I Choose All of You

Chapter Fifty-Three

Nessa has been dead for 3 days now. Three days ago I found Nessa in a pool of her own blood, and now I am standing by her casket. I was a bit surprised to see how many people didn't come. Not even her high school cronies made an appearance. Most of her family made the excuse they had important business today. Only her caregiver from when she was young and a couple random guys showed up on her behalf.

It made me feel bad for Nessa, but not bad enough to cry. This might make me sound like a terrible person, but I still was angry at her for trying to kill me. I guess karma is a bitch.

The only thing scarier than Nessa, is the person who had the guts to do this. Let alone, commit murder in the Maxwell Palace, mere rooms away from my own.

The note I received didn't help my nerves. Even though it wasn't signed, I recognized the handwriting. It was the same penmanship from the dozens of roses I received from Roman.

Was that note insinuating he would protect me from Nessa? Aka, kill her?

The funeral service was short. No one said any words. Overall, very odd and depressing.

I stood beside Avalon the entire time, handing her boxes upon boxes of tissues. Guards were stationed everywhere. No matter where I looked, I would come face to face with a guard. It's been like that the last few days. Eyes constantly on me. Reporters everywhere. Wherever I went, I had a crew of guards with me. Even when I needed to use the bathroom, Maddy insisted she had to be there, holding my hand.

People began leaving the gravesite, and a maid told me it was time to go. I hugged Avalon goodbye, then watched her join her parents in a limo. She has been staying with her family since the Queen told her to pack her bags. I think the boys convinced their mother to let Kalum still be able to choose between the two of us, but Avalon felt safer with her parents. It worked out though, I had to be sent away too. I heard rumor it was because the entire castle has been under intense interrogations about what happened.

I followed my escorts down a path to my personal car. Since I have no family to return to, and going to stay with the Resistance would blow my cover, I have been staying at the Maxwell Lodge.

I ignored Kalum and Jeremiah as I passed by. I could feel them looking at me. They have been watching me since I've arrived. I used every fiber in my being to ignore the two of them. Even though it's only been a few days since I've last saw them, I admit it has felt like weeks.

***

Maddy and Hannah entered the Lodge with me. Hannah began preparations for dinner and Maddy helped. Excusing myself, I went into my room to change. Maddy insisted she would follow, but I reassured her I would only be a couple minutes.

I kept the guest room door cracked open and quickly changed into something more comfortable. That's when I noticed it. Not again. It wasn't a rose, nor was it another note. It was a small vile, no bigger than my pinky, placed on my bed pillow.

I glanced at the door to make sure Maddy was still outside, and checked the lock for my window. It was clamped shut.

I then carefully picked up the vile and noticed it was full of a red liquid. I turned it slowly in my hand. It was blood. Nessa's blood?

Bile immediately rose to my throat and I rushed to toilet. Puking up dinner from the night before. My fingers touched the dagger I have been keeping strapped to my leg. I've been wearing it every day for safety.

I sat on the floor and flushed the toilet. Leaning against the shower doors, my mind went to Roman.

I met him in a coffee shop. He wore a large hooded trench coat, even though it was warm out. He is incredibly alluring and smooth. His skin was unbelievably cold. He acted weird when I asked him about his red colored drink, that night at the party. It must have been him who signed my note as "R" when all the roses mysteriously filled my bedroom. I then got another rose and note from "him" after Nessa was murdered. Did he somehow see Nessa threaten my life? Was he the one trying to protect me? Is this vile of blood from him? Was the red liquid, he was drinking, blood too?