The king's killer.

Run?

We were sitting in the living room. I was curled up in a chair with a book I had gotten in town. Xander was sharpening his knives on the couch. We were across the room from each other. I knew this question I needed to ask but how to ask without seeming insensitive.

"Xander?" I turned to the man. He glanced at me, acknowledging that I called him. "I wanted to ask...what was your home life like before the king? You don't have to answer if you don't want to. I also wanted to apologize for yesterday again."

"My parents weren't the best." These were the first words Xander had said to me since I came down six hours ago. "They were loud. They never drank. They were abusive but not physically. They were mentally and emotionally abusive. Dad yelled a lot and mom balanced that by being quiet when telling me I was useless. They were noblemen and one day King Edward came by with his wretched son. King Edward saw dad yelling at me and heard the quieter words of hate from my mom...he took me away to the castle where I was trained to fight. At first I was trained to protect King Edward's son. Then when Michael took the throne, I was made into a killer. I was trained by Edward's personal killer. I was fourteen when I made my first kill. I hated it but it's what I do."

"You don't have too." I had to be careful with my words. "You could go, disappear. There's another kingdom you could go to. You could escape. You...you could be free."

"And you?" I watched Xander put down his knife. "Would you come with me?"

I wanted to say yes but I couldn't. I'd love to run away with him but what would happen if we weren't successful. He could do it. He could run. He'd be able to kill if necessary. He's able to fight. I can't fight. I can't kill. Could I let him go? If I go and we're successful then we'd be free. If I go and we're not then we'll die. If he goes without me and is successful then he lives and I die. If he goes and isn't successful then he dies and it'll be my fault.

"I would just slow you down." Xander tensed at my words. "You could do it. You could get to the Kingdom of Vampuia. You'd be respected for you background and become a nobleman again. I'd just drag you down, remind you of this place."

"I'd only leave if you came with me," we shared a look, "I can't lose you."

I looked away. The man was so stubborn but I'll always love him. Was it selfish to want to stay by him? Was it selfish to run away with him?

"Could we even do it?" Xander looked back at his knife, continuing his sharpening. "Could we escape the king's clutches? Go into vampire land?"

"We just have to talk to King Dante." I whispered. "If we just explain, ask him for safety...I think he would help us. I've heard stories, rumors even, that he took the throne at his lovers request. There never is war between vampire and human and he stopped the slavery and merciless feeding on humans. I heard he has humans in his court as well."

"Then let's do it," Xander stood up, "let's run away together!"

"We'll pack only the necessities." I stood from my spot and made my way upstairs, Xander hot on my trails. "Clothes, proof of noble decent, food, water...weapons..."

"If we're doing necessities, I'll just put you in my bag."

"Hardy har har."

I pulled a bag from under my bed and began packing my clothes. I specifically packed the ones I had made to fit me as well as some of the shirts Xander had given me. I froze when I heard the front door open. Xander and I walked down the stairs to see the king, King Michael, standing on the threshold. Next to him stood his personal guards. The king's eyes fell on me and, without hesitation, I turned and ran. The guards made chase but I was able to climb over the railing of the stairs. I ran into Xander's room and slid under the bed. The bed curtain covered me but just in case I made my way under the floor board. I had only ever used this spot once before.

Xander waited until the guards and king had gone before joining me under the bed. He knocked on the floor twice which I responded with three. I crawled out of the crawl space and we both moved from under the bed. I rushed back to my room to finish packing my clothes before pulling out a medium sized box from under my bed. I put the contents in a smaller bag and stuck it my bag. I met Xander downstairs and began making meal packs for the two of us to eat.

We were running away...we were escaping.