Royally Lost (13 page)

20

A
jumble of emotions wrestled inside him as the Mondovian flag waved over the majestic building. His family coat of arms was proudly emblazoned on a bronze seal next to the double doors.

Great pride flooded over him at the sight of his country’s flag. It represented everything about who he was. But deep dread also snaked toward him, threatening to put a stranglehold on him and control his life forever.

“Let’s get out of here! Hurry!” Becca nudged his shoulder.

He snapped his face guard down, and sped off, struggling to stay within the speed limit.

When they were safely away, and his pulse slowed, he consulted the map and located the third hostel. It sat on a quiet side street that lacked big businesses and heavy traffic. The building featured a stylish archway leading to a private patio. Ivy climbed the side of the building. They parked around the corner, each checking the area for onlookers. Now that they’d seen his embassy, suddenly the threat of discovery loomed closer.

“Did you know that Mondovia had an embassy here?” Becca asked.

“Yes, but I didn’t expect to see it. I assumed it would be far from the tourist part of town.” Nikolai helped Becca with her helmet, then removed his own.

“Well, if they’re really serious about finding you, they won’t have to look far.” She grimaced. “Maybe we shouldn’t stay in Prague.”

Nikolai’s shoulders tensed. “No, I don’t want to ruin our plans. We’ll be careful and blend in, but maybe you should do the talking when we check in.” He put on his cap, pulling the bill low over his eyes.

Becca was immediately struck by the scent of stale coffee and the low rumble of chatter. They crossed the scratched wood floor, past a wall of storage lockers, posted house rules, and a list of restaurants. Nikolai hung back and concentrated on a bulletin board with lists of things to do as she approached the registration desk.

A thirty-something guy, wearing a ponytail and wire-rimmed glasses, spoke on the phone in a foreign tongue. Becca panicked. She couldn’t check them in if she couldn’t speak the language. He ended his call, looked at her, and spoke rapid gibberish.

She stuttered. “Ah, um, do you maybe speak English?”

“Hi. I’m Kristoff, may I help you?” He switched languages with ease and a friendly smile.

Becca could swear she heard Nikolai chuckle. “Oh good! Hi. We’d like to check in.”

“Do you have a reservation?”

“No, do we need one?”

“Not today. We still have space. How many nights do you need?”

“Two.” She glanced into the next room where a handful of people hung out on couches. There were more seating areas, a wall of shelves overflowing with books, and games, and colorful paintings on the wall.

Kristoff checked his scheduling book. “Let’s see. There is space in one of the coed dorms.”

Becca never really thought about sleeping arrangements. Was Nikolai expecting to share a room? To sleep together? They’d shared her cabin the other night, but he’d been a total gentleman. Heck, she didn’t know if she wanted to share a bed or not. Thank God the decision was out of her hands.

She glanced at Nikolai, who stood with his back to the front desk and nodded.

“Yes, that would be great.”

Kristoff filled out the paperwork. Nikolai handed her his portion of the money. She didn’t have a lot of cash, so she put hers on her credit card.

“Welcome to Prague House.” Kristoff came out from behind the counter. “This is the common room. Lockers are over there. We encourage you to keep your valuables locked up.”

They gathered their stuff and followed him.

“Breakfast is self-serve from six to nine a.m. in the room around the corner. Down the hall is the game room with a pool table and darts. You’re in dorm number three on the third floor.” He indicated a narrow stairway in the corner. “There’s bedding in the hall closet. Once a bed is made, it’s considered occupied, so only pick an unmade bed.”

“Thank you,” Becca said. Nikolai mumbled thanks while acting fascinated with the floorboards.

Becca couldn’t imagine Nikolai being recognized with his scruffy face. He looked so different now from the magazine photos Dylan had shown her.

A couple of guys lounged on the couches, chatting with two girls who eyed Nikolai.

“How you doing?” asked a guy with shaggy dark hair and long sideburns.

“Hi.” Becca smiled as they passed.

