TW: Abuse, Implied SA

  It was a day like no other.

  A day she'd never forget.

  Marina was sitting in her dressing room at her vanity. She couldn't help trying to take a deep breath to calm her nerves, but it felt like the world was closing in on her. She couldn't bear to see herself in the mirror. She wanted to protest, and say she was just a child, that this shouldn't be her burden to bear.

  That she wasn't ready for it.

  Her only soce was the gentle strokes of a hairbrush through her long, wavy locks. Her eyes fluttered closed, drinking in every st drop of the sensation, and picturing that she was miles away from this pce.

  She felt the woman's hands thread through her hair, pulling it back into a simple style. Marina's fingers curled in around the fabric of her dress. Perhaps if she kept her eyes closed, she'd awake from this nightmare. She felt a tear roll down her cheek. The woman's hand's stopped, before one drifted over, gently wiping it from her face.

  "Now, don't cry your highness, you'll ruin your beautiful makeup I worked so hard on." Her voice was soft and familiar, and it warmed Marina's soul every time she heard it. She scoffed, shaking her head, still refusing to open her eyes. She then felt a hairpiece rest gently at the top of her scalp, and a thin piece of fabric drape over her face.

  She opened her eyes, meeting her reflection at st. She didn't find herself in a new world, and perhaps even a new body. No, she was here, in the prison of her white dress and veil.

  She stood up, and turned to Jamie, her sad eyes yearning for escape behind the fabric. Jamie returned that look with a sad smile.

  "You're beautiful." She whispered. Marina scoffed, unable to keep herself from smiling from the compliment. No matter how small, any words of affection from Jamie caused her heart to flutter.

  "As do you, Love Dove." Marina whispered back, her words wavering as her lip trembled. Jamie felt her heart shattering into a million pieces, and she leaned forward, opening her arms to her. Marina colpsed immediately into her, burying her face into her neck and hair. Her shoulders shook as she silently wept, and Jamie rubbed her back soothingly.

  "Shhh... It'll be okay..." Jamie cooed, leaning her head against Marina's. "It'll be okay, I'll be going with you. We'll still see each other, I promise." She squeezed her tighter in her arms. Jamie pulled her over and sat her on a chaise lounge, gently brushing the tears away from her cheeks. She smiled, trying to find a way to cheer her up. "You know, I've always imagined being on the other side of the altar from you..."

  Marina blinked at her, her cheeks blushing a furious red and she ughed, hiding her face with her hand as she carefully swept the tears off her decorated face.

  "Jamie, stop... this is serious..." But she couldn't hide the giddiness in her voice. Jamie let out a whispered ugh.

  "I am being serious... And well... seeing you in this dress... it's not helping any of the fantasies I have about you." She squeezed Marina's hand affectionately. Marina ughed and shoved her pyfully.

  "Oh my Gods, don't say that, stop..." Marina buried her flustered face in her hands. Jamie gave her a teasing and devilish look, grabbing her wrists with a dominating softness, and prying her hands away from her face.

  "It's true, Marina... If I could, I'd make you mine." She whispered in a low register, drawing her lips close to hers. Marina felt her heart race as her eyes dropped to Jamie's mouth, her breath shaking.

  "Mmm..." Marina hummed, reaching up and pulling over her veil, then closing the gap, pressing her lips to Jamie's and fluttering her eyes closed. Jamie received the kiss and felt the warmth pass through her body, before kissing her back with a soft aggression.

  Little did they know, outside the door was another one of Marina's maids. A particurly grouchy, conservative old woman who was her ex-tutor, and a vicious one at that. She put her hand on the door handle to open it, before hearing some giggling from inside. She paused, blinking at the sounds. She bent over, drawing her eye towards the keyhole and squinting.

  She peered in, seeing only the back of Marina's head. She gasped however as she saw a hand tangling in her hair, a hand that belonged to a servant girl no doubt. She heard the soft noises of their lips colliding and reered back, covering her mouth in disgust. Her teeth clenched together as a dark and twisted feeling stirred in her stomach from the nauseating sight. She huffed as she stepped back from the door, not daring to intrude on the sight. She looked around, considering her choices.

  Then, a twisted smile grew on her face, and she marched down the halls of the pace.

  "Mmph... Jamie, we should stop..." Marina held her back away, looking at her with needy eyes.

  "Yes, we will... just a little more..." She sighed, dipping her head down to kiss Marina's neck. Marina moaned softly and id her head back against the pillow, her breaths growing shallower as she clutched the fabric of Jamie's dress. "I love you, Marina..." Jamie whispered between kisses.

  "Mmh... Jamie..." Marina replied breathlessly, pulling her body closer on top of her.

  Little did they know that the prince was striding down the halls in his darkly-colored war general suit, his cape flowing behind him, with a scowl on his face. The old maid and his handyman, as well as his guards trailed him.

  "Wait, sire! It's bad luck to view the bride before the wedding!" The handyman meekly protested. Camaro bore his teeth.

  "Like I give two shits." He snarled. He turned with burning, charasmatic eyes to the old maid. "You better not be lying about this little secret, or I'll proudly wring your neck." He grinned. The old maid gulped, clutching her throat and remained quiet as she continued to follow him down the halls.

