Color of Roses

For My People!

Chapter 24

"I can't believe I trusted you!" I scream. Nico looks away ashamed but composes himself and grips my arm tighter. "I thought you were my friend!"

"We were never meant to be friends. I was just your servant and you just happened to trust me so easily. It's your own fault for accepting me without even knowing who I was!" His eyes turn a dark shade of gold and his face is darker than before. "I was sent here as a spy by King Byron and on his order I was told to tell him everything about you and this kingdom. It wasn't hard to do being how open everyone is here. Even that dimwit Giles slipped up on the security of the castle's records."

I can't even look at him anymore. My body gives up and I'm pulled into the stables where the two men grab me and hold my arms back. Tears stain my cheeks and I feel like such a fool. They walk me back into the castle where I'm forced to see the aftermath of their raid. Vases are shattered along the corridor and people are injured and bleeding or unconscious or even worse on the cold tile. I squirm in the men's grip but they never loosen. We continue down the hall when I see Elias holding his side while slicing his sword at an attacker.

He notices me and he's left open for the man to knock him down. I scream his name and force myself out of the hold and rush over to him. "Elias!" I call and he tries to speak in pained breaths.

"Nico, you bastard," he says through his teeth as he clenches his oozing side. His armor is dented and his cape and shirt are torn apart showing a huge wound just below his ribcage. "I have to help him!" I yell at the men who just reach down to grab me.

"Leave him," Nico says with a soft kick to Elias' leg to flip him to his back. He groans in pain. The men start to move past him and I take in a deep breath. "I promise to go peacefully if you just let me treat him!"

Nico stops and looks at me. He eyes Elias who is slowly trying to get to his feet. He looks back at me once more and sighs. "You think I'm a fool? Fine. You have five minutes."

The men growl as they let me go and I stumble over to Elias. I help him to his feet and lead him back to my ransacked room. He collapses onto my bed and I search my room for any remains of my herbs. I find a few bits, not enough to make much of an impact, but something nonetheless. I make a quick concoction and rip a piece of my dress. I wipe away the blood and wipe some of my makeshift antibacterial serum around the wound enough to keep it clean. I pull off one of my curtains and wrap it around his middle. My fingers dance across his muscular abdomen and it's the first time I've ever seen him without his armor.

He takes in deep breaths as he copes with the stinging from his treated wound. I tie the curtain tightly around him in hopes it'll help apply enough pressure to stop his bleeding. "Aria," he wheezes and grabs my hand. "Are you crazy?"

"Thank you for all you've done, Elias. I can't let anyone else get hurt. Please, take care of yourself," I say and kiss his cheek gently. He closes his eyes and falls into unconsciousness due to losing so much blood and I take that opportunity to return to Nico and the men at the door. They reach for me and I pull my arm away. "I promised I'd go with you. I don't need you to grab me."

The men reach for me again but Nico stops them. "Just keep an eye on her. Let's go."

I look back at Elias who is asleep on my bed and give a quiet sight. Where I was going, I had no clue. What I had in store for me? That's something I'll learn soon enough.