Nikolai guided her ahead and they climbed the creaky steps to the third floor. The dorm room contained six sets of metal bunk beds holding the thinnest mattresses she’d ever seen. The walls were stark white, the windows covered by ratty old blinds. They located two tiny bathrooms at the end of the hall.

“Is this what your other hostels were like?” Had the Prince of Mondovia really stayed in such lowbrow lodging?

“More or less, except I was able to stay in a single room at the last few. This ought to be fun! Do you want to be on top or bottom?” He grinned.

She shook her head and tried to frown, but a smile snuck out. “I am not going to encourage you.”

They made up side-by-side lower bunk beds, washed up, and after securing their backpacks in a locker, Nikolai took her hand and they headed for Old Town.

“I feel so free!” Becca said, swinging her arms.

Nikolai put his arm around Becca and kissed her. “You and me both.”

A few blocks later, they turned a bend and the volume of tourists increased. They passed street performers, and all the shops overflowed with souvenirs such as nesting dolls, T-shirts, and chess sets. Nearly every building housed an outdoor café.

On each corner, there were booths selling tours to nearby castles and classical concerts.

“Please tell me you don’t want to see a concert,” Nikolai said.

Becca curled her lip in disdain at the rack of pamphlets featuring tuxedoed performers holding stringed instruments. “Not if it involves an orchestra, I don’t. That kind of music puts me to sleep.”

Ahead, an enormous archway stretched across the road as if at one time it served as the divider of one side of the city from the other. They passed under the ancient structure and entered another world where an average girl like Becca could walk the streets of an exotic city with a prince holding her hand.

After a few more blocks, they found themselves in the Old Town Square, a wide open plaza. People of all ages and nationalities meandered the square. Becca glanced at Nikolai with his sunglasses and cap. He looked like every other tourist. This seemed the perfect place to blend in.

“Look, there’s the Astronomical Clock.”

Nikolai pointed to an old structure in the center of the square that towered high above all the other buildings. Clusters of people gathered in front taking pictures.

The historic clock was a large combination of dials, astronomical symbols, roman numerals, and foreign letters. “And how do you tell time on that?” Becca asked, pulling out her phone and taking a picture.

“I have no idea,” he said, examining the complicated timepiece.

“Stand closer and I’ll take your picture,” she said.

“Only if you’re in it with me. Excuse me,” Nikolai asked a gray-haired man. “Would you be so kind as to take our picture?”

“Sure. I’d be happy to,” he said, taking the phone. He snapped a photo. “Where are you from?”

“Chicago,” Becca blurted to make sure Nikolai didn’t accidentally reveal his home nation.

“We’re from Cleveland, practically neighbors.” The man passed the phone back to Becca.

“Thank you.”

“No problem. Have a nice day,” he said and wandered off.

“Do you want to climb the tower?” Nikolai asked.

“Sure.”

They bought tickets and started the long trek up the stone steps. As they neared the top, the wide staircase narrowed to a spiral staircase. And for the final flight of even narrower steps, a light shone red or green, indicating when it was their turn to ascend.

Nikolai and Becca climbed the final steps to a large open area at the top. A walkway with window-like openings surrounded the tower.

“Look, you can see for miles,” Becca said. They had a perfect view of the rooftops and steeples of Prague. Across the river, a spectacular castle rested upon a hilltop. “What’s that, your summer home?” Becca teased, betting she wasn’t far off the truth.

Nikolai put his arm around her waist and tickled her. “You’re so funny.”

She giggled. “So, do you have a bunch of relatives here, too?”

“If you look back far enough in anyone’s ancestry, I’m sure we all have relatives everywhere, but no, not that I know of, which is one reason I know very little about Prague beyond its general history.”

“Finally something you don’t know.” She grinned and leaned back against him. He wrapped his arms around her and tucked his chin over her head. Below, the people looked tiny, and the umbrellas at the restaurants’ outdoor tables resembled miniature garnishes for tropical drinks. “Thank you,” she murmured.

“For what?”

