HER PRINCE Read online

  HER PRINCE

  M.O. KENYAN

  Mainstream Romance

  DEDICATION

  On the outside we may look different,

  one black, one white

  one tall, one short,

  one slim, one muscular

  On the inside we bleed the same,

  we hurt just the same,

  we love the same,

  Inside he has a heart that beats for me,

  as fiercely as mine beats for him,

  I love him, I will always love him.

  PART I

  Chapter One

  Christoffer skimmed his hands over the medal embellishments above the left breast pockets on his formal military uniform laid out on his bed. He didn’t know what they were for, or how he had earned them. His older brother Lu had the same medals on his uniform. Lu earned them. Lu had actually served in the military as the first born and heir to the throne of Denmark. Christoffer, as the third child, knew his role as the spare to the heir wouldn’t come to pass. Soon Lu would get married to the dragon he called a fiancée. Christoffer had no doubt a little bundle of joy would soon follow. He hoped. Christoffer needed to keep up with his carefree lifestyle.

  Christoffer stared at the uniform once more. He only felt like an imposter when he wore it and paraded in it as the second son of King Lauritz. His father must have seen what kind of a screw up he would be. Father had spent his time tutoring Lu on the right and wrongs of a great ruler. Father had even amended the law to allow a female child to inherit the crown. So the throne had an heir, a spare and a screw up.

  Christoffer grabbed his leather jacket from the closet. At the noise coming from the ballroom, he was sure at least fifty guests had arrived. His mother’s balls were the perfect place for people to further their social standing with society. People who usually wouldn’t interact, who would gossip about each other, feigned a friendship for the night. Mothers paraded their daughters for him and Lu. That’s how Lu had met Britta, the venomous snake. She pretended to be all sweet when they first met, but once Lu had put the ring on her finger, announced their marriage and started planning the wedding, she had shown her true colors. Nothing dazzled about her anymore, but sadly Lu couldn’t see it. Christoffer definitely wasn’t going to attend. With Lu now off the market, duty bound him to dance with the eligible girls who attended the ball. He needed to get out of there. Christoffer climbed out his window and used the vine that twined around the whole palace to climb down. Christoffer went for his sports car parked outside the palace gates for an easy getaway.

  He brought his Aston Martin to a screeching halt outside one of his favorite clubs. Christoffer saw the bouncers whispering into their radios. No doubt the owner had been informed of his arrival and everyone in the VIP area was being shuffled out. A crowd gathered around his car. He cursed silently. Keeping the public at a distance was one thing his bodyguards were good for. Since he ditched them back at the palace, he would have to settle for the club bouncer. Christoffer put on his best playboy smile and waved at his adoring public. When he got to the VIP area it had been stocked the way he liked it, with women and booze. Christoffer didn’t mind these kinds of women hanging around him. They knew he wasn’t going to offer them anything more than a one night stand, a night of fun and pleasure. He sat on the plush leather chair and let the women cater to his every need.

  Later, though Christoffer didn’t know how long, his alcohol hazed gaze could watch the crowd part like the red sea. “Oh shit,” Christoffer said.

  Christoffer tried to get up, but one of his lady friends decided to make herself comfortable on his lap. The royal bodyguards emerged from the crowd in a diamond formation. Christoffer would bet his right arm that they were protecting Lu. His brother stepped forward, a disappointed scowl marring his baby-like face.

  “You couldn’t attend mother’s ball? Really Fer?” Lu crossed his arms over his chest, reminding Christoffer of their father.

  Christoffer put the girl off him. He walked to his brother’s side. His plan was to appear compliant then when they were outside he would jump in his car and get away. “How did you find me?”

  “Father and I expected you to pull a stunt like this.” The amused look on Lu’s face confused him. “The window? Wow Rapunzel, I didn’t think you had it in you.”

  “Haha! Very funny. I don’t appreciate being followed around like a child.”

