Caged Heart

Chapter 10

Someone from somewhere in the room had stood up and yelled out something that Serenity couldn't make out. All she knew was that after the shout came a shot: a gunshot. Everyone went into panic mode, but none of them were as panicked as Serenity was when she saw a red spot stain her sister's dress.

Genevieve's hand was covering the place where she had been shot, red pooling all around it. She fell to the ground in slow motion, and as she did, Caleb and Serenity lunged for her. Serenity got to her first, holding her sister in her arms as the girl started choking on her own blood. The eldest princess didn't even realize she was screaming until Godric's hands were on her shoulders, trying to pull her away from Genevieve.

"Serenity, we have to go!" He yelled, but she wouldn't budge, still clinging to her sister, who was fading fast.

"Guards," Emerson called out, unsheathing the sword he had around his waist, "close the gates, round up as many of the guests who were here as you can!" He turned to look at the Vixon family, "King Darius, take your daughter to the infirmary quickly. There may be a chance for her if you do. Prince Caleb, Prince Godric, I need you to take Princess Serenity and Queen Violette out of here."

Caleb, who was struggling to pull his mother away and hold back his own tears, spoke over the chaos, "Serenity won't let her go."

Walking over to the eldest princess, he dropped his sword at his feet before kneeling to take her face in his hands, "Serenity," he only said her name once, something he had never done before, and that made her still and look up at him, "you need to go with Prince Godric."

"But Genevieve—"

"Will be safe with your father. Right now, you need to get to safety."

"What about you?"

"Don't worry about me," he reassured her, caressing her cheek, "I'll be okay. Now, please, go."

With a small nod, Serenity allowed Godric to pull her up and away from her sister. As they stood, Emerson stood along with them, picking up his sword as he did so. He nodded at the Vixons before walking away to go and see what the guards had accomplished, ready to kill whoever hurt the young Princess Genevieve.

Two of Emerson's guards, and a couple of the Dahlian guards, ushered the Vixon family and Godric into the ballroom, shutting the door as one of the Dahlians locked them in using a key. All of the guards took their places in front of the door, weapons at the ready in case anyone should make their way through the door.

Serenity pulled out of Godric's grasp, beginning to pace around the room. Not even the faint memory of the almost kiss the two shared in the room could make her heart stop pounding in fear and worry, tears continuing to pool in her eyes—though, she tried to fight them. Queen Violette was sitting in a chair that had been provided for her by a guard, her son standing close to her, being uncharacteristically still—her face was blank, emotionless, but her eyes still held tears that flowed down her cheek, seemingly unbeknownst to the queen.

"Serenity," Godric spoke softly, although the quiver in his voice gave away his fear, "please, come—"

"How could this have happened?" Serenity's pacing grew more in speed, "Everything was—it was fine, and then—and then—"

Caleb interrupted his sister with a scoff, "We all know how this happened."

"Prince Caleb, I know you and King Emerson have your differences, but you cannot truly believe he would do something as dastardly as this." Godric looked at him.

"He is a Hallow, we have more than just mere differences." The young prince's gaze never moved from his sister's slowing form, "I told you what he would do from the beginning, sister."