RECALLING THE PAST. chapter 24

The clouds had gathered , but hadn't rained. It has been gathering for a week now and when it would pour...

Amaya was walking down the street, going to meet her sister and the gang. The only family she had and probably would ever have. Lost in thoughts about how she'd lived her life all these years, during and after the war, how she'd survived, she bumped into someone.

Turning to look at the someone that couldn't apologize. She saw this wealthy noble. His dressing spoke it all. His face was as smooth as ivory washed in clear spring and his lips were thin and good for pouting.

He was rich!

So, Amaya followed him until he was in a not too dark and lonely alley. She took the chance and robbed him. "Those things are for someone", he said and Amaya kicked him on the leg so he could shut up.

"Tell the person that Goldcrest has it", she said and left.

Goldcrest was a shameless and vicious gang that everyone feared. They were like pirates only that they didn't rule the seas.

Amaya reached their layout. "Sister, guess what? " She asked hugging Celine.

"Not good at guessing, especially with you. You're so full of surprises". And they laughed.

"Well, I got a bag full of babies", she said and Celine hugged her. "I'm not training you in vain", she said and called on the others. "Guys, guess what?" She asked.

"You've finally found yourself a boyfriend". It was Cole, that idiot that later petitioned to remove Celine as head. "Nope", she said shaking her head.

"You finally got a man for your sister", one of them said and she laughed.

"Quit with the boyfriend talk. My sweet sister bought candies for all of us", Celine said hugging Amaya. "Let me guess, a purse of candies". She shook her head. So excited to hold it in, she said, "A bag full of candies". And they screamed, hugging her, congratulating her...

"It's late so tomorrow we would celebrate!" Celine announced.

It was late in the night, there were no stars and the moon wasn't shinning. Amaya sat outside staring into the night. Celine joined. "What bothers this kid?", She asked nudging her. Amaya sighed. "Nothing, just worried"

"About what? Don't tell me about that rich man". She nodded and Celine frowned.

" You did what all goldcrest would do", she said and Amaya shook her head

"It's not about that. I just have a feeling I stole from the wrong person", she said and Celine laughed. "Wow, Amy, you got me tripping".

"No, I just think I might see him again in a much different form", she said looking at her sister. "Do you think this is frog princess or Cinderella. Life is cruel, sweetheart, flow with it", she said and stood to leave.

"If I'm right and something bad happens to me? Or I'm in danger ?" Amaya asked. Celine smiled that comforting smile. "I'll come for you". Amaya smiled. She should trust her sister, she knew the drill went.

***

They were celebrating Amaya's first heavy catch alone. "Cheers to sweet Eve". They raised their glasses and clinked it.

After sometime, they decided to play dare or die. It was a dangerous game. If you didn't do the dare, you were killed by the person who dared you or you'd kill yourself. And if you won, you took the darers coins.

"All in", Celine said and they hooted. Amaya smiled. Just then, someone on a bounty hunter's cap came and sat with them. "I do like playing that game", he said and Thay looked at him for a while deciding for a while.

"It's Amaya's celebration so she'll decide". The group said and she accepted. "He can, he looks harmless", she said and they agreed.

They played the game for sometime before it reached the bounty hunter's turn to dare Amaya. He looked at her though she couldn't see his eyes.

"Be quick, hunter". They jeered. He shrugged.

"The crown prince's having a party, if you can sleep with him, you'll take twenty thousand coins". They hooted and cheered. Then he frowned. "Or die". Amaya froze. She wasn't ready to die and to sleep with the crown prince was death itself.

Who was this bounty hunter. "How would I know you'll pay me?" She asked. The hunter smiled and brought out five thousand pieces of coin handind over to her. "If you want the fifteen, then do it, or die here".

Celine couldn't do anything about this. It was the rule of the game. Dare or Die.

"Okay, I'll do it", she accepted and they shook hands. The game ended there.