  “If the shoe fits. Listen little brother, I understand why you would rather be here with all these attractive women instead of the debutants, but you broke mama’s heart.” Lu put his arm around Christoffer’s shoulders. “She’s looking forward to showing off her proud bull to all the young fillies.”

  “No way. They might look nice, pretty and sweet. But once you propose, they turn into Britta. I’m not getting myself into the same mousetrap you did.” He shivered at the thought. He couldn’t imagine being confined in the vows of matrimony with any woman, let alone a woman like Britta. “I’d rather climb the Eiffel Tower and jump.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  Christoffer stopped and curiously studied his brother. He couldn’t believe what he heard. Unlike him, everything Lu said or did had meaning. So the comment definitely meant something. “So did you discover that Cinderella is actually worse than Methuselah?”

  “I broke the engagement. I saw her interact with the servants and it left a lot to be desired. It was a mistake from the beginning.”

  They stopped next to Christoffer’s car. Christoffer leaned on it and let out a bark of laughter. “I thought you said she just needed a little getting used to.”

  “I’m not about to condemn myself to a life of misery to please father. This ball is my chance at picking a replacement.”

  Christoffer jumped into the driver’s seat. “We must make haste dear brother. Your future bride awaits you, and with the crop mother invited, I bet one is ripe for the picking.”

  “Sir!” one of the bodyguards stepped forward.

  Christoffer could tell they were studying him. He half expected them to give him a sobriety test.

  “Don’t worry,” Lu reassured him. “I’ll make sure my little brother drives under the limit.”

  Once Lu got into the car, Christoffer sped off. He wanted to give their security a chase they would never forget. They barely made it to the main road when loud honking filled the night air, followed by the sound of metal folding and the odor of burnt rubber. Then darkness.

  * * * *

  Christoffer woke in the darkest hour of the night stuck in a dream as he tossed half sick between grotesque reality and the savage frightening dreams. But they weren’t dreams.

  He was running away from his demons. As much as he tried to open his eyes he couldn’t escape the darkness. The soreness was real but he couldn’t move his body. Christoffer tried to call out but could only manage was a faint gasp of pain. A triangular formed light pierced through the darkness.

  “Help,” Christoffer whispered as he tried to make out what was coming toward him.

  “Fer,” Alisa whispered, “Fer, are you awake?”

  “Alisa,” Christoffer called out, “Alisa, is that you?”

  The light went on and he squinted. Though desperate to get out of the darkness, he couldn’t stand the brightness.

  “Turn it off!”

  Alisa turned the light off and settled with a small reading light. Moving to the side of the bed and sitting down, Alisa held his hand as she wept. “Fer, what happened?”

  The last thing he remembered was being in the car with his brother, then darkness. Christoffer closed his eyes to push the memory further but he only saw darkness.

  “Where is Lu?” The pain intensified the tighter Alisa held onto his hand, but he didn’t say anything. Christoffer needed some human contact and apparently, and so did she. “Where is Lu?”

  But she didn’t answer. Alisa cried out his name.

  “Alisa, sweetheart.” Terms of endearment always worked with his sister. Christoffer treated her as if she was younger than he. Since Alisa’s the only girl, he and Lauritz had shielded her. “Look at me, tell me where Lu is.”

  “There was an accident.” Alisa cried.

  Christoffer thought as much. He couldn’t move much and that part still bothered him. Christoffer could tell he was back at home so it must not be too bad. He chuckled. “Oh no, this is the third car this month. Let me guess, father and mother are giving him a piece of their minds.”

  Whenever his brother could, he assumed all blame and responsibility. It had kept Christoffer out of trouble so far.

  “Oh Fer!” Alisa whined before breaking down once more.

  Something was wrong. Alisa wasn’t laughing or mimicking their parents. She was crying and this wasn’t like the times she faked tears to get her way. Christoffer tried to sit up unsuccessfully.

  “Why can’t I move?” Christoffer moaned as the sharp agony held him in place.

