Royal Flower

Chapter Twenty Three

Reese hurriedly walked through the forest, his eyes searching. Bryan, Lorraine, and Derek all made it back to the hideout. He told them, however, that he needed to speak with Crow.

He finally reached a circular forest clearing. He spun around for a moment, breathing heavily.

"Crow!" Reese called. "Crow!" After a few moments of silence with nothing. He then shouted, "Chase!"

The next second, Chase emerged into the circular clearing, dressed in his regular long sleeved black shirt and dark pants.

"I heard you the first time," Chase replied.

"Chase," Reese called. "It's been a while."

Chase nodded, smiling. "Yes, it has." Chase crossed his arms. "You wanted to talk?"

"Yes," Reese confirmed. He brought his left hand and rubbed it against the back of his head. Reese gave a dry laugh. "Well, since I almost just died, I realized that I wanted to talk with you. We're friends, aren't we?"

Chase smiled lightly and nodded his head. "Yes, Reese. We're friends." Chase then asked, "Are you doing alright?"

Reese laughed. "If you mean 'alright' as in not dead, then yes, I'm alright."

Chase grimaced slightly, remembering how he had just stood there to let Reese face Aster's wrath. Chase then said, "I overheard Ivy talking with her sisters." Reese furrowed his eyebrows. Chase continued. "Ivy has lost her earth powers. Permanently."

"What?" Reese opened his mouth in surprise. "She did?" He bit his lip in thought. "That's why Ivy screamed bloody murder while I was running away."

Chase nodded. "I heard her say that she most likely lost her earth after you stabbed her with a salted dagger."

Reese shrugged thoughtfully. "Well, at least now we have two options; stab an Azalea or kill an Azalea."

Chase cast his eyes downward, not saying anything for a moment. Finally, he said softly, "I'm sorry, Reese."

Reese blinked. "For what?"

Chase shook his head, gritting his teeth. "I saw Aster's execution speech. I... I left my mask behind. I wanted to save you, but I was a coward. I almost let you die."

Reese waved his hands horizontally in a no gesture. "You don't have to apologize, Chase. You don't owe me anything, not after everything you have done for me." Chase said nothing, obviously thinking the opposite. Reese sighed. "Look, I just came here to see how you were doing. After almost dying, my first thought was I just wanted to talk to a friend." He then glanced backward. "I have to go back soon. The others are already worried as they are."

Chase merely nodded. "Goodbye, Reese."

"Until next time, Chase," Reese called before darting back towards the Red Phoenix hideout.

--

When Reese returned the hideout, he was immediately greeted by a group of members.

"Reese! You're back!"

"Reese! Are you okay?"

"Oh, we were so worried!"

"Reese! Thank goodness you're okay!"

"Bryan said that you had to talk to Crow."

"Did you really almost die?"

"Enough!" Lorraine stood up, raising her voice. "Give Reese his space."

The members who had spoken immediately fell back, not liking Lorraine's tone. Bryan and Derek were calmly seated next to her with their arms crossed.