My Secret Life

Tribe of Apolo

I was looking straight at the man whom I just met yesterday stuck in a position so close to his face. I felt uncomfortable but I did not dare to move.

"Just now..." I whispered somehow I cannot put into words the thoughts that are in my head.

"I know. It's okay, you don't have to be afraid you've got me" he said with a comforting tone.

"I'm... I'm not scared it's just that, everything happened so fast and I didn't even notice someone following us."

"Because he's not following us. He's already here before we even got here. He shoots us from up the tree" He said pointing up the sycamore tree quite far from us but it is really a good spot to target us. If Prince Stephan didn't react in time I could've been hit by that arrow.

"Stay close behind me okay?" he said holding my hands and keeping me behind him.

"He's not here anymore" I whispered

"I think so too but we don't know if there's more of them" he's right there could be more of them hiding around up here.

We took a closer look at the arrow buried on a sycamore tree. It's only been a few minutes since everything happened yet the sycamore tree started dying. it turned pale and its body started peeling off some leaves that had already turned brown.

"The poisons that the Apolo tribe had been using. I can't believe I will be able to see it." I stared at it curiously.

"He's here!" prince Stephan pulled me down. I can see him masked with clothes that camouflage him with the surroundings.

"He's looking for us, right?" I whispered not letting the man escape my eyes.

"Obviously, he's here to finish the job" he replied not taking his eye off the man as well.

After some time the man stopped looking around and walked further out of the sycamore trees. I urged Prince Stephan that we would follow the man and he agreed. For what seems to be forever at last the man stopped walking he went through a bush and disappeared. We carefully moved closely. I was stunned. A village, that looked like the tribe that was supposed to be gone centuries ago.

When we returned to the palace we went straight to my room and locked the door. This is serious. There's many of them and it looks like they're really the one doing all this. But why? Why would they want to destroy our kingdom?!

"You can't let anyone know. Not even the King" Prince Stephan said.

"Are crazy Prince Stephan?? They're the ones trying to destroy our kingdom! This could be a good lead. We can plan ahead of them. We can end this already. My father could talk them out of this" I reply getting frustrated at what he said.

"First of all just call me Stephan. We cannot tell your father because if the same exact reason you're suggesting. He cannot talk them out if this! They clearly planned it well and I think they have been planning it for so long. You see, there were so many Kingdoms out there. Yet, they chose yours! This isn't just a Kingdom war this might be revenge" that last thing he said made me more confused. Revenge? why would they want revenge. Our kingdom has been a good helping hand for centuries we give protection to other kingdoms, we help and we support other kingdoms to thrive.

"Why would they want revenge?" I asked trying to dig out something he might know about.

"I'm not the one to tell you that. Your father might know." he replied then went straight to the bathroom.

I went to my dressing room to pick some clothes. I still have these small gowns I used to wear as a kid and it reminded me of so memories with my family. How my brother, Lane would always tease me about how I don't look like a royalty and mother would scold him for being mean to me. What is this? A note .

My Dearest Elise,

By the time you read this I was long gone. I'm sorry I left you with a lot of mess I couldn't handle. I told father everything I know but he wouldn't believe me. He said I was insane. I tried to do my best to put a stop to this coming war that could end our kingdom but I guess I wasn't able to do much. I'm sorry, Elise. I hope you can forgive me for leaving. I can't take the truth about us, about our family and how dad has been hiding it for us. Be careful with him, he might seem like our father but he's long gone. Tell my mother I love her and that I would find a way to take both of you away from your father. If my guess is correct father would've arranged your union with Stephan by now. You can trust him. Do me a favor and tell him these exact words. 'When things get bad there's a place we can go just trust your guts and it would lead you to my path.' Take care of yourself and destroy this letter after you read it.

Your brother,

Lane

Is Lane alive? What does he mean by all this and father is long gone? Right then Stephan walked in my dressing room.

"Hey, I kept calling you but you didn't answer is everything alright?" He asked looking worried at me.

"When things get bad there's a place we can go just trust your guts and it would lead you to my path." I said remembering what Lane said in the letter. Stephan walked towards me shocked at what I told him.

"He's alive isn't he?" I asked looking at him tears escaping my eyes.

"I can explain everything but now we must leave." Stephan said with urgency in his voice. Lane said I could trust him. Stephan took out a bag and put some things in it.

"You can bring something important to you but not all so choose wisely. Don't pack clothes you won't need them just some necessary things to survive for a few days. I will be back in a few minutes." he said and walked out if the room.

What if I'm not doing the right thing. That note someone could've put that there, all these years I've never see it, how come that it's suddenly there? But it's Lane's handwriting I'm sure about that. I calmed myself and took a small bag. There I put the necklace mom gave me for my 16th birthday It's a heart shaped sapphire that's custom made just for me. I also took some of the fruits I have in my room and other jewelry both sentimental and few that might be useful. There's nothing for me to bring I don't own any special things. I took some books that I love to read and that's all I could think of. Someone was knocking at the door so I put the bag under my bed, as far as I know Stephan wouldn't knock there so it surely is someone else.

"Who is it?" I asked

"My Lady, it's Melody the king has sent me he wanted to have some words with you" replied Melody one of the palace maids. I opened the door and went straight to my father who's in the library reading a book.

"Father, you asked for me?" I looked at him trying to remember what Lane had told me in he's letter that father was long gone. He put his book down and looked at me the smiled.

"My precious daughter look at you, such a fine lady. How lucky is Prince Stephan to soon be married to you." He then stood up and walked towards me. Before I could react he was choking me with both of his hands.