Beasty (A Royal's Tale Book 2)

by Jennise K

His lips tilted up into a small smile again, and I knew I had won. Then all of a sudden, his posture straightened, and with my hands still holding his, he turned towards Marsha and Sophia.

  “Alright, you can have your kids here. Just…I don’t want Olivia hurt again. Am I clear?”

  He stood still, and just like that, it all ended. The tiny moment of warmth was gone, and the pretence I had concocted was back up. His face was now pulled into a mask.

  He let my hands go and took a step away.

  “After all, she is the guest.”

  ~

  The dressing table was the most beautiful I had ever seen. Intricately carved with branches, flowers, and leaves, which were all white, each branch snaked around the large mirror. It stood before the most beautiful thing I had ever had the opportunity to gaze my face upon.

  Looking at the girl in the mirror, I sighed.

  It seemed that Romanov had trashed everything in the room save the bed where I had laid myself, of course. But even that had been replaced by another king-size bed, the white curtains in the back billowing freely around the thick pillars that stood on each side of bed.

  I was glad, however, that an identical fluffy rug had replaced the old one. It would have been sad if it not had been as fluffy as the one before; I loved sinking my toes in that soft rug.

  The curtains now shifted lightly in the breeze—white and pure. Another set of heavy, black curtains hung in perfect contrast on each side of the tall balcony door.

  The black and white theme seemed perfect.

  Coming into the room where I had been pranked on had been a little awkward at first, but seeing Romanov completely redecorating it, and in such a fleeting time too, the room soon began to grow on me.

  Looking back into the mirror, I slowly smiled as I brought a hair tie and pulled my hair up into a carefree ponytail. A few wisps of hair already managed to free itself.

  Getting up, I picked my bag and quickly turned towards the door, eager to make my way out of it.

  I made a mental note to lock it.

  Shoving the keys into my bag, I flung it over my shoulder as I began walking along the corridors following a path I knew would lead me out.

  Finding my way to the main entrance seemed easy enough. Finding my way into my car, which was parked amongst all the other lavish vehicles owned by Romanov, was a task. He owned so many. Too many. Gladly, I finally found mine running around left, right, and centre.

  “Going somewhere?”

  My keys already in the ignition, I groaned when I turned around and saw Grayson, another smirk plastered across his smug face.

  “Home, I need to see my baby,” I said and sent him a mocking smile.

  That ought to shut him up.

  Grayson rolled his eyes. He leaned forward and poked his head inside my car, his green eyes bland with no care at all. “It’s okay to tell me that you’re only going to go home to take care of your niece since your aunt is at work, Olivia,” he drawled, rolling his eyes again.

  I didn’t even bother asking him how he knew. He answered before I could even ask.

  “I did some digging. Had to make sure your background was clear.”

  What?

  “I hope you know this isn’t a bloody job interview. You don’t need any of my background information,” I hissed, suddenly feeling very irritated.

  Again, Grayson rolled his eyes. I almost wished it’d get stuck somewhere in his socket.

  “But it’s fun! Olivia Amaleen Fredson. Born on the second of April—” He stopped, a large amused grin on his face. “Well, I won’t mention the year. You’re a lady after all. Born in York, brought up in London. Nerdy and yet one of the most popular girls throughout school. Rich—”

  At this, Grayson’s grin widened. “Very rich. Unfortunately lost your mum and dad in a car accident, in which you were on too. Lucky survivor. Then, you lost your sister and brother-in-law in another car accident. One in which you were supposed to be in.”

  He stopped, and I noticed he looked the sincerest he’d ever had since I’d met him. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

  I blinked. Then shook my head. All the irritation I felt for him died with the grief that took over me. Suddenly, I felt very homesick.

  “Can I go now?” I finally mumbled, feeling tired. Grayson’s eyes widened with the lack of bite in my reply, and he took a step back.

  That was all I needed.

  I immediately shifted to drive and sped away from Grayson and his prying questions. My eyes caught a glimpse of Grayson still rooted to his spot, staring after me.

