Two Sides Of A Coin

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    The second day of scouting went by fast, almost too fast in my opinion.  
We learned the routes in and out of the palace. Learned the guard rotations. There was only one thing we hadn't managed to do. Find out where the princes room was. Though we had an idea as to how to learn that. Two days from now there was meant to be a masquerade ball at the palace, and an invitation was easy to swipe. The plan was one Sam and I knew without needing to discuss it. I'd go in disguised as a guest while he looked for the princes room. While there would still be guards patrolling the castle, most would be at the ballroom.

    "You'll be armed still-"

    I shook my head. "They'll search for weapons. You wouldn't have any time to find what we need." I sat on the edge of the bed in my room, Sam leaning against the opposite wall.

    A lopsided grin appeared on his face. "Good thing I got you a gift." He walked over to me and dropped something in my hands.

    I raised an eyebrow. "Sam. What did you do." I chuckled softly and looked at what he'd dropped into my hands. A dagger. The handle black with a red stone set in the pommel. A black sheath. Simple almost. "I have plenty of knives Sam." I chuckled and looked up at him.

    He chuckled softly, his fingers brushing against my cheek. "Yes but this one matches your dress." He winked.

    I just rolled my eyes, instinctively leaning into his touch. "You're an idiot sometimes."

    "Aw but you love me." He sat next to me, his arm wrapping around my shoulders.

    I moved to stand. "Be that as it may, you have to go before Erawan catches you in here." I'd never told him I loved him, I was too afraid to. He never took it to heart that I never uttered those three words to him, never brought it up.

    He stood and brushed his hand against my cheek, pausing as I caught his hand and kissed his palm. "I'll see you tomorrow." He slipped out of my room without another word.

    I sat on my bed and sighed, putting my head in my hands. I wanted to believe I loved him. But I wondered if I was just so desperate for that feeling, a distraction from my reality- I shook my head. It didn't matter. Erawan wouldn't allow it. It'd just be a distraction to him. I set the dagger on my nightstand and curled up on my side. The time until the masquerade ball would be spent planning. How Sam would get in and out. And how I'd know when he was finished so I could slip away. I eventually fell asleep, curled up on my side. An uncertain feeling settled in my gut.