The Aldean Chronicles: Hidden

"Call me every day." My mom hugs me goodbye. I'm leaving by 6 am so I can arrive at the manor two hours later at 7 pm. "And tell me how big their house is when you get there. And send pictures.""I will," I laugh, she releases me. "Dad." I hug him for a long time before letting go. "I'll miss you guys."

"We'll miss you too." He says. "And don't do anything stupid when you get back to school. You're lucky you made it out of that house before the cops showed up."

I nod. "So lucky." Oops. "I should get going, and you should be getting ready for work." I walk up to the car. "Love you," I call out and wave before entering.

"Are you ready to go?" David asks. I nod, it's still pretty early so I rest my head on the seat and go back to sleep. When I wake up, the sun is setting. "We're almost there," David says.

I sit up and look out the window. From the map on my phone, we passed the palace a few minutes ago and are headed straight to a gated community. It looks so pretty and idealistic, the houses are beyond my imagination. They're huge, some with traditional designs and some modern. Each house manages to look nicer than the one before.

We drive to the end of the street where a big traditional-looking manor is. It's cream and has a big silver gate separating it from the rest of the neighborhood. The driver places his palm on a screen pad and it flashes green. The gate opens noiselessly and we roll in. The driveway is a cul de sac and the garage looks about the size of my house.

The driver parks in front of the three-story building. I see Grey, he's outside and wearing a dress shirt and suit pants. I open my door and come out. "Hey," I say to him. "This house is amazing."

"And you haven't seen the inside yet." He hugs me lightly. "So glad you're here, if I attend one more meeting. I'll shoot myself."

I laugh. "I like the suit, it suits you." I joke weakly.

"You just got here so I'm going to forget you said that." The driver walks ahead of us into the house with my suitcase. "Let's go in."

Once again, my breath is taken away. The foyer ceiling is decorated with beautiful depictions of angels and the chandelier looks so big and clear. I'm 98 percent sure it's made of real diamonds. The walls are decorated with gold and blue wallpaper, and paintings are hung sparsely around the room. We walk past the foyer and into a hallway.

"We're having dinner now. Do you want to come?" He asks.

I nod. "Sure." He leads the way past several living rooms to a grand dining hall. The walls are plastered with white wallpaper with gold engravings. There is a big oak table that could easily fit twenty people in the middle and a big window shedding light from the setting sun into the room.

"Cassandra, you're here," Sebastian says happily. He stands up from his seat to hug me. "How's your mum, do you want some food?"

"She's good, she says hi. She also said she called you last night but you didn't answer."

"Nonstop meetings all day, sorry. But I'll get back to her." He apologizes and pulls a chair out for me.

"Thank you. Nice to see you again Lilian." I say to her. "You look well." Her black hair is pulled into a tight knot and she's wearing a green dress.

She smiles weakly. "Thank you, Cassandra, I needed that after the day I've had." She yawns.

"Sounds like everybody had busy days. I just woke up." I drag my chair closer to the table. "Are we still on for tomorrow?" I ask Grey.

"Yes, lucky for you, I'm free. Just a dinner with some family friends here." Grey says. "I promised to take you to my favorite places and I will."

"Just be back before it starts." His mother warns. "And make sure Cassandra gets something nice. I've seen her clothes, and well." She stops herself by taking a sip of her wine.

Ouch. "I'm coming?"

"Of course, our guests are quite eager to meet you," Lilian says. "So please be good."

"She'll be fine, Lil." Sebastian says. "Remember your first time meeting my family." He laughs. "I can never forget that."

Lilian scowls. "We don't need to be reminded."

Grey laughs too. "He's always telling the story. So, my mum misreads casual and shows up to meet the King and Queen consort of Aldean in jeans and a shirt."

"And that wasn't the worst part, she accidentally knocked over this antique vase that has been in the family for 120 years," Sebastian adds. Lilian is not finding this story funny. "I'm just teasing."

She purses her lips. "I'm finishing this elsewhere." She picks up her glass of wine and leaves.

