Make Your Move Katherine

No Dad Here, Sorry

“I’ll get it to you as soon as we reach and we’ll head back out,” he vowed when he saw how sad, she looked. “The frequencies are different that’s why your phone doesn’t work at the castle but out here it will,” he explained to her and Kat glared at him.

“So why didn’t you bring it?”

“Well, erm-”

“What you didn’t think that my-” she raised her index and middle finger to make air quotes, “- ‘behavior’ was good enough, in general, to get a phone call? Am I only ‘rewarded’ because of the lies I just told? Am I an animal to you?” she raised her voice a notch and she saw Anthony straighten in his seat and he spoke simultaneously with Oscar.

“My Queen, I must caution you- “

“No, just that I think that you-”

“Who’s to say that when we get there you won’t decide that I don’t get my phone anymore? Huh? You’re a lunatic after all,” she added more insult ignoring Anthony’s warning about insulting the king.

“We will return. I will see to it. I will even cancel my appointment and come with you.”

“Did I please you today master?” she mocked and Oscar’s face became stricken and that she knew for she saw how his mouth had slackened before he steeled it up. But that could be an act for his eyes were behind the shades and as if on cue he removed them, staring at her.

He was a good actor she knew that for a fact so she couldn’t tell if he was being serious or laughing at her crisis behind those eyes.

“Kat, I promise-”

“Katherine. I told you before Kat is for my friends- we are not.”

Silence followed all the way back.

“Wait here,” Oscar instructed her as they entered the castle garage and to Anthony, he stated, “Stay with her,” before he exited the vehicle. Kat saw he was immediately surrounded by guards and she saw one on a walkie-talkie. He was confirming with the guards out by the gate that they had entered the castle's parking space safely.

Kat stared at Anthony, her earlier attraction towards him completely gone for the moment although she did take note that Oscar did not send him to fetch her phone which meant that the guard didn’t know where it was.

Five minutes later, Anthony said, “Please understand him-”

“Understand what? He’s an evil man that-”

“My Queen. He might be evil according to you but he is King. And the King is the law.”

“He is your King not mine,” she said sternly flaring her nostrils, unbelieving to what her ears were hearing.

“He is our King, Your Majesty,” he corrected her and Kat frowned. “Yes, mine, the fine people of this wonderful nation- “

“Piss off Anthony,” she hissed but was ignored.

 “- yes, even yours… your president stated so in her letter- you belong here now. What country do you have to return to? And pardon me but you do belong to him-”

“I am his wife legally. I don’t belong to anyone, we are equal,” she ranted and shifted uncomfortably in her seat, still glaring at him.

“Your Majesty, again pardon my harsh words but I can only be honest. You are not equal- Oscar is of higher rank and better than you. Secondly, you actually do belong to him, for-” he raised his finger in the air to stop her protest when he saw how she lounged forward, “-he did purchase you. I remember, for I was there.”

Kat’s mouth dropped open.

“You signed a document which I witnessed myself as I also signed as a witness on that same said document. See, King Julian never makes any mistakes, everything he does is calculated- all his moves are seen and played in his mind before he actually plays them. He does own you. You have no rights unless he says you have rights.”

Kat stared at the man in front of her and exited the car. Both hands on her waist, she walked around the vehicle, her legs appreciating the flowing blood. Anthony followed her out and stretched his long frame also. Kat saw him reach into his jacket pocket and pull out his phone before he went on talking.

“Any kindness he has shown you is because he wants to show it to you. He does not owe you anything, you owe him. Be thankful he has shown you hospitality,” Anthony finished with a grimace. “The King just texted me. He says to tell you that-”

Kat knew it. She shook her head feeling the sting of Anthony’s words coupled with the fright of why her parents didn’t answer the phone earlier to Oscar changing his mind just as she expected had her almost falling onto the side of the car, eyes closed and too weak to open.

“-he would be down- are you okay Katherine?”

She heard the clicking of heels on the floor just as she almost fell. Kat caught herself with her hands but she turned and leaned on the side of the door for her legs were weak. “Give me a minute before we head up,” she said breathlessly as she fanned her face with one hand. Feeling a strong grip beneath her armpits she opened her eyes and saw black suede shoes next to her, only it was too close.

Oh no.

She had grabbed- she took a peek up- no. She had grabbed Anthony’s body? Suddenly she could smell him. The faint scent of his cologne reached her nose- musky…familiar. Like Simon. Her eyes opened widely and her senses returned just as she was pulled to her feet.

“Sorry,” she mumbled and she heard a click which she knew was the car door for her head was gently pushed down and she was ushered inside.

“Do not apologize,” Anthony corrected, “the Queen is never wrong.”

“Except when Oscar is involved.”

“Nope, not even then. It’s just a respectable thing to understand your place.”

“Really? What else don’t I know about myself, pray do tell,” Katherine said airily as she fanned her face. “Give me good news or keep it to yourself. I am already in a panic about my father.”

“As Queen, you are exempted from criminal and civil charges. As is the King,” Anthony stated in a mono-tone before he straightened up but stood behind the door as he left it open.

“I- what? I- have immunity?” she gasped.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Kat’s mind was whirling. Immunity against any crime also meant murder, right? And as if the royal guard saw through her thoughts, he stated, “Except if you harm the King, of course.”

“I miss my father Anthony and I am quite frustrated in this kennel I’m in, so forgive me if idle thoughts rush to my head.”

“I understand. But the King is doing his best and as I said earlier, he was on his way down.”

“Down? I thought you meant he had changed his-” Kat broke off as a wide smile spread across her face and she closed the door waiting for Oscar’s approach, Anthony’s earlier insults about her being Oscar’s slave, forgotten for now. She would dwell on that later after her call to her father.

She had forgotten the castle was beyond huge so it would take more than a couple of minutes for Oscar to go and get back. That was quite a walk for him…he really didn’t want anyone knowing about her phone for he always had his servants or guards fetching things for him, even the glass that was right in front of him…so why the secrecy with her phone? Just where did he hide it?

Oscar did not trust his people it seemed to her. Interesting.

Almost an hour later, some reckless driving, which had Kat filled with a series of mixed-up emotions, Kat heard the ping of the signal on her cell. Why was Oscar hurrying for her and two, why were they risking the life of the king, driving with speed? But she threw it at the back of her mind as she worried on about her father's state. Closing her eyes, she prayed and Kat didn't believe in God anymore.

She dialed while they drove and kept getting a beeping sound. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she heard a ringing sound and pressed the mobile onto her cheek tightly and gasped out when she heard the connection tone. “Dad?”

“Father? No dad here, sorry kiddo. I doubt your father is here."