  An hour later, I parked into Prue’s driveway only to find her grey Porsche missing. I wondered who was looking after Letty in her absence.

  Walking over to the front door, I slid my copy of the keys in, pushed the door open, and silently closed it behind me.

  “Hello?” I called out.

  In the silence, my voice seemed to echo around the large house. Well, that was until I walked further into the house and heard the sound of the television playing and feet walking around from which slow, soft coos were issued.

  I frowned, walking quickly towards the source of the voice.

  “Letty’s such a good girl. Oh, yes she is, yes she is! Letty’ll have her mashed carrots, won’t she?”

  Letty let out a shrill giggle, and Dominic, who was the one holding her, sighed with relief.

  Jaydin, on the other hand, grinned, extending a spoonful of mush into the happy girl’s mouth. “Oh yes she will!”

  Although thoroughly amused, I let out a loud cough, and instantly the two boys paused, turning towards me.

  Letty also looked to where her babysitters’ attention had turned to, and, seeing it was me, she let out another loud gurgle of laughter. I smiled at her warmly, my insides turning into mush very much like what Jaydin was currently trying to feed Letty.

  Walking over to the two boys, I reached my hands to Letty and quickly took my niece into my arms. I smiled, amused at Dominic making faces while Letty was transferred from his arms to mine.

  “You boys seem really busy,” I teased, smirking slightly.

  Jaydin rolled his eyes as he brought a little liquid feeder and moved to help Letty drink the boiled water in it, quickly wiping her mouth with a wet cloth afterwards.

  I smiled at Jaydin’s paternal actions then moved Letty against my chest, rubbing her back until she burped. I smiled, strangely feeling like I had just unlocked a new sense of accomplishment at taking care of my niece.

  “Well, Prue asked, and I couldn’t say no. Even if we had class. Dom just tagged along,” Jaydin finally replied as he slumped down beside Dominic, letting his head fall back, his eyes closed in a peaceful way.

  I smiled at Dominic. “Thank you for babysitting Lolette.”

  Shrugging, Dominic grinned in reply and eased further into the couch. “It’s no problem, really. You seem…well,” Dominic remarked while slowly grinning, and I couldn’t help but blush. Jaydin was quick to notice and immediately began making choking sounds.

  Dominic chuckled and punched his cousin on the shoulder, although I would have personally punched Jaydin harder.

  “You have mail, by the way,” Jaydin suddenly spoke up, and I quickly moved towards where he was pointing at, Letty still in my arms.

  Reaching the small package on the counter, I smiled in relief when Dominic walked over to me and gently took Letty from me and tucked her into his arms.

  Instantly, my fingers found the glued edges and began opening it, pulling out a two-page letter first.

  Dear Olivia,

  WHERE. HAVE. YOU. BEEN!? NO NOTE! CAR GONE!—okay I’ll stop. On a more serious note, how are you? I’m absolutely depressed, I swear. London just isn’t London without you....

  I grinned.

  Isabelle.

  “Well…she seems like a comical character,” Dominic blurted out from behind me, completely unashamed by reading something personal and private. However, strange enough, I didn’t feel offen
ded. Instead, I grinned.

  “She has to be. She’s studying criminal psychology,” I said.

  “Woo! That’s a tough one,” Jaydin suddenly exclaimed, still sprawled on the sofa. “How has she managed to survive two years?”

  I grinned. “Isabelle is crazy. She’s anything but dull and boring. That’s what also made us best friends since preschool.”

  “But why the letters, though?” Dominic asked frowning.

  Smiling, I reached into the parcel and pulled out a small stack of pictures. I held up the stack and smiled at the boys. Letty now rested against Dominic’s chest, sound asleep.

  “Because Isabelle loves writing letters. It’s something that’s new between us, though. This way we’re not just like everyone who are all on Messenger or Snapchat. Letters just change things. In addition, we send each other small stacks of pictures, of everything around us that we’re completely happy about—”

  “—but never each other’s faces.” Jaydin cut me off, rolling his eyes.

  I nodded. “That way, when we meet each other, it’s more exciting.”

