The Blood Red Rose

Chapter 14

"Angelica," Jonathan said. "Sally is going to be alright, yes?"

Angelica sighed as she poured some fresh water into a glass. "As long as she gets plenty of rest, she should be fine. It's just a bad cold Jonathan."

"She looked close to death when she appeared at the tavern." Jonathan protested.

"Again, that's because the cold drained her strength. She was exhausted." At Jonathan's uneasy look, she sighed. "I'm a doctor Jonathan. You can trust me."

"Yes of course. But I still worry."

Angelica hummed before handing him the glass. "Take this up to her will you? She was dehydrated when she got here."

Jonathan took the glass and nodded. "Right."

He walked up the stairs of the house and went to the bedroom that Sally was staying in.

"Sally?" He called, opening the door slowly. His eyes widened at the sight before him. Sally was frantically tying her bed sheets into a long rope. Her eyes were wide and crazed as her hands moved.

"Sally!" Jonathan cried rushing to her and pulling her away from the blankets.

"Let go!" She shrieked, squirming.

"You should be in bed!" He threw her onto the bed and wrestled with her until she was pinned.

"I need to go to him!" She screamed. "He's in danger! Don't you care about Aaron at all?"

"Sally!" Jonathan shouted. "Aaron's fine! He's probably back at your house! He's not stuck in a castle with some beast named Alexander Hamilton!"

"Let go let go!"

"Angelica!" Jonathan screamed when Sally managed to shove him off.

Footsteps ran up the stairs and Angelica appeared in the doorway a second later.

"What is going on here!?" She bellowed. Both Jonathan and Sally froze, staring at her with wide eyes.

"Sally," She snapped. "You are ill! Back in bed."

"I can't!" Sally sobbed, even as Jonathan stood to his feet and began to gently lead her to the bed. "Aaron's trapped there all alone! It's already been a week! Do you have any idea what the beast could have done in that amount of time?"

"Sally," Angelica said gently, untying the bed sheets. "Aaron's home in bed. He's fine. You needn't worry. Once you are well again, you can see him."

Sally let out a small sob as Jonathan covered her with a blanket.

"Get some rest." He said gently.

"Please." She begged. "Find my brother."

Jonathan sighed, but grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly.

"You'll see him soon." He promised.

Sally let out a sniffle before curling up to sleep.

---

"What's wrong Aaron?" Hercules asked. "Do you not like the outfit?"

Aaron shook his head. "No! No, of course not. It's lovely. I just..." His voice trailed off. "I've never danced before. What if I'm horrible?"

"Oh Aaron," Eliza said, hopping over to him. "You'll be fine. I promise."

"Besides!" Philip said. "Alexander is not very good at dancing either. The ladies used to say he had two left feet!"

Hercules chuckled while Eliza looked mortified.

"Philip!" She said. "You know better than to gossip about people behind their backs!"