The City of the Broken (Prince of the Broken) (4 page)

Immediately there is an extreme tension that fills the room.

“Welcome citizens to the annual Winter ball of The City of the Broken” ,his voice is gruff and harsh, more forceful than I expected.

“
This ball marks our dedication to the city and all it upholds. The music, food and entertainment have been chosen to reflect our attitude and belief that together as Broken citizens we are untouchable”.

“
What does your father mean by you being untouchable”? I ask Calix, puzzled by the man who looks like he has never smiled.

“
My father believes and encourages the whole city to believe that if you are broken no further damage can be done, hence forth it makes you completely strong ,untouchable, unable to be hurt at all by anyone. I must say I am inclined to agree” he says in a detached tone.

“
But what about love and happiness? Being broken doesn’t make you strong Calix. It makes you weak for not braving hurt to find happiness. I think your father is just still grieving for his wife.” Upon saying these words I’m shocked by how frank I’ve been. There is something about the King that has wound me up. I expected to like Calix’s father but I just see a cruel, rigid man who has let his personal opinions overtake the city and I cannot hold my tongue.

“
Come on Seren, don’t do this tonight. This is our evening, our special date remember?” he says looking so heartbreakingly beautiful that I forget my anger instantly.

The music has changed to a dance number and the guests head out onto the dance floor. We watch the guests dance in perfect step, hypnotically, mournfully while we talk amongst ourselves. The King r
emains seated, surrounded by body guards and the infamous lady in waiting. He keeps his gaze fixed on us, with occasional flicks of the head in acknowledge of the dance floor. The guests are dressed in black lace, silks, purple velvet. One outrageous invitee is wearing grey. The rebel gains disapproving glances from other guests.

Finally Calix takes my hand and leads me across the room so we can have our first dance of the night. Everyone clears to the sides of the room, so that the floor is just for us. I
keep forgetting I’m dating a Prince. I hate that everyone is staring at us but I try and focus on the moment and enjoy our dance. The music is classical- a waltz. Calix looks entranced and more joyous than I have ever seen him before as we dance. I mirror his expression, I’m beaming. I don’t know how to dance but it doesn’t seem to matter. Calix leads and our steps match perfectly, like we were made for each other. My smile is so wide it feels like my face is going to burst with joy and it looks like my darling prince feels the same. Unexpectedly he leans in and kisses me. An eternal moment captured in just a few beats of the heart. Then, even more unexpectedly the ever depressive audience clap and I’m sure I can see hints of smiles on  these living corpse’s faces. I  lift my eyes above Calix’s head and see one person who is certainly not smiling-the King. He sports a deadly gaze. Calix seems oblivious to his fathers reaction as he continues smiling at me, looking pleased by the performance.

The dancing is do
ne, the guests gather their coats before heading back to their cars. Calix says he’ll return me and I’m glad it’s the weekend tomorrow as I’m exhausted.

In the Rolls Royce, Calix is still smiling, looking young and carefree.

“Did you enjoy tonight?” he asks kindly.

“
It was wonderful Calix, I felt so happy, so alive and I think that’s how you felt too” I tell him

He pauses for a moment.

“Yeah…happy, I guess I was” he says guiltily as if he has just confessed to a crime.

“
Calix ,being happy isn’t a bad thing. Please don’t beat yourself up about this” I say but suddenly he looks alarmed, angry even.

“
Seren you don’t understand. I can’t be happy. My father…”

And at this point I have to interrupt, this is what this is all about.

“Your father is just a bitter old man Calix. Sorry to be blunt but he’s a jerk, stop allowing him to run your life”.

“
Seren” ,he pauses again as if he is contemplating what I have just said.

I
’m aware that a tear is rolling down my cheek. Calix’s father makes me feel as if I’m hitting my head against a stone grave. I can tell by the look in the Kings eyes that once he has made his mind up about something, there is no changing it. A stubbornness he will hold as the habit of a lifetime, because of the unwillingness to change .

As we return from the city, Calix takes my hand.

“ Thank you for tonight” I say.

He sees my moist eyes and wipes the tear from my cheek.

“Don’t worry about my Dad, Seren. He’s not the same man since my Mother died. His grief affected the whole city.” He sighs.

“
Look, I’ll talk to him. I think he’s just not used to me dating, you know?”

“
I’ll see you in college Monday then” I lean and kiss him.

He closes his eyes and his long lashes hide a pained, but poignant expression.

“Monday”  he says and its an everlasting promise.

Chapter. Four

The Smiley
’s

I spend the weekend thinking about our dance. Its like I have entered a fable, although our romance is more gothic than Sleeping Beauty. I play Mozart
’s album as it reminds me of the dancing. But Calix’s Father still gets to me, he doesn’t like me at all.

I see Calix’s diary while waiting for him in the Rolls, on the cover is a word I don’t recognize. He arrives ,full of his usual combination of cockiness and kindness.

“
Did you get coffee“? I ask as he opens the door.

