The City of the Broken (Prince of the Broken) (13 page)

“
I’m glad I’ve found my suitor” I smile looking deeply into his eyes, wondering if I have ever seen such thick and lustrous lashes.

Even though its pouring with rain, we stand outside the theatre and kiss. And as we do I reflect how I almost lost him. Never before has his kiss felt so prec
ious.

Calix drove me home from the City of the Broken, and I’m glad he did as I was drenched .I dried but I’m sure I can still feel water between my toes. Wet I may have been, but oh wow, how worth it it was.

I feel so lucky. I have my Prince, my city. I
am living my dream. I always thought Anita had it all, but now I realize I have it better than her. Aside from a few Daddy bumps in the road, its all gone smoothly with Calix. Even the Prima-ballerina was dying of a broken heart or loneliness, albeit fictionally. But I have my beloved, and I’ve never felt so grateful. I’m infused with my familiar and welcome college excitement and I cant sleep. Calix and lunchtime seem so far away.

Chapter Nine.

Garden Delights

I arrive at College feeling drowsy. I was far too high on the adrenaline of being reunited with Calix to sleep. As I head for class I pass him in the corridor, he looks like he’s had
his
beauty sleep. We greet each other with equal infatuation, a mutual connection like the conjunction of two planets. The glances and whispers have returned, their ending being the only thing I relished in being parted from Calix.

In class, everyone is flicking through a copy of Jane Eyre before the lesson starts and the test on the novel begins. I haven
’t forgotten to revise this time, as reading Jane Eyre is a pleasure for me anyway.

“
I haven’t read the book, but I’ve seen the film so I get the gist” Jasmine informs me.

“
That is so typical of you Jas” I say in mock disapproval.

“
Calix and I are back on” I tell her.

“
Oh, I cant believe you two. You seemed so frosty with each other the other day that I thought it was definitely over” she says.

“
So did I, but I was a fool listening to hearsay but never again. He really is the perfect guy” I say.

“
No guy is the perfect guy” she says with wisdom beyond her years, but I ignore her.

Mrs. Shelley enters and establishes that test conditions are underway.

I seem to have finished early as everyone else is still writing. I sit here, gazing out of the window at the cemetery and thinking about the city that lies behind the gate. The King is not going to back down this easily. He’ll soon find out that I’ve reunited with Calix and try to break us up again. I’ve been far too optimistic to think I can obtain a gothic fairytale existence with Calix this easily, how could I forget the insurmountable obstacle that is the King? And now I know first hand how manipulative he can be, he scares me even more. He’s a great force that you do not want as an enemy.

“
Okay, time’s up guys. Pens down” say Mrs. Shelley startling me, as I am deep in thought.

“
That was so tough. I didn’t know any of the answers.” says Jasmine.

“
Well that’s what you get for not reading the book” I giggle, not feeling any sympathy for my film-loving friend.

Lunchtime has come and Jasmine and I walk down to the library.

“I’m going to type my assignment up. It’s the third I’ve handed in late”.

“
I’m meeting Calix in the library”.

“
Really? I thought you seemed a little eager” she says.

When I walk in, I s
ee Calix is engrossed in a book.

“
Hey you, what are you reading?”

“
I’m doing research for history” he says still searching his book for information.

“
I have a 1500 word assignment that has got to be in by next week, plus I have my Royal duties so its not going to be easy” he says , looking concerned.

“
You’ll squeeze it in somewhere” I say and he nods in agreement.

“
Do you want to go to the city tonight? I’m cant take you, but you can drop by the palace and help me revise” he says.

“
Yes, that sounds cool. But what about your Father, isn’t it slightly risky for me to visit the palace?” I ask.

“
Well technically he still doesn’t know you’ve forgiven me and we’re together again. So just lay low” he says.

“
But Calix if I enter the palace the staff are bound to inform him that I’m there” I say feeling more anxious now we’ve brought up the topic of his father.

