Once Upon A Royal Matrimony

8. metal and gunpowder

Adalina Salvatore

It felt great while it last, the high of fighting and the cold feeling of holding a gun liked a badass who knew exactly what she was doing. The pride and amusement glinting across his eyes was worth it all. But, when realization hit the mask fell off and it all came crashing down on me.

The sound of bullets flying through the air making loud banging sound rang in my ears liked a never ending terrible song. The feeling of the cold metal of the pistol lingered on my finger and it felt like my skin was burning. I didn't kill the man and still it was suddenly fifteen years ago all over again. The memory was vividly fresh inside my head liked it had just happened yesterday.

Bodies scattered on the ground of my chamber. Nine years old me crying under my bed clutching my father's pistol to my chest, praying that all the bad men would go away. My dress drenched in red, so much red I could taste the metallic flavor and gunpowder on my tongue. Blood on my hand making my skin crawled. I didn't mean to. I was a child.

I thought I was going to be okay when I accepted the gun because I knew I could handle one, father made sure I could. I was so fucking wrong. No matter how many years past, at the end of the day I was still that little girl waiting for death to come.

I didn't realize I stopped walking until he stood in front of me clearing his throat awkwardly. I might have dozed off. Blinking the tears away, I looked up at him with a smile on my face.

" What? " he asked, narrowing his eyes at me.

" Nothing. "

" You stopped walking. What happened? " he asked again.

With everything inside of me, i beamed at him. " Are you worried about me, my prince? "

He didn't say a word. His eyes bored into mine so intensely that it sent shivers across my spine. It felt like he could see my whole life flashing before him, like he was searching into every inches of what I had to offer. I gulped under his heated gaze, mentally praying that he would look away because he was invading the story I didn't want anyone to know. When he finally tore his eyes away, he looked like he wanted to ask me something but he didn't. I was glad he didn't. Because if he did, I would have lied and I didn't want to lie to him.

Muttering a small no he shook his head and told me to keep walking because I was wasting his time.

Shaking my thoughts away, I followed his lead until the smooth city road ended. We strolled to a more rough path, telling me that we were outside of London. He kept turning left and right until we were met with a bunch of tall trees hovering above our heads that I could barely see the sun anymore. Each turn took us deeper into the part of England that I never knew existed. The way to the estate was messy and twisting liked it was built to never be found by outsiders.

The cold winter breeze brushed all my thoughts away into the chilly air. Little snowflakes fell upon our heads, I closed my eyes enjoying the coldness on my skin. Eden was silent most of our journey but kept on sighing and grunting from times to times obviously annoyed at the fact that I was clinging on to him for dear life while trying to walk in my heel on the snow covered path.

It was only when we reached the estate that he spoke again telling me we made it. The architecture was impressive, the mansion itself looked like a whole ass castle that came straight out of a fairytale story. My mother in law was being extra humble when she told me she was only a decent architect. Eden walked past me into the house while I stood still gaping at the beautiful sight.