The Projection Booth:

Blackstone slid into his bed as he tossed and turned in his sleep.

His dream changed from a grave site to his former cell.

Alva morphed into a mangy cat with teeth and fangs. "Please help me," he begged. "I didn't know what I had destroyed."

Two dragon claws clutched Alva. "Blackstone, am I going to gather you too? Will you seek revenge?" The giant dragon dragged Alva off.

Screams and giggles belonging to children filled his ears.

Alva escaped the dragon, and the prince transformed back into a human. "I lost my powers, wanting more. Shouldn't I be king because I was chosen? I'm special."

"You betrayed your oath," the dragon said.

Alva reached for a magical Chewie stick, and it vanished in his fingers. "Please, save me!"

The dragon scratched at Alva. "It's your choice. Did you give Blackstone mercy? No, you had your chance in life."

The dragon grabbed Blackstone. He woke up and screamed. His eyes shot open.

Florence rushed into his room. "It's okay. You're safe."

He trembled. "The movie's playing. I'm going to be found out." Blackstone sat up in his bed, and his blanket fell to the floor.

"The intercom is muted on our end. We're lucky the film is the end of a kids' horror movie. The kiddos screamed and laughed for ten minutes. It is probably their screaming that triggered your nightmare." She dragged Blackstone by his arm and helped him down the stairs.

"I will be out in a half hour." He went through the box of books and found the pages about dragons, and numbers, but his pages were blank. "It was a dream," he said.

The prince changed out of his rat pajamas and emerged from his apartment. "It's my turn to take over," he said dryly.

"The next film starts in two hours." She gave him a quick hug but went back to lifting weights.

"Thanks for comforting me," his voice cracked.

"I have nightmares about the war." Florence stopped lifting and sat on the cement floor next to Blackstone. "Damsel Sweetie, you went through a horrific experience, and the fact you still smile, shows you're strong." She squeezed his arm.

"Unlike Griffin, I'm not intimidated by women who are stronger or smarter than I am. He's weak. Sorry, to bring him up, but he gave me up and cheated on my sister."

"Griffin did the same manipulative behavior with me, and I feel terrible for your sister, but we don't need to talk about him all the time," she whispered. "Unless there is something you haven't told me."

Blackstone gritted his teeth and nodded. "We caught him making out with Queen Izz on his wedding night. It's why she has to resign. The real reason he married my sister was to hide their affair and keep Dex from marrying into royalty. The fact he's her replacement is beautiful."

"An affair with Alva's stepmother and a marriage to Cora could've given Victor control of both kingdoms, especially if an heir was produced." Florence stood up. "He uses an idiot like Griffin as a puppet."

"Don't defend him. He didn't love my sister," he said. "They weren't each other's choices. Like me, he needs too much rescuing. Maybe I should feel sorry for him."

"But you're a man I enjoy rescuing. You're worth it, and I consider you my closest friend. I realize why Wendy and my real mother love you so much. If you were animated, little doves and mice would befriend you."

He laughed. "Thanks."

"Welcome, but we all need rescuing sometime..." Florence paused. "You're as strong as a cage fighter or maybe an ox. I don't know anyone who lived through the amount of torture you did."

Four Hours Later:

The movie ended. Edgar stopped by with bags of groceries while his sister slept.

"We're taking turns sleeping because of late-night private parties." Blackstone shook his hand.

"Are you cracking up over not going out?" Edgar asked.

"Sadly, I have more freedom here. And sometimes I sneak into the basement. There is a door where I can speak to Wendy and my parents. The cell phone Florence gave me isn't always safe because sometimes my real father is in the room with Victor." Blackstone handed him the money. "My mother gave me some of my money. She hid it from Petunia."

"Florence will probably have to order groceries," Edgar said. "I'll be around less. My New Joy medical license was reinstated conditionally. I'll still be here three days a week."

"One day, I'll visit you. But, I need cooking items to impress Florence. I'm a professional chef, and I'd like to buy a blender and a hand mixer with an extension cord."

Edgar placed the list in his pocket. "We have most of these items. My cousin left boxes and bought all the new stuff when she quit and got married. We're dumping most of it. I'll go to the basement and see what is in the junk room."

The prince smiled. "I want to be able to cook more meals for Florence and you. Food is a way to travel when you can't, and I want to thank you."

"Are you going to ask my baby sister out?" Edgar removed an apple from the fridge.

