Chapter 17

The moment we stepped in the arena, we were ushered to the side. A bunch of the staffs surrounded us and began cleaning us up like robots, their faces serious and calm at the same time.

"Hey! Careful that hurts!" I cried out loud when one of them started cleaning my injury with a cotton swab.

I was seated down, my face and arms were being cleansed with a wet towel. Ria and Nessa had both their arms up, each staff taking one arm and cleaning it with a damp cloth.

"Sorry Clarissa, it's our fault," Nessa said in a guilty tone.

"No don't think it's your fault, it's that psycho's fault." I gritted my teeth. We could have died.

"Relax Clarissa, he's not worth it." Ria patted me on the back, "Furthermore he doesn't listen to anyone."

"Except one person," Nessa added.

"Who?" I asked curiously.

They both looked at each other with a questioning look. "Ummm, I think it's better if you don't know," Nessa spoke up.

"It's Gavier." Ria's face remained deadpan.

"Ria!" Nessa slapped her shoulder.

What?! "Why?" I clenched my fists. What if Gavier was the one that told him to kill us? That bastard! I thought he was on my side. I thought he wanted me to win. I thought-

I thought we were friends.

"Clarissa!" Nessa clutched on my arm that wasn't injured to stop me.

"Relax." Ria caressed my shoulder.

I could feel my body tense, my fists on my side and I was standing up on my way to the psycho. His usual creepy smirk was etched on his mouth, as his mischievous eyes danced from one place to another. His hand was on one of the many round tables made of marble, his fingers tapping on it impatiently. He's so ugh.

I turned around to face my friends. "What are you guys worried about? I'm fine." I smiled to reassure them. I wasn't fine.

They both sighed as they sat back down. The staffs pinned our numbers on our dresses, mine was 50th while Ria's and Nessa's were 51st and 52nd.

I faked a smile at them again. "I'm going ahead guys," I announced. They both nodded their heads as the staffs continued to pin their ids and pins.

As I turned around and trudged my way in the middle of the arena where the contestants were supposed to be, grave and critical looks were thrown my way. One of them was the tech guy, Prince Levi. He glanced at my Id then went back to his computer. He began to type so fast, I could barely see his fingers. Princess Ellaria and Princess Livana were also there, sitting at the back, chatting amongst themselves as they looked at me.

But who cares whatever they were thinking, my mind was set on doing one thing.

I stopped in front of Prince Jarvis, as I glared at him. He smirked back, licking his lips as he raised an eyebrow.

"Oh you're still alive?" His voice was deep with a heavy Russian accent and I could sense a tint of sadness in his words which irritated me more.

I bolted forward and clutched on his collar, glaring in his eyes. "I don't care who the fuck you are or what you want but if you ever put my friends in danger again, I'll be your worst nightmare," I threatened and let go, pushing him back harshly.

His face remained the same. "I can't wait for that nightmare." He laughed as if it was funniest thing ever. I swear this guy needs therapy.

"Interesting, Clarissa Marie Valdez," Prince Levi suddenly spoke up as he looked at his computer screen, "Daughter of what was once a con artist, the famous Richard Jackson Valdez who owns the Valdez company in Manhattan."

I crossed my arms "Thank you for announcing it out loud," I sarcastically said.

He smirked. "You're welcome. I think the girls would be thankful to hear that they should be wary of you."

And indeed they were, most of the girls looked at me, like I was some alien, their bodies tensing up. Were they threatened by me? I wanted to laugh, this was just getting better and better. Note the sarcasm there. And speaking of laughing, the psycho was still at it and it was getting more annoying than ever.

"Okay, are you done?"

"Maybe, maybe not, it depends," he said in a sing-song manner and began laughing again.

"Ugh, you're crazy." I turned around. It would be useless to talk some sense to him.

"Oh my god Clarissa." Nessa and Ria appeared, rushing to me.

"Are you okay? Did he do anything to you? Is everything-" I put my fingers on their lips to shush them up.

"I'm fine, let's just find some seats for ourselves. I feel like jelly right now." They both nodded in agreement.

I wanted to calm down and think properly while resting. So many things were popping in my head that I couldn't grasp. A little nap would be nice.

But then of course the last person I wanted to see at the moment had to appear. Gavier strode from the entrance, his hair tousled as if he had been running his hand on it, his piercing eyes looking around for someone. It stopped on me and for some reason it made me a little nervous. Why the hell is he here? I don't want to see him. Especially when I learned that the psycho is somehow connected to him or something.

"Clarissa," Gavier sighed as he walked towards me. The people who were on his way, cleared a path for him.

"What?" I asked like a bitch.

"Thank god, you're okay." He suddenly pulled me in his arms which made me gasp out loud. Wh-why is he hugging me? How about Jarvis?

"Gavier, everyone's watching us," I reasoned for him to let go. I could see the surprised stares of everyone and it was making me feel uncomfortable. At the corner of my eye, Nessa and Ria were grinning like fools, making me blush.

"So? Let them watch." He tightened his hold on me, tucking in my arms as well, then he began to attack my neck. Ugh, this jerk!

