Of Kings and Queens

Part II/9/Emancipation/

•June, 15th•

"Do you wanna' hang out with Delia later on?" Perry asked as he passed her the ball. She kicked the ball back to him.

"Sure. I haven't spoken to her much apart from seeing her at the store or something. She didn't even recognise me at first... am I after changing that much?"

Perry barked outa laugh. "Not at all."

"Why didn't she recognise me then?" Robin asked thoughtfully, getting lost in her own ponderings. He spun basket ball they'd found under the stairs earlier in his right hand.

The sunset was beautiful but neither of them noticed it. Back in Ireland, someone was appreciating it.

Perry bit his lip as he did a total of four toe taps. When the ball fell on the ground he replied, "It's been a whole year. We both moved on. I thought you were over your crush on her anyway..."

Robin Dan up to him and grabbed the ball. "Of course I am. I'm only infatuated with Claire at the moment."

Her brother nodded, but his heart wasn't in it. He didn't believe her. "Right then. Let's head over to Delia's." He announced to change the topic.

•June, 18th, 11:02pm•

Claire's fair skin gleamed in the light of the porch light. Robin eyes looked into hers deeply. Claire was a beautiful girl, but something didn't feel right about it. Robin reached out for her hand and Claire used it to pull her closer. But she was better than nothing.

Their faces were so close they feel each-others breath when Claire said, "Are you the type of girl to kiss on the first date?" She teased Robin.

Robin replied by placing her lips soundly over Claire's and therefore silencing any witty comeback that she might've been going to say. Claire smiled into the kiss and applied more pressure.Robin gently cupped Claire's face in her right hand.

Before either one of them could deepen the kiss though, Robin's front door was opened roughly. The odour of strong whiskey assaulted Robin's senses, and she tensed up considerably. Claire leapt apart from Robin in shock and they turned to see a large shadow loom in the doorway. It was definitely not Perry, Robin thought to herself.

"Robin?!"

"Dad! I swear nothing was going on! I just— I'm not— God, we just— I—" Robin spluttered as she looked into the comprehending face of her father.

Claire looked absolutely terrified as Robin's father swayed slightly on his feet. She scrambled away from Robin and stuttered out, "Think I'm gonna' go, Robin. See ya' later." Claire made a fast pace as she walked out of the short driveway and down the road.

"Get in the house. Now!" Her father boomed at her. Tears gathered in her eyes. Robin nodded submissively.

When she stepped in the door, all she felt was a blow to the back of he head the a blinding pain shotting through her whole face. She screamed out.

•••

Perry was finishing his last minute packing when he heard it. It was a bloodcurdling scream. He'd recognise it anywhere. Robin. His heart started pounding so hard he could feel in his toes. His second fully formed thought flittered around in his brain as he jumped down the steps from the landing two at a time. What would I do without her? It bounced around in there like a bouncy ball you'd get in a prize machine.

He reached the last few steps in no time, but he paused suddenly when he saw her. She was lying on the ground. At first glance, he thought she had only fallen over.

God, how he wished she had only fallen over. He ran over to her, only after pausing for a couple of seconds. He knelt down beside and that's when he noticed the gash going down her left temple. It was oozing a dark red liquid, that he identified as blood. His emotions were a rollercoaster of anger, angst and sadness. He started checking her for anymore wounds before he did anything else.

He nearly lost his life when the sound of the front door slamming shut echoed throughout the hallway. Perry hadn't noticed, he only saw his sister's seemingly lifeless body lying crookedly on the floor.

"Peregrine, what'r' doing down 'ere? Go back upst'rs, now!" His father was wearing a face of utter fury. His beer bottle still in his hand, his words slurred, and his other hand supporting his weight against the wall.

After all he had done to protect Robin from their father's crude habits or drinking more than his blood could handle and throwing around cruel words at them -but mostly him, due to his own efforts- was all for nought. He'd killed her, Perry thought at first. His best friend. His father had killed her.

Perry, for someone who hardly ever cursed, couldn't have explained his emotions as anything other than obscenities at that moment. He was not having any of his father's usual excuses for his inebriated state, "What did you do to her?!" He yelled through clenched teeth.

•June, 19th, 2:19am•

"Where are we?" A confused and disoriented Robin asked as her brother pulled her towards a departure gate.

"Minneapolis St. Paul's International Airport." Perry said in a clinical tone. He gestured for her to sit on his packed suitcase. By now the side of her face was covered in deep blue veins, and red and purple bruises. All traces of blood was gone though, thanks to a wet cloth and determination.

They boarded the plane a couple of exhausting hours later and left for Ireland.