“
Yeah latte for you, espresso for me baby”

“
Hey what does this word mean? Its so long.” He pauses momentarily, deliberating whether to tell me or not.

“
Its actually the code word for getting into my fathers secret club. I had to write it down because its obscure and difficult to remember”

“
Wait, you need a code word even though you’re a prince“? I gape at him in disbelief.

“
Yep” he smirks, agreeing this is ridiculous.

“
When is this oh-so-elitist top secret meeting then?”

“
Tomorrow actually, will you come with me”?

“
Sure, but I really don’t think your father will want me there” I say still burned from his deadly gaze at the ball.

“
Don’t worry about Dad. I’ll speak to him tonight. He can be a bit of an idiot sometimes, especially when it come to my friends and girlfriends” he says as if reminiscing on some past event.

“
What do you mean?” I ask intrigued.

He sighs.

“Well, he’s very…selective. I suppose he doesn’t really ever think anyone is good enough for me”

“
Why do you say that?” I ask.

“
Whenever I meet someone and get a little close to them whether it’s a good friend or girlfriend. He starts to get, I don’t know, sort of paranoid, saying these people are no good for me. That they only like me because I’m a prince or whatever”.

“
No offence, but the man is nuts if you ask me” I say, not shocked by the extent of the Kings control freak behaviour.

He continues, looking slightly hurt by  my opinion

“Well, anyway. He usually tells me to stop seeing people that I like and just continue with my studies, recruitments and socialising with acquaintances he approves of. I honestly think he’s just a little overprotective, especially since mum died”

“
What was he like before that then?” I ask trying to appear sympathetic for Calix’s sake. He ponders for a moment.

“
More relaxed, less rigid, happier. He’s become like an army officer since her death, all military precision. The city was a very different world when I was younger”.

“
Don’t you think that you should talk to him? Perhaps he’s so caught up in trying to be a King that he never actually got the chance to grieve. You cant just let him treat you like a child. You’re an adult now, its your decision who you speak to and befriend, not his.”

“
Yeah, you’re right but truly once my father has his mind made up about something, there really is no changing it. He’s the most stubborn man in the world” he says.

Growing frustrated by the topic of Calix
’s father, I think of one thing that might work.

“
Maybe I can talk to him. Perhaps its because he’s never actually got to know any of your friends that’s the problem.”

Calix looks at me dubiously as if I
’m taking on more than I can handle.

“
Hmm. Well you could try, although there’s no point in me asking him first. He will just say no. Maybe you should just turn up on a day he’s not very busy.”

“
Okay. What day does he have free?” I ask.

“
I suppose Thursday is his quietest day. He golf’s on weekends so no one ever gets to see him then”

“
Okay. Thursday it is. Are you still going to ask him about the secret club or shall I speak to him first?”

“
No, I’ll ask him about the club, but I’ll probably just say I want to bring a peer along with me, rather than mention that its you!” he smirks at me cheekily.

I gawp in horror

“Why, are you ashamed of me?” He looks offended that I’d ever think such a thing.

“
No! But if I tell my dad it was the girl I took to the ball who I want to come, he’ll just say no on the basis that you aren’t a citizen” he shrugs.

“
Your Dad is the ultimate elitist”

“
I know” he agrees.

“
So, college, lunchtime, tomorrow?”

“
You bet” and he leans in and kisses me.

As I walk back from our meeting, it starts raining. Even though I
’m in a summer dress and getting wet, I do not care. He kissed me. People are staring at me as I walk as if to ask ‘why are you looking so pleased with yourself?”. I do not care. He kissed me. I want to dance on the pavement and I’m practically skipping. People will think I’m crazy but I do not care. He kissed me!

After a night of  my heart bursting with ecstasy , I a
wake eagerly anticipating seeing my beloved today. Just English to get through first.

English was an easy affair today. We listened to an audio version of the play Hamlet. Shakespeare
‘s language is so romantic and it helps me replay our kiss over and over in my mind. Calix loves books too. Most guys who I have seen have never been what I’m looking for. Too good looking, too geeky ,too tough, too sporty or just not ‘right.’ Even if Calix had never asked me out, he would still be my ideal man. He’s incredibly handsome with flawless hair and skin, for most girls that would be enough. I can tell by the looks on their faces that it
is
enough. But I’ve seen other ‘perfect’ movie-star-look-alikes before. None of them wanting me but me not wanting them either. There is another magnetic pull that Calix has. I cant explain it. I feel I’ve known him all my life. No one in the history books ever held such fascination for me. And unbelievably he’s mine. 

Mrs. Shelley wraps up the lesson. Whoo! Lunchtime.

I never see Calix at break because he’s busy. He takes on so many roles. I feel like, compared to him, I don’t really do much. I like to relax. I feel more free like that. Not him, he does
everything.
Once he’s finished one thing, he moves on to the next. As I’m about to walk to the library to meet him, I see him in the corridor staring at the bulletin board.

“
Hey, What are you looking at?”

“
This cookery class on Wednesday evening. It sounds interesting I think I’ll join”.

