#( and i think dain saw that too because he literally blamed him for his dad's senechal's lover's murder

[cruelprincae]

The Greenbriar siblings are at each other's throats trying to best each other by faking being nice to other powerful Folk in order to gain them as allies to prove to Eldred they'd be a good monarch when he passes the crown and Cardan is just sitting there, giving no fucks and sipping on his fairie wine and just. . . making actual friends out of the court's royals.

[lovingmyselfcore]

Protect You

Chapter One: I Have To Guard Dain; God Save Me

The Greenbriar's have their own reality TV show. Madoc is the head security guard. A mix up requires Madoc to ask his daughters to step in and help out. Taryn refuses (the beech) but Jude and Vivi accept. Jude gets assigned to Dain Greenbriar. Working for Dain, Jude uncovers some dirty secrets involving the family and friends. She strives to uncover these secrets and above all, keep her charge safe. But threats to the Greenbriar's lead to Jude guarding the youngest. Who also happens to be the biggest pain-in-the-ass. When working for his brother, avoiding Cardan was easier (she couldn't always) but now it's impossible. Deaths of people in the Greenbriar family, infidelity, love, and above all; pain. Why couldn't Vivi's father have been a carpenter?

“Can someone help me? I can’t get these damn heels Dad wants us to wear on.” Rhyia yelled, followed by some crashing noises. My older half-sister, Vivi, and I looked at each other then at where the commotion came from.

"You're closer to her," I said, stepping back with my hands raised.

Vivi sighed and steeled her shoulders back marching down to the door marked Rhyia Greenbriar.

Vivi and I were only here at all because Vivi’s father (my adopted father) had called and asked us to look after the female Greenbriar's for a short time. Vivi and I had grudgingly marched down here from our penthouse (A gift from Eldred Greenbriar to my father, for what I’m not certain) in hoodies sweatpants, and sneakers at four am.

The Greenbriar's were the family Madoc was ‘in charge of’. They had their own reality show, and my father was the head security guard. Madoc had trained Vivi, Taryn - my twin sister - and me to defend ourselves and others from a young age. Since he got the job with the Greenbriar's we had been asked to come down at all odd hours if Madoc couldn’t get any of his employees down fast enough. Taryn always refused, besides, she lived with her fiancé anyway, but Vivi and I came down until we were relieved when the actual guards showed up.

I watched as Rhyia’s door cracked open just enough for Vivi to slip in and walked across the trailer and peeked out the window, a hand resting on the pocket I had thrown my gun - well Madoc’s gun - into.

It was a grey rainy morning, the rain drizzled down, obscuring my view of the trailer only a few hundred feet away. That was where the male Greenbriar’s were at the moment, and where I was glad I wasn’t.

At another crash, I turned away from the window and half-jogged across the trailer to Rhyia’s room. I knocked with my knuckle “Rh-Miss. Greenbriar, is everything alright? Vivi?” When I didn’t hear anything my hand tightened over the handgun. Nothing ever really happened while Vivi and I were here, so I was unsure what exactly to do. Madoc had only drilled the basics in our heads.

1) Their lives mean more than ours do, protect them

2) Shoot first, ask questions later

I knocked again, more insistent. 

“Jude?” I head Vivi call. 

I relaxed a little, “Vi, what’s happening is everything alright?”

“Oh- yeah. Rhyia keeps knocking shit over.” I heard an embarrassed laugh.

Vivi slipped out the door and I could see Rhyia making a vulgar gesture before Vi closed the door behind her.

“Can you check on Elowyn?” Vivi asked. “I’m gonna run outside real quick and call Heather.”

“Oh?”

“Shut up. You know she’s in a different timezone.” Vivi pouted. “She’s up now so I’m going to call!”

I threw up my hands. “Go for it. Just don’t blame me when Dad yells at you.”

She rolled her eyes, “My central purpose on this earth is to annoy and piss off that man as much as possible,” She shrugged, her phone already in her hand, as she walked backward towards the door. “Just doing my job.”

I turned to knock on Elowyn’s door just as Vivi poked her head back in the trailer. “Don’t think of romancing any female Greenbriar while I leave you unsupervised.” She wagged her finger.

I snorted, “I don’t want to get involved with the Greenbriar’s any more than just being Dad’s clients. So don’t worry.”

I didn’t want to spend time dissecting the look she was giving me so I looked away.

I knocked on Elowyn’s door. “Miss Greenbriar? Just checking everything’s alright?”

“Yes,” Her soft voice carried through the room. “But can you zip up my dress?”

“Of course.” I let myself into her room.

I was immediately bombarded with the over-floral scent. Elowyn’s walls were covered with paintings, local artists, famous artists, and dedicated fans who sent their own work to her. There was always classical music playing from somewhere in her room, and I wasn’t sure anybody knew where it came from. Elowyn was probably one of the nicest Greenbriar’s out there, if not the nicest. But that didn’t mean I could stand being in her room for more than ten minutes and any given time.

I went over to where she was standing and zipped her dress. She saw me in the mirror and looked at me with quickly veiled disgust. I only rolled my shoulders back, I’d stopped allowing things like that to get to me a long time ago.

She vaguely shooed me out, her acrylic nails typing vigorously on her phone.

I did not understand that woman in the slightest.

~~~~~~

My phone buzzed from my hoodie pocket and I pulled it out, seeing a text from Madoc. Vivi and I were leaning against the wall again. When I’d come out Vivi was already back inside, explaining to me, with such extreme sadness I almost laughed, ‘She couldn’t talk, she had to get to an appointment.’

“He’s almost here,” I told Vivi, typing a response and sticking my phone back in my pocket.

She moaned, closing her eyes, “That means I can go back to sleep.”

“Yeah,” I agreed.

She opened an eye and looked at me, “What’s the matter, Jude?”

“What? Oh - nothing, just tired and distracted.” I lied.

She hums in acknowledgment.

“Girls!” Madoc’s booming voice echoed through my skull and we pushed off the wall to go greet him.

He kissed us both on the cheek and when Vivi went to leave he held out his hand.

“I’m so sorry, girls.”

Vivi and I exchanged looks, that couldn’t be good.

“I know you don’t have college degrees in this field. You,” He looked at me, “Are under the age of 22.” I’d turned 21 last month, but Eldred had a weird rule about his official appointments being under the age of 22. “However, we’re running low and I’m going to need to assign you a Greenbriar to look after.”

Vivi actually whimpered and I just ran a hand down my face.

“Which ones? And for how long?” Vivi asked, already resigned. 

“Vivi, I want you to look after Elowyn.”

Vivi smiled. Elowyn didn’t cause trouble and was her father’s favorite. In real life, she was most everybody’s favorite too but in the show, the watchers favored the more dramatic of the bunch.

“And Jude,” I held my breath, “I would like you to look after Dain for me.”

I released a breath and nodded. Dain. I could look after Dain. He wasn’t the worst. I’m not saying he was great either. But he was okay. 

“It’ll only be for a couple of months. Again, I’m sorry.”

“When?” Vivi asked.

“Now,” Madoc winced at Vivi’s shriek. 

“Dad,” I said, “We aren’t even dressed ‘cause we were planning on going back to bed after you got back. At least let us shower, change, and eat, and then we’ll be down here. Right,” I cut a look at Vivi who met my eyes then nodded vehemently.

Madoc considered this. “I suppose that makes sense,” He ceded.

Vivi took the win and ran with it. Literally. As soon as he said that she bolted, sprinting full force out the door, letting it slam shut behind her. I didn’t waste time either, and as I ran out of the trailer I heard Madoc’s deep chuckle behind me.

Once I was far enough away from Madoc I slowed to a walk. I heard the roar of her motorcycle, and I wondered how she’d even gotten so far away so quickly. I had a sneaking suspicion she broke time and space just so she could be home and have the hot water first. She was my ride, and she just took off. Hot water superiority, I suppose.

I breathed out a chuckle (It was still too early. I wasn’t putting that much energy into laughing) and pulled my phone out of my pocket. I stuck my earbuds in my ears and pressed play on my playlist.

I hummed along to the song as I walked home. The streets were almost completely vacant, save for a few stray cars. The early morning commute hadn’t happened yet, further proof that waking us up at this hour against our will was nothing but ungodly.

I’d reached our penthouse apartment. I sighed through my nose, ‘Penthouse apartment’ it sounded ridiculous. Why did we need a penthouse apartment? Oh right, we didn’t, but I guess it was nice.

When I got up to our apartment I was proven right. Vivi was already in the shower. I went over and banged on the bathroom door, “Don’t use all the hot water!”

I tossed my gun and phone on the kitchen island, next to Vivi’s, shucking off my hoodie and tossing it somewhere.

I slipped off my tennis shoes as I walked to my bedroom. I threw myself on my bed, taking a deep breath. I hadn’t asked Madoc how long we’d be watching the Greenbriar’s, but I knew that as long as I had to accompany Dain, I’d see my least favorite Greenbriar somewhere.

Cardan Greenbriar was the bane of my entire existence. We’d never gotten along. No. Scratch that. We detested each other. When we were in high school, we were academic enemies. Cardan always made it his job to make me feel like I, a daughter born from infidelity didn’t belong in that school. With the elite. In a way, he was right. I never felt like I fit in there. No matter how hard I fought. Things got extremely messy between me, Taryn, and Cardan and his nightmare posse. By graduation, I thought I had finished with him, despite knowing Madoc worked for Eldred. Then Madoc got promoted and started asking Vivi and I to help with whatever he needed involving the Greenbriars. And now, boom. I can’t get rid of him, but I do my best to avoid him.

I distantly heard the shower turn off and I pushed myself off the bed. Vivi emerged from the bathroom in her towel, flashing me a quick smirk before she hurried to her bedroom, “I didn’t use all the hot water!”

“Sure you didn’t!” 

“Trust me more, Jude!”

“Only when you become trustworthy!”

“Bitch!”

“Love you too, sis!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

That was how most of our conversations went, though the ‘bitch’ varied depending on the argument.

~~~~~

Once I was in the shower, water streaking down my body I really thought about what watching Dain would entail, and I started to question why I was needed at all. He had his own team, who all went by codenames, and seemed to know everything about everyone, everywhere. They already were with him everywhere, behind the cameras during every shoot. The Bomb, The Roach, and The Ghost. Nobody really knew who they were, besides Madoc. But, despite my pressing, he never revealed where he or Dain or even Eldred found them. They suddenly just appeared one day, surrounded by rumors.

I do think that I’m a pretty incredible fighter. I’m good with a gun, I box almost daily. Madoc taught me how to fence and use knives as a kid. but Dain already had the three of them. What did he need me for? Maybe he personally requested me? But that would make even less sense? I suppose I would find out soon enough. 

I turned off the shower after washing my hair and stepped out.

When I exited the bathroom I had to cross through the living room back to my bedroom.

I let out a noise somewhere between a scoff and a snort, “Really, Vivi?”

“What?” She exclaimed, her mouth full of sugary cereal.

“We watch that show happen in real-time,” I gestured to the TV where Vivi was watching reruns of Wicked Royals. “I still can’t get over that name. It’s ridiculous.” Vivi nodded absently, her eyes now refocused on the screen, where it was one of those one-person interviews. Elowyn was talking about some fight that Balekin and Dain had just gotten into.

“Anything good happening?” I joked.

She snorted, “Depends on your definition of good.”

I laughed (She knew my definition of good was definitely not that) and went into my room, leaving Vivi to her mindless watching.

I got dressed in a simple black outfit and pulled my hair up into a simple ponytail. It was boring, but it wasn’t like there was anybody I wanted to impress.

“Jude!” 

“What?” I asked, exiting my room.

She waved her phone in my face, “We gotta go.”

~~~~~~~~

When we arrived, Madoc was waiting for us. He ushered us along with quick words, “They’re filming already, so Vivi you go hang out behind the crew. Watch Elowyn, make sure nothing happens. Jude, I want you to meet Dain’s other bodyguards. Not all of them are in there because the others are with Dain, but meet them.”

He practically shoved me into Dain’s trailer and I only heard Vivi yell, “Good luck!” Before the door slammed closed.

I immediately took note of my surroundings and made a point of knowing obvious weapons and places to escape. (Comes with the territory if you live my life)

I turned to see them sitting in a makeshift circle on the floor, playing cards. Well, two of them. A woman and a man.

“I’m Jude,” I said, fighting the urge to shift uncomfortably.

They stared at me for a long time, unblinking and revealing no emotions.

Finally, the woman stood up and held her hand out, “Someday I might tell you my name,” She winked, “Call me Bomb.”

I flashed an uneasy smile at her but my eyes flicked back to the man, who also stood up and in an eerily similar fashion, offered his hand. “Roach,” His voice was gruff and it seemed like it rumbled through the trailer.

He tilted his head towards their discarded cards, “You play?”

“Depends on what it is we’re playing,” I said carefully. It seemed like the right answer if his slight nod meant anything.

“Anything,” Bomb said, “We’re just bored.”

“Why aren’t you out with Dain?” I cursed mentally. It was too bold. Too probing.

However, they didn’t seem offended by the question. “He usually only takes one of us with him and gives the others a job to do, but we don’t have anything.”

“Job?” I asked, but she didn’t respond, didn’t even acknowledge that I’d asked anything.

I was immediately on edge. I even felt my shoulders tense. Something wasn’t right here. 

“Let’s sit,” Roach said. So we sat, we formed some kind of triangular circle. I could physically feel how tightly-drawn my body was. I was like a gazelle, I had no idea whether or not a predator was about to lunge. I detested that feeling.

As Bomb collected their previous cards and shuffled Roach turned towards me, “Tell us about yourself, Jude.”

“Your Madoc’s daughter, right?” Bomb asked.

I nodded, “He took us in when we were young.”

“When did you first meet the Greenbriar's?”

I hummed, “I met them all on separate occasions. Vivi knew Rhyia since grade school, so I knew her a little less than that. I met Elowyn and Caeila next, I had tried to run away from home, but I was seven so I didn’t make it quite as long as I’d hoped. It was winter and little me was lost and freezing when they stumbled across me in an alley. I’m still not sure what they were doing there but they recognized me and handed me over to my step-mother Oriana.”

“They didn’t ask any questions?” Bomb questioned.

“Nope, nothing. Just handed me over like I was some misplaced article of clothing.”

Roach whistled under his breath and I opened my mouth to tell them about my first time meeting Balekin when somebody banged on the trailer door. Bomb and Roach spared a quick glance at each other before standing up.

Roach peeked through the peephole and let out a noise between a groan, a laugh, and a curse.

Bomb looked at him questioningly and he just responded with, “It’s the crew.”

She sighed, then gestured for me to stand up, “Dain’s going somewhere, and it’s being filmed for the show. So it’s time to see what you got, newbie.”

I followed Bomb and Roach out the door. The Ghost joined our ranks as we moved through the yard. The trailers were all in the backyard of the huge Greenbriar palace-mansion, they didn’t want the cameras capturing them before they were ready. And in their bedrooms too?? Never. 

It would have made sense to hang behind them, observe the way they moved, and the way they schooled their faces to reveal nothing. (It wasn’t hard to see how they’d warranted all the rumors) I, however, am an idiot. So I shoved my way until I was directly next to them, so when Dain’s eyes landed on me, I knew the predator had found me.

His eyes were cold but unnerving. He seemed to take in every detail about me, physically, mentally, and emotionally. It sent shivers up my spine. He was waiting for this gazelle to jump.

We held eye contact for only a breath before he turned around.

I didn’t jump.

“Newbie,” Dain said, not even looking at me. “Get your,” He paused as if searching for the right word, “Compatriots, some food from craft services or something. Be useful before we leave.”

When I hesitated he snarled. “Do I have to tell you twice? I’m giving a shot at being valuable. Use it.”

The three of them looked at me, Roach’s face was the only one I could read and it seems he was saying with his eyes, “We’ve all been where you are.” Though I doubted they had, not with him. 

I balled my fists, digging my nails into my palms and pursing my lips in hopes of holding back the biting retort on the tip of my tongue. Oh, how I wanted to put this over-grown rich kid in his place. I knew I’d win in any sort of physical fight. But legally? He could destroy me. 

So, I spun on my heel and stalked off towards where I knew there would be food.

~~~~~~~

I stomped in, letting the door slam closed behind me, and banged my fist on the wall. I didn’t like him already. I hated anybody that talked to me as if they were miles above me. I hated the Greenbriar’s for their elitist attitude. I hated feeling so powerless. I hated my parents for dying. I hated Madoc for making-

“Jude Duarte, long time no see,” That voice. Despite the haze of anger in my mind, I knew that voice anywhere, that melodic lilt and seductive purr that seemed ingrained in him.

I turned around, slapping a scowl on my face, despite my urge to spill every feeling I had. Somehow, I knew there were some parts he would understand. “Carden Greenbriar, wish I could say it was a pleasure.”

He was sitting on the counter, his legs crossed in front of him. Although he was on a counter, he managed to look regal. His clothes, as always, were fashionable and worth more than my life.

He reached out with long, delicate fingers and plucked an apple out of a bowl. “Well, you could say it.” He smirked, “You’ve always been a pretty liar, Jude.” His rings and the golden highlights in his hair gleamed in the harsh, fluorescent light.

I rolled my eyes. “Thanks,” I strode forward and plucked the apple out of his hand. “And thanks for this.” I mock-saluted him with it and turned to leave, despite not completing my task, when he grabbed my shoulder and spun me around to face him.

“Haven’t you missed me, Jude?” I shrugged his hand off and shook my head in response. I wasn’t sure how he’d leaped off the counter so fast, but with him so close to me, I was reminded of how much taller he was.

“Come on,” He said, with an indecipherable look in his eyes. “Banter with me, my monster girl. Or have you changed that much?”

“I’m not your anything,” I spit.

“There she is.” And there was that damned smirk again.

“Do everyone a favor and rot in hell, Cardan.”

“Only if you come with me.” He bowed with a flourish and kissed my hand.

I shivered despite myself. “I’m going to heaven.”

He actually let out a laugh, “Really?”

“Probably not.” I shrugged.

“Like I said,” He grinned, “Pretty liar,” He purred again, making my toes curl in my boots.

I hated the way he made me feel. I hated the way I would think of the sharp lines of his face, and the sound of his actual laugh whenever I couldn’t fall asleep. God, I hated him.

I resisted the urge to spit in his face.

I maneuvered around him towards the rest of the snacks. “Your brother’s an ass.”

“I had no idea,” He drawled, voice dripping sarcasm.

“You’re not going to ask which one?” I slammed the fridge door closed and dumped my haul into a backpack that was sitting on the table.

“Nope. Greenbriar’s are good at being asses.”

I smiled at the definite tone in his voice. “Of course.”

I tossed the bag over my shoulder and made to leave when Cardan’s hand shot out. “Just a second, and I’ll let you get back to whatever servant’s task you were doing.”

I looked at him with such hatred I could feel it in my veins. He seemed to realize he struck a nerve and his grin could put the Cheshire cat out of business.

He held out his hand as if he wanted me to shake it. When he didn’t he let out a dramatic sigh and grabbed one of the bottles of wine that rested on a shelf near his head. 

He saluted me with it, in a similar fashion to when I’d done the same with the apple.

“Until our next tête-à-tête, darling.” And, with a wink, he was out the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~

“The Greenbriar's suck,” Was all I said as I threw myself face-down on our couch.

Vivi threw herself on top of me with a groan of assent.

I smiled despite being smushed in the cushions, “I feel validated.”

“What was that?” Taryn asked.

I yelped and Vivi jumped up from off of me.

Taryn was standing, leaning slightly against the kitchen island. She had a small smile on her face.

“Taryn!” Vivi threw herself at my twin. 

When they separated Taryn looked at me, “Jude?” She asked softly.

I shook my head, hanging back. “Not yet,”

Taryn’s smile vanished and it looked like she was going to roll her eyes.

Vivi could sense the tension and took it upon herself to distract us, “Dad gave us jobs guarding individual Greenbriars.”

“Oh. How is that going?”

“About as well as you’d expect,” I said tightly. 

“Okay,” Vivi said, exasperated. “Sit down, both of you. Let’s catch up and act like sisters.”

I opened my mouth to argue but Vivi cut me a scathing glance and I knew I couldn’t get out of this one.

The three of us sat on the couch. Vivi, relaxed, in-between Taryn and I. Taryn and I both sat board-straight, glaring at each other.

“So,” Vivi said, moving so Taryn couldn’t stare at me anymore, “What’s been happening with you since we last talked?”

“Well, Locke-” Oh god. I tuned her out but tuned back in when they looked at me like I should have an answer to a question.

I somehow managed to talk my way out of what was happening and escaped to my room.

I was ready for bed, laying and staring at my ceiling when my brain started spiraling.

There were so many things that would be expected of me. What if I messed up and somebody got hurt? What if I couldn’t succeed and get stuck working a boring 9 to 5 office job. I loved the rush I got working where I do. I, for some godforsaken reason, excelled in dirty politics. That’s how I felt fulfilled. I got used to fighting to survive as a child and now I can’t live any other way. Is that too deep? I’m thinking too much about this.

*buzz*

Cardan: I’ll see you tomorrow bright and early my monster girl ;)

Jude: I hate you

Cardan: I hate you too darling

Jude: You’re drunk aren’t you?

Cardan: How’d you know?

Jude: You’re always drunk

Cardan: Hurtful

I rolled my eyes and turned my phone off, my eyes heavy with exhaustion.

Tag List:

@ladyofbloodandroses @foreverscreaming This is already going so far off the ‘reality show’ aspect. I’m so sorry :)