Earth and Sky

Chapter 13

Sloane

My eyes crack open as the morning light burns my face. I pull a pillow over my head but feel a sharp pain in my stomach. I groan and the events from a few nights ago come crashing down on me. I sit up and immediately regret it. A bell is placed next to me and I hurriedly grab it. I quickly shake it and not even a moment later, my door crashes open so hard, I fear it's will fall off it's hinges. First through the door is a nurse, then Simona, my parents, and lastly, Araquiel's parents.

Simona's hand tightly grips mine, as if she let go, I would be forever lost.

"Sloane! Are you okay? How do you feel? Do you need anything?"

Overwhelmed by her questions, I pull my blanket over my head. I hear my sister frantically yelling at the nurse to do something. I groan in frustration.

"Simona! Your making my head hurt! Either be quiet or leave!" I snap.

Her eyes well with tears and she turns around and steps into the hallway.

I rub my eyes, feeling a little guilty, but not bad enough to call her back in.

"She was just trying to help Sloane." My mother tells me softly. "You don't know how worried she was."

"But she wasn't helping mother! I'm so tired and I'm really famished. Can you send someone to fetch me some bread and milk?"

"I'll do it," the nurse cuts in.

I nod. "Thank you very much."

I glance shyly at Araquiel's parents. There was no comparison who's parents look worse. Serenity, who always looked youthful and alive, look like she was at deaths door. Heavy bags lined her eyes, showing up more on her translucent skin. Her once full face was now sticking to her bones. Not that she still wasn't beautiful, she now just looks like deaths bride. And Amitoj, the once strong cheerful king looks like he can't see anything. His expression doesn't change no matter what he's looking at. He gazes at nothing in particular, a spot on the wall over my shoulder.

"Queen Serenity, King Amitoj, is there any news on Araquiel?"

Amitoj does nothing. Serenity shakes her head. "Nothing... Yet. Scarlet and Prince Zeru went to search for her. They away from the knights we sent with them..."

She drifts off to her own land and I decide it's best not to ask her any thing else.

I turn towards my father. "And how are Laec and Adamina?"

He gazes at the ground. "Laec locked himself in his room. I believe he thinks it's his fault, though it isn't. Adamina is the only person he lets in. She... Is upset of course. But she and Sage have been holding us together. She hasn't exactly shown her emotions, but I hear her crying in the night." He touches my shoulder. "Your mother and I blessed by Mother Earth, since you've survived."

I nod, not entirely happy that I awoke in the midst of all this drama.

***************
Araquiel

I walk through the town. Trailing behind Cyanide. In a few minutes, my life will end. So I have to do something. I kept the knife in my pocket, I just have to pull it out and attack Cyanide. But, he doesn't exactly seem like a bad person, he seems as upset as I am that I will die.

We arrive in the middle of the town, and I see a platform. Cyanide grabs my hand and pulls me towards it. I have to die in public of course. I pretend to pick up my stocking but grip my knife. When I got up the steps, things started getting weird.

The crowd starts to hush as they gaze upon me, my dress trailing behind me. Cyanide pulls me close to him.

"It'll be painless. I promise."

I nod, finally letting my uncertain tears roll down my cheek.

"How will you get out of here?"

"I won't most likely. But my family will get the money."

I bite my lip. "Then let's get on with it."

I wipe away my tears, hiding the knife behind my back. Cyanide pulls a dagger out of his sleeve, but he faces away from the crowd so they don't discover it.

"I'm sorry."

He turns towards me dagger raised, gasps spilling from every mouth, including mine. I grip my own knife and start to lift it to protect myself when Cyanide's arm is stopped midair. He stares at the watery ribbon that circles his bicep. Another circles his legs. He turns towards me, fear evident in mis eyes.

"Run!"

I jump off the stage and into the crowd. Everybody is frantic, screaming and pushing. A little girl is pushed to the ground and stepped on multiple times. I grab her arm and help her up and am almost pushed down myself.

"Araquiel!"

I turn in a circle as I hear my name being called.

"Araquiel!"

This time, I see Scar and start making my way towards her.

"Scarlet! Your here?!"

"Come on, me and Zeru are here to help you."

Even though I feel like I should be happy, I just can't. Did Scarlet stop Cyanide? Or someone much more sinister?

The question is answered for me when the water entangles my body. I scream and try to fight back but it's no use. I was passed from one capture to another. All I can do is reach towards Scarlet as I'm throw into the air and pulled into the forest.