“
True. I know, meet me in the garden at the front of the palace at 6:30 and I’ll sneak you in” he says, eyes glinting mischievously.

“
Okay, that sounds both fun and scary at the same time” I smile and he winks at me.

At the end of college, I look out of the window and see Calix walking towards the car.
It’ll be so exciting to go to the palace with him again. The last time I went there I was tricked by his Father, a wordsmith if ever there was one. I’ll definitely try and keep out of his way from now on. Calix could make any location romantic but there is something about seeing him in his own territory, in a palace of all places, that makes me feel as though I’ve entered a dreamlike world, beautiful and mythical, like something out of a fable or legend only its real. Having to avoid Calix’s father only adds to the child-like hide and seek innocence. I shall wear my uniform of black to the city, as customary.

I
return to the entrance of the city, accompanied by my key, the charm I carry with me always which leads to the portal of contented despair. I’m careful to close the gate behind me, knowing of the trouble I’d be in if an uninvited guest should venture into the city. The irritating thorns in the garden always insist on attacking me even when I closely follow the path.

It
’s a different experience walking through the city when Calix isn’t with me. I can take in the sights more and pay attention to every detail. I’m too distracted by the number one tourist attraction that is Calix’s face when he’s with me. One thing that catches my eye is the gathering of people around an electrical store in the city centre, they seem to be watching something on the televisions in the shop window. As I approach, they turn and glare at me with hatred, then walk away. This is incredibly odd, what’s wrong with me/them? I look at the televisions and see myself. They must have filmed me at the BlackBall game as I’m dressed as a cheerleader. The headline flashing across the screen is ‘Girlfriend of Prince Calix a spy in league with The Smiley’s’.

What? I am shocked. Where did this rumour come from? Oh, as if I even need to ask. The King. I run to catch a train on the underground to take
me to the palace so I can tell Calix. As I walk through the crowds, I realize I’m getting the same hostile glances from people usually too lost in their own dark thoughts to feel such an emotion. I feel frightened, vulnerable to the damage that may be caused by the lies that have been written about me. I don’t know if its safe to go near the palace, but I know I’ll definitely feel safer in Calix’s arms than out here surrounded by a mob of my new enemies.

After exiting the tube, which was packed with eyes a
blaze with fury and disgust, I run to the garden of the palace. I have to find Calix, is he disguised so the citizens do not recognize him? As I look around frantically, I feel a light tap on my shoulder and turn around to see my protector in dark glasses.

“
Calix” I say relieved. I hug him.
“Hey Seren, are you okay? You seem upset” he says hugging me tightly.

I pull away .

“Oh Calix, its terrible. I’m all over the news. All the citizens hate me because they think I’m an agent of The Smiley’s” I say nearly bursting into tears.

“
Hey, don’t worry Seren. I already know. I’m getting my press team working on damage limitation right now” he says reassuring me somewhat.

“
Calix, who did this? Your Father?”

“
It seems likely, but I don’t know for certain. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s started a hate campaign against someone he wants to be eliminated from the city”.

“
Oh that so horrible and corrupt. Why cant he just play fair?”

“
Come on Seren. Lets not let it spoil tonight. We’ll go up to my room, listen to music and you can chill while I revise” he smiles.

“
Oh okay Calix, but its really spoiled everything. Are you sure its wise to enter the palace”? I ask concerned.

“
Sure it is. Hey I’ll even appear on TV and publicly deny all these rumours if it sets your mind at ease” he says kindly.

“
Oh thank you Calix. But its not the publicity but these constant attacks by your father that is getting me down. It never ceases. He’s not going to stop until he’s destroyed me, destroyed us” I say passionately. Calix remains silent but looks equally worried. 

We walk boldly and bravely into the palace holding hands, despite our previous plan to sneak in, refusing to be defeated. We race along corridors I have never been down before, all of them ornate, but as dark and shad
owy as the whole palace.

