Zhara
—
I knock at the princess' door. "Princess Solaris, If you wanna catch the towns festival I do recommend you hurry." I lean to the side of the door, crossing my arms as I drift off to my thoughts; I don't think it's a good idea for Solaris to go out to town. Considering how we all feel about her family, specifically what her father has done. But it doesn't even seem like she knows, she lives in this bubble. No doubt something will go down if we head down, just gotta get this day over with and the closer we are to that one day.
"Heyy.. you there Zhara?" I look up to Solaris Snapping her fingers in my face, rude. I move her hands away.
"Yeah I'm here, are you finally done, your highness?" I said emphasizing the last part.
We glare at each other before Valefar tugs on both of us to get going to the carriage. It was a long ride down from the castle, I'll never understand why they made a castle far from town. Maybe to lessen the chance of assassination, or an excuse when they come late to a town destroyed.
We arrive to town, as we get out the carriage the town I notice how the town is beaming with joy. Much more than the other festivals from previous years when I was a kid, maybe the town has reached the state of prosperity, without the help of the king too. Before I know it, Solaris is dragging Valefar, already running around with her poofy dress checking out the stalls. I feel the sense of tenseness leave me as I catch up with Solaris and Valefar.
—-
By night I thought we've seen everything, but no! It became so much more active, It was like everyone's worries have gone away. We've gotten some stares from people but honestly no threats, nor attacks. That's when someone in a dark cloak with red cloud patterning and a red hanfu approached us. The strangers features was covered.
"Care for a small puppet show, no fee as I see you're with a friend of mine" He spoke to Solaris. Seriously this is so random, what person just does that?
"Oh! Really, no fee!?" She exclaims. I frown, eyeing the man.
"Actually, I change my mind I don't even know how to do that, yet." He chuckles removing his hood, revealing himself to be... macaque. That IS the person to do that. I can't help but smile though.
"Macaque! How are you!" I exclaim, maybe a bit too joyfully. Valefar and Solaris notice this too.(fun)
"I've been alright, wandering around." He says before turning back to Solaris. "It's also a pleasure to officially meet you, your grace." Solaris looks at him with a slight annoyed look.
"When did you become so well mannered?" I lightly laugh, trying to ignore the look.
"About, today I think." He responds.
"How's that other monkey? The ginger one, your friend?" I question
"He's been training at this place, I don't remember what it was but I guess he's been alright." Mac shrugs.
Out of the corner of my eye I see Solaris drag Valefar off roughly away from us.
"What's up with Glitters?" He questions
"No idea, Let me know if you hear anything bad six ears." He nods. Yeesh, after the day was going so well too.
"So wanna go see the new stalls that are up?" Macaque asks. "Yeah, let's go, let's go, let's go!" I say dragging him along.
——
Solaris
——
I watched as Zhara drags the dark haired monkey, looking so much brighter. I can't help but feel angry.
"Why would she wanna hang out with a demon!" I grumbled crossing my arms.
"You are aware Zhara is one too.. right?" Valefar says. "Also, stop dragging me around! Anywhere you go I'll follow anyways."
I kick a few pebbles for a while before Valefar asks me something.
"Would you want get something to eat maybe?" I nod.
As we wonder around for a food stand that peeks our interest, I can't feel a sense of dread wash over me as if someone, no a group of people watching us. Just not sure where. I look at Valefar, She returning my look of worrying. I really am starting to regret leaving Zhara's side.
—
Zhara pov
—
As I try to take a bite into my sweets, that I'VE BROUGHT. Macaque just grabs my shoulder hard enough to scare me dropping it.
"Seriously? What's up dude." I turn my head with an upset look waiting for him to speak.
"We might wanna find Glitters and elfy." He sternly said. I felt my heart drop. If this ends badly, this can screw up everything worked up to this moment. I quickly jump us to some roofs.
"Can you spot her?" I ask while looking in the crowd
"No, too much people,."
"It's not that hard six ears! It's a rich looking girl in a poofy dress, with an elf next to her!" I spat."Can't you use that weird shadowy thing of yours to take us to her?"
"Hm, you're right" he blinked. "Might.. wanna hold your breath for this." Without even a chance to, he envelopes us into darkness.
Quickly reopening back to brightness where we stand in front of Solaris and Valefar.
"You both. We're leaving now!" I commanded. They nodded we quickly run through the crowd, I keep looking back making sure I don't lose either of them, Macaque following us from behind.
