The Traitor's Wish

5. The Mermaid's Tale

The Traitor's Wish
Chapter 5
The Mermaid's Tale

Emma listened sharply as her father retold the attack story at the breakfast table. She wanted to know every detail. Grandmother rolled her eyes. She was so bored. "I have heard this story seven times, and you are not about to make it eight!" She sat her cup on the table, and stood up, storming out of the dining room.

Emma met her mother's gaze and the two of them could hold in their laughter no longer. "Grandmother seems bored with your stories Papa." Her mother almost spilled her drink when she saw her husband's blank face staring at the wall.

"Oh David, Dear it's all right. We all know your story, I just fell terrible for the poor boy, stuck in that bland healing room." She said with a sigh. "Emma perhaps you could read something to him. One of your fairytales?" She suggested to the young girl.

Emma grabbed an apple and a croissant. "May I check on him now father?" She asked as she stood from the table.

"Of course Em." He smiled lightly, "Kade saved my life. He deserves some caring attention." He gave an approving nod as she walked out the door and up the stairway.

She ran to the library and pulled a few books off the shelves. A mermaid tale, Snow White and Prince Charming, and a few pirate legends, hoping they would provide enough entertainment for him. She knocked quietly on the door and pushed it open.

He was lain back on the makeshift bed, and she quickly saw that he was still asleep. She set the food on the bedside table and found a chair in one of the adjoined rooms, carrying it quietly over to the wall and sitting. Emma grabbed a book, trying to read it but always losing her place. Her mind was else where. The kiss.. so passionate, heated yet full of meaning. She had kissed a few suitors in her time, but nothing like that. It was a new feeling, new meaning. A new game, and she had no idea if she could handle playing it much longer.

He was different. She did not know if that was all she liked about him, or if her feelings were true. The kiss was either the best thing to happen to her, or her worst mistake. She subconsciously tapped her heel on the floor as she quickly turned pages, trying to focus on the story.

Kade was slowly awaking. A deep pain stirred on his abdomen where the cut had ripped through his skin and muscle. His face contorted in pain with a grunt as he squeezed at his wound with his hands, clutching his stomach. He rolled to his side, and his eyes shot open.

Emma jumped to his side, pushing his shoulder to the bed so he was laying straight on his back again. "Does it hurt?" She asked softly, brushing one finger softly over the white bandages.

She saw the pain in his face as he jumped at her soft touch, at the pain it caused. "A little." He grunted out.

"It's bleeding again. You must have ripped open the cut." She sighed, a compassionate stare in her eyes, "I'll get Doc."

He tried to sit up, "No please! I don't want him messing with it again. It just bloody makes it worst." He admits to her with wide, blue eyes. She pulls her chair over, sitting by him. She rests her chin on her hand, elbows in her lap. "I have to tell him sometime." She responds sympathetically.

He grabs her hand, squeezing it softly. "Please, love, not now. Just stay." He begs.

She sighs, disappointed that he was able to sway her thoughts. "Okay, I brought you breakfast. Can you sit up?" She asks, setting his hand beside him in the bed.

"Aye." He says quietly, pushing himself up to lean against the wall with much evidence of pain.

"Here." Emma hands him a plate with the apple and croissant. "I brought a few books if you want me to read them?" She asks shyly, tucking her hair behind her ear as she sits back down.