Lily Rose: Legendary

Chapter 36: I Care

I slowly felt my consciousness returning. 

The pain in my ribs had lessened, but it was still there.

I slowly opened my eyes to blinding light.  I groaned. "Where am I?" I questioned.

"You're in the palace infirmary, Lily," a voice replied. "I'm the physician here. My name is Peter--"

"I remember you," I interrupted. "You're the one who saved my life."

"Yes," the man replied. "Thankfully you only broke a few ribs this time."

"Where's James?" I exclaimed suddenly, sitting up.  The pressure in my chest returned in full force.  But all I could think about was James.

And him lying lifeless on the floor of the ballroom...

"He's alright," Peter replied. "He got a little more beat up than you, but he'll be fine."

"Did the king return?" I asked.

The physician turned away.

"What is it?" I questioned. 

"He was killed on the boat."

"What!?" I tried to sit up again, but he pushed me down.

"I hear it was his royal adviser who did it."

"I knew it..." I mumbled. "What happened?"

"I will tell you the full story once you have rested. That fight with The Jackal took a lot out of you."

I didn't want to consent, but I did feel really tired...

"Alright," I replied. "But you will tell the the whole story--" I yawned. "When I wake up..." 

And I fell asleep.

When I woke up, it was no longer light outside.  I looked around the dimly lit room and saw a figure lying in a cot next to me.

"James?" I called.  

The body stirred, but then stoped moving.

I shouldn't wake him up.

I sighed and stared up at the ceiling.

I couldn't fall back asleep.

And I had nothing to do.

My empty thoughts immediately went to what Peter had said.

Was the king really...dead?

Had the men escaped with the prisoner?

I brought my fists down on the cot in frustration.

These unanswered questions were driving me crazy.

"Lily?" James called.

I jumped. "I'm sorry! Did I wake you?" I questioned.

"No, it's alright," he replied.

"How are you doing?" I asked.

"I'll live," he answered.

"That doesn't sound very assuring."

He laughed, but then stopped suddenly, making a noise of pain. 

"Try not to move," I said. "I think you broke some ribs too."

"What happened with The Jackal? Did you take him down?"

"You really should rest..."

"Just tell me. Is our journey to bring The Jackal down over?"

"The Jackal has been locked up, yes."

"Is there a but? I hear a but coming..."

"I...I don't know if I should tell you--"

"It's something about my father, right?"

"I don't know the whole story."

"Then, tell me what you know."

"James..."

"It's just like the story..." His voice choked. "He's dead, isn't he? And I bet it had something to do with his adviser."

"We don't know the whole story."

"But we know enough. I'm going to kill that man--"

"Please, James. You can't get too worked up. You have to rest..."

"You didn't listen when the physician told you to rest last time!" James exclaimed. "You said you didn't need anyone! Well, I don't need anyone!" 

I heard the cot creak as he tried to rise.

"But I need you," I whispered.

The creaking stoped. "What?" 

"I...need you, James. Please don't be stubborn like I was. You need to rest."

Silence filled the room as James seemed to process the words. 

"I need you too," he finally said.

A single tear fell down my cheek.

I finally felt like someone cared about me.

And I cared about him.