Earth and Sky

Chapter 9

Simona

I lay by Sloane. She has been recovering for the past couple of days. A large cloth bandage is securely wrapped around her torso. Sloane is currently sleeping and my family and myself are being herded out of the room.

I press my back against the door and look at my parents sleepless faces. I ball my fists.

"How could Scarlet just leave us when we needed her!" I all but shout.

My mother shakes her head. "You are taking this the wrong way. Most likely, if Araquiel is still alive, the person who shoot your sister will be with her. We can bring him to justice."

"Well then why couldn't I go with her! And you let that random boy go!"

Now my father cuts in. "If I remember correctly, you said that none of us could make you leave your sisters side. And that 'random boy' as you called him, is a Prince."

"You don't understand what I'm going through!"

"No," he shakes his head. "We can perfectly understand what you are going through. The question is, can you understand what your sisters are going through?"

I groan, finished with this conversation. I stomp to my room, upset at the world.

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Scarlet

I look at a picture of my family I packed. I stroked Sloane's face and wondered how she was recovering. The last time I visited her before I left she was so pale, she was almost translucent. And that is with her carmel brown skin color.

Zeru comes to a halt next to me. "Is that your family?"

I nod, a tear trailing down my cheek. I hastily wipe it away.

"I'm sorry. Your sister was the other girl that was shot correct? She has a twin?"

I chuckle. "We're triplets. However, they look more like each other then me. They get along better too. I guess it's better since they are going to rule the Fire Kingdom together."

"Your not?"

I turn to face Zeru. "I can't. I'm not a Flame Fairy."

"But your mother..."

"My father is a water nymph. I got his powers and, unfortunately for me, you need the power of whatever kingdom you rule over." I peer at him. This was the first civil conversation that we've had, and what surprises me most is that he started it. "If you don't mind me asking, how did you find out that Princess Araquiel was going to be assassinated?"

He stares at his horse. "Well, my parents have always wanted me to marry her. They said that 'our marriage would unite the kingdoms more'. So they were always looking out for her. They sent out soldiers to pubs and underground fights. That's where they saw the bet taking place. Whoever could kill Araquiel in a public place would win a barrel of jewels. The knights wanted to arrest them, but if they took the men in, people wouldn't be as open if they were planning something like that. So they had to watch those sick men brag about how they were going to kill Araquiel. I overheard my parents and the guards talking and set off at once. At her ball, I found a suspicious man and followed him. It turned out I was right and he was the murderer. But I didn't like my chances against him." Zeru sighs. "I didn't fight him. And now Araquiel's been kidnapped, and it's all my fault."

I reach over and take his hand. "Its not your fault. If you hadn't warned Araquiel, she would be dead right now. Even kidnapped is better then being dead, right?"

He laughs. "Oh how I wish that was true. We're almost at the Fire Kingdom, your home."

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Araquiel

Cyanide grabs my waist and holds me close to him. I can barely stand because of how tight the assassin is hugging me. I found out his name when he was filling in a form to enter the city. Though learning his name was a victory, I was going into the city as his wife. Even though it was fake, it made me feel creepy. I got several new outfits, and was currently making my way out of the city. Our horse trails behind us as we fill out our forms to exit the city, and the country. I silently pray that if my friends or family are following me, they find me soon.