“For bringing me here. I swear this is the best time I’ve had in my entire life.”

“Me too,” he said.

After leaving the clock, and the crowds waiting for the next chiming, Nikolai and Becca wandered off the square to the smaller streets and passed a puppet shop. “Oh, that totally gives me the creeps.” Becca shuddered.

“What, you don’t like painted faces with fixed eyes staring at you?”

“No, they’re almost as bad as clowns.”

“Puppets and clowns. What did they ever do to you?”

“Nothing, they’re just weird. They don’t creep you out?”

“No. I actually like them. When I was little, there was a puppeteer who would come put on performances for me and my little sister. He was always nice to me. I didn’t have many kids to play with, and I guess that in a way the puppets were like friends for me.”

“That is so sad,” Becca said.

“Don’t worry. I think I turned out okay, and Alexi did, too.”

“You turned out more than okay.” Becca slipped her arm around his waist and hooked her thumb in his belt loop. “So, you and your sister are close?”

Nikolai draped her arm around Becca, loving how natural it felt to be with her. “Yes. She was usually the only other person around that was within two decades of my age. When I was older, I loved escaping to school, but now that’s all over and I’ll be leaving for the military soon.”

“So you’re really going?”

“I don’t see how I have any other choice.” He’d been racking his brain, trying to come up with a way out of it, but tradition anchored his parents’ belief system, and after all the bad press he’d created, he knew they wouldn’t listen to him.

“I hate that so much!” She laid her head on his shoulder.

He pulled her close. He couldn’t imagine the past week without Becca in his life, and even more, he couldn’t imagine how it would be after she was gone.

They walked a bit farther, and he spotted a hardware store on the corner and got an idea. “Do you mind waiting here? I want to check in that store for something.”

“What do you need?”

“Just a little something. It’s a surprise.”

“From a hardware store? How special.”

“Don’t judge. You might be pleasantly surprised.”

“Okay, now you have me intrigued.”

“Good. I’ll be right back.” Nikolai left her on the corner, crossed the street, and entered the store. He checked on her from the front display window. She was digging in her shoulder bag, not spying on him. He smiled, satisfied.

He walked the aisles past nails, hinges, and tools until he spotted what he needed. Nikolai paid the cashier and slipped his purchase deep into his pocket.

As he exited, he spotted a grungy guy with dirty hair and a faded T-shirt talking to Becca. She leaned away from the stranger. Nikolai hurried his pace. Becca looked in his direction with relief in her eyes.

Suddenly, the man grabbed her shoulder bag.

Nikolai raced across the street as Becca fought to hold on to her bag. He grabbed the thief from behind. “Let her go!”

The man spun around and clocked Nikolai in the face with his elbow, knocking Nikolai to the ground.

Becca screamed.

The robber tore the bag from her hands and started to flee. Nikolai lunged for the assailant’s leg. The guy dragged Nikolai across the rough road for a few feet before kicking free and disappearing around the corner.

Nikolai lay sprawled on the ground, his hat knocked off, and sunglasses broken. “Dammit. He got away. I’m sorry.” He tossed his broken sunglasses.

“Are you okay?” Becca crouched next to him. “You’re bleeding!”

Nikolai touched the bridge of his nose and discovered a little blood. “I’ll live. I can’t believe I let him steal your bag.” His face hurt from where he’d been elbowed near the eye.

“He took my wallet and all my money and . . . Oh no! Nikolai! He’s got my passport!”

21

Thirty
minutes later, they arrived back at the hostel. Nikolai’s cheek and the bridge of his nose throbbed. Not only had he not protected Becca, he took a couple of direct hits in the process, and created a photo-worthy scene.

“I’ll see if they have any ice,” Becca said, approaching the registration counter.

“Okay, I’m going to grab us a couple of waters.” He bought bottled water at a vending machine off the common room, carried them back, and sank onto one of the unoccupied couches.

“What happened to you?” asked one of the guys they’d seen at check-in earlier.

“Oh, just a little run-in with someone’s elbow.”