"Is my crush on her that obvious? She'd walk by with the troops, while I baked. It's still lonely, even though I'm close to her," Blackstone said.

Edgar bit into the apple's flesh. "Loneliness, I understand. I met my wife in medical school, and I've lost my soul mate. The hospital's decorative art wall had cracked, and the inspector took a bribe."

Blackstone hugged him, and Edgar wept.

"I was offered a huge settlement, but I want Warm-Ivy back. Enough about me; you should be happy," Edgar said.

"I've accepted this might not go anywhere, but maybe miracles will happen."

"No, I lost faith in miracles before I found you. Blackstone, you inspire others around you to be better people. Evil hates you. They can't pretend that they are good when they see you."

Edgar left and came by with a box of kitchen tools. "And I deserve one of those cheesecakes."

Edgar and Florence's father carried a box of food.

Dad pulled packages of cream cheese out of his pockets.

Edgar headed to the door. "I have to head to work at the New Joy hospital. I'll be back tomorrow unless there is a lockdown."

Monday:

"The movie theater is closed for the outdoor film festival next week. My dad is a local judge, and the festival is always a massive revenue for him. He hires a crew who specializes in outdoor films, so we have until midnight to run around town handing out advertisements and taffy bars, but I usually finish it in less than an hour."

Blackstone stared at her. "I used to watch the festival from my window, but it's not like I can attend."

She hugged him. "We wear costumes. You can blend in."

"Am I dressing as a girl again?" He winked. "How about a troll from a storybook?"

"No, but you won't be recognized." She placed boots by his feet, hair dye, and a flashy suit with a mask and pompadour wig.

"Is this costume from Monster in the House? This is so cute." He touched the wig. "And there will be dozens of couples dressed like us."

"Miriam's best friend will be there to protect us, but we will meet up with Griffin."

"You basically can't stay in the theater. Queen Petunia plans to host a party. But she won't pay."

"Okay," he said.

She hugged, but let go. "Prince Victor rented out a room, and he isn't safe either."

"What will you dress like?" he asked.

"I'll surprise you." She handed him the gems.

"What is this?" he asked.

"Dad is paying you for handing out adverts with me."

He looked at the clock. "Everyone is gone. I need to clean the theater."

"I'll clean it with you. Two people will be faster. But he wants us to do the cleaning tonight as well." Florence touched his hand. "I want you to attend, and you're safer with me."

"Okay," Blackstone's voice cracked a bit.

Florence pulled her hand away, took him to her small apartment, and guided him to the bathroom.

She cut his hair.

"You were always pretty." She grinned. "I bet you will have tons of women throw themselves at you, even disguised."

"Thanks, I guess." He grumbled to himself. "It doesn't matter when the one woman I want isn't in love with me."

"Did you say something?" Florence walked over to her weights and lifted them.

"I'm just talking to myself. I have to get over something," Blackstone said.

Festival: Theater Lobby:

Blackstone resembled a different person, but no matter what he looked like to others, Florence could tell who he was. But it wasn't just her training.

There were little things, like the two freckles on his wrist. Florence had spent so much time with him that she even recognized the lonely parts that mirrored her own.

Florence dressed as a bride's maid in a chef's hat. Her blue-beaded purse and matching dress sparkled under the light.

A tall woman dressed as a ratted bunny stood close by. "Miriam, did you pick a costume for couples?"

"I won't conform or deny it," Miriam said.

Blackstone clutched the advertisements and a box of candy. "The faster we hand these out, the more fun we can have. They have candy apples or go in the tunnel of love."

Miriam smirked. "Isn't that cute?"

Florence spoke. "The tickets were emailed to me. I suspect Griffin is behind it. He is probably going to make a pass at me or endanger Blackstone."

"He's already made passes at me. I'm positive Victor asked him to do it so he could play the hero after my heart is crushed." Miriam handed her daughter more tickets. "You need to hug under the engagement tree."

"Miriam, I made a mistake asking Griffin, and he didn't show, so I'm taking this slowly."

"But Griffin was a waste of money," Miriam said. "And the tickets are still good."

Blackstone stared at them. "She said slowly," he whispered to himself. "But she didn't say never."

As they walked out, Victor, Queen Petunia, and Thackeray walked in.

"You're four hours early," Miriam said, her voice tinged with repulsion. 

Victor kissed her hand.