  “Girls are so weird.” Jaydin shuddered, and both Dom and I chuckled, amused at the weird expression in Jaydin’s face.

  It seemed like only minutes had passed before it turned five in the afternoon, and Dominic and Jaydin finally went out of the house.

  I took in a slow breath of peace, quiet and…home as I settled myself into the sofa, while Letty now woke up, but still cuddled in my arms. A small glob of saliva slipped out of the corner of her mouth, and I immediately wiped it away, caressing the little gem’s cheeks as I did so.

  The child in my arms showed me her toothless smile, and my heart melted as I peeked deep into the blue eyes of Lolette, a trait which she got from her father.

  “You remind me so much of your mummy, Letty. But your eyes sure are from your father’s. I’m sure of it,” I whispered softly, slowly easing her light brown hair back.

  Just then, the sound of the door clicking open echoed around the room, and I turned just in time to see a smiling Prue walk in.

  “Hello, darling. Sorry, I’m late. Victor called in another meeting with the client. I swear that man is a workaholic!” she exclaimed as she slumped down on the couch opposite mine, pulling each of her stiletto off her feet.

  I, however, only smirked. “You like him.”

  Prue stilled. “No, of course not!”

  My smirk only widened. “Oooh, you do!”

  Rolling her eyes, Prue padded her way towards me and slowly leaned down, pressing a small peck on Letty’s forehead. She then turned to me and asked, “What time did you have to go ba—”

  A loud crash outside stopped Prue, and she quickly turned towards the front door, instantly stalking towards the loud commotion the next second.

  I walked behind her, on her heels, with Letty tucked safely in my arms. Pulling the front door open, Prue quickly rushed out just as another crash boomed into the darkening sky.

  I gasped as I stood staring at the source of the noise. My black Audi stood in our driveway with its windows shattered, its broken glasses scattered everywhere.

  Thinking back to the question Prue was just going to ask me a few minutes ago, I numbly answered it out loud. “Now, Prue. I need to go back now.”

  Prue pulled me back inside the house and sat me in one of the living room’s sofas. “Okay. I’ll just get someone to drive it off to the mechanic first thing tomorrow,” she blurted out, filling the shocked silence as we sat together, thinking but not daring to talk about the disaster scene outside.

  My mind kept wondering who could do such a thing. My mind kept wondering, and that confused me even more. I could not think of anyone who held a hatred so strong that they’d smash my car into smithereens.

  Could it be one of the neighbourhood delinquents?

  I sighed. What other choice did I have?

  I nodded. “Thanks, Prue.”

  “Who’re you going to call now?” Prue asked quietly. My mind quickly jumped around people who I could call at this time. River, Abigail, and Jaydin were all busy in their assigned castles now, and clearly, Prue couldn’t drop me with a baby on board especially on hour-long drives.

  Suddenly, a name came to mind, and I quickly dialled Marsha’s number, pressing on call.

  She picked up on the first ring.

  Silence followed, and I frowned, confused. I slowly murmured a small “Hello?”

  “Where are you!”

  I froze. My eyes widened at the uncensored rage that question held.

  Romanov had picked up Marsha’s phone.

  I gulped before replying, “I came home, but someone has wrecked my car. I—I need a ride.”

  Holding my breath, I waited as the silence grew on the other side of the phone.

  “I’m coming to get you,” he said tersely then disconnected the call.

  I looked at the phone, my mouth gaped open.

  “Does that mean you now have a ride, Olivia?” Prue asked. To which I only made the slightest bobbing of my head, my eyes still staring into space.

  “You’re very tense,” Prue observed. “Are you okay?”

  Who wouldn’t after hearing someone—whose personality was as confusing as a Jackson Pollock painting—lash out on me out of nowhere?

  We went back inside the house and resumed our chores. An hour after Romanov had disconnected the call, we sat silently on the sofa while Letty slept quietly in her cradle beside me.

  Each minute passed with dread, and I almost contemplated using my broken car to just drive over the castle. It must have shown on my face because Prue kept looking my way, checking up on me.

  “Olivia?” Prue asked, her face worried.