“Ouch,” said the tall brunette girl coming over to check it out. “That sucks.”

“That it does.” He held the cool bottle against his eye area.

“I’m Claire,” she said. “And this is Brian, James, and Andrea.”

“Hi, I’m Nick.” He wished he and Becca had a private room where he could hide out.

Becca joined him, holding a small plastic bag filled with ice.

“And this is Becca. Becca, this is Claire.”

Claire grinned that hungry, interested smile he’d seen dozens of times before. He felt a little too exposed without his sunglasses to hide behind. “And Brian, James, and Andrea.” Claire pointed to each.

“Hi.” Becca handed him the ice bag, which he pressed to his nose. “There’s an ice machine next to the lobby bathroom. I told the desk clerk about my stolen passport. He said the U.S. Embassy is closed for the day, but they have an emergency after-hours number.”

“Someone stole your passport? That’s terrible,” said Andrea.

“Tell me about it,” Becca answered.

“Oh no, what about your phone?” Nikolai lowered the ice bag from his face.

“No, thank God. I’d been taking pictures with it at the old clock and had slipped it into my pocket.”

“Well, that’s one piece of good news,” Nikolai said.

With Becca’s wallet stolen and his dwindling cash supply, they’d have to be careful spending money. Thankfully, they’d both already paid for their lodging.

“So where are you guys from?” Claire asked, staring at Nikolai.

“We’re from Chicago. How about you?” Becca asked, trying to pull Claire’s attention away from Nikolai.

“We’re from Mankato. It’s in Minnesota,” said Brian, a tall guy with dark hair who looked too young to be traveling alone.

“But I’ve been an exchange student in Germany for the past year,” Claire added, looking at Nikolai again. “Which is why these guys came over. You look really familiar to me.” She aimed her comment at Nikolai.

“Yeah, I get that a lot,” he said, covering his face again with the ice bag.

“He does have that common kind of face, doesn’t he?” Becca said.

“No, I’ve seen you somewhere. I’m sure of it,” Claire added.

“Do you guys want to join us tonight? We’re going to a pub near the river,” Brian said.

“Thanks, but I think we better stay here and regroup,” Nikolai said, looking at Becca with meaning.

“Yeah, thanks for the offer. Have a good time,” Becca said.

“If you’re sure, I guess we’ll catch you later,” Claire said, as their group moved toward the door.

“Do you think she recognizes you?” Becca slid closer to him on the couch.

“I don’t know. She sure was trying to place me. I hope you don’t mind that I told them no for dinner.”

“No, of course not.”

“I’m not sure how to say this, but I’m pretty low on cash, and with you losing your wallet, I think we need to be really careful.” He hated that he couldn’t take care of her. She must think him a poor excuse for a prince.

“Are you kidding? Don’t worry about it at all. I’m good with ramen noodles.”

“With what?”

“For someone so worldly and smart, you can be pretty dumb,” she teased. “You know, if I had to, I could call my dad, or Vicky, to send money, but I’d like to avoid that at all costs. I really don’t want them to know I lied. Maybe we could panhandle or become street performers to earn money.”

“That would be bad. I am certainly not a performer, and I can’t even imagine my parents’ reaction to that!”

“I think it might be good to shake up the palace once in a while.”

“Easy for you to say,” he said, his heart heavy.

Later, they called the after-hours emergency number for the U.S. Embassy and made an appointment to get Becca’s passport replaced. The embassy person insisted she file a police report so they could make the robbery official. Nikolai thought Becca should call her father or at least Dylan, but she refused. She didn’t plan to call them unless she absolutely had to.

After Nikolai cleaned up and changed shirts, they walked to the closest police station. Two officers walked past them and entered the building.

Nikolai touched Becca’s arm. “If you don’t mind, I think I’ll wait out here. Including me in the mix might raise questions we don’t want to answer.”

“Good idea. Hopefully this won’t take too much time.” Becca entered the police station feeling like she could be arrested at any moment for aiding and abetting the escaped Prince of Mondovia.

