Heartfelt - sequel to Heartless

Chapter 15

CATH WAS HOLDING ONTO Jest's arm, barely managing to move her legs at this point. They had been walking for decades on this plain. In the distance, she saw a big city, growing bigger and bigger as they were getting closer.

Jest removed her hand from his arm and went in front a few steps then turned to her. 'Welcome to City of Charity, my lady!' he cheered, bowing, then moving out of the way to reveal the tall buildings.

Cath entered the city and was taken aback by its beauty. All the houses were white, the light reflecting on them making them shine. Some were bigger and taller, other smaller.

The houses were aligning together in squares, the centre of each shared garden having the same design as the grounds she had seen from up the hill; the grass was arranged to make it look like a chessboard, the pavement continuing to represent the white squares and the grass supposedly the red ones. In the middle of each garden, she saw a big fountain, different chess pieces in each one.

They stopped in front of a tall and wide house. Jest knocked on the door as Cath turned in every direction to look around. Before she could realise she'd been staring for minutes while Jest was talking with someone, he pulled her by the hand inside.

Cath blinked a few times, trying to adjust to the brightness in the room. A woman was leading her and Jest and the others followed.

Catherine admired the lounge room; it was -very- bright. Lamps where hanging from everywhere and there were white armchairs and glass tables on both sides of the entrance, and a big bar was facing the huge window next to the door. Cath didn't even notice it.

The woman led them up some stairs. They were met by a long hall with doors on either side. The woman went to one of those doors and opened it. 'Here you go. Those two are yours.' The woman handed Hatta the key and moved her finger side to side from the opened door and the one next to it. Hatta winked at her. She sighed and went down the stairs.

Cath looked between Jest and Hatta. Jest looked back, squeezing her hand. 'The road is long and you need to rest.' He smiled at her and entered the room.

Hatta whistled, looking around impressed. 'They changed it since last time.' He went to a dressing table and ran his finger over the surface. He looked at it and clicked his tongue, nodding slightly. 'Well, Highness, this is your room,' he said, turning to the door and leaving with Raven and Haigha.

Cath looked around the room. The walls were covered in a light blue tapestry with golden flowers. There was a chandelier in middle of the ceiling; the crystals on it reflected light on the floor and walls, making the room brighter. She opened the curtains to let the sunlight get in and looked over at the furniture.

On the right side, there was the dressing table Hatta had touched, with a big mirror that faced the bed. Cath walked over and sat on it, wanting to rest her feet from the exhausting walk. It was a canopy with the curtains tied with white ribbons to each leg of the bed. By the look of it, she had no doubt that the pillows were just as comfortable as the bed. There were white nightstands on each side of the bed, full of candles of every shape.

Jest coughed and Cath realised he didn't leave with the others. He looked around the room, 'I should've specified we wanted two beds.' He chuckled, looking at some spot on the floor. Catherine blushed realising what his statement implied. Jest moved his gaze toward her and slightly chuckled again. 'I'll . . .' He looked quickly around the room again then sighed and continued: 'sleep on the floor. Or that thing.' He pointed to the armchair next to the bed and smiled at her.

Cath shook her thoughts away and moved to a side of the bed. 'It's big enough.' She smiled back, tapping the place next to her, still a bit hot.

'I think it'd be better if—'

'Sit already,' Catherine cut him off, already embarrassed as she was.

Jest nodded, then looked at the door. 'I- should go.' He turned his head back. Cath looked puzzled. 'I'll have to send a message to Her Majesty,' he continued. 'We'll stay the night here.'

And with that, he left the room. Cath flopped into the pillows and sighed in pleasure, as expected.

~♡~

By the time Jest got back, it was already dark. In that time, Cath bathed, slept, and mostly looked around the room, having nothing to do. She wanted to go downstairs, but decided she'll wait for Jest.

He entered the room and found Catherine looking at the ceiling, her face barely visible hidden in all the pillows, hands on her womb. 'I got you . . . breakfast?' Jest said, placing a tray of food next to her. Cath chuckled looking down at the food and sat up, crossing her legs from the knees. It wasn't very ladylike for her do to that, especially in front of a man, but she felt oddly careless in Chess.

She looked up at him, smiling. He smiled back and sat down next to her. Cath grabbed one grape berry from the vine.

'What's our plan?' she asked worried. Jest took one grape berry himself and placed it in his mouth.

'From here? I sent a message to Her Majesty and, by the time we wake up, a carriage should be waiting.' He looked at her.

Cath shook her head. 'What about after?' she asked, looking down at the food.

'Well, with you on our side, I'd say you have a pretty good chance against the Red Queen.'

Catherine chuckled. 'Really? Do I look like a thousand men?' she asked sarcastically. Jest looked her up and down playfully.

He pointed with his head to her cleavage. 'That won't work for a man.' Cath opened her mouth in surprise and she threw a grape berry at him. Jest guarded his face with his arms, laughing. He jumped on her before she could even see him, pushed her into the mattress and started tickling her. Cath couldn't stop laughing as she tried to push him away. She laughed harder, screaming his name to make him stop. Jest matched her laughs.

He finally stopped, smile still bright on his face and Cath sighed in relief, smiling wider. 'You have no shame, Joker.' She playfully pushed him off of her. Jest laughed, turning on his back, next to her.

'I had to make the lady happy. I don't like that frown on your face.' He turned his head towards her. She smiled, looking into his deep golden eyes.

Cath groaned, hand already going to her chest as she sat up. Jest followed her quickly, now holding her by the shoulders.

Not now. Cath's ragged breath was accompanied by the trails of sweat going down her forehead. Jest stroked her back with one hand. Cath looked at him, trying to calm her breathing. She was beginning to get the hang of this. That thought alone made her feel uneasy. Jest took her in his arms, rocking her gently as she clung onto him.

Her breathing calmed after a few minutes. Jest kissed her temple. Catherine sighed and got out of Jest's embrace. She fell back onto the pillows as Jest put the tray on the nightstand and lied next to her.

'After- . . . after,' she said, the word enough for him to understand. 'I wanted revenge and I-' Cath sighed, 'I knew the only way to get him in trial was if I were queen, if I could sentence him . . . while the whole kingdom watched.'

She turned her head towards Jest, who was already looking at her with a worried face. She turned her head back to the ceiling and continued, 'But, before that, I had to find him. I knew they'd be able to find him and I was ready to pay their price because . . . there was nothing more important than that to me anymore. I—' She took a shaky breath. 'I gave them my heart as I didn't need it anymore and then I had him beheaded.'

There was one thing she didn't tell him though; that she didn't give up her heart only for revenge, but also because she could not bear to live with it anymore, as it was full of sadness and grief. That way, by giving it to the Sisters, she killed two birds with one stone.

Jest took her hand in his. 'I don't care what happened. Nor will I think lesser of you because of it. We're here, Catherine. And we will get you your heart back. Together.' He brought their sealed hands to his lips and kissed hers, while looking into her eyes determined. Cath looked back at the ceiling and sighed.