“
When do you get time to just relax? You’re always into something.”

“
I like to be doing something all of the time. I work out to relax, its just the way I’ve always been”.

“
You’re the polar opposite to me” I shake my head.

“
I know, I know” he smiles.

“
So, did you speak to your Father about this secret club thing that’s on tonight”?

“
Yes.”

“
And…?” I can tell by his reaction that his father has been acting up again.

“
Well he wasn’t exactly thrilled. It is meant to be a secret meeting divulging important information after all”.

“
And?” I repeat

“
He just said ‘if you must’ Calix”

“
So that’s a yes?” I ask trying to clarify

“
It’s the closest to a yes you’ll ever get from his lips” he says humorously.

I giggle.

“Come on, lets go and get some lunch“.

As we walk hand in hand to the cafeteria, I realize we
’ve never held hands in college before. Every girl is looking. Some of them look annoyed its not them holding his hand. Others look shocked he’d be with such a plain girl as me. I look at him with that wonder-struck look that everyone else has. Those girls are much prettier and sexier than me . I’m just Miss-Average. I want to ask him, why? Why Calix would you want me? He could have any girl at all. Perhaps its this average-ness he likes. After all he has an extraordinary life. Maybe average is foreign to him.

We g
et chips in the canteen with lots of ketchup. Calix looks like a chip has never passed his rosebud lips. But apparently he does eat junk too. I think that this has shocked me about him more than anything ,he’s full of paradoxes.

“
So tonight” his tone is serious.

“
Tonight” I say trying to concentrate on what he’s saying but this is difficult when I just want to stare into those eyes that promise paradise.

“
Wear black, its an absolute must ”.

“
Its not another ball is it?” I ask wondering what other black ensembles I have hiding in the deep cavern that is my wardrobe.

“
Not a ball.” he smiles knowingly.

“
Where should I meet you?” I ask expecting the usual Rolls Royce ride to the city.

“
Ah… that’s the other thing. I cant take you as I’ll be busy straight after college helping my father prepare”.

“
Okay I can walk”

“
Okay that settles it. I hope you know what a big deal this is. These keys are so rare, only special citizens can have one and I’m giving one to you. You hold the key to my heart so I figured you should have the key to the gates of the city in return”

He hands me a long key with a big black
‘B’ at the end which acts as the handle. Its

beautiful and looks like an antique. Its identical to the one he has.

“Wow, thanks Calix. It means a lot that you would trust me with this. What exactly is it you’re busy with then? What time will I be able to talk with you?”

“
Well actually Father and I will both be doing a presentation together, so you’ll be in the audience with the other guests. I’ll feel a lot more confident having you there, do you mind?

“
Well I don’t know. Won’t I be like the odd one out, who else will be among the guests?”

He looks doubtfully at me.

“Well, you’re there by Royal invitation and so are they. That makes you all equal doesn’t it? Oh go on, please?” He looks so needy, like a little boy lost that I have no choice.

“
Oh, okay, yeah I’ll come”

“
Thanks and remember wear black, that’s very important” he says stressing his words.

“
Yeah, yeah, sure”.

I think I sho
uld go on a black shopping spree so that I can fit in easily in the city and among Calix’s clan.

“
Oh, Seren, of course, your invitation. You wont know the password or venue without this”.

Oh there
’s an invitation.

“
Is this at the palace?”

“
No its about a mile away from the palace, The Royal Club of the Broken. Its elusive but still infamous so ask any fashionable looking local and they’ll probably know which direction to point you in”

“
Well if I’m not there at nine, assume I cant find it”, I say as I squint at the invitation.

“
Will do, or assume you’re dead” he smirks

“
You can be rather morbid sometimes, did anyone tell you that before?”

“
Hey what can I say? Prince of the Broken baby” his cocky swagger returning in an instant, like a lion on a rock. I laugh and so does he, back to a carefree student.

I
’ll have to find something that wont offend his Royal Stuffiness the King too much. I choose a black dress which is classy, yet casual. I decide on wearing my black padded jacket with a hood. Its not glamorous but will keep me warm on the walk to the Kingdom and locating this club.

Here I am, alone at night, next to a cemetery. I
’ve become to associate the sight of the headstones with romance. I like the idea of my beloved and I together for eternity in death, sealed as one. I walk to the gate that leads to this shadow kingdom, opening it with my key from Calix. I’ve always thought these gates hid nothing more than a mass of weeds. As soon as you step through the gates, you see the trees which hide the city from the eyes of curious explorers who haven’t been invited in. Thorns and bushes grow either side, adding to the impression of an unloved garden. Walk a little further and the truth is revealed. The black kingdom comes into view. The hustle and bustle of busy citizens coming from work. It  could be Victorian London, if it had a Goth only day with a parade of depression. Its like a work of art that’s come to life. A combination of horror and magnificence. I feel a great sense of awe and appreciation combined with melancholy when I see it. Like a tragedy, which can also be a masterpiece. Its prince is flawed perfection, prince charming, prince alarming, black marble come to life.