  He stopped before the door, bending over and peeking through the keyhole. Sure enough, he witnessed Jamie on top of his bride, touching her gently. He heard his bride's soft gasps, making his blood boil scorchingly hot. He rose, and roughly smmed open the doors.

  "Looks like we have a couple of perverts on our hands." He grinned. Jamie and Marina shot up, staring at him with frozen wide eyes. He huffed. "Guards, arrest this wretch." He pointed a finger at Jamie.

  "What? No!" Marina cried, clutching Jamie. She watched as the guards in their bck and golden armor rushed to her, grabbing Jamie by her underarms. They both wailed, clinging on to each other for dear life. But the guards' hands reached in, prying their fingers away, until the st one slipped from its hold, and Jamie was inevitabley hoisted off of Marina. "Stop! Camaro, I can expin!" Marina lept to her feet, rushing to try and pull Jamie back from the guards, hearing the girl's shrieks. "Give her back to me!" She demanded, the tears returning to her eyes.

  Camaro stepped in, wrapping an arm around Marina's torso, holding her still as she reached desperately for her lover, who was being stolen away.

  "Marina!" Jamie cried out, her arms stretching out towards her. Their hands danced with frightful desperation, trying to close the gap between them. Their fingertips brushed, before Jamie was pulled away. Marina felt like a string had snapped between them, and she watched with blurry eyes as Jamie was dragged out of the room and around the corner, likely, to a dungeon.

  "NO!!!" Marina screamed, wailing for her as her heart tore. She writhed in anger, bringing her fists up and smming them down against Camaro's chest. "LET ME GO! LET ME GO! LET ME GO!" She cried. He tisked and threw her down, and she colpsed against the floor.

  "Hysterical woman. It's futile." He hovered over her coldly. Marina curled into herself, her elbows against the floor and her head dipped in despair. Camaro sighed, kneeling down beside her. He reached in and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "Poor, sweet, little dove..." He cooed. Marina felt her blood boil.

  "Don't call me that." She hissed. He would not defile that name for her. That name belonged to Jamie and Jamie only. He hummed calmly, examining her face.

  "Stop that crying." He said gently, brushing tears from her cheeks. "I can see it. You're so very ill." His voice was soft like honey as he frowned, but Marina knew better, and pulled her face away. "So very sick, my darling..." He slowly smiled. "Luckily, it's curable. You can be salvaged."

  Marina felt her skin crawl up to the nape of her neck, and her heart sunk in her chest.

  "Yes, sweetheart." He whispered. "Do not fret, we will be wed, and I will cure you of this disease by tomorrow. You'll forget you even had this dreadfull illness."

  Marina felt bile rise in her throat and she shoved him away.

  "Don't touch me." She growled. "It's you who's sick. You slimy, wicked, revolting, bastard." She spat her hatred, before she felt a firm strike against her cheek, and she thudded against the ground, gasping and cupping her face.

  "You will not speak to your groom and future king like that. I advise you pull it together. I'd hate to see you make a scene in front of your poor mother and father. Show them you know your manners." He rose, turning to the old maid. "You. Get her fixed up. Don't waste anymore of my time here." He ordered before shoving past her, back down the hall.

  Marina looked up at the maid for any kind of support with weepy eyes, but she was only met by a feigned comforting smile. She could practically smell the rottenness behind it. The old maid approached her, kneeling down and pcing her withered hands on her arms.

  "Come now, your highness..." She invited softly. Marina felt like she closed her mind off from her body, standing with a terrifying storm swelling inside her. The maid helped her to the chair in front of the vanity, working to redo her hair, threading through her locks gently. Marina looked at herself in the mirror, seeing the ruin of Jamie's makeup, the st evidence she had of her lover, which was soon to be wiped away by the maid.

  All she could see was the future of a victim.

  ...

  Marina wept as she walked down the halls, her veil concealing her face. Her maid walked with her, a righteous smile pnted on her face.

  "Hold your bouquet properly, your highness, I taught you better than that." Her maid patronized, adjusting the bouquet in her hands for her. Marina dipped her head, obliging.

  She turned the corner as the music began, seeing the end of the altar, and Camaro awaiting her. The melody was harmonious and triumphant, but all she could hear was distortion as her feet grew cold. Her maid nudged her forward, joining her with her father, the King. She looked up at him, her eyes begging him for help through the veil, asking him to stop this nightmare. She could see a sadness in his eyes, but only briefly, before he turned away from her without a word. He led her down the aisle, and she could feel all the eyes burning on her as she held back her sobs, but tears streamed down her face nonetheless.

  She turned and faced Camaro, not daring to look him in the eye. She only kept her head down. She looked into the audience, searching anyone for help, but even her own Mother and Father remained still. She felt her whole world crumbling, realizing she was completely alone.

  It was a blur as the pastor recited his speech of unifying the two individuals, but all Marina could hear was static in her head, like she was trying to turn herself to another channel to escape this reality.

  The rings were presented and her hand shook as she slipped Camaro's onto his finger. Her hands went cold and numb as he slipped on hers, and she could've sworn she could feel its thorns imbedding into her skin.