“
What’s the hurry Calix? Don’t tell me that you’re afraid of bumping into your Dad. We should just tell him to back off together” I say huffily, just wanting to enjoy a peaceful, unspoilt day with Calix for once rather than the constant plans of destruction unleashed on us by The King.

“
No Seren, there’s something exciting I have planned. Come with me” he says secretly, as though he wants to show me something important, an air of significance lingering in his voice.

He leads me out
into the gardens of the palace. The secluded part at the side, where an elegant black gazebo stands. The moonlight illuminates the grass and the flowers, giving everything a romantic sheen. Calix leads me by gently holding my hand, into the gazebo.

“
Oh this is so enchanting Calix. I think the palace gardens are my favourite place in the whole city”  I say glancing at the deep purple flowers, which make a heart shaped pattern in the ground, perfectly manicured by the most loving gardener.

“
Mine too, especially when you are with me” he says, holding both my hands as he begins to kneel.

“
Calix, what are you doing? ”I ask in shock as he withdraws a little black box from his coat pocket.

“
Seren Loneheart, the only girl I have ever loved, will you marry me?” he asks in total seriousness as he opens the box containing a purple diamond ring which is the same colour as the flowers in the garden.

“
Oh Calix, yes, yes I will” I say bursting into tears. I am so shocked. I knew Calix and I had a great relationship but this is the last thing I expected.

He gets up, slipping the ring onto my finger and kisses me.

“But Calix, what about your Father? He would never allow it” I say looking deeply into his eyes, feeling amazed, joyful and worried at the same time. The tears keep pouring from the mixture of overwhelming emotion.

“
Dad doesn’t matter when you are with me Seren. Any other girl I would have stopped seeing from the moment he requested it. But not you, you have something special, something I’ve never seen before” he says kissing me and wiping away my tears at the same time.
“Hey, why are you crying? Are you disappointed with the ring?” he asks, looking guilty as if its his fault that I’m crying.

“
Oh no, its so beautiful Calix, more perfect than anything I could have imagined. Its just shock, and fear of your Father and…”

“
Yes?” he asks when I pause mid sentence.

“
Aren’t we a little young to get married?” I ask voicing my only personal concern.

“
I don’t think so. I know you are the one for me Seren. No other girl could make me feel this way, will ever make me feel this way. You bring a sense of  hope, life and yes, happiness to my heart. Life before you was meaningless and empty. I was a broken Prince, but you fixed me. Healed me even. Thank you” he says earnestly.

“
I feel the same about you Calix. Who cares about age when I’ve met the person I want to spend the rest of my life with. But again Calix, back to your Father, he
wants
you to be the Broken Prince. I don’t think he wants you to be happy” I say passionately.

“
I know. I need to escape him Seren. Some how, some way” he says hugging me closely, sounding a little frightened himself now.

We walk, talk and even dance around the garden for about an hour. Calix twirls me around in the gazebo, bringing back memories of the ball. Its starting to get cold and yet I experience a calmness and relaxing bliss that I have never felt while being at the palace before. I feel giddy at the prospect of having a ring on my finger. I would feel this way if any man proposed, that the man in question is Calix only amplifies this feeling. Its like I have entered into another realm, a supernatural existence. The only thing I can liken this feeling to is the timeless happily ever after stories. Yes I feel like Cinderella or Snow White, but that feeling is mixed with the logic that tells me ‘real life is not that simple’. This is a broken city after all, how could I be the only one to find happiness here? But this one moment in the palace garden with my perfect prince asking for my hand in marriage is now sealed in the vault of eternity. Whether or not Calix’s Dad succeeds in ruining all of this, I will always have this moment. This one moment on earth I found peace ,joy, love, beauty. Where time doesn’t exist and limitations are nothing but illusion. My walking off into the sunset to everlasting life.

“
But Calix will we announce this to the whole Kingdom or will we have to keep it a secret’? I ask still bewildered as to how Calix could possibly inform the City of the Broken of our engagement without uproar, especially as I’m now considered to be in league with The Smiley’s.