Blood Ties

Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Pacing silently back and forth across the entire span of the bedroom, Star forced herself not to scream in frustration. Marco had slipped her yet another note –this time, beneath the door at three in the morning- explaining their plan. Although the queen knew they were coming, they were still going to attempt to rescue her. Marco's words sounded as though he wasn't too keen on the plan either.

"If that's the case," she mused, pausing, "then there's probably no avoiding it. They're going to rescue me or die trying." She shivered at the thought, imagining herself surrounded by bodies and lying in a pool of her own blood. Again, innocents were going to die –because of her.

Brushing away her dark thoughts, she reread the note, familiarizing herself with the times and exits and signals until she could recite them without thought. She only had a few minutes before the rescue would begin, and she needed to know exactly what was going on.

At two o'clock, Marco would enter her bedroom and wait for the signal from the others. Men were stationed at every exit, clearing the way silently to her bedroom; and if they succeeded, they would reply with four bursts of fire outside the window. If not, two bursts of fire would follow, and they would either fall back or surrender.

It was a simple plan. Too simple.

"It's set up for failure," she muttered, her eyes stinging, "and they don't even care."

Another concern was that perhaps the chambermaid, Rose, had read her note. Star had foolishly left it lying half open on the bed when Rose came in. She had moved it quickly, but it could not have been quick enough. Rose didn't seem as though she had enough backbone to relay the information to the queen, but Star wasn't sure. Another part of her suspected that the queen knew their plans already –after all, did she not know Marco was already hidden within her own castle? The queen was not sane, but she was smart, and something like this would not be overlooked.

She sighed, collapsing onto the bed spinelessly, and steeled herself against her despair. Come what may, the plans would not change, and she had to do the best she could to save as many lives as she can.

Someone slipped into her room noiselessly, shutting the door behind him and rushing towards her. She found herself enveloped in Marco's arms, her face buried in his chest. Her eyes widened for a moment before her face relaxed into a glad smile, and she returned the embrace.

"Hi, Marco," she whispered, the words falling from her lips naturally. She could feel his returning smile as he pressed his lips to her forehead. Against her back, she could feel his hands tremble, and she pulled away so that she could see his face. Utter relief and exhaustion was etched into every line, dark circle, and crease of his face. Tears glinted in his tired eyes, and his smile was worn.

"Marco," she said gently, her voice scolding, "have you been worried about me? You knew the queen couldn't hurt me really, since she needs me."

He shook his head, pulling her close again, and replied, "If you'd seen half the things I've seen in the dungeon, you'd know why I was afraid." He closed his eyes, burying his face in her hair. "Thank God you're okay."

"I'm okay," she affirmed, grinning, "So now you can be okay, too." After a few more blissful moments, she stepped out of his arms, her mind on the plan. "We'd better watch the window for the signal."

"Yeah," he said, managing another smile just for her, "they should have reached the exits by now. There are four main exits, north, south, east, and west. Whichever direction the fire bursts come from, that's where we go." His eyes never strayed from her face, not even looking towards the courtyard that he motioned to.