The Selection (1x1 with AnnaCat17)

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Atlas did as he was told, drawing his pistol. Now he was even more worried. Who was this man? He watched him carefully. What images were they talking about?

"That's not necessary, Sir. I can take care of that." Solace pulled a blanket over him. "Shouldn't you be celebrating your birthday instead of getting day drunk? Or is that just how you celebrate?"

Elliott nodded and went to go get ready.

[AnnaCat17]

The man sat the laptop on the desk where Atlas and Pavel could both clearly see the images. There were only two but that was all that was needed. The first was an image of Romeo accepting Elliott into his bedroom in the middle of the night and the second was of when Romeo and Elliott were kissing in the castle hot tub. Both images had time stamps proving they happened during the selection. Pavel looked at the images for a long moment before looking back at the man. "And what exactly are you wanting?"
The man smiled devilishly, believing he had one. He pulled out a list and sat it on the desk in front of Pavel. "Right now not much but once you complete this list we will have another. We want you to marry one of our girls so we can easily get messages to you, the draft for more soilders will be gotten rid of, you have several of our fellow rebels behind bars and we want them pardoned and released for their supposed crimes."
Pavel looked again at the images, debating what to do. This could destroy him. He couldnt allow something like this to control him but he could hardly bare the thought of hurting Romeo and Elliott. He had to do what was best for the country. "Officer Fox, arrest this man for treason. If his associates release the images arrest Sir Romeo and Lady Elliott as well." He said coldly, watching the mans face drop, clearly having not expected Pavel to refuse to be blackmailed.

"Who would i celebrate with?" He grumbled as he looked drunkenly at the ceiling. "The late king killed my family, all of my friends are either over seas fighting a war they didn't ask for or are eights making it practically illegal to talk to them anymore, and there is a mutual hate between everyone here and i. Id prefer to drink myself to the point i wont remember today."

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

"Yes, Your Majesty." Atlas moved over to the man and swiftly handcuffed him. He didn't know if Pavel would actually arrest Romeo and Elliott, but he hoped he wouldn't. He was fond of both of them, and didn't want anything bad happening to them.

Solace felt awful. She gently stroked his hair, trying to think of something to say. "What would you like for your birthday?" she asked him, wanting to distract him.

Abril called Victory as she got driven to her house. She wanted to make sure she didn't mind her coming over. She needed to talk to her.

[AnnaCat17]

Pavel remained at his desk. He looked at the spot where his father had been killed, wondering if one day soon he would be killed in the same spot. It didnt take long before the photos were released just as the man had said. He watched the news as it discussed how his favoritism to his adviser by turning a blind eye to the affair showed weakness in him and brought up the question of had he used the selection to pawn the girls off to strengthen his connection with the rich. He ran his hands through his hair. He felt trapped. He didnt want to hurt his best friend but he didnt see any other option. He had to do something to prove he would enforce the laws on everyone as a strong king should. He closed his eyes as he tried to hold himself together, knowing this would make him lose everyone he cared about.

Romeo led Elliott into the castle happily, oblivious to what was on the news. He smiled at Atlas as he saw him return from the jail cells down stairs. "Good to see you survived the party last night. Dealing with a hangover or are you one of the lucky ones?"

Sutron felt like he was going to cry so he turned away from her. "Doesnt matter. Just leave me alone. Im sure you have other rooms you are itching to go clean and im just waisting your time."

Victory answered the phone tiredly, having barely slept again last night. "Hey Abril. What's up?"

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Atlas shook his head, his expression grim. "Didn't drink that much." He glanced at Elliott, feeling awful but unable to do anything else but follow his King's orders. The images had been released. He knew what he had to do. "Lady Elliott, Sir Romeo, you're under arrest for breaking the law." Regret made him miserable as he cuffed Romeo's hands behind h back. Before he could move towards Elliott, she ran away and he shoved Romeo to the ground before running after her.
Elliott didn't understand what had been going on, but she ran as fast as she could away from who she had thought was her friend and tried to find a hiding spot. They'd find her, she was sure, but she wasn't going to give in easily. "Matteo!" she whispered as she spotted them. "Hide me, please!" she pleaded him.

Solace laid down beside him, gently wrapping her arms around him instead of leaving. She rested her head against his shoulder blade, content with holding him there and letting him rest.

"Hi," Abril whispered, trying not to cry. "Can I come over? I really need to talk with you."

[AnnaCat17]

Romeo didnt try to get away after he had been pushed to the ground. He could guess what this was about. He squeezed his eyes shut as he waited for Atlas to return, terrified of what was coming.

Matteo looked up at her abd without hesitation grabbed her hand and pulled her off. He opened one of the secret passages and down the dark hallways until they reached a broken safe room covered in spider webs and dust. The metal door was still broken and the blood stains on the floor made the room even more terrifying but Mattel didnt mind as he sat down on the wooden bench to hide with her.

Sutton closed her eyes. He wanted to push her away since all her kindness was doing was making him hurt more but he forced himself to stay still. "Why are you being nice to me? We hate eachother."

"Of course. Ill have coffee ready so let yourself in when you get here." She said before hanging up and going into the kitchen to make the coffee.

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Elliott tucked her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs. She huddled beside Matteo in the safe room, whimpering quietly as she tried not to think about Romeo and how she had left him there.

"I don't hate you," Solace corrected him, gently hugging him. "Not anymore, anyways."

Abril was relieved, and she got out of the car once they arrived and knocked on the door. She wrapped her arms around herself, biting her lip as she waited outside of the house.

[AnnaCat17]

Matteo looked over at her worried but didnt know what to say. He reached over and gently held her hand before looking back at the door.

Sutton rolled over and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close to him. "You shouldnt be so stupid."

Victory rolled her eyes but went over and opened the door. "I told you to just let yourself in." She said as she pulled her into a tight hug. "What's wrong?"

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Elliott held onto his hand tightly, afraid that Atlas would find them. She tried to ignore the blood stains and the state the room was in, but it frightened her and she just wanted to be back home with Romeo.

Solace smiled faintly, resting her head on his shoulder as she relaxed in his embrace. "I thought we already confirmed that I am."

Abril hugged her back and went inside. "A lot," she admitted. "But there's two things bothering me the most."

[AnnaCat17]

"You are stupider than i realized if you are forgiving me." He mumbled as he slipped one of his hands into her hair. He wasnt used to being this close to someone but it felt oddly good, even if it was her.

Victory led her into the kitchen and gave her a mug of coffee. "What are the two things? Anythibg i can help with?"