"It was a joke," Sebastian follows after her. "You have to admit, it's really funny."

Grey looks at his food. "Well, I don't have to be here anymore. Do you want a tour of the house?"

"Of course."

The house is very old, it was built hundreds of years ago but gets renovated often. The design is a mixture of old and modern, with a table from the 18th century holding up a flat screen tv. The house has an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, a cinema, a gym and a range to practice fire magic. There's a pretty garden taking up most of the backyard and a guest house close to the pool.

"I didn't think it was possible but I love this house so much more. It's so big and has so many rooms." I say in awe.

"Wait till you see the palace. It's like three times the size of this place." He looks around. "Sorry but I'm really tired, I'm getting a full night's sleep for the first time all week."

"Sure, I'm tired too." I lie. We go up the stairs. He takes me to my room on the top floor and opens the door. "I like it," I say honestly.

"If you don't like anything, just tell Dad. He'll change whatever you want." He yawns. "Good night." He leaves.

The theme of the room is blue and gold, with everything in the room a shade of either color. There is a big four-poster bed on the right and an ornate desk and chair on the left. I walk to the door close to the bed and open it. It leads to a bathroom complete with both a tub and a shower. The other door in the room is close to the bed, it leads to a closet the size of my room back home.

I go back to the main room, the floors are polished marble and there is a rug under the bed. There is a big window over the desk that overlooks the gardens. There is also a mini chandelier casting light around the room.

I'm already imagining ways to fill it up. I feel guilty, will my parents be sad if I decorate? Sebastian said I could and I can stay here anytime I want. He said nobody will be staying in this room, that it's all mine. So will it be a betrayal to make it mine?

I try not to let that thought dampen my spirits. I don't bother unpacking, I'm only going to be here for two nights. I fill the bath up with water and some of the expensive-looking soaps I see in the cabinets. I strip down and slide into it, when the water gets cold I consider getting out. But then I remember I have powers and heat it up. I love my life.

I eventually fall asleep on the comfy bed and wake up early, before 4 am. My sleep schedule is so messed up. I didn't have any dinner last night and also didn't have breakfast before I left.

I leave my room and wander around the first floor, looking for the kitchen. Grey didn't add it to the tour, he looked confused why I even wanted to see it. I'm not entirely sure he's been there before. After getting lost more times than I can count, I find the kitchen and as expected, it's big.

The fridge has a wooden exterior and is built into the wall. Various doors connect the kitchen to other rooms. One door leads to a cold room stocked with all kinds of goods. And I thought the inbuilt fridge was interesting. The other doors led to pantries. I grab some fruit, chips and yogurt before going back to my room. It takes some time because I keep getting lost.

I eat my snacks and check my messages, there are several from Eliza. She tells me that she knows I'm the one who called the cops. Sophie and the rest also suspect but she got them off my back. She said she's angry that I got her in trouble with her mom but also sorry she didn't defend me at the party. She ends her message by saying maybe we shouldn't talk for a while. I don't respond.

Our grades were supposed to come out Friday night, which was yesterday. I would have checked mine but I was too scared. Sara calls to tell me she got straight A's, of course she did. I tell her I haven't checked mine yet but I'll tell her as soon as I do. I also don't mention that I'm in Aldean, she doesn't need to know that.

I go downstairs around 6 am and find Lilian and Sebastian already dressed and ready to go to work. "You're leaving, it's so early."

Lilian puts on her coat. "The sun is up, so are we. Students are coming back in two days, I need to make sure everything is ready." She suddenly remembers something. "Your results came out last night, have you checked them?" I shake my head. "You do know I have access to every student's scores, I'll find out whether you tell me or not."

"Leave her alone, Lil," Sebastian puts his coat on. "Like Greyson, she will tell us when she's ready."

Lilian wrinkles her nose. "Greyson never tells us, I find out by myself. And I already checked it days ago when they were first submitted. We'll wait for him to tell us then yell at him."

