Veridia

Chapter 12

Aerithia, present

Aleksander felt tired. So, so tired. It was as if somebody had thrown a thick gray blanket over his muscles and refused to take it off. The stabbing pain in his chest didn't help, either.

Why had he said that to Geneva? She hadn't done anything wrong. Heck, she tried to comfort him. So why had he lashed out?

Groaning, he dipped over onto his back, staring at the ceiling. Cricket chirps could be heard outside his window, which surprised him. Aleksander and slept in fits and starts since Genevas visit, but the time went past far quicker than he had thought.

Aleksander squeezed his eyes shut, but even behind closed eyelids all he could see were green eyes wide with hurt.

He had been stupid. An idiot who only thought about himself. And the worst part? He couldn't apologize. He was craven and shallow and...

"ALEKSANDER!"

Andrei stormed into his room, wearing a snarl on his face. Different emotions warred on his face, from sadness to anger to frustration.

"THE FUCK IS THIS?!" He screamed.

Andrei threw a folded piece of paper at him, making a small chink as it fell on the bed.

Aleksander knew better than to question him, and unfolded the paper.

I'm not wanted here. A certain someone made me realize that. Going back to try to stop him. Do not follow me.

- G

Aleksander's blood ran cold. His fingers were freezing, shaking so hard that the paper fell out of his hands.

"Well?" Andrei eyes looked like chips of ice, all hints of teasing laughter leeched out of his eyes.

"I... I don't know."

He laughed coldly, eyes darkening.

"Don't fuck with me. What the hell did you say?"

Aleksander winced at the f-bombs spewing from Andrei's mouth.

"I may have misstepped my boundaries."

"No shit."

Andrei slumped against the doorframe, all energy drained out of him.

"She's taken a horse with her. By the time we catch up she'll be long gone, and plus we can't rescue her from that bastard's home base. It'd be suicide."

He covered his face with his hands.

"She's as good as dead. I'd just got her, and she's gone again."

A small cloud had formed over him, rumbling gray above his head. It rained silently, as if trying to cry for Andrei. Soon, he was drenched from head to toe, and a small puddle formed on Aleksander's bedroom floor.

Aleksander didn't have the heart to tell Andrei to snap out of it.

It was his fault. He'd lost his temper in the swirl of confusion in him, and now he was going to pay for it.

The blankets didn't seem warm enough anymore. Aleksander threw the covers off, a wave of nausea passing over him. He steadied himself, laying a hand on his bed before walking over to his balcony. Aleksander folded his arms accross his chest. Aleksander didn't curse. He was a prince, and royalty didn't have foul mouths.

But still, fuck.

He cursed himself, scowling at the distant lights of Terramore.

This was completely and utterly his fault. The worst part? Aleksander had no idea how to fix it.