12 a.m. short stories

The Crimson Kingdom | 15

*This is a story idea I'm looking into that I thought of a couple weeks back. The actual story (if I write it) most likely won't be posted for a while, probably not until summer of next year, but even so all rights reserved.

This snippet of what the story will be takes place about a year before the actual book, The Crimson Kingdom©, takes place. When I actually post the book, I may or may not keep this.

Right now, I'm just trying out what I want to do, but I will not start writing this book until Monsters Are Real and Self Destruction are completed. Can't keep startin' shit and not finishing it.

Anyway, enjoy!

~*~

"Are you coming to bed?"

"No, Sweetheart, I've got to discuss some issues with Deana. We're thinking about throwing a banquet to better unite the kingdoms," Stanley gathered some papers up in his hands and dropped them against the table, making an even stack. He turned to his wife, Annalise, and smiled softly. "If you aren't asleep by the time I get back, I promise we'll have a nice breakfast with the boys. Okay?"

Annalise sighed and pouted, playing with the silk sheets draped around her body. She sat, leaned against the tower of pillows propped against her headboard, and whined, "But I want to cuddle! What am I supposed to do now? Snuggle the pillow?"

"Call the boys in if you're so lonely, Sweetheart. Toby loves to cuddle." Stanley, with the stack of papers held against his chest, walked over and laid a gentle kiss on Annalise's forehead. He caressed the apple of her cheek and smiled at his wife adoringly. "Breakfast tomorrow. You, me, the boys, and the best food in the kingdom. I promise," he kissed her again on the lips, "Love you."

She stilled, savoring the warm touch of his finger tips, and stared under her lashes at his lips. She avoided his gaze, and swallowed. "I love you too, Stanley."

"Well, don't sound so sad!" Stanley chuckled and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Do you want me to lay with you until you fall asleep? Will that make you feel better?"

She leaned back and glanced up at the ceiling. Her heart swelled in her chest and seemed to climb its way into her throat, and she hated the feeling. She wanted (and needed) to get this over quickly, so she smiled and ran her hand over his fleece pajama pants. Annalise patted his knee, "No. You go." She finally looked him in the eye, for what seemed like the final time, and nodded. "Go be the king you are."

His bright smile lit the room, and he stood. He kissed her again on the forehead before turning and leaving. He called to her as he walked down the hallway, "Love you!"

She opened her mouth to respond, but it fell shut before a sound could escape. Anna pulled the covers from her legs and let her bare feet touch the ground. She walked across her bedroom and pulled a soft robe around her, and swiftly made her way down the same hallway.

She intertwined her fingers together and cracked her knuckles, before shaking her hands at her side. She took deep breathes, but her hands and body still shook nervously. 

"Lisa!" a small, fuzzy voice called. "Lisa!  Answer me!"

She shoved her hand into the pocket of her robe and fished out the small hearing aid. After shoving it into her right ear, she glanced at the rose gold watch adorning her wrist. A translucent face covered the glass surface of the watch, and Anna clicked the crown on the side to allow audio in her earpeice.

"Are you heading his way?"

Anna nodded at the face on the tiny screen. "Yeah, I'm going down the corridor," she whispered. She recited the same game plan that's been drilled into her mind, "I'll go around the back way where the servers enter and lace the drink. Then I'll throw away the bottle, and make my way back to bed."