Sebastian looks concerned. "We're scolding him, why? How did he do?"

She smiles. "Now you're interested in knowing. Well too bad, I'm not telling you, we'll wait to hear from him." She walks out the front door.

He sighs and turns to me. "We'll be back before dinner, if you need anything, call me. If I don't answer, call my assistant, Grey has his number." He follows his wife out the door.

I go back to my room and wait for Grey to wake up. He does so four hours later, I spend the day exploring the house. I then practice my magic in the range. I channel all the anger I felt 24 hours ago at the party. I funnel it into a single blast and am pushed back by the force. I try this several times before I'm completely exhausted.

I then go for a relaxing walk in the garden. After this, I have a shower. I don't bother wearing my day clothes, I just change into a one-piece bathing suit and go down to the indoor pool. I miss swimming, I don't do it often but when I do, I have fun.

After swimming, I go back up to my room and run into Grey in the hall. "You're finally up," I say to him.

"Yeah, I was out for a while." He yawns. "Anyway I'm awake now, give me a minute to get changed."

I go to my room and wear something comfortable. Jean shorts with a baby pink t-shirt. I pair it with plain white converse and wear a simple gold necklace that I got for my fifteenth birthday five months ago. I meet him at the garage door.

"Don't scream when I open the door." He says. He opens it and I immediately understand why. We're in the garage, there are at least ten cars here. "Come on." He walks to a sleek black car with a logo I don't recognize. It must be an Illyrian sports car.

I get in and take in the smell. I love it here. He opens the garage door with a remote and drives out. He does the same with the gate and before long, we're driving down the neighborhood.

"Where exactly are we going?" I ask him.

"I planned on taking you to several places but I can't cause of the press." He says. "So now, we're going to Kat's designer."

"Then," I ask. "What's after that?"

"I don't know yet." He says defensively. "I haven't really thought of anything."

"Don't you dare tell me you got my expectations up for nothing." I scoff. "Seriously, Grey."

"I've been busy, royal life is serious work." He argues. "Okay how about this? I'll come up with something while we're there."

I sigh. "That's if there's still any time left. It's already noon."

"Then we'll do something tomorrow." He offers. "No wait, I might not make it tomorrow. Nina will be at the charity event."

"Are you blowing me off for a girl?" I'm outraged. As Sara would say, the audacity.

"You clearly have not seen Nina, she likes guys who are into doing good for the world." He grins. "When she sees me hand over that check and taking pictures with kids. She'll go mental."

"I left my parents to come here and you're going to make me regret it." Nope. "I'm telling Seb, you are not leaving me."

He rolls his eyes. "That's not fair."

"Tragic, now start thinking up places because I am not staying in that house all day tomorrow," I say. "It's bad enough Lilian doesn't let me leave school, I'm not missing out on an opportunity to see the country."

He snaps his fingers. "I got it, I know what we're going to do." He says. "We'll drive around Aldean, you want to see the city. Well, see the city."

"Driving around all day. Sounds fun." It kind of does but I'll never tell him that. "Still not thinking about Nina, are you?"

"I'll get her another way, might not be now cause she doesn't go to our school but I will." He sounds determined. I decide not to comment on how disturbing that sounds.

We pull up to the boutique, it's really pretty. The exterior is white and light blue and the store looks vintage. Grey leaves his car parked out front even though I'm very sure that's not allowed. Mannequins modeling gorgeous outfits are arranged around the store.

As I'm wandering around, an attendant appears. "Hello miss, how can I help you?" She looks me up and down.

"We're here for Lena," Grey looks around the store. "We didn't call ahead but we're hoping she can make an exception since my cousin is one of her most valued clients."

The storekeeper's eyes widen. "Prince Greyson, you're here. Sorry, I didn't know you were coming. Let me, um, take you and your friend to Lena." She fumbles as she leads us up the stairs. We stop at the door at the end of a hallway.