  I thought back to her question again and let out a weary breath and looked down. “I’m okay, Prue. It’s just that I’m worried about my car.”

  A lie. Well, partially.

  I was more tense about Romanov than my wrecked car. And I had no idea why he was so angry. It was not like I wasn’t allowed to come home as I pleased. Prue was also immersed in her own thoughts, too, I observed, but our thoughts were cut short when a loud car’s horn blasted outside the house.

  Prue immediately moved towards the door, and I looked at my little bundle of joy in her cradle who was thankfully still sleeping.

  Trying to resist the urge but losing anyway, I slowly picked her up and brought her against my chest. I smiled when her tiny mouth moved in response to being moved. Leaning down, I pressed a tiny kiss on her forehead. Her tiny hand found my hair and grabbed it unconsciously. My smile widened, and I rubbed my nose lightly against hers.

  “I’ll miss you too, sweetie,” I whispered to her lovingly before I slowly turned around and placed her back on her cradle, gently rocking it once then twice before Letty settled back in.

  Straightening up, I turned around only to catch a silent Romanov’s gaze on me.

  His expression gave nothing away. And when he turned towards a silently stunned Prue, he smiled and bid her good night. He gave me a look that meant I was to follow him—stat—then walked out of the house.

  Saying my goodbye to Prue as well, I slowly followed behind him and walked to his car, getting into the front seat as he opened the door to it and moved towards his.

  I took one last look at the house and Prue who stood outside, watching us. Then, quietly, Romanov drove out of the driveway.

  ~

  Fifteen silent minutes passed into the drive when Romanov suddenly spoke up, saying something that completely shocked me.

  “You’ll be a great mum one day.”

  Chapter 11

  There was a girl once. A girl who thought her father was the strongest man alive. Indestructible.

  There was a girl once. A girl who thought her mum was the most beautiful woman alive. Eternal.

  There was a girl once and she lived fairy-tale life. In the story, her father was the king and her mum the queen. Her sister was her forever best friend, and she, the
youngest, was everyone’s princess.

  Her fairy tale bloomed and blossomed and thrived. Everyone was happy. Everyone prospered.

  But then her fairy tale died. Her hero was destroyed. Her idol turned out only to be mortal. Her life, her story a mere fantasy.

  There was a princess once. And she watched her—this—fairy tale die. She survived, though. And every year, on this day, she’d ask herself why. Every year, on this day, she’d lose another piece of hope that she’d ever know the answer.

  Why not her? Why did it have to be them? Why?

  The two grey gravestones sat beside each other, close together. Even in death, Mum and Dad were still together.

  Going down on my knees, I ignored my blurry vision as I placed two single stems of roses, their white petals stark against the grey cement of the graves.

  White. For hope.

  In the distance, thunder rumbled, and I sighed as I reached over and brushed my hand over the headstone before me.

  “Hi, Pa.”

  Another tear fell down my cheek, and I rested my hand over Mum’s grave.

  “Ma.”

  I couldn’t help it. Slumping over, I gave myself in to the misery. The events from the dreadful day flashed before me. Our laughter over an inside joke. Mum lovingly looking at Dad. Dad smiling knowing Mum was looking at him in that way. Then the shadow of a tall truck just came out of nowhere.

  “I miss you. You both. You all. I miss you, and I wish you were here.” Another sob ripped out of my lips, breaking me mid-sentence, but I continued. “It’s stupid and I know that nothing’s going to change, but so much has happened and I wish you are both here to show me the way. Ma, Pa, I’m so confused.”

  A hand gripped my shoulder and gave it a squeeze. I moved my palm over the hand and covered it with mine, not so much as flinching from the contact.

  “Your flight back to Berlin is in an hour, Olivia.”

  I sighed.

  Reaching forward, I slowly touched my parents’ gravestones again.

  “I love you. Both of you,” I whispered. Wiping my eyes, I got to my feet and turned to face my oldest housekeeper, Pompy. Her face melted into a motherly expression, and she pulled me closer against her, her hands holding both mine between them.