She explained to an officer that she needed to report a theft. He directed her down a corridor to another room. She couldn’t believe she’d been mugged in a foreign country she wasn’t even supposed to be in. She could already picture her dad’s scowl of disappointment if he found out. She’d seen it directed at Dylan many times.

After filling out confusing paperwork that asked where she was staying and where she was robbed, she left the police station.

Outside, she found Nikolai on a nearby bench waiting patiently. He stood and smiled at her. She’d never grow tired of looking at him.

“Sorry it took so long. They wanted to know practically everything about me down to my last tetanus shot.”

He looked at her, confused. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Yes.” She leaned up and kissed him. “After all that questioning, the officer said my passport and wallet are long gone and not to expect them to turn up. What a waste of time.”

“I’m sorry. I should have stopped the mugger.”

“Stop blaming yourself. It’s not your fault.”

“Let’s get out of here. There’s been an officer near the building who passed by me, entered, and then came back out.”

Becca spotted the man. “You mean the one on the phone?”

“That’s the one. It feels like he’s been watching me. I’m probably paranoid.”

“Let’s not take any chances.” She slid her hand into his, and they headed back to the hostel. On the way, they bought cheap takeout for dinner from a small restaurant and climbed to the hostel’s rooftop patio to dine alfresco.

The neglected patio featured a couple of clusters of outdoor furniture edged with rust and an occasional potted plant, struggling to survive. Still, it was a beautiful night and they enjoyed the privacy. Somewhere not far away, they heard the strains of live music as it drifted up from the street.

Becca retrieved the burgers and fries and set them on the paper takeout bag. “This smells so good and reminds me of home. I have to admit, I miss eating American food.”

“I won’t argue. You Americans have some good food.” Nikolai popped a fry into his mouth. “I know you were traveling with your dad and stepmom, but you never told me about your mom. Is she remarried, too?”

Becca paused. “No. She died.”

Nikolai looked stricken. “Oh God, I’m so sorry, Becca. I didn’t know.”

“It’s fine. There’s no way you could have known.”

“What happened? If you don’t mind talking about it.”

People rarely asked about her mom, and her dad never talked about her anymore, as if everything about her mom had just disappeared.

Becca kept her memories of her mom locked safely away in her heart. She sipped her soda. “She had breast cancer. They didn’t find it until it was really bad. She fought it as hard as she could, but she never really had a chance. She died four years ago.”

Her throat tightened as she remembered her mom, and her laugh, and how she always kept her dad from getting too serious.

Nikolai moved next to her and pulled her into his arms. “That’s so horrible.” He caressed her hair.

“Thanks.” Becca cleared her throat and fought the tears that threatened. “It’s been a long time. I try not to think about it too much. It makes me miss her even more.”

“I feel like such an ass. Here I’ve been complaining about my parents, and you’ve been growing up without your mom. I knew you didn’t like your stepmom, but I never imagined your mom died.”

“You don’t need to feel bad. Everyone’s got their own stuff to deal with. Mine is having a dad who pretty much checked out of my life when Mom died. I swear sometimes that he married Vicky just so he wouldn’t have to deal with Dylan and me.”

“I’m sure he cares about you very much.”

“I guess, but he doesn’t know how to show it. This trip was the biggest joke. It was all Vicky’s idea to turn us into one big, happy family. I’d like to be really mad at her about dragging me here, except that if I hadn’t come, I never would have met you.”

“And that would have been tragic.” He held out a fry. She took a bite.

“I can’t imagine not knowing you.” She noticed the growing bruise under his eye. “I’m sorry you got hit today. You’re probably going to end up with a black eye.” She hated the idea of her perfect prince sporting a nasty bruise.

“If I’d have stopped the thief, then I could wear it as a badge of honor, but no, I let the guy escape. It’s more of an embarrassment at my ineptitude.”

“Stop it! I thought you were very brave.” She leaned forward and kissed his bruise and then his mouth.

