The Royal Quest of Floravera

🔜 Chapter Twenty Three 🔚

By Arabella:
[December 7th]

"War is never over." - George Valente

I cringe as I can feel the blood dry to my skin. I wash it off as good as I can in the river. I didn't head back to home yet. I didn't want to so I brought myself here with Becky and washed off.

I soon got out of the river and headed to my bag on Becky's back. I threw on my emergency dress. Thank you Arnold for your bright ideas! Sad part is it's cold ash out here and the dress is made for summer... I haven't rode my horse in a while. I slip my dress on anyway and my emergency heels.

It's all I have. I left Kettle Palace with Liam's shorts, shirt, sword, and wand. Nothing else. I don't untie Becky yet. Not ready to go home. Instead I strap my 2 swords that I stole from the palace to my back.

I jump as I hear a tree branch snap behind. I turn to see what it was. I don't see anything. It was probably just a deer. I turn around to face Becky a figure is standing in front of her, in front of me. I scream at this. The figure instantly moves to cover my mouth. "Shhh shhh they'll hear you" WHO THE HELL IS THEY AND WHO IS THIS

I stop screaming and I'm quiet but still ready to strike. He keeps his hand over my mouth as a group of horses come through the woods. They have KettleVille symbols on them, and candlelit lights to illuminate the forest. "I swear I saw her head this way." A guard said, I could barely see through the trees.

"Let's just keep looking." Liam's voice met my ears. He sounded worried, and heartbroken. I wanted so badly to scream and alert I'm here with this random man but, I think I'd rather take my chances with him then Liam right now.

What he did tonight was maddening. We're supposed to get married and yet he doesn't even believe me when I tell him the guards attacked me. Unbelievable, I swear if I could just find that freaking killer then I wouldn't have to unite us.

The horses leave, as they travel further into the forest. The guy in front of me releases his hand. "Wow such hospitality you have." I roll my eyes. "Am I free to go now oh chosen one?" I ask with sarcasm

"If you want. I won't stop you, but I do need to show you something." He says then pulls down his hood. My heart drops. Actually sinks into the ground, it sank until it reached the core of the earth and just exploded everywhere.

"D-Dad?" My eyes water. This can't be, I must be hallucinating. I always thought he was in the woods but I never thought I was right.

"It's me honey." I hug him. With every muscle in my body. I can't help it, tonight has been too much. I sob into his shoulder as he hugs me back. "I miss you. And your mom. I miss everyone but you the most."

I raise up and look at him. He's changed a bit. His hair is Greyer, his eyes are still blue like mine. And he still wears his glasses. "Dad.. mom." I swallow "she's dead"

His facial features don't move or do anything. "I know sweetie" he rubs my shoulder. "I keep track on everything out here. I just never join in. I'm sorry for leaving you, I just couldn't handle the royal stuff anymore and I thought since you were so young then it would be better to leave early." He says

"It's okay. I understand." He stops rubbing my shoulder.

"Let's get you to my hut and warm you up and we can catch up like old times." He smiles warmly at me. This is everything I have ever dreamed about, my dad is back. But I don't feel happy. I feel mad. Why doesn't he want to come home?

"We should go to the palace. You don't have to stay there, just have a meal and see your old friends." I plead with him.

"I won't go back. I won't get trapped again." He says

I sigh "it isn't a cage. It's my home. My home that you left! Do you even know the amount of crying mom did over you when you left? The amount that I DID!?" I snap at him. "You always said it was just too much for you to handle, when really you can't handle shit. You suck at being a father, you suck at being a husband, you suck at being a king, and you suck the most at being a decent human being!"

I take a step closer to him, it takes everything in me not to draw my swords and force him to come back just so he can suffer like I have the past 18 years.

"I'm sorry." He looks down at the ground. "I know I'm terrible. It's why I left, you deserved a better father figure in your life."

"You keep changing your story. First it was too much and now you playing at the self pity act. Get over it. You were my dad, you decided not to be. Just admit it, you married for money. The rest was just collateral."

He huffs. "I loved your mother."

"You loved her name that got you want you want."

He takes a step closer to me. "I always knew I failed at being a father for abandoning you, but I never expected you to grow up to be exactly like your mother. A fucking bitch."

My eyes widen at that, not in shock or sadness. In rage. I throw myself forward, tackling him to the ground. I get on top of him, my fist flying into his face multiple times. "NEVER. SPEAK. ABOUT. MY. MOTHER. EVER. AGAIN." I break his nose, but that doesn't make me stop. I hit the same spot again, until he's unconscious.

I pull myself up, then I grab his arm and throw him up on Becky. Then hop on myself, I untie Becky. We head straight to town. He's gonna pay, and I'll make everyone watch.