"Zhara to your left!" Mac yelled.
I quickly withdraw my double sided scythe splitting an arrow in half. It came from one of the windows of the residents home, this ensued panic throughout the festival.
"How much are there six ears?" I yelled at Macaque, pushing through the panicked crowd. I looked back, Valefar desperately trying to cover Solaris.
"I can't tell, theres too much noise! Im thinking about 6!" He responds back. Just after that, ironically, a wave of arrows fly towards us. "This doesn't look so well!" I hear macaque say. I grunted as I jump and swirl my double sided-scythe splitting the arrows in half, but missing a few.
As I land I hear a thud, whipping my head around I see Valefar with an arrow on her side. With that distraction, an arrow flys into my left arm. Before I acknowledge the pain I yell out to macaque, " Macaque lead them to the carriage! Down this road to your left!" He nods and picks up Valefar taking Solaris by the wrist swiftly moving faster than we were before.
My left arm finally registers the pain and it stings my arm. Looking up around the residency, I notice an arrow poking up a window. I jump up into the window swinging my scythe at the assassin.
—
Narrator POV
—
Zhara repeats the process of hunting down the assassins one by one. Totaling up to 12, double the amount the six eared simian assumed. Zhara jumped between the roofs of homes, looking for the carriage assuming that the trio had made it by now. Sure enough they did and they were at the exit of the town. She jumped onto the carriage.
"Go now! Hurry!" Zhara commanded.
The coachman quickly controlled the horses onto the trail back back to the kingdom. Zhara stayed on top of the carriage, not wanting to deal with whatever might be going on inside. But to also deal with her own injuries. She groaned as she yanked out the first arrow in her left arm, struggling to take out a new one on her thigh. Zhara sighed in defeat leaving the arrow there as she sat on the carriage, soon seeing the castle yet it was so far.
—
Zhara pov
—
I tightly grasped my arm, trying to think of things to distract me from the pain, to stay awake. Until I felt someone swinging themselves out the carriage to just sit on top of it too.
"How's Valefar down there?" I ask
"The elf? Conscious, the arrow luckily didn't go in to deep. Too bad it couldn't be the same for you there." Six ears says. I nod, knowing as long as Solaeia was not injured and just a measly elf I shouldn't face any backlash. It wasn't my fault anyways.
I sigh heavily."Honestly, i'd expected you to have left by now"
"I wouldn't be a good friend if I left you. Plus I owe you for all the other times."
"Yeah, you definitely do." I chuckled.
Finally we reached the castle I say goodbye to my friend. We rush inside trying not draw any attention, knowing word will get to the castle tomorrow anyways. I escort them into their room slightly limping but still moving at a good pace.
"Zhara." Solaris starts. I feel the delayed frustration rise in me, I move quicker hoping to reach the princess' door. "I'm so sorry for departing from you, I know I shouldn't have-"
We reach her door and I swiftly turn around, I feel my face boil.
"You. You're not allowed to go step out this castle again. I may just be your guard, but I can have restrictions. As long as I'm alive you're not stepping out the castle's range. Do you understand?" I scowled
"But.." she tried to argue.
"Do you understand Solaris." Cutting her off. Finally she nods, helping Valefar in her room and then shutting the door. I turned around and hurried down the hall to get to my room. I needed to get this stupid arrow out my leg. As I approach my room, I notice a figure at my door. As I get closer I notice its Aryan. My eyebrows furrowed as I approach him.
"So, what happened out there?" He asks as if he was oblivious to my left arm had dried blood, my thigh with an arrow sticking out like a sore thumb.
"You know what happened." I growled shoving him away from my door.
"What happened to laying low with the princess. You could've jeopardized the plan!" He spat.
"Calm down pops, we both know better than to talk about that here." I say as i grab my door handle waiting for his response.
"You ought to be more careful, Zhara. You may be a demon but you are also mainly human. More fragile than a demon yet stronger than humans." He paused for a second as if he was thinking. Before I knew it, he yanked out the arrow that was deep in my thigh. "Thought I might as well helped, I know you would've struggled taking this out." He says then walking away, leaving me holding on to the door knob as pain spread through my whole body. Slowly subsiding to just my leg, I open my door dropping myself to the floor. Using my other leg to shut the door. I hold my legs to my chest, the floors fine enough for me as I drift to sleep.
Notes
Ew cringe! L zhara
