Guardian Vs. Hybrid

Not My Job

        “I hate hunting. There is a reason that men usually do all the hunting.” Princess Daphne whined as she pulled on her riding boots.

        All morning the princess complained about having to go out with everyone hunting, but only in front of me. She moaned and groaned, trying to figure out a way to get out of the trip, but all was failing. The queen already told my daughter that she was to show Prince Zohar a good time, yet now she just wanted to go back inside the castle and lounge around.

        “Your highness, it won’t be so bad. All you do is make sure is that you keep the Prince occupied and happy. That shouldn’t be a problem for you and your charm.” I said, yanking up hard on the cinch of my horse’s saddle.

        Princess Daphne sighed. “That’s easy enough for you, Bell. The Prince seems to like talking to you, and at least you have the war and military in common. Oh, and not to mention I ran from him last night saying he was going to rip me apart with s*x. Oh, Bell. I’m not fit for this.”

        I did my best to keep from laughing. “Princess, I’m sure the Prince didn’t take it as an offence. If anything, he probably took it as a compliment. You know how men love comparing-“

        Daphne sighed. “Stop, Bell. I don’t even want to think of what Prince Zohar has between his legs right now. All I would do is compare it to your horse’s.”

        “Oh, my stars…” I whispered putting my hand to my forehead. “Your highness…”

        When I had turned around, I could see Prince Zohar and Mace wide eyed and staring in our direction. It was blatantly obvious that they heard what Daphne had said, and the whole situation was getting worse.

        “What is it, Bell? That look on your face…please don’t tell me that the Prince is behind me and heard what I said about his…” Princess Daphne asked closing her eyes in embarrassment.

        I sighed. “Your highness, it’s safe to say that the prince and his companion heard everything we were just talking about. I’m sorry.”

        Daphne nodded. “It figures, how am I going to save this?”

        “I don’t think you can, Princess. Just try to change the subject when he speaks to you.” I said never taking my eyes off Zohar. He lightly bit his bottom lip as his eyes ran over my body. I had to swallow hard while my mind started to drift off to what happened last night, and what we could have done.

        As they got close, Princess Daphne shot up out of her seat to face Zohar and Mace. “Good morning, Prince Zohar. Mace. How was the rest of your night?”

        I shook my head while Mace held back a smile, which I was assuming from him knowing everything about the prince and me. Prince Zohar gave her a small smile as she curtsied. It was clear as day that he was acting completely different towards the princess after last night, I was just hoping Daphne didn’t notice. “It was fine. I was able to get to learn something new, which is always nice. Were you able to get to rest, Princess?”

        Princess Daphne turned a beet red at the tone in his voice. “Yes, your highness. I slept okay.”

        He nodded to her before glancing to me. “Good morning, Corporal.”

        “Lord General.” I said bowing a little before I continued tacking up my horse.

        Two of the stable hands brought out the remaining three horses, and began tacking them up. Mace took over for his horse while Daphne and Zohar talked. I glanced over to see Mace watching me attentively, I smirked and raised an eyebrow.

        “What is it, Mace?” I adjusted the stirrup, feeling like he had so much to say to me.

        He had a smile on his face while he put the saddle blanket over the back of his horse. “I have to tell you something, but I don’t want the Prince to hear. Sometime on the hunt, will you come with me to listen to what I have to say?”

        I nodded. “Of course. I’ll make sure we get the time then, but Mace, you know that Zo has extraordinary hearing, right? He probably is listening to every word we’re saying.”

        “I know, but I can’t help that. It’s not like I can get you alone easily.” He said as he put his head down, knowing fully well that Prince Zohar was watching. “I regret wording that sentence the way I did…”

        I let out a slow breath and looked over my shoulder. Prince Zohar was staring with an almost blank expression over his face. It was very apparent that he was not happy with Mace and me, but for what reason I didn’t know. I bit into my bottom lip as I looked away. These feelings I had inside me were starting to eat at me. I felt like I was becoming a completely different person, not the cold unwavering person I was after the war. And I didn’t like it.

        Ten minutes into the hunt and Daphne was already complaining. An hour in and she was being childish. Three hours in and everyone was dying to get a break from the Princess. Apparently, no one told her that the hunt was going to be two days long, and she was not prepared to spend this much time out in the wilderness. All the while, Prince Zohar rode with the huntsmen at the front, Mace rode with the Princess to try and keep her entertained, and I took up the rear to clear my mind.

        Everything was getting to be too much for me to handle, but somehow, I had to cope. As I watched everyone it was nice to not have to speak. I was able to focus on nothing, except protecting the Princess. Then something caught my attention. I halted my horse and slid off. As I closed my eyes I listened to the sound of hooves coming in our direction.

        “Lady Rose, what is it?” Mace asked as he stopped his horse to look back at me.

        I waved him off. “Take the Princess to the front. I’ll take care of these people. I’ve been dying to go all out on someone, and these intruders have no idea how pissed off I am. Go!”

        He did what I said and ushered the Princess to the rest of the group.

        I let out a deep breath before I opened my eyes to see four men on horseback sprinting in my direction. I opened my arms and waves of green energy shot out, creating a fence to stop them. The men eyed me as they slowed their stallions. I instantly smiled when one hopped of his horse.

        “You must be Lady Rosabell, the fearless female Energy User that protects Princess Daphne. I heard you were beautiful, but the rumors didn’t give you justice in the slightest.”

        I shrugged. “I am, but my beauty isn’t what you should be focusing on right now. Why are you here following my Princess?”

        The guy took a few steps forward. “Were not here for the Princess, were here for you.”

        “You’re here for me? That sounds interesting. Continue.” I said tilting my weight to my left foot.

        The man looked me from head to toe as he bit down on his bottom lip, like I was a new toy. “I’m glad you’re interested. We need you to come with us, our boss wishes to speak with you.”

        I shook my head. “I don’t go anywhere with strangers. Sorry boys, best be on your way before I have to kill you.”

        I went to turn around, but the man moving forward caught my attention.

        He held his hand out with a smile on his face. “Would you kill an unarmed man?”

        I laughed. “You must not know me well. I would kill you without batting an eyelash twice even if you were a babe. Do you have any idea who I am?”

        The man shook his head. “Honestly, I have no clue. I was just told to come get you and bring you back to my boss.”

        I shrugged. “That’s fine. I’ll show you who I am.”

        With no emotion on my face I lifted my hand, lifting a rock off to the left of the man. He watched in horror as I twisted my hand. Sending the rock soaring through the air at the men still on horses.

        It shot through the chest of the first guy, curving around to weave through the throat and then stomach of the second man. Then it hooked around to go straight through the third guys face, and with one last twist of my hand the rock twisted around to enter the fourth guys back, shooting up till it came out of the top of his head.

        I huffed as I tossed the rock aside, it was covered in blood and brain matter. I stared the man in front of me down, daring him to make a move.

        “Do you understand now?” I asked while I began to braid my hair out of my face. “Tell your boss that if he wants an audience with me, then he’ll have to come to me himself.”

        The man nodded as he took a step back. “I will tell him, but I don’t know how well he will take this information.”

        I shrugged. “I don’t care. I have better things to do than entertain some man I don’t know. Now go, before I use that branch there to skewer you like a pig.”

        With that the man turned his horse and left as fast as he could, leaving me standing there with an irritated look on my face. Nothing was ever easy, now I had to get the bodies off the road so no one freaked out when they passed by.

        “Again, this is not what I signed up for.”