The Hidden Rose(Book One In The Rose Pedal Series) /✔

Chapter Fourteen

I climbed out of the car, going towards the large metal door, with Noah was right behind me. I gave the guard my pass code and entered, storming through the halls to Luke's cell. I approached the guard standing outside of it. he straightened considerably then reached to his belt to find his keys. i waited as he fumbled with the keys in his fingers, looking for one specific key. he found it and reached for the door's lock. he unlocked it and the soldier stationed inside with Luke came bowling out, heading for the bathroom. i chuckled.

"get that man some food." i hooked my thumb in the direction the soldier had run. the guard nodded and jogged off, following the first soldier. i stepped inside the cell, looking down at Luke. his head hung down in front of him and his hair was matted with sweat. he shivered and i couldn't help but wonder. why was he sweating if it was cold in here? it wasn't a cold sweat because that kind didn't mat and tangle your hair.

i strode across the small cell to where he sat, tied in the chair i had put him in. the blindfold was gone and he had a purple bruise on his left shoulder. he had smaller bruises scattered across his chest which laid torn to shreds on the floor next to him. i walked over and grabbed a fistful of his matted black hair, pulling his head up. his face rose up to mine so we were a breaths width apart. a dark purple bruise was on his left cheek and he had a black eye. there was a scratch on his jawline that looked like it had come from a knife that had just missed him. i looked at his eyes, which were closed. he was either asleep or unconscious. i slapped his face, startling him awake and his bloodshot eyes found mine. his eyes were an electric blue. when i looked deep into his shockingly blue eyes, electricity shot through my body, lighting me on fire.

those beautiful blue eyes looked into mine and softened. i grabbed my dagger and his eyes darted to it. he looked back into my eyes, fear now in them. i reached up, the dagger slicing through the air. i shot my arm out quickly, darting behind the chair's back, and cut the ropes holding his hands hostage. he looked relieved as i put my dagger back in it's holster and backed up, admiring his bare, gleaming chest. he was muscular and it showed just how much bad deeds he did, and how often he went to the gym so he could fulfill, those bad deeds. just like me.

"follow me." i whisper. why am i whispering? it's like I'm scared. but i am scared. I'm scared of the reaction he always seems to get from me. the thoughts that go through my head, as i stare into his gorgeous electric blue eyes or at his bare, muscular chest and stomach. I'm scared of me showing to everyone how much i really like him, because if anyone of these soldiers found out, they would use him against me to show my face and reveal my true identity. and that could never happen. or we would both die. not only me and Luke, but my parents and Noah. Flora, even.

he rose up from the scratched up chair, pushing it back slightly as he did. i looked down to realize there was blood on the floor and Luke's feet were bare. i looked up at him in question.

"why are your shoes and shirt gone. and why is there blood." i hissed. he looked nervous.

"well, see. i didn't know you were coming back today. so last night, i got out of the ropes and ran when the guard went to pee. but i didn't get very far because i didn't know there were so many hallways." he ducked his head in shame and embarrassment. i almost laughed, but just like any other time i wanted to laugh as Rose, i couldn't. it would ruin her reputation and she wouldn't be feared anymore. she would be called the laughing faceless Rose. i would never be taken seriously again. instead i gave him a sharp nod, forcing my lips to not move by pressing them firmly together. i tuned and went out the door, gesturing for Luke to follow. he did and Noah walked behind us, making sure he didn't try anything. it's not like he would. hell no one would try anything at this point.

we stepped into my private room and i locked the door, leaving Noah standing outside and shed my mask and cloak. i sat down, folding my hands together on the table in front of me. Luke sat down on the other side of the table, looking awkward, not knowing what to do. well that suited me just fine. i liked to lead anyway.

"I've come to negotiate your being free." i said. his eyes widened. he had hardly been here for two days, but his father was already pissed with worry and Luke was already miserable in this hell hole. for me it wasn't hell, it was more of a well disguised heaven. one just had to know how to make it that disguised heