The arrow came out of nowhere.

Before I could blink, the weapon struck straight through Zyanna's back, the tip of it arriving out through her stomach. The next second, blood splattered everywhere, rapidly overtaking the spots of water dripping from our clothes.

Cascades of red liquid started to leak from her stomach, mercilessly gushing out, before it forced out a guttural choke from her. In mere moments, she was snatched from consciousness, falling right against me, her head landing on my shoulder.

A numbing silence dropped itself in the midst of the blood around us.

"No."

My hands shivered, as I slowly lifted her face from my shoulder.

I shook her body lightly, but her eyes refused to open and the flow of blood refused to stop. "Zyanna? It's fine, we can make it in time, just stay with me. Please stay with me-"

A strong gust of wind blew through the air, but it felt more akin to shards of glass flittering past me.

That was when I noticed a letter, quietly floating around us. It had a hole, exactly as big as the tip of the arrow, located just at the centre of the small envelope.

It had fallen off from the arrow that attacked Zyanna.

"Oh my goodness."

It couldn't be.

There was blood dripping off of the corners of the envelope, travelling away and towards the pool of blood surrounding me and Zyanna.

I immediately tore off a patch of fabric from my suit, and tightly pressed it against the spot from where her blood was leaking out, as well as quickly pulling out the arrow from her body.

I picked her up and hurriedly carried her out of the river, the letter secured in my pocket, as the sound of my feet slamming against the pebbles in the river resonated everywhere.

I needed to get her to the healer's quarters in time. She was losing blood too fast, and I didn't want to think about anything else but seeing her eyes open up again.

They had to.

Because if they didn't, I knew there was going to be more blood to spill, and my sword was going to be the cause of it.

It would be a different female's blood and I knew exactly which female was going to make that sacrifice.

An existence was going to be erased.

~~~

I've been waiting for so long, so patiently.

For you.

You know that too. I let you stray before, because nothing was ever a threat to me. Elimination of a barrier, in our case, was always easy before.

But, now.

Now, you've chosen a path that comes in the form of a living female body.

That's all she is to me. A breathing vessel that you have apparently taken a liking to.

That means, next time, I won't hesitate to kill her.

I burned it.

I burned every speck of the letter, and then I made sure even the remains of it didn't get the chance to fall out of the fire, and survive.

I knelt in front of the fireplace, spreading my palms out against the carpet, unable to control my heavy breaths.

"Brother, please stay calm-"

"That dancer attacked her, Aaliyah. She nearly killed a woman that had nothing to do with any of this. Nothing." I tensely rubbed my forehead with my fingers, trying my hardest to not storm out of the palace immediately.

Aaliyah moved closer to me, placing her hand on my shoulder. "Vladimir has assigned five soldiers around the room Zyanna is recovering in. I assure you, Eli, I won't let a bad soul near us breathe for longer. We'll find that female."

"We can't just find her, Lia. We have to kill her," I whispered the last few words, furiously, before I turned towards my sister. "Do you remember what that last letter from our royal messenger said? 'Everything runs deeper than what we could have ever imagined.' I refuse to believe that the dancer is doing this all on her own, and I stand by that belief as I always did, since she escaped. In our case, overestimating someone could very well fare better than underestimating them. We need to kill her before blood starts to run deeper than what Rayson saw. It was an innocent female today. It could be you tomorrow. It could be our kingdom's fall, our whole country's demise very soon. I won't let that happen, Lia."

My sister let out a steady breath, agitation painted all over her face. "It does make sense, Elijah. But, so what if she isn't the only one doing all of this? The real predicament, the real question is, why is she doing all of this? Why haven't we actually questioned that yet? Because the pure fact that she is doing all of this, with or without support, makes absolutely no sense to me."

I pointed to the fireplace, where the letter that had been burnt out of its existence, once tried to live.

"That letter clearly showed her purpose. It's me. She wants me."

Lia pressed her lips together, shaking her head. "Eli, I understand how all of this seems to somehow connect, but just think about it. If it's you she wants, then why attack you?"

"I never implied that she wanted me in a way of passion. There are different ways to 'want' someone. What comes with it, are different reasons too. Right now, I don't care about either. "

She opened her mouth to say something but then stopped. "Are you sure you want to do this, brother?"

I nodded my head. "It's gone too far, Aaliyah."

Before Lia could respond, a new voice interrupted.

"The Maguires seem to only have begun a conversation when action should have been taken long ago. Why always so predictable?"

My sister and I both turned around, our eyes travelling straight to the woman standing near the entrance to Aaliyah's chamber.

My best friend.

Aaliyah cocked her head, pulling her brows together. "Princess Rhea Narnine Grairarian. What a mouthful. What brings you here? Also, when are you going to leave?"

Rhea raised one of her eyebrows at Lia, as she stepped into the room. "Just Princess would be absolutely fine, if it's too much of a hassle getting the rest out. Forgive me, but I don't have the time for you right now. Could I have a moment with Elijah, if it isn't too much to ask for?"

"It's too much to ask for." Lia said, giving her a blank stare.

I rolled my eyes at their behaviour, never actually understanding why they always treated each other in that manner. "Lia, could you go check up on Zyanna? Get me the report on today's palace border checks on your way back too."

"Oh please, don't worry. I won't be coming back, but please do make sure Princess over here doesn't overstay her visit. Especially in my room. We've got everything in control here."

Her fast footsteps leaving the area was followed by Rhea's pronounced sigh.

"Is the definition of 'control' a synonym of literal chaos here in Yandestine, or is it just your sister?"

"Rhea," I greeted her, realising that I hadn't seen my best friend in quite a long time.

I was met with a sudden hug, as she wrapped her arms around my neck, sweetly engulfing me in her warmth. I tightened my own arms around her, rubbing her back.

"I'm fine Rhea. It was a close call, even though it should have been me. Someone else-"

"Just be quiet. You've lost your right to reason with me. Don't open your mouth until I tell you to." Rhea squeezed me tighter, pressing her body into mine, and I could tell how frightened she had been as her breaths became slower.

I chuckled and pinched the side of her hip, making her shriek.

"Ouch! Why did you do that?"

I placed my forefinger on my lips and shrugged, telling her I wasn't allowed to speak, though I started laughing again when she lightly punched me in the stomach after.

"I've missed you. How have you been, Rhea?"

"Better than you, apparently. I heard about the attacks, Eli. Both of them. My question is, how has there been one in the first place? How did you let that happen?"

I took a step back from her, causing her to let go of me. "I know it's my fault, Rhea. I should have been more careful. An innocent female was attacked today, when it should have been me."

"This is what happens when you give random females, the permission to touch you. It was entirely your fault for letting that dancing woman or whatever her name was, into your chamber that night. Were you truly so desperate to let a woman in, that you didn't even know the name of, for one night of pleasure? Were you intoxicated or is it a natural attribute that causes you to make such stupid decisions?"

Her jaw was clenched, as she continued to shout at me, unleashing her worry and anger.

I took a hold of her hand, to calm her down. "Rhea, breathe. You need some air. Shall we take a walk? I was in need of someone to share my thoughts and plans with, and I assume there are things you'd love to tell me too?" I smiled at her gently, hoping she wouldn't lose control again.

She slowly exhaled, before looking directly at me. "Yes. There are things I'd love to tell you."

I nodded and started to walk towards the door, but I stopped as Rhea spoke again. "But, I have something to do before that."

"I'll be waiting near the balconies surrounding the healer's quarters."

I walked out of the room, remembering that Zyanna was there, recovering in the healer's quarters.

I really hoped I would soon have the chance to apologise for not kissing her sooner, at least before the blood was shed.

I wanted to apologise for not asking before she did.

~~~

The pillars in between every balcony, that almost formed a circle, in which some of the balconies were made to be opposite each other, were what completed the beautiful design of the whole place. The wheat colour of the balconies that welcomed the dirt unintentionally decorating it, were proudly supported by each pillar next to it, offering a literal and emotional sense of support to anyone who stood near them.

Places where people were rushed in to gain medical attention, whether it be injured royals or soldiers, are usually represented in a way that made their families and friends fear about whether they could hope about their healthy return.

Standing behind one these balconies, resting one of my hands on the railing, I knew Zyanna would be completely fine when she woke up again. The wind that blew against me now, comforted me, as it strengthened my hope for the future, however chaotic it might come to be.

But, at that moment, the winds had brought something else with it, and it was calmly resting on the flat area near the pillar, just like my hand.

I didn't even realise it was there.

It was a small scroll, entailing the exact tanned shade of brown paper my father had received the very first time, from the dancer.

All the calmness, comfort and temporary tendrils of peace I had felt before, stormed away. My nostrils dilated, as I firmly pressed my lips together. It seemed like the letter I had already burnt, was going to have something else to join it, in its world of ashes and dust.

I would have let that happen. But I didn't.

Because there was a small rock, neatly placed on the scroll, that was big enough to hold the scroll against flying away with the breeze.

The wind hadn't brought this with it. Someone had placed it here, intentionally.

I couldn't help but open it, even though every part of me wanted to take my time to see it struggling within the flames of a fire.

There's a difference between the back and the neck.

Especially in a fight to kill.

Would you ever strike your sword through your enemy's back, when you're brave enough to look into their eyes, and attempt to actuate death with just your fingers as your weapon?

Does that remind you of someone, your highness?

Be careful of where your thoughts take you.

Be careful of where your steps take you.

Be careful of who you trust.

The gust became stronger, harshly blowing past me, almost forcing me to go back.

I ignored all of it, forcing myself forward, and I closed my eyes tightly, wishing everything stopped.

It did.

A sense of immediate belonging rushed towards me, and it almost felt like it was a whisper of breath that I could hear, as if it was my own.

There, at the opposite balcony, stood Zyanna, with a weak stance as she supported herself with the pillar next to her, with a smile that I could tell reached her eyes, even from this distance.

At the same moment, a hand intertwined itself into mine, though it didn't feel like it was the hand that was made to make mine move with it.

"I'm here for you, Eli. I'm right here." Rhea smiled at me as I looked at her in surprise, almost forgetting her presence at the palace.

But I could never forget the feeling, that almost made me hear the smile that faltered and broke from a distance, as if it was my own.

***

Ok, so if anyone has any questions or are slightly (or very lol) confused about what has happened so far, it's probably not me, lol, it's just the characters.

I'm just kidding, it's probably me.

If you do, please do not hesitate to leave a question here, and I'm hoping it isn't going to be a embarrassing plot hole I dug, ugh.

Who am I kidding? I wouldn't be surprised if it is. I'm going to stop, it's like midnight here, and I just want to keep talking about random stuff.

It's all love, guys, all love.

Stay blessed,

OceanaCamerons 🌹🌹🌹