In Chains, C. Noble [recommended ebook reader txt] 📗

island, sent a letter to King Martinaque telling him to relinquish his throne or face an attack, knowing full well that Dijoubwe is a peaceful nation, preferring diplomacy to destruction. We have not had a war or political upheaval since 1598, when your family, Princess, was given the throne.
“Now, don’t look like that, the Martinaques did not hurt anybody, and were merely next in line to the throne. The previous ruling family had been killed in a raid on the island from Obweji, ironically enough, from General Thane’s ancestors. After the murders, they were chased from the island by our army. After that, your ancestors took over the rule, Princess.
“The first thing they did was to ban any people from Obweji access to the island. If a sailor from the island needed supplies, then volunteers from Dijoubwe would sail out with the supplies and bring back the gold. They also disbanded the majority of our army, keeping only enough left to provide protection from the royal family, the Palmas and Dosciers, and the citizens.
“Things continued peacefully that way up until early 1995, when General Thane sent the letter. They were so worried that he would carry out the plans he laid forth in his letter than they sent you, Princess and Mistress Palma, with the Dosciers when you and Master William were a year old. Master Dante was two, and so remembers a little of his home, do you not, sir?” Dante nodded, a faraway look in his eyes.
“My Princess and Mistress Palma were sent to live in foster families while the Dosciers took on false names. You four were hidden from the outside world at your age, and so your names were unknown. You grew up with the names your birth parents gave you, although your foster parents should never use your middle names,” Hulio glanced at Darcey, whose eyes had cast over with a memory of the week before.
“In our culture, at least one middle name represents a member of your family deceased, and eavesdroppers may have been able to make a connection. You were to stay in hiding, unaware of your true identities, until King Martinaque called you back, when it would be safe.
“Remarkably, I just received this vital information Friday morning. That was why I asked you three to write those essays, and why I arranged this meeting. Now, we can discuss this further on the plane, so I suggest that you all go home and pack up all of your belongings, as we leave in –” Hulio was cut off by a dumbstruck Darcey.
“What do you mean? I’m no princess! I don’t look or act like any of my family, but I am not royalty. And I can’t leave, I just…can’t! You’ve got the wrong girl, Mr. Munro… Montoyez… I don’t even know! I’m sorry, but I’m not your princess.” Darcey started to leave the room. Mr. Montoyez, Dante, and Mary Ann all stared at her, unsure what to do. Only Will jumped up and ran after her.
“Darcey…Darcey! Darcey, get back here!” Will caught the struggling girl around her waist with one strong arm and dragged her into a very familiar janitorial closet with the other. In a familiar fashion, Will snapped on the lights, locked the door, and flipped over a couple of mop buckets. Once again, although more comfortably now, did he wrap his arms around Darcey, this time to prevent her escape. He knew that she was in shock, as anyone who was told that they were royalty would be.
For several minutes he had his hands full trying to contain her thrashing without upsetting the entire contents of the closet. Darcey turned inward, her forehead on Will’s chest. She raised a fist and hesitated, before punching him in the shoulder and breaking down. She fought to get away, which cut Will deeper and more painfully than the physical abuse she was dishing out so freely.
After a long time, she stopped struggling. His arms and chest were sore and bruised, but he didn’t move to aid them. Instead, Will just held her there, keeping her safe from the outside world. He turned his back on the door, remembering his promise to his father about keeping her safe. This instinct was magnified by an emotion he had not felt before, but seemed to control him. He knew that Darcey was in great danger if she stayed here, but he was afraid to let her leave.
Things would change if Darcey became a princess. When Darcey became a princess. Will knew that he could maintain a friendship with her, but nothing more. His arms went slack, falling off of Darcey. She looked up, her bloodshot eyes surprised. She sniffed, then sat down on a bucket. With one hand pressed against her eyes, she reached up with the other and grabbed Will’s hand, dragging him down onto the neighboring mop bucket. He flimsily complied.
They sat there for an undefined period of time, both stunned silent. A knock on the door shook Darcey back to life. She got up and unlocked the door, creaking it open a crack to see who it was. Mary Ann’s wide grey eyes stared back into Darcey’s large green ones. Darcey could see Mary Ann had been crying, although not to the extent Darcey had. She flung the door open and took Mary Ann up in her arms, hugging her tight.
Mary Ann smiled, then started to softly laugh. Surprised, Darcey smiled too. “You know, when we were little, we always dreamed we’d be princesses when we grew up,” Mary Ann said. Darcey gave a hiccup, then started to laugh into Mary Ann’s shoulder. She straightened and replied, “We’ll be best friends, no matter what happens, right?”
“I’d never leave you, you’re like my sister!” Mary Ann grabbed her hands and stepped back. “So we’re going then?”
