Flawed

Chapter Sixteen

 Another week passed, Orion is still searching for the cure for his daughter with the others. Halford would pace around his castle's library, throwing around books he found weren't helpful. Reading through many of them to try to find a cure for a death curse. Abe and the children read through them also, Halford was shocked to see such young children reading.

"Wow, so young, but you two can read! I didn't read til I was ten!" he laughed, while scanning over old pages.

"Blair and grandpa taught us how to read." Jessie remarked, hugging Grandpa Abe.

Halford smiled at the thought of Blair bringing books to them and teaching them. He rubbed Jessie's head and began to stack the useless books.

Orion watched as Jessie and Johnny were aiding Halford in his search; feeling guilty for concealing the information that Aldrich gave him. He would divulge to them, but he didn't want Aldrich disclose to Halford where they were actually came from.

"Keep looking guys, I bet you'll find the answer to your curse. Right, Orion?" Aldrich encouraged, his eyes gleaming over at Orion.

"Of course, just keep looking guys!" Orion pushed them on, also scanning through books, but his eyes were getting bad.

Aldrich sat beside him and twisted his chair to face him.

"You decide to change your mind yet, boy?" he whispered, poking his cane hard at the floor.

"I'll never change my mind...boy!" he growled, looking into his deep soulless eyes. "You can shove that cure down your throat!"

Aldrich shook his head in disagreement shoving his cane in his face.

"You'll need my cure eventually. I'll be waiting for our business to be settled boy."

"It's not my fault, Erin fell in love with me and not you! If she did then she would've left with you!"

"Now, see that's the funny thing. She does love me, but she wanted to be queen to rule with you. The truth is Blair is much more beautiful than she will ever be and you know I've had my eyes set on her. So, either give me your precious child or have her remain a corpse!"

Halford looked up, seeing the two speaking to one another closely. Curiosity plagued him as went ventured over to them. Halford glared at Aldrich and pulled his cane from under him. Aldrich fell over and landed on a stack of books.

Orion removed himself from his seat, laughing as Aldrich was trying to reach for his cane. Halford kicked Aldrich kicked him in the leg as he left him. Aldrich cursed under his breath, grabbing his cane and helping himself up.

"Well, we still haven't found a cure, but we will! Blair wouldn't give up on us, so we must continue!" Abe declared, slamming a huge leather book down onto the desk he was working on.

Tears were coming from the children's eyes as they hugged Abe. Abe held the two close as he tried to comfort them. Orion was down, but still trying to find the right answer in books. Halford left the library, he would never give up, but the agony was killing him.

"I need to find that cure. I don't care how, but I will!" he shouted, climbing the stairs of the tower to Blair. "I just have to wait by her. I can't let anything else happen!"

The stairs were long and tedious, but he eventually got to the top. He opened the door with a key that hung from his chest and entered. There in a canopy of black lace was Princess Blair. He sat at the edge of the bed, pulling the lace apart.

"Blair, I never thought I'd be saying this again, but I don't just lov..." the words were hard to say. "I don't just love you, but I need you. How will I ever save these people without you by my side?"

He drew closer to her and lifted her from the bed. "I know you can't hear me, but I'm sorry for everything I ever said before. You are beautiful, I was a fool to not think so. You love people so much and I want to learn how to love too." Tears were running down his face as he held her tight. "It's not fair that witch stole your life from me. You were just growing on me and I want more."

Without another word, he parted her hair from her face and kissed her deeply as he held her up in his arms.

"I...love you too, Halford..." she muttered.

"Blair! What?" he shouted, tears filling his eyes as he noticed hers opening. "You're alive!"

Blair yawned and rubbed her eyes, smiling at him. "I guess maybe, or is this a dream?"

Halford lowered her to the floor, but embraced her tight. She embraced him tight, burying her face into his chest. She wept kissing his chest as he wouldn't let her go.

"If this is a dream, I never want to wake up ever again." he replied, caressing her face. "I love you so much."

Blair could no longer hide her secret anymore. She pulled herself away from him and could see the hurt in his eyes.

"Halford, we need to talk about something important."

"What's that, dear?"

"Here, sit down with me. It's going to be a long story, but you have to promise me, you will listen to me."

Halford sat down beside her on the bed. Rubbing the tears from his eyes as she stroked his face. His smile grew once more as he slipped his fingers in between hers.

"I promise, I will listen to every word."

"Another thing is, you have to promise me..."

Orion came through the open door, seeing his lovely daughter. His heart was in his throat as he ran to embrace her.

"Blair!" he shouted, hugging her tightly. "My dear you're alive! How?"

"I honestly don't know how, but I woke up to Halford kissing me." she laughed, being strangled by her friend. "Now could you please stop strangling me? I'm not a teddy bear."

Orion laughed, but stopped as he turned to give Halford the death stare. Halford grinned and shrugged at him as he grabbed him by the throat.

"How dare you kiss her!" he exclaimed, shaking him violently.

"I'm...sorry...could you please..."

Blair pulled Orion off Halford and hugged Orion tight. He got over Halford's kissing act and was just overjoyed by the event that happened. Halford rubbed his aching throat and smiled at them both.

"Well, I'm happy to see you're awake, dear. Let's go downstairs and see the others." he said, taking her hand.

"Wait, Orion, I wanted to give Halford something."

"What's that, Blair?" Halford asked, looking at her.

She smiled at him and embraced him tight. Looking deep into his eyes, she pressed a deep kiss on his lips. Orion was grossed out, turning his head. Halford held her tight as he joined her.

"Okay, you two love birds let's go."

Halford and Blair laughed as they got off the bed. Orion motioned them to follow him and they did. They held each other's hands as they went down the long staircase.