***

The party was nice and lively. This was the first time Amaya attended the crown prince's party. And she liked it.

Now to find the crown prince Logan.

She searched for him, but didn't see him, so she just enjoyed the party. Almost to the end of the party, she still hadn't seen him. How could someone host a party and don't show up. She held her neck.

"Or die". Those words rang into her ears every now and then. She ddi not want to die, not now , not ever.

"What's a beautiful woman doing alone", someone said and she turned. It was the crown prince. His royal blue clothe fitting him perfectly. He had the perfect arch. His left ear was adorned with earrings and his lips thin.

Those lips looked familiar but she didn't care. She had found the crown prince.

"I came alone, your highness", she said smiling, trying her best to be decent.

"I like that, makes it easier for me"

"What do you mean ,your highness ?" She asked and he laughed.

"Can I take this dance, sweet lady?". Amaya did nothing but nod. And so they danced. After they were done dancing, he asked her name. "May I know this lady's name?"

"Lady Amaya of Cretes ", she said and he kissed her hand.

"May we speak about yourself?", He asked and she nodded. It was as if this man_ this prince was a womanizer, no offense.

But the rumors that he knows no woman...

They talked and laughed and drank, they drank that they were drunk and she completed her mission. Her dare.

***

Amaya woke up, the crown prince Logan wasn't in bed. She stood to get dressed and leave. When she was about leaving, a maid invited her for tea with the crown prince. It didn't hurt to have tea, so she went.

"Your highness", she bowed. And when he told her to sit,the voice sounded familiar. She looked up to see that boy she had robbed. He was the crown prince Logan!

"You're...". She stammered, but he cut her short, his face dark but lovely, void of emotions but sweet to kiss.

"You seduced me, lady Amaya ", he said and dropped his cup. "Why don't we go simple for you, you can remain my prisoner or you kill yourself".

The crown prince Logan walked to where she sat and caressed her face. "Don't you look too beautiful to die now".

"You're the boy and the hunter. You made me fall right into your trap!" She exclaimed and he laughed.

Amaya was in danger now, she had had that feeling, she hoped her sister was coming now not knowing that there was a big fight going on there.

"I agree, but let me see my sister. You can send guards to watch me, just let me see my sister", she said and he nodded.

***

It was everyone against one. Cole had petitioned that Celine be removed from her current post, head of Goldcrest.

"Why? I'm good", she said and they gave her reasons.

First, she was a woman. A woman couldn't possibly head the gang.

Then, she had let Pitt die when they were Hong, a far away country. Pitt was the former head.

"Pitt killed himself!" She screamed fighting them off. Curse Cole, he was the one who had killed Pitt . He threw him off the cliff.

"Lastly, you're just a loner who wants a life!" And that broke the Carmel's back. It was the last straw that broke the Carmel's back.

"I'll leave. I declare that I am no longer a member of Goldcrest ". And she left.

That was when the rain decided to pour. She was once again alone and homeless.

"Sister"

"Sister". Celine raised her head, it was Amaya. "How did it go?" She asked and she nodded. "Nice, it's left for the hunter to...". Amaya interrupted. "The hunter Is the prince". Celine looked at her sister. "What the..."

"I was too stupid not to know. I'm in danger, he wants me as his prisoner. Go home, you can't do a thing about it", she said and Celine shook her head.

"I have no home. We don't", she said. "What..."

"Cole aroused the gang to go against me I was outvoted and outnumbered", she said standing. "So I will go to the prince and beg"

Amaya said nothing...

...

"Eve"

"Eve". The crown prince Logan called and she turned to see him staring at her.

"Your highness", she answered. He looked away and back at her. " Sweet. Let's have breakfast"

"What?" She had been awake since. She nodded. Somehow, she was grateful to this prince. He, even though in a bad way, gave her sister shelter. It had rained for days that time. And she had begged for days too.

"Eve". She rushed to answer the crown prince Logan... .