The Selection (1x1 with AnnaCat17)

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

"My friends are going to be coming with us, is that alright? There's only two of them, and they're sweet girls, and they're very worried about you brother." Elliott started to lead him to go find them, but went slowly in case Matteo decided he didn't want them to come along.

[AnnaCat17]

Matteo nodded and walked with her silently, tears still running down his face.

Victory was searching under the tables in the room where they had their etiquette lessons but smiled when she aaw Elliott abd Matteo. "You found him!" She walked over and smiled excitedly at him. "Wheres Abril?" She asked, looking back at Elliott.

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Elliott gently took his hand, giving it a light reassuring squeeze. "It'll be okay," she promised him. She led him over to Victory.
"Right here," Abril said, going over to them. She had seen Elliott and Matteo walking down the hall.
Elliott and Matteo led the way towards Pavel's room. Both girls were nervous.

[AnnaCat17]

Pavel laid face down on his bed, biting one of his pillows to hold back moans of pain as Romeo tried to treat his back. No one but Romeo and Matteo even knew about what his father did, not even the doctors or his mother. Long gashes and overlapping welts covered his red back from where he had been struck repeatedly with a belt, crossibg over all of his scars. "Can you not press so hard?" He said through the mouth full of pillows.

"Im being as gentle as possible but it needs to be disinfected so stop squirming." Roneo shot back as he continued tending to the bloody wounds. He looked up as the door slowly opened and saw Matteo peek in. "Hey buddy. You came out on your own today?" He asked with a reassuring smile that fell away as soon as he saw the three girls in the doorway. He stood up and tried to block the shirtless prince from view but it was to late. "You are forbidden from being here." He snarled at them as Pavel looked over blearily.

Victory paled as she looked at the prince's back. She gripped Elliott's arm tightly to keep from fainting. This wasnt possible. She had to be asleep. Matteo was crawling up onto the bed and sitting by Pavel's head as if he couldnt even see his brothers back. How could any of this be real?

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

"We don't care," Elliott snapped, and Abril took a step back in surprise at the sudden fierceness from the usually quiet and timid girl. She went into the room, crossing the floor and making her way over to the bed. "We knew you lied. We were worried. I was worried that exactly this had happened." Elliott narrowed her eyes at Romeo. "Pretending to be sick? Like I haven't played that game before."

Abril's face paled as she saw the prince. His father had hurt him. That was obvious now. She felt awful and sick and wanted desperately to help him and to take his pain away.

[AnnaCat17]

Romeo glared at them bit walked over and shut the door so they wouldnt be overheard by any passing guards or staff. "No one is permitted to know about this. I dont care if you knew it was a lie. If i say he is busy riding a unicorn you accept it or you go home!" He yelled back at Elliott, furious that these girls were putting his best friend at risk.

"Please stop yelling." Pavel groaned into the pillow his face was buried in. Matteo was playing with his hair, helping to relax him slightly but his back still glistened with sweat and blood.

Victory looked at his back heartbroken as she slowly approached. "How could someone do this to their own child?"

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

"We won't tell anyone!" Elliott stayed steady against his glares. She winced a bit as she heard the Prince's voice, her anger fading a bit. "They're angry," she muttered. "They punish us like this to gain some sort of power over us. It makes them feel more in control. Like they had made their point across."

Abril slowly followed Victory, and lightly took Pavel's hand in both of hers, smoothing her fingers over the back of his hand. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I wish I could help."

[AnnaCat17]

Victory huffed and picked up the medical supplies and started treating Pavel's back with a delicate hand, used to helping fix injuries. "He is the king. How much more power does he need?"

Pavel squeezed Abril's hand tightly as Victory started to work on his back and bit the pillow again to keep from making noise.

Romeo's glare softened at Elliott's confession. "What did they use on you?" He asked as he glanced at her back, recalling the scar on her shoulder.

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

"The same thing." Elliott glanced at Pavel's back. "Sometimes they'd stick the metal fire poker into the fireplace and then use that on me." She looked away, biting her lip.

Abril softly pressed kisses to his knuckles, holding on to his hand. She wished desperately that she could take his pain away. She hated seeing him hurting.

[AnnaCat17]

Romeo looked at her worried. "Im sorry Elliott." He sighed and looked back at Pavel. "Well at least you never have to see them again. If it comes down to it Ill personally make sure they dont ever come near you again." He continued to say to her.

Victory finished bandaging up his back and softly kissed Pavel's brow. "Is there anything we can do for you your highness?" She ased softly.

Pavel shook his head and slowly opened his eyes to look at Matteo who still was playing with his hair causing it to get ll messed up. "No more scaring off the girls. Ok?"

Matteo nodded sadly and looked up at the three girls. "Im sorry."