Scarlet Desires: Last High Blood

Ch. 40: Set Him Free

"My ghost - where you'd go? What happened to the soul that you used to be?"

~Halsey

   This time, the screen lit up when I commanded it to. I did everything that Donovan taught; step by achingly slow step in order to not mess up anything. Soon enough, the centaur's number stared back at me as if waiting for the next move. A green icon that bore the slightly familiar shape of a crescent moon caught my attention and without any further ado, I pressed on it. The message "Dialing" appeared on the screen, sending waves of happiness through me. One of my hands itched to place the slim smartphone on my ear so I did just that. So far, raw instincts had not betrayed me. Yet.

   The beeping sound sent butterflies fluttering about in my stomach. Except those were not very friendly insects - no, they seemed to be covered in frost and threatened to turn my abdomen inside out with its chills. Gnawing at my bottom lip in slight doubt, I continued to wait for the sound from Lincoln's electronic device to change into something else. Perhaps a male's voice. Pretty please added with a cherry on top.

   After what seemed like forever, a groggy voice replaced the constant beeps. I spared a quick glance outside the window and realized it was already afternoon. Why is the half horse still not fully awake? I grumbled inwardly at his incompetence. The sun showed off its sheer power by shooting merciless beams into my room - including the curtained covered areas. I suppose even a layer of cloth could not stop a fiery star when it was at its fullest potential. A random pillar of sunshine shone down on one of my toes, singing its bare skin just a little. Alarms rang off in my head as I quickly pulled back into the dark corner where it could not touch me. I knew the dire consequences of what would happen if I laze around under direct sunlight. 

   "Are you there, princess?" 

   That snapped me back to reality. I asked in a curious tone,"How did you know it's me?"

   "You're the only one who knows my number, princess."

   "Oh." Was the only reply I managed to offer.

   An awkward silence settled between the telephone line like a damp cloth. I could hear someone clearing his throat from the end of the call and it would not take a fool that he was attempting to break the ice. The word "Ice" flashed an image of Lincoln's hardened look in my mind, sending a slightly pleasant shudder all over me. However, Donovan's suffering complicated things. And his feelings for you too, The voice piped in. Well, you don't have to worry about his feelings anymore since he - I immediately broke that train of thought before it could further its damage. 

   "I need your help, Cuchulainn," I said in a calm tone although my hands trembled like I was trapped in a freezer. Well, as long as he would not notice it. "Please, free a prisoner."

   The centaur heaved a weary sigh before replying,"Princess, you don't have to say 'Please'... You know I would do anything for the throne, which belongs to King Marcus for now."

   I cringed at the end of his sentence. It seemed like he stopped assuming the throne would forever be my stepgrandfather's. I tried not to stutter or show any vulnerabilities as the next words left my lips.

   "I appreciate your loyalty to the throne, I wish to seek your assistance in this... rescue mission of mine. It's crucial that you must never leak this information to anyone else."

   Is that good enough? I wondered, regretting the small pause earlier. 

   "I know, princess," Cuchulainn answered right away. "Does that include the people around you as well?"