Solislunar

Chapter Five

I skip dinner. I'm hungry, but I'm also tired, in a I-haven't-slept-in-days way. I collapse on the bed of my room -  they showed it to me a while ago - and I'm out.

I wake up a few hours later to the creak of floorboards outside of my room. I don't open my eyes, not when the creaking stopped, not when my door opened, not when light steps trailed across my room towards my bed. My breathing stayed even. My grip on my knife's hilt tightened. I always kept a knife under my pillow, because when I lived with them, I had to fend of my false father more then once. The footsteps continue, ever slowly, and finally arrive at my bedside. The shallow rasp of a blade being freed, the sound almost imperceptible. Another step closer, and I rolled, landing in a crouch on the other side of the bed from my attacker. The blade of the assailant is embedded into my mattress, the pillow sheered through the middle. I lift my knife by the blade, it's weight a comfort, and let it sail. The knife impales the attacker in the arm, pinning them to the wall. A short, feminine gasp sounds from them, and the hood falls back as she struggles to free herself, revealing Shine. I grab another blade, and pin her other arm when she looks up. Fear shone in her eyes, and with a deep breath, she screamed.                                                        "Guards!!!" she says, panic in her voice, as though I would dare to spill her blood on my floor more then I already have. A guard busts through the door, followed by the King.                                       "What happened in here?" he demands, and Shine busts into fake tears. Her eyes held no real sadness, no real wetness. "She attacked me!" Shine says, letting her voice quiver. "It seems as if you have done the attacking, Shine. To the healers, then I'll have a talk with you in my chambers." Kiran says, as the guard frees Shine from the blades in the wall. Blood drips down her sleeves, and she throws her arm out at me, splattering me with blood. "Rat!" she says, and leaves the room.  "Are you alright?" Kiran asks, sitting on the edge of my bed and looking at me with concerned eyes. "I'm alright, King. I am used to being attacked by lowlifes. That guy who took me as a baby? He's tried to kill me a few times. And he's hurt me, physically and emotionally.  Father.." I say, testing out the word. "Yes, Solis?" Father asks, his concern melting into calm happiness. "Can you fetch Elmira for me? And Arthur. And come back, because I wish to explain something to you." I finish, setting my mind on punishing Arthur. "Of course, my child. Ruby, come in here please," Father calls out the open door, and the room brightens more as a slight young girl walks in, a lamp in her hand. "Yes, my king?" the girl asks, setting the lamp on the table by the door. "Go find Elmira and Arthur, and bring some Mint Tea and scones." Father says, his voice gentle. "Right away, my king." Ruby says, ducking her head and backing out of the room, leaving the lamp.

A few minutes later, Ruby comes back with a bandaged Elmira and a furious Arthur, and Ruby places the four teacups and a teapot on one table, across from the lamp, and sets the scones down next to the tea tray. "Why the hell am I up at this hour?" Arthur says by way of greeting. Elmira snorts, and Arthur shoots her a resentful glare. "You are here," I begin, glaring at him as I step partially between him and Elmira. "Because you have done a horrible deed. You assaulted Elmira because she did not have me ready by your own selfish standards." I say. Father looks startled at this. "Elmira, you told me you tripped and fell into the prison bars!" He says, and jumps up. "Arthur Franklin Delarouse, you are banished to the prison cells until I see fit to hold trial. Guards!" Father says, raising his voice a bit on the last word. Two guards enter the room, a man and a woman. "Take Mr. Delarouse to the worst prison cell you can find, and leave him there until I say otherwise!" Father says, pointing an accusing finger at Arthur. "Right away, sir!" the woman guard says, and immediately grabs Arthur and pins his arm against his back. "You'll rue this day, bitch. I'll find you again, don't you worry your pretty little head. I'll find you!" Arthur screams as the guards drag him from the room. "Well," I say, "That went just peachy." I smile.