Color of Roses

A Way Out

Chapter 31

"No!" I scream and rush over to Alyn. I pull him toward me protectively and he winces as my hands touch his fresh wounds. "Anything but that!"

"How distasteful," Albert spats. "You choose that filth over King Byron?"

Byron turns away and begins to leave the room. I hold onto Alyn as the guards try to pry me off. I scream over and over again. "If you kill him you'll have to kill me too!"

Byron pauses at the door. Albert speaks up. "You think your life means anything to King Byron? You're mistaken, girl." Byron's eye lingers on me and I search my mind for any means to convince him to let Alyn live.

"Please let him go. I promise to marry you without any refusal. I'll do everything you want. Just please, don't hurt him."

Byron remains silent and emotionless. Albert takes hold of Alyn and slams his face into the stone floor. He cries out and comes up with blood gushing from his nose. "Stop it!" I scream and Albert looks down at us with a frightening expression. "You're not fit for King Byron," he says lifting his hand and slapping it across my face. I stare at him in shock and Alyn growls beside me. "Don't you dare touch her," he says through heavy breathing.

"What would you do to me if I do? Look at you, you're pathetic," Albert says with a kick to Alyn's ribs.

"Enough."

All eyes turn to Byron. He remains at the door way and Albert lowers his ready foot. "King Byron?"

"Keep him locked up with the rest of them. I'll decide what happens to him." He looks at me and I bite back the tears. He looks away as if ashamed of me. Alyn collapses to the floor and I wipe away the hair sticking to the blood on his face. He takes pained breaths and I look around for anything to help. "I'll.... Be... fine..." he mutters.

"You're a fool!" I say through tears. "You shouldn't have come back!"

"I may... be a fool... But... I had to... see you again.."

He sucks in a breath as pain shoots through his body. He relaxes temporary until the guards lift him and drag him away into one of the holding cells.

I was locked inside my room that night without any dinner. Guards stood outside my door and my balcony was locked tight. I could no longer create tears and instead I stared out into nothing without a single thought crossing my mind. My body was exhausted when the sun rose and I couldn't even bring myself to leave my bead. Maids scurried in and out with food and fresh clothes for me to wear but I never bothered to touch any of it. Nico had come to my room and I threw a pillow at him when he said I was to attend dinner. I screamed until he left the room. I was so angry and hurt.

My thoughts always ended up on Alyn. Whether he was alive or not, I had no clue. I could only hope he was but with his wounds untreated, there was no chance he would be for long.

Another day arrived and I remained as dormant as before. I had to get out of this state and find freedom of some sort. I rise out of bed and wobble over to the balcony doors. I grab one of my chairs and throw it against the window until it shattered. I step ignoring the shards of glass piercing my feet. My hands reach the stony railing and my weak arms have a hard time lifting me up onto the edge. I slowly gain balance until I'm standing straight atop the flat surface. I look down at the ground below me, the grass so small it's hard to make out each blade. My heart pounds in my chest and I contemplate following through with this plan.

I brace myself and close my eyes. I start to lean forward when a voice stops me.

"Aria, Stop!"