  Alisa got up and turned on the light, standing aside as he took in the gravity of the situation. His leg was strung up on his bed frame, while his arm lay by his side, immobile. Christoffer raised his other arm and pulled off the linens trying to find the source of the stabbing pain. A white bandage wrapped his chest. He widened his eyes in disbelief as he dropped his head back on the pillow.

  “There is no way Lauritz is going to let Lu off the hook for this one,” Christoffer mumbled as he stared up at the light. “Alisa, get Lu for me.”

  Alisa didn’t move.

  “Alisa did you hear me?”

  Alisa sank to t
he ground and burst out crying. The urge to stand up and go to his sister overwhelmed him, but he couldn’t move.

  “Alisa, come here and tell me why you are crying.”

  “I’m going to get Papa.” Alisa ran out of his room. She screamed for their father.

  Christoffer lay back, searching for the words to get him and his brother out of trouble. The broken arm and leg would only get him so far. He wondered what kind of injuries Lu had and how he would get him out of the trouble he was in. When his father walked in, the wheels reeling in his mind stopped. Christoffer stared at the disheveled man, so unlike his perfect debonair father. His eyes were swollen and red, and his whole body shook.

  “Papa, I’m sorry.”

  His father enveloped him in his arms. Papa’s whole body shuddered and he sobbed. Christoffer stared at his sister who hung back crying.

  “Papa, what’s going on? Where is Lu?”

  The king pulled away and looked into his eyes and said, “You are the Crown Prince now.”

  “What? Father what happened tonight is my fault.” Christoffer couldn’t believe his father had passed Lu for the throne just because of this accident.

  “Lu is dead.” Papa took a step back and moved toward the door.

  Christoffer stared at him in disbelief until he disappeared. His breath caught in his chest as his father’s voice echoed in his ears. He shook his head as tears rolled down his temples. His nightmares were memories.

  “I want to see Lu.” Christoffer tried to get off the bed but he couldn’t. Too many things held him down. “Alisa, help me.”

  After a couple of sedatives from his doctor, Christoffer calmed down and fell asleep. The next morning he watched from his bedroom window as the funeral procession began.

  Lu’s body was covered in the Denmark flag and slowly loaded onto a horse drawn carriage. Alisa and Papa held onto Mama as they followed the carriage behind. His mother hadn’t been in to see him and he couldn’t blame her. Christoffer had caused her the greatest pain ever and because of that he couldn’t bring himself to look into Lu’s coffin and say goodbye.

  “How did it happen?” His father kept asking.

  * * * *

  Alma blinked, trying to clear the cloud of tears from her eyes. It had been one week since Kevin’s death and they were still asking her the same question. “How did it happen?” Alma stood in the middle of the living room staring up at portrait hanging on the wall. This was the hundredth person who had come up to her with that same question. She stared on as tears bubbled out of her eyes thinking about the night her life had taken a drastic twist.

  Alma and Kevin walked toward the movie theatre in downtown Nairobi. A week ago, almost eleven o’clock at night and Alma had snuck out for the sole purpose of enjoying this evening with her boyfriend. They had agreed that tonight was the time their five-year relationship to finally welcome the physical part of being together. They had discussed going straight to the main event, but they wanted this night to be perfect and dinner and a movie, the start of a perfect night.

  Alma rubbed her sweaty palms over her jeans. The movie credits rolled up and her heart thumped in rhythm with the soundtrack. Soon her virginity would end as well. Though she was seventeen, she had known him for half her life and dated him for five years.

  Kevin leaned in. “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine.” Alma tried to pull her sweaty hand away but he held tight. Kevin gave her hand a couple of squeezes that made splotchy noises because of the sweat, but he never let go.

  “I love you and sweaty hands will never make me not want to hold you.” Kevin kissed her exposed shoulder.

  Alma swam in his brown eyes and dove into his sweet words, forgetting where they were. She hung onto his hand as they walked through the alley. Dark shadows took shape, rippling away from the light and taking the form of a man.