“That definitely makes me feel better.”

They finished their dinner, and later that night, they lay across from each other in their separate bunks. Becca tucked her hand under her cheek and smiled at Nikolai. Other people slept, so she didn’t dare talk. He lifted his covers in invitation.

Are you sure?
she mouthed.

Nikolai smiled and waved her over. She crawled into the narrow bunk and rolled over so they lay spooned together, his arm around her waist and her arms curled around his. They lay quietly as he caressed her arm. After a few minutes, their breathing matched and they drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Becca enjoyed her new favorite breakfast meal, pancakes spread with Nutella. She and Nikolai sat in the far corner of the dining room, where he kept his back to the rest of the diners.

Claire, the nosy girl they met yesterday, stopped by their table anyway.

“Hi, guys, where are you off to today?” she asked, trying to get a good look at Nikolai.

Nikolai rolled his eyes at Claire’s intrusion, then focused on his cereal.

Becca answered. “The U.S. Embassy to try to get a new passport.”

“Oh, right. Well, afterward, if you want to join us, we’re going to the Prague Castle today.”

From the way Claire stared at him, Becca was pretty sure that the invite was meant for Nikolai. Becca suspected she had guessed his true identity.

“Thanks, but we’ve got other plans,” Nikolai said dismissively, wiping his mouth and slipping on his hat.

“Okay. Well, have a good day then.” Claire wandered off, clearly disappointed.

“Could she be more subtle? Jeez.” Becca collected her breakfast dishes.

“I’m pretty sure the cat’s out of the bag with her. Let’s clear out before she comes back.” He put his dishes in the bin. “Before we go, I want to check on my bike and make sure it hasn’t been hauled away like in Melk.”

Out on the street, they rounded the corner and Nikolai stopped abruptly. Becca ran into him.

“What?”

Nikolai stared at a man across the street and slowly stepped back. “Let’s not worry about the cycle right now.”

Becca followed. “What’s going on? Who was that man?”

“Probably no one. I didn’t get a good look at his face, but the way he’s standing there, it’s like he’s watching, or waiting for someone. He was no average chap hanging out and having a smoke.”

“Did he see you?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think so.”

“Do you think he’s paparazzi? If he is, how did he find us so fast?” She wanted to go back and see this guy for herself, but didn’t dare.

“I don’t know. There were people taking pictures yesterday when your bag was stolen, Claire definitely may have recognized me, and there was that cop last night. Anyone of them may have ratted me out.”

Becca didn’t like the stress etched upon his face. “Maybe we better leave.”

“Not a bad idea. I’m so sorry. We have so little time left together, and I don’t want it ruined by the damn press.”

Even though they’d been given these extra bonus days together, Becca couldn’t stop the sadness of knowing she’d soon be saying good-bye.

Nikolai must have sensed her mood, for he suddenly reached for her hand. “Before we go to the embassy, there is someplace I want to take you.”

After a leisurely walk, they ended up in a quiet neighborhood away from the chaotic crush of Old Town. Nikolai led her around a corner to a small bridge with a tall wrought-iron fence that overlooked a canal.

“Oh my gosh, look at that!” Becca pulled him forward. Each of the iron fence spindles was covered with dozens and dozens of padlocks. Clusters of people were taking pictures of the oddity.

“There must be hundreds, maybe thousands of locks. Why are they here?” She examined the colorful locks more closely and discovered that many had names painted or scratched onto them.

“They’re called love locks. People put them here to profess their everlasting love.”

“That is so awesome.” She touched the thick cluster of colorful padlocks and envied the people who so openly professed their love.

“I thought you might like it. I read about it on a flyer at the hostel. Do you see any open spots?”

She checked the spindles, and ran her hands over the locks so tightly stacked. “Not really. There’s so many.”

Nikolai’s voice softened. “I thought we should add one of our own.”

Becca spun around. Nikolai held a brass-colored lock. “This is what I was getting at the hardware store.” Becca’s heart fluttered. She didn’t know what to say.