Earth and Sky

Chapter 20

Scarlet

I stomp away from Araquiel and Zeru. It's like they've completely forgotten about me! Who helped Zeru rescue her? Me! But do I get any credit? No! I look back at them. Araquiel is still staring at me, like a sad little puppy. I sigh feeling conflicted. Even though I know she doesn't know what she is making me feel, I'm upset with her. But then the same parts of me kicks in. And this thing I'm feeling, I hate it. It's something I've rarely felt before- Jealousy.

The reason for my jealousy is Araquiel's and Zeru's close relationship after only knowing each other for about one day. But why? I can understand why I am feeling jealous of Araquiel since she is my best friend. But why am I jealous of her relationship with Zeru? I gaze back one final time, looking at the group as a whole, not any specific person. Maybe, I thought Zeru and I were closer then we actually were. I sit down at the table and continue eating my breakfast. Zeru breaks me away from my food with an announcement.

"So, what's our game plan for today? And how do you think we should catch those assassins?"

"There names are Cyanide, the one who first captured me, and Shadow, the one who is currently stalking us." She shudders. "I had a dream about what would happen if he caught me. He is so much scarier then I thought he would be."

Zeru gently rubs her arms and faces the rest of us.

"These men are powerful. It will take all of us at our best to take them down."

"Take them down... You mean, kill them?"

Araquiel gasps and jumps up. "Please don't kill Cyanide! He was actually very kind to me even though I tried to kill him on several occasions." She blushes. "I think he could help us. If... He wasn't arrested for attempted murder of the princess..."

"Are you sure about this Araquiel? He could have just been playing you!" Lace interrupts.

She shakes her head. "No, he was only going to kill me so he could send money to his family. He said if there was any other way, he would have rather done that." A tear escapes her eye. "He tried to kill me in public so he would be killed too after."

A silence drapes over us as we take in what she said.

"But, Shadow?" I say, breaking the heavy silence.

"Oh him." She scoffs. "You can do whatever you like to him."

"Well, now that that matter is decided, what will our strategy be?"

"Stalk around nearby villages?" Sloane suggests.

Simona shrugs. "It could work."

Laec nods. "We can do that until we find him, then we can make a battle plan and attack."

"I can agree with that. That also give us time to study what he is like and what magic he has. All in favor?" Every hand rises into the air. "Good. Now does anyone want to go on an excursion to find any food or nearby cities Shadow could have gone to?"

"Scarlet and I will do it!" Araquiel shouts.

'I guess this is my punishment for acting weird earlier.'

"But, Shadow wants to kill Araquiel, wouldn't it be safer to keep her here?"

"I would feel a lot better if you didn't do alone." Araquiel pries.

I groan. Araquiel is older then me and the crown princess. If she orders me to, I will have to do anything she says.

"Fine."

I grab her hand and a large basket and drag Araquiel into the forest surrounding our camp site.

"Let me go."

I immediately let go of Araquiels hand at the sound of her hard voice.

"What?" I ask, thoroughly confused by her sudden mood change.

"I should be asking you that. Ever since you guys rescued me, you have been acting strange."

I scoff. "So have you! You haven't been talking to me since you met Zeru!"

"Ha, jealous much!"

The fact that she knew exactly what I was feeling broke a cord in me. I immediately turn away and start walking.

"Wait, Scarlet? Where are you going?"

I break into a run.

"Hey Scarlet, come back."

Tears stream down my face and I know I'm being immature, but I can't help what I'm feeling.