"What the hell is this?!" He glowered looking at my arm as he lifted it up, "How did you get this? Who did this." His piercing eyes directed at me. So he didn't know?

I looked at the corner of my eye to see Prince Jarvis looking away, his hands in his pockets, the smirk was gone on his face. Nessa and Ria on the other hand looked like they were holding their breaths. Should I tell? Do I really want to get in between Jarvis and Gavier? What could happen? What would Gavier do if he knows?

I closed my eyes and sighed. "I just fell on my own," I lied through my teeth, "It's just a little scratch so stop being like my father." It was better this way. I know the psycho almost killed us and I'm still really mad about it but we're still alive. It was time to move on. Furthermore I didn't want to ruin their friendship just because of me.

Nessa and Ria gasped. I gave them a look and they nodded, understanding the situation. On the other hand Prince Jarvis' psycho smirk was back, and he was looking at me, his eyes had a gratitude look in them, and what's that, respect?

"You're such a klutz, you're coming back to the academy with me now." Gavier took my hand leading me to the exit. Huh?

"What?! No way, I want to know what they're going to announce." I stopped my tracks and tried to take my hand stubbornly.

"It's okay Clarissa, we'll just tell you later." Nessa winked at me and I glared at her.

"You also need to rest, so you should go ahead," Ria said and wiggled her eyebrows. What the hell are they doing? Ugh! You guys are so dead later.

"See, you have nice friends to back you up. And don't force yourself, you're exhausted." He caressed my hand softly.

He was right. I could barely even stand right now.

"Levi, Jarvis," Gavier called and gave them the guy nod. Levi looked up from his computer and did the guy nod back at him along with Jarvis whose psycho smile was even creepier.

And with that I let him lead the way outside, across the whispering bunch of people, across the bowing staffs, and into another majestic private jet.

"You came alone?" I asked him as he sat down, pulling me to sit as well.

"Yes, I heard you got injured so I came," he said nonchalantly, not knowing what it was doing to me. I looked away so that he couldn't see my blushing face but then I realized he could still see it given the outrageous position I was in.

"Gavier, there's a lot of seats in here, so why do I have to sit on your lap?"

"Because I want you to." He smirked, wrapping his arms tighter around my hips, clasping his fingers at the side of my waist. I was seated sideways with my back leaning on the armrest and my legs across the other seat. He leaned back taking me with him and I sat back up so I wouldn't fall on his chest. My nervous system was in a big wallop already, I don't know if I could take in anymore.

I crossed my arms and glared at him, my face hot. "What if I don't want to sit here? Have you ever thought of how I would feel?"

"Do I have to?" He retorted back cockily. Ugh!

"You know what I think it was better when we weren't friends, I don't have to deal much of your arrogance." I rolled my eyes.

"We were never friends." What?

"What do you mean?" I looked at him confused, his face was solemn.

"In Facebook," he finished then smirked. Aargh, how annoying could he get.

"Do you even have Facebook Gavier?"

"Nope, I hate having fans, and I know you don't."

"How?" I raised my eyebrow.

"Because it would have been taken down by now," he said and shrugged.

"Why?" I asked then yawned. My eyes were drooping, and his hand which was caressing my hair wasn't helping either. I don't even know when he started doing it.

"I don't like people ogling on what's mine." I wasn't sure if that was what he said. I was barely awake, my eyes were closed, and my head was rested on his comfortable chest. For once I finally let my tiredness overwhelm me.

*****

"Dad!" I gasped, sitting up. I was sweating all over. It was the same nightmare again; my dad covered in blood reaching to me, calling me 'Clarianne'. I shivered all over, it was getting worse these days.

I looked around, I was back in our room. Gavier probably brought me here and for some reason the thought of him made me feel better. I stood up and went to our kitchen looking for water. Wait, weren't Nessa and Ria supposed to be here by now?

I went outside and looked around. The plane hasn't arrived yet, making me wonder what was taking them so long. 3 to 4 hours must have passed by now.

Then I felt it again, the feeling of someone watching me. I stopped my tracks then quickly hid behind one of the pillars in the hallway. Was it one of Queen Elizabeth's men? If it was then he would sure need to work on his hiding.

But I was mistaken. It was a tall and beautiful woman wearing a veil. She stopped and looked around, probably looking for me. Well whoever she was, she better has a good reason why she had been stalking me.

I sneaked behind her, taking the knife that was strapped on my thigh. Just as she was about to look behind I pushed her against the wall. "Who are you and why are you following me?" I asked menacingly. For all I know she could be one of my dad's enemy.

"I'm not a suspicious person. Please put down your weapon Clarissa Marie Valdez," the woman said and raised her hands. I let her go and she turned around but I couldn't see much of her face because of the veil. The only part of it I could see was her eyes, it was very blue and very familiar.

"I apologize for watching you. I must have made you a bit paranoid. Let me introduce myself." She smiled then put down the veil that was covering her face.

"I'm Queen Dianne Rosemary Czarkshaw, mother of Prince Gavier."