A year had passed since Nick's kidnapping. Nick had become more obedient towards the Queen, but in her opinion, he was still just an act. He laughed when the Queen cracked jokes and listened when the Queen talked to him. She saw in him what others didn't see-a sadness, a longing to belong and to be loved for who he was, a vulnerability which she could take advantage of.
She wanted to draw him out, but she realized how hard it was. His heart seemed locked. He kept his sorrows hidden very well. She started to think that he was cunning, not letting even her know his weakness.
As usual, at the first of each month, she and Nick went sight-seeing. They walked through the Forbidden Gardens. The sight was breathtaking. She knew Nick liked it lot. The gardens suited him well. The flowers were all white and pure. He gazed around, hypnotized by the beauty while she remained deep in thought. She sometimes liked his silence. Sometimes his presence comforted her. He appeared harmless, not like a spy for the U.S. How many times she had tried to monitor his actions unsuccessfully.
On the other hand, her counselors were starting to get out of hand. Many times she demanded to know what was going on with the world, but the counselors only discussed with her the small issues, like what was going on in her people's daily lives. When it came to big issues like world-wide peace, all they said was that everything was under control. She couldn't trust anyone, not even her guards. But she felt at ease around Nick. He kept calm and poised every time she saw him. He asked for nothing and never posed a problem for her. She liked keeping him around, more for entertainment than anything else.
But still, rumors about her being hopelessly drawn to Nick had aroused much resentment and restlessness among her people. She did not have the respect that she once did. One time, when one of her counselors approached her about Nick, she snapped back, "Counselor, I can read minds you know. I'm not a brainless child. I can see who I can and cannot trust." What was amusing to her was that she could trust an outsider more than her own people.
The counselors were in power far longer than she had and formed a close-knit clan. To them, she was their chess piece. Once upon a time, they had used her to completely dominate the world. Now she was just a face people related to Cartasia. She resented that, and she would do whatever it took to rule over her people once again!
Nick followed Feya as she aimlessly wandered through the Gardens, once again, her mind deeply consumed in thought. The past year had been a little more peaceful for him in terms of his relationship with Feya. But he still felt a discomfort he couldn't describe. Although he warmed up to Feya's attention, he was not comfortable with everything else that happened around him, especially if it had to do with Counselor Meina. Meina often gave him these stares. With what intentions, he did not know.
His mind then drifted back to Feya. She was lovely, talented, and nice to him. He didn't want her to get hurt. He felt something which he believed was love for Feya, or at least to him, it felt like love. He had succumbed to Feya's seductions and given in to her desires. He didn't know if Feya knew, but she was the first one he went to bed with. At first, he felt uncomfortable, knowing that he was an object for her to vent her frustrations and to prove her sexual dominance. However, he began to get used to the physical intimacy they shared.
His mind drifted back to the present. He knew something was up with the Board of Counselors, and that Feya was losing her hold on her people. She was in danger, and he couldn't do anything about it. Plus, the new Millennium was a month away. If Meina was going to pull anything, it would be at that time.
"Nick," Feya suddenly called out to him. "We are in danger."
Nick was surprised by her bluntness. "Yes, I know," he said softly.
"We must leave this place."
"But how will we pull it off?" Nick asked doubtfully, thinking about how tight security in Cartasia was. "We can't get out of this city without being noticed and tracked down."
"I have a ship stored away. This ship has a cloaking device. It will shield us. We will wait until the New Year's Party for the New Millennium, Nick. They'll be preparing for it so hard they won't notice it. "Then when?" Nick asked.
"3 days before the New Millennium," the Queen replied.
Nick smiled. "Then we'll finally be free."
"Yes, and I can finally spend all my time with you," she said softly without flinching. She smiled at him. Half of her was angry for even having feelings at all for him. Half of her wanted their relationship to last, but she knew it was impossible. He was of another race. And he was a mere servant. She could not rule over her people if she was hopelessly drawn to a inferior. He made her appear vulnerable, weak and pathetic.
Again, Nick felt that feeling, that she was toying with him. He smiled sadly. She didn't care about spending time with him, he could tell. She thought of him as a threat, a burden. And if it hadn't been for all the troubles she was facing with her people, he wouldn't even be alive now. She was using him for something, but he could not really tell for what.
"Where will we go?" he asked, thinking about his family, his friends, the Boys.
"Nick, they've seen my face on the screen. Anybody will recognize me. We must find a secluded place, disguise ourselves for the time being."
"Do you think we'll make it?"
"Just a few more days Nick. We have to."