"Lena, there's someone here to see you." She opens the door. I walk in and see a room with floor-to-ceiling windows. There's a table set up in the corner and a mannequin in the middle.

Standing beside the mannequin is a young woman, can't be more than thirty. "Missy, what did I tell you about interrupting me?"

"I know but they are special customers." The store assistant, Missy explains.

"Lena Karinski," Grey walks in. "It's been too long since we last spoke."

The woman, Lena, rolls her eyes but has a smile on her face. "Greyson Harrington, it has been too long." He walks up to her and they hug. "So tell me, who is the captivating redhead you've brought me?"

He releases himself from the hug. "Can't tell you, it's a secret. I don't want you getting funny ideas though."

She raises her hands. "I had no funny ideas, you'd never bring one of your girlfriend's here." She then turns to me. "Any friend of Grey is a friend of mine, what can I help you with?"

I smile. "I'm Cassandra, I just need a dress for tonight."

"Okay, what do you have in mind? A ball gown or maybe something less formal?"

"Lena, anything will do, it's nothing serious. Just dinner with some of our neighbors." He cuts her off.

"Then why am I here if I could have just worn one of my dresses," I complain.

"Because if given the chance, my mum will burn all your clothes."

"What's wrong with my clothes?" I ask. "Lena, you're a fashion expert, what am I doing wrong?"

"Well, I've only seen you in this." She reasons. "But from what I gather, you don't seem like the kind of person that makes an effort. Let me show you something." She gestures for me to follow her to her desk. "Like one of my clients, Princess Katya, even in school, she always maintains a level of formality. She chooses to always dress preppy."

I look at pictures of Kat, attending charity functions, state dinners and meetings. She does always look good. I nod. "Okay, so my dressing should be more formal."

She shakes her head. "Yes and no, style is all about expressing yourself. Katya came to me wanting to dress a certain way, I helped her find her style and I haven't stopped since. I can help you if you want."

I shake my head. "I doubt I can afford you."

"Of course you can." Grey injects. "Don't you have a credit card?"

"Well yeah, but that's only for emergencies," I reply.

Lena looks up at me. "Sweetie, this might be one, you don't want to be caught looking bland. The press never forget."

"But Grey doesn't care about how he looks. I shouldn't too."

"That's where you're wrong, my outfits all correlate with my `I don't care, bad boy' persona. Your outfits say you picked the first thing out of your wardrobe that morning." He insults. "And Lena is right, the press never forget. Aunt Freya wore a pair of wedges that made her trip once, the press dragged the matter for a whole month. She hasn't worn wedges in seven years."

I think about that. "I mean, I have always wanted more clothes." I reason. "Who doesn't want more clothes."

"Thought you'll say that." Lena laughs. "First, let's find you a dress, then we'll discuss more about what kind of pieces you like."

I nod. "Okay, do you make all of Kat's clothes or do you buy some elsewhere?"

Lena pauses for a second before responding. "I make some of them, you'll know my work when you see it on her. But most of her clothes, I buy from other designers. I'll do the same for you, just give me your monthly budget and I'll work with that."

"Okay, what's Kat's monthly budget?" I scoff when she tells me. "She does not spend that much."

"I can show you her receipts if you want." Lena offers.

"We'll discuss prices another day," Grey says. "We're in a hurry, we have to be back before 5."

I wave him off. "We still have time, why don't you go shopping?" He huffs and leaves the room. I look over pieces of clothing with Lena.

"What do you wear a lot of?" She asks.

I think about my answer. "Jeans."

She wrinkles her nose. "No jeans, sorry. I don't make the rules." She quickly adds when I try to interject. "Maybe once every few months when you want to appear casual to the public but other than that, royals don't wear jeans."

I laugh awkwardly. "I'm not, I'm not a royal. Why would you even think that?"

"Whatever you say, Cassandra." She gives me a side-eye. "Okay, let's focus on getting you a dress for tonight. And maybe some other things as well.” She calls her assistant who brings out trolleys filled with clothes. I have never been happier than I am at this moment.