  Then the vows.

  Camaro's were so sickly sweet... full of promises of comfort and love and fertility. That st word made her stomach turn in on itself. She wanted to close herself up, find safety in her body, but it was nowhere to be found. Her autonomy was being forfeited.

  Her voice shook as she recited hers, simply making herself go through the motions of her memory, repeating the phrases her tutors forced her to learn. There was no emotion apart from fear behind her vows, though it didn't matter, only the exchange of empty words did.

  Then the "I do's".

  "Do you, Prince Sean Camaro take Princess Marina Amon as your wfully wedded wife?"

  "I do." He smiled, a dark look behind his pupils.

  "And so you, Princess Marina Amon, take Prince Sean Camaro as your wfully wedded husband?"

  Her world stopped, and it felt like her answer froze inside her voice box.

  "I... I......" She cmped her eyes shut, a tear rolling down her cheek as her lip trembled, finding the courage to forfeit herself for the rest of her days.

  "I OBJECT!" A voice cried out. The audience gasped and turned towards the outburst. Marina's eyes widened and she lifted her head, seeing none other than Jamie, who somehow managed to slip out from the guards. Her hair was a mess and she was winded. Before anyone could react, she held up a rge green bottle.

  "MARINA, COVER!"

  Marina didn't think twice. She covered her head and squeezed her eyes shut, crouching down. Jamie hurled the bottle over the audience's heads and straight at Camaro, who quickly ducked as well. It missed the pastor too, and a piercing shatter sounded as it made contact with the wall, and champagne exploded everywhere.

  "Filthy wench..." He cursed under his breath. A fire suddenly ignited inside Marina, and she decided this was a sign from the Gods. A sign to not stay frozen anymore. Her face contorted into a feral anger, and she slipped off her heel, before taking a clean strike to Camaro's face with it. She saw a fsh of red from his cheek as he took the blow, lifting his hand to cover his face. The audience excimed in panic, some people beginning to stand to their feet at the sudden attack.

  "RUN!" Jamie's voice cut through the outcries. Marina turned, seeing guards bursting through the doors, searching for Jamie. Marina slipped out of her other heel, sprinting down the aisle, seeing the frightened looks of her parents' eyes for a brief second, before taking Jamie's hand and pulling her out the door and down the pace halls.

  "GUARDS!!!" Camaro's voice roared through the pace halls, and Marina knew the chase was on, and that she and Jamie were merely rabbits in a hound's world. They pumped their legs, hands locked together as they searched for any sign of escape.

  They heard voices begin to surround them, options of which corridor to flee through started becoming limited as guards flooded the perimeter. Then Marina was swiftly yanked into a room by Jamie.

  "Quick in here!" Jamie ordered, smming the doors shut. She stepped behind a dresser, pushing against it. "Damnit, Marina, help me!" She barked. Marina gasped but quickly rushed to her side, helping her shove the dresser to block the door, toppling over to catch her breath.

  "We're cornered... what do we do now???" Marina panted. Jamie hummed, scanning the room, before her eyes settled on the window.

  "There!" Jamie pointed, dragging her to the window and pushing it open. Marina felt a wave of vertigo hit her as she peered out the window and down the drop.

  "Jamie, I don't know about this..." She trembled. Jamie id her hand atop hers, giving it a quick squeeze.

  "The bushes will break our fall. Trust me. Come now, you first." Jamie urged her. Marina went to protest before they heard shouting and banging at the door, followed by heavy thuds of the guards trying to get in. "Marina! There's no time!!!" Jamie gripped onto her with desperation. Marina tried to think of any other way, but hearing the thuds, obliged, preparing herself on the windowsill.

  "Okay, you ready?" Marina turned to her, her heart hammering violently in her chest. However, something in Jamie's eyes changed. Something deceiving.

  Jamie leaned forward and kissed her, gripping her by the colr of her dress with every ounce of passion.

  "I'm sorry... Goodbye, my love. Don't look back." She smiled with teary eyes.

  Then, Marina suddenly felt a force against her chest as Jamie shoved her, and her world slowed as she tumbled backwards out the window.

  What had she done...??? Marina's hand reached up as the window grew further and further away, reaching out as her heart ripped in half in mere seconds.

  Jamie smmed the window shut and rushed to the bathroom, closing the door and locking it. The guards burst inside, quickly taking to the bathroom door.

  "COME OUT OF THERE! WE HAVE YOU SURROUNDED!" A guard banged on the door with his metal fist.

  "You want her? COME AND TAKE HER!" Jamie barked back. The banging continued, followed by thuds. Jamie slid her back down the wall, resting her head back against it. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. But she smiled, and simply prayed she would give Marina enough time.

  Marina colpsed into the bushes, which like Jamie said they would, broke her fall, and she wasn't injured apart from a few cuts and scrapes. She pulled herself from its branches and looked up at the window again.

  Jamie... sacrificed herself for her sake. For her freedom. She wanted to cry and rush to her rescue. But she wouldn't forsake her wishes like that. She turned heel and ran.

  And she didn't look back.