Blood Ties

Chapter 30

Chapter 30

The hand on the clock ticked infuriatingly, moving in slow, precise jerks. It read 6:05, but hours seemed to have passed since 6:00. Marco kept his eyes trained on the minute hand, his hands clenching around the small piece of paper he held. His foot tapped against the wood floor rapidly, joining the quickened thumping of his heartbeat and the ticking of the clock in a maddening harmony.

He turned away from the clock and looked down at his trembling hands, unfolding the paper he clutched. It was a note, a few lines scrawled along a scrap, for the Star he hoped to find today.

If he found someone different in her place...someone with vacant eyes and an empty expression...what next? He crumpled the note along with his dark thoughts, glancing back at the clock desperately. It read 6:07, and he could have screamed.

Agonizing minute after minute ticked past until the hand hit 6:25. The moment it hit, Marco sprang to his feet and hurried towards the door, glancing out into the hallway for a glimpse of Rose. He waited for another few seconds before her light gait echoed down the corridor. She turned a corner and came into view, her cheeks pink and her mouth lifted into a bashful grin. Jerking her head in a beckoning motion, she twirled around and walked back the way she came.

Marco followed her down the hall, a good few paces behind her so that no one would question it. They climbed several flights of stairs and marched through several hallways before Rose stopped.

"This is...um, this is her room," she explained breathlessly, smoothing her hair with her free hand, "And there's no one around, like I promised."

Marco nodded dismissively, reciting the words that had run through his mind for hours, "You should finish your work first, and after..."

"Oh! Definitely." She blushed deeper, grabbing her ash-coated shovel and bucket and hurrying towards the door. He beat her to it, opening it for her and allowing her to go inside. Then, without hesitating, he stepped in after her, closing the door behind them. Rose's eyes widened, but she said nothing, and instead curtseyed in the direction of the princess.

The small form kneeling by the fireplace with curls falling down her narrow back was unmistakable. She did not acknowledge the visitors, her eyes glued to the fire. Marco stepped forward, and then paused, his heart racing. "Rose, is that the princess?" he asked, his voice louder than necessary.

The princess froze, and Marco held his breath.

Then she turned, her eyes lighting up desperately, and her lips silently formed his name. She rose slowly from her crouch, disbelieving, and stared. Dizzied with relief, Marco's face broke into a smile, and he placed a finger to his lips in a shushing motion. She nodded, understanding, and coughed, "Oh, h-hi Rose. Who's that?"

Rose curtseyed again, unaware of their exchange. "This is Mr. Storm. He's been working in the dungeons for the last two days."

"Good morning, Mr. Storm," Star stammered, grinning widely, "How are you?"

"Good morning, Princess," Marco replied, barely able to contain the joy in his voice, "I'm well. And yourself?"

She bobbed her head, noting the concern in his words. "I'm fine. Absolutely fine." She clasped her hands together, twiddling with them nervously. Rose watched the exchange with an uncomfortable look on her face, but she did not speak. Instead, she set to work on her usual tasks –making the bed and tending to the fire.

Marco stepped a few steps behind Rose so that she couldn't see his hand slipping into his pocket and discreetly tossing a note underneath the bed. He glared pointedly at Star, and then at the note. Star cocked her head to the side, and then her eyes lit up and she nodded, understanding.