“Yeah…I guess we are. If…Dad…said it was safe to go, then I think we should.” Darcey straightened and held her head high, looking entirely like the princess she was born to be.
For the first time, Mary Ann looked over Darcey’s shoulder and saw the still sitting Will. He hadn’t even turned to look at Mary Ann when she entered. Darcey followed her gaze. Dropping her best friend’s hands, she turned and strode over to Will, standing in front of him. Impatiently, she put her hands on her hips. Will raised his eyes, surprised at the sight that met him.
“Will, get up. We don’t have time for this, we’ve got to get home and pack, and then catch a plane that will take us to Dijoubwe, which, if Hulio is correct, is about a twenty hour flight.” Darcey pulled on his arm, forcing him up.
“What are you doing?” Will asked incredulously. She had just been told she was a princess, and here she was yanking on his arm, telling him to get a move on.
“I’m going home.” She said firmly. “I’m done here. If being a princess means leaving the Carters and moving to a palace with my birth parents, I’m all for it. Now get a move on, I want to see my family as soon as I can.” With another astoundingly strong jerk, she had Will up on his feet and out the door.
Hulio had called cabs, and pushed Mary Ann and Dante in one while joining Will and Darcey. “We’ll be at your house soon, Miss Carter,” Hulio said with a slight grin. “You will pack your clothes, and we will send for your other belongings in a few days. Will, your brother will pack your clothes. I’ve called the airport, and arranged a plane for us. You’ll be there in no time!” He finished, winking at them happily.
The silent drive ended when the cabbie pulled into the Carter’s driveway. Darcey and Will ran inside while Hulio stayed with the cab. Darcey grabbed her suitcases out of her closet and started ripping open her dresser drawers. Will stood guard at her door, determined to keep out every single Carter that begged entrance. His resolve stood firm for about five minutes, before Lana jumped up the stairs and pushed his legs aside, running into Darcey’s open arms.
“Darcey, where are you going?” Lana asked innocently. Her golden hair shone, her blue eyes searching Darcey’s face. Darcey laughed at her little sister, the only Carter who ever liked her.
“Lana, I’m going to go away for a while. Ask Mom and Dad, they’ll tell you. Can you keep a secret?” Lana eagerly nodded, and Darcey smiled. “Good. I’m going on an island vacation! It’s called Dijoubwe. I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone, but I’ll send you letters and tons of toys and stuff, ok Princess?”
Will winced at the word, but Darcey ignored him, and Lana didn’t notice. Instead, the little blonde girl replied eagerly, “Have a good time, Darcey! I can’t wait! Go now, I want to get my letter soon.”
Darcey smiled again as she packed the last of her things and dragged the heavy suitcases out the door. Her former parents were waiting, agitated.
“Louise, Dalton, I’ll be going now. Thanks for housing me for the last fifteen years, and I only pray that you are not called on for such a duty ever again.” Darcey said, feigning respect. Will stifled a laugh as the Carters tried to figure out whether or not they had been insulted. Will grabbed the bags from Darcey, and together they walked out her front door for the last time. As they walked to the car, Hulio watched them curiously for a moment before disappearing into the passenger’s seat of the idling cab. Will tossed Darcey’s suitcases into the trunk before he slid in behind Hulio and reached over to open the door behind the driver for Darcey.
The drive to the airport was full of meaningless chatter about school and vacationing. To an eavesdropper, the words would have been empty. But to the three who shared a common, desperate secret, they spoke so much more.
Darcey acquired a basic knowledge of the island, and of how Hulio had watched over the three of them, how it wasn’t a coincidence that the three of them had had every single class together since first grade. In the hour it took them to drive to the airport, Darcey had learned the first hundred years of her family history, a feat that would amaze her at any other time. But a thought suddenly struck her.
“The Carters…can I have Lana over to, um, visit me? You know, while I’m on, uh, vacation?” she stammered, remembering that there was an outside ear listening. Lana had been the only Carter to ever take an interest in her. Darcey remembered when she was seven and Lana was born. Dalton and Louise wouldn’t let her stay in the house for a week, so she had to go to Will’s. To make her feel at home, Mary Ann had stayed too, although even then she had been much more interested in Dante’s doings. Darcey had admired Dante from afar, but stayed with Will and played soccer and basketball.
Hulio turned around in his seat, eyeing Darcey. “Lana is unfortunately not allowed on the island. The age restriction for the resort,” Hulio winked and risked a brief smile. “Is sixteen, and Lana is still too young. Perhaps when she is of age, she may be invited by the owners.”
With a broader smile and another flashing wink, he turned around into the front seat and directed the cab driver to a private runway, on which sat a lone jet.
Darcey couldn’t identify the logo emblazoned on its tail, but she remembered seeing it once before, many years ago. A moonlit crescent beach curved around a white, cratered moon. The waves lapped at both the beach and the moon, split down the middle with a coat of arms