, Tiffany! I care too much about you to let you out of my sight. You are a magnet for disaster might I add. And I’ve been blocked out of your mind for the past day and a half and I have no idea why!”

I sheaved a sigh and glanced around the hallway, Phoenix leaned against the wall outside Derek’s office, his head turned in the opposite direction, but clearly listening intently to our conversation. I grabbed Ben’s arm and pulled him into an empty conference room, slamming the door behind me when we were both safely inside.

“I just think I need some space,” I broke it to him as gently as I could.

“What?”

“Ben, I just need to think.”

“About what? Two days ago you didn’t want me to leave your side and now this? Make up your mind, Tiffany!”

I clenched my fists, trying to keep my overzealous temper in check. I couldn’t tell him this new silence had me second guessing my feelings for him. So what was I supposed to say? Those blue eyes bored into me like two beacons to the soul. He looked so upset and conflicted as he stared at me, his arms crossed over his chest torturing me. His muscles stood out perfectly under the thin cloth of his button up shirt, the fabric stretched over his biceps so I could see every detail of his arms. I bit my lip, trying to keep my mind from wandering away from my current dilemma when a tall, leggy brunette strode into the room, her reading glasses pushed up onto the top of her head, a curious look on her face.

“Um, pardon me, but Mr. Burnes is ready for you in his office,” she stammered, clearly overwhelmed.

Ben’s eyes shot to the woman the second her voice interrupted us. I watched him eye her from head to foot, clearly dazzling her with his inhuman beauty. He smirked, and strode toward the door, brushing her arm with his as he exited. Her cheeks flared red and I let out a low growl, following him furiously.

I ignored Benjamin as Derek presented us with the final copy of the treaty, the brunette standing off to the side while he scrawled his signature along the line designated for him. I waited for all three men to sign before taking pen to sign my own. With a flourish I signed my name for the first time. Princess Tiffany Scott. It felt weird but looked wonderful on paper. Derek nodded as I straightened, placing the pen beside the newly signed document bearing the government seal as well as my family crest. I could feel Ben’s eyes on my as I turned on my heel and left the room, Phoenix in tow behind me. He chased after us a few seconds later but I remained oblivious to him, pretending to ignore every glance he snuck at Derek’s secretary as she followed us to the lobby where Aether stood obediently. He face visibly brightened at the sight of us and I smiled.

“How’d it go?” he asked, his hand automatically finding the small of my back.

“Actually, it was fine,” I let out a sigh if relief. “Now I just have to tell everyone else.”

He chuckled, “I’m sure you’ll be just fine, Princess.”

“Easy for you to say,” I muttered as we left the building. “You just have to stand there and watch my back.”

“Which is not as easy as it looks,” he added.

I glanced up at him, seeing the smirk on his face. I felt a sudden rush of gratitude that he was there for me and gave him a one armed hug as we made our way down the front steps of the building. “You know just being royalty isn’t as easy as it looks, Aether.”

“We’ll see about that,” he laughed, roughly griping my side as he prepared to teleport.

XXX

“Just breathe,” I muttered to myself, the noise from my audience getting to my head as I waited for Phoenix to finish addressing the nation.

“How are you feeling?” Aether’s voice washed over me and I turned to see him leaning casually against the wall behind me, a black polo stretched over his chiseled chest, a gun tucked in a pair of khakis.

“Like I’m going to puke,” I admitted, placing my hand on my forehead and cringing at the cold of it.

“Just picture them naked,” he laughed.

“Yeah right, I don’t want to see any of that,” I shook my head, Ben appearing at the curtain keeping me from my kingdom.

He smirked at me and I glared, not forgiving him for his little stunt at Pheel SAFE. “Phoenix is ready for you.”

“Thanks,” I muttered, pushing passed him.

My body literally froze at the sight of the entire damned realm before my eyes. I cleared my throat, willing myself toward the podium where Phoenix stood beside it, his face unreadable.

“It’s all yours,” he muttered and I glared at him, trying to gather my thoughts as the people before me waited almost silently for me to say something.

My throat seized, closing on me as I stared out at the masses. I opened my mouth to speak and a gurgle echoed from the microphone. Phoenix glanced at me, a smug smirk on his face. Anger sparked in the pit of my stomach and I stared determinedly at the crowd before me.

“Thank you all for attending tonight,” I began, feeling idiotic. “I am pleased to inform you all that the war has finally ended. Earlier this evening, I met with the Director of Pheel SAFE, Derek Burnes to compile a new treaty for the benefit of this realm. In memory of my fallen parents, you former King and Queen, we amended the previous treaty to allow the Damned more freedom to interact in the human world. Please join me in celebrating the end of this epic war and welcome a new time of peace.”

The crowd roared and I smiled, stepping away form the podium. Phoenix directed me toward the back, the butterflies in my stomach finally fading. He leaned close to my ear as we left the area, that smug grin still on his face.

“Nice job for a first timer,” he chuckled and I glared at him.

“Thanks,” I growled at him, my glance flicking to Ben where he stood opposite Aether behind the curtain. The corner of his mouth turned up in a perfect crooked smile and I narrowed my eyes at him, unsure of how to react to his behavior. I kept walking, Aether pushing off the wall to follow me.

“Tiffany, wait,” Ben called and I glanced at him over my shoulder.

“What?”

“Please, just let me talk to you, at least?”

“Fine, I’ll find you tomorrow evening,” I replied shortly, grabbing the front of Aether’s shirt and dragging him away before Ben could say anything more.

A/N: Well… I don’t really like this chapter either… but I guess it’s a little better… I’ll explain the whole, Ben/Tiffany second guessing herself thing in the next chapter, I promise. But that’s all I’m going to say. Don’t forget to let me know what you think!

Serephena.