Remembering Rose

Chapter Thirteen- "How's this?"

Rayden's POV:

I could hear Phoenix's interrogation long before the dark door she hid behind ever came into sight. However, it wasn't Rose's voice that assaulted my ears. The voice that carried through the red halls was Phoenix's--high with fury and desperation--joined by the cacophony of metallic shrieks. A quiet chuckle escaped the beautiful woman holding my arm. Upon seeing my questioning look the woman clarified with a sweet, soft voice, "This Rose certainly has Phoenix all riled up."

With a nod I agreed, "It's understandable though, if the girl is who I think she is it would only make sense." My companion's gorgeous face dropped the hint of smile that had begun to appear, and suddenly her usual seriousness had taken back over. My heart constricted, "Oh Evelyn, just remember that if it is her that you've found her again."

Evelyn, using her caramel colored hair to shield her haunted eyes, shook her head. "I didn't want to find her. Especially not here of all places." We stopped in front of the big dark door and our conversation fell into silence. I waited until Evelyn gave me a firm nod, then I pushed open the door they named Death.

"Talk you insolent little whore," Phoenix shrieked as she slammed her hands on either side of Rose's bent head. Gleaming red knives and glowing brands littered the floor around the pair like dangerous birds and fireflies. Blood was splattered on my sister's flushed cheeks, gleaming like rare ruby jewels. Rose, covered in Phoenix's methods of torture, lifted her face clearly displaying a broken smirk and whispered two words that nearly sent Phoenix into a raging tantrum.

"How's this?"

Phoenix let out a roar of red rage and kneed Rose hard in the stomach. A sound of utter distress sounded to my right drawing my eyes to Knox's tragic form. Like Rose, he was sporting several dark bruises and deep cuts--the most prominent wound being a horrific brand in the shape of a rising phoenix on his collarbone. The soft curls of his dark  hair were a chaotic mess drenched in sweat and speckled with blood that could've been either his or her's. It was his eyes though that broke my heart. The beautiful forest green color that had so often taken my breath away was blurred by angry tears. Tears that left tracks in his cheeks, touched his worry-bitten lips, and dropped to the ground in silence. He was fighting for control, but Rose's pain was destroying his resolve.

I must have made some kind of choked sound because suddenly Phoenix whirled around pinning me in place with her wild eyes. "Rayden, Rayden, Rayden," she hissed darkly. Her eyes glared into mine, malicious ice meeting turbulent turquoise, and I knew she could see right through me. "Don't tell me you really still love that spineless traitor," she growled.

Instantly my cheeks darkened and I was forced to avert my tell-tale eyes to a small roach on the floor. Phoenix laughed in her cold heartless way, the very laugh I despised so terribly much, "You are so terribly pathetic. Get it through your stupid head that he won't ever love you, no one wi--"

"Phoenix!"

Suddenly the room stilled and all eyes fell on the furious woman beside me. Her dark eyes flared with a vicious fury, her delicate hands clenched into tight fists, and her head was held high with confidence. Phoenix's goonies, Lance and Skaver, quickly bowed low to Evelyn both jabbering their apologies. Phoenix visibly paled, but her title to the Red's Royal line refused to let her back down. She took a step forward and opened her mouth, however Evelyn's sharp slap silenced any words she had thought to say.

"You are dismissed," Evelyn snarled.

I watched as Phoenix slowly complied to Evelyn's command, the contempt clearly written in her sneer. She disappeared through the dark door, followed of course by her men, fuming. I turned to Evelyn with a devious smirk, "Clean out your claws, you Wolf, I believe there are some feathers stuck in them." My snarky remark was met with silence, which instantly drug my attention away from the closed door to Evelyn. The sight of her stopped my heart.

Evelyn, the infamous Red Queen and terrifying Black Wolf, stood in front of Rose's unconscious form with tears in her eyes. Her chest was heaving for breath, both terrified and elated at the sight of the one she had lost. Trembling hands hovered over Rose's pale cheeks unable to breach the distance between them.

"Don't touch her," Knox screamed shattering the stillness that had befallen us all.

With clenched teeth Evelyn slowly turned to Knox, "Do you know who I am, boy? Do you know how much power I wield? I could utterly destroy you with a simple snap of my fingers, doesn't that frighten you?"

"First thing, you are younger than me so where do you get off calling me 'boy'? Secondly, I don't give a flying fuck who you are, if you touch her I will be the one who destroys you. Don't you think for a second that just because I'm down that I'm out," Knox growled fearlessly.

Watching the pair of them I found myself seeing them as two dragons fighting over a beautiful princess. It was almost comical....almost. Before the claws and jaws appeared I decided to interject, "Knox, this woman is Evelyn Von Wolve the sole heir of the Wolve Gang. She also happens to be my wife, which also happens to make her the Red Queen. Evelyn, this man is Knox Endler."

"Endler, as in the same Endlers that infiltrated the Red Castle as children and were raised as royalty then turned out to be traitors from the Grim Gang," Evelyn asked with a sly smirk.

"Yes, he is also my oldest friend," I added nonchalantly. Upon hearing my words Evelyn's hackles lowered and her anger dissipated. I gave her a gentle smile and went to heave Knox onto my shoulder. He hissed in pain and dug his fingers into my arm, undoubtedly leaving a set of dark bruises.

"I didn't peg you for the marrying type, Ray," he joked, "or a female-type for that either."

I  chuckled and helped him to stand before replying, "Evelyn and I are in a advantageous marriage. Her gang and mine arranged it; her Stepfather wanted to place a pawn at the Red Castle and Pops wanted to make sure I didn't embarrass him again like I did when you and Phoenix---uggh, well you know what I mean."

Knox huffed and shook his head, "I know how that goes. You two obviously get along though, or is that an act to throw everyone off?"

"It's not an act," I answered, "it just isn't the love everyone thinks it is. The two of us trust each other, and because we do we are making one hell of a team. We are making people think twice about messing with us."

Knox nodded his head, but before he could say anything else Evelyn and I reached our destination. We had dragged Rose and Knox to a long forgotten door, one decorated in rust and curling ivy, that opened onto a night-covered garden. "This is where my kindness ends, Endler. I've done as much as I can to help you escape, but I can't save you," Evelyn said cooly as she glided through the doorway and into the night.

"Thanks for the help, but this doesn't mean us Reapers are cool with you Reds," Knox answered as we followed.

Evelyn turned sharply, "I never did this for your stupid gang. I did this for mine!" Her cheeks suddenly colored and I knew she hadn't intended to let that slip past her lips. She quickly turned and deposited Rose beneath the willow that sat at the very edge of the garden. Her eyes shined with tears, but she was too strong to let them fall. I set Knox beside Rose, gave him a soft smile, grabbed Evelyn's hand, and led my wife back into the Castle.

When the garden door shut I pulled her into my arms and murmured into her wild mass of curls, "Evie, you should know by now that goodbye isn't forever."

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