  “Babe, I don’t think we should have used the shortcut.” The edgy nervousness in her voice was hard to hide.

  Kevin held her closer and said in a hushed tone, “Just try not paying them any attention. If you don’t give them a reason to, they won’t attack you.”

  Alma tried his strategy but when the stampede of feet rushed up to them, she knew nothing would prevent what was about to happen. Kevin stopped and pinned her between his body and the wall, knocking the wind out of her. She grabbed the back of his jacket and buried her face in it. His body so close she felt the rapid thuds of his heart. Alma didn’t look up but just listened and waited.

  The four men closed in on them. A few feet away from them they each pulled out their weapon of choice. The silver of the machete gleamed in the moonlight and caught Alma’s eye.

  “Don’t look.” Kevin ordered Alma but it was too late.

  “Why are you keeping her away from us?” One voice in the midst of three other grumbling ones, asked.

  “We don’t want any trouble. Just tell me what you want.” Kevin shifted his weight from one foot to the other, as if he was getting ready to attack. His body moved from side to side, obviously trying to get a visual of where the threats were.

  “We want her.” The stranger’s words slurred as he emphasized ‘her.'

  The guy with the machete took a step closer. Kevin moved to advance to him but Alma held desperately to his jacket.

  “Let go.” Kevin's voice had a tone she had never heard before. “I want you to run.”

  “No!” Alma refused to leave him here. Staying with him seemed safer. “I want to stay here with you.”

  Kevin pulled his shoulder away so hard that her nail broke. Alma yelped and lost her grip on his jacket and one step at a time he created a gap between him and her. She pressed her body back to the wall, secretly hoping it would open up and swallow her whole. His fingers balled into a fist at his sides as he moved around and she followed. Soon all four guys stared straight at them. She had to escape. But she couldn’t leave him. Alma refused to.

  “Come with me.” Alma held onto his hand but he only pulled it away.

  Without breaking his concentrated stare at the four men, he shoved her back then roared, “Go!” Kevin glanced back at her for a second then in a sweet tone he said, “I love you. Please go.”

  The gentle look in his eyes was enough to convince her. Alma turned and ran as fast as she could. But then she remembered she never said that she loved him. When she glanced back she saw the silver machete raised in the air and brought down with great force. When it came back up, no silver glinted, just blood. She waited for a couple of minutes but she didn’t see Kevin get up.

  Slowly she backed away before she turned and ran. The sight of the blood seemed to have given her a boost. There must be a police station in the area. Alma didn’t stop running. She bumped into people, fell but got back up. The tears clouded her vision, but she never stopped until she saw the blue cabin with red and yellow stripes. The police post.

  Alma stood in the middle of police officers and civilians then shrieked, “Help me!”

  * * * *

  “How did it happen?”

  When the question came once more, she only existed in her own little world. Alma answered, “Just look forward. If you don’t give them a reason to, they won’t attack you.”

  Someone held her by the shoulder and turned her toward the exit. “Let’s go home,” her mother said.

  Alma didn’t resist. She let herself be led out of the house but she came across another picture on the closed coffin. Kevin smiled at her and she couldn’t help but smile back. Shaking her mother’s arms off, she took a step toward the picture, until it was inches away from her face. Alma lifted trembling fingers to his face, and traced his eyes, nose and lips. Closing her eyes, she memorized them. Since the night of the murder she had seen him as blood on a machete and now she saw his face.

  “He’s so beautiful,” Alma whispered.

  She stole a quick glance as her mother whisked her away.

  On the day of Kevin's funeral, her mother told her, "You will stay home. It will be too painful for you to go to the funeral."

  When her mother left the room, she climbed out of the window and walked to the cemetery. By the time she covered the ten kilometers, the burial ended. Alma roamed around the freshly dug graves and found Kevin's. Lying next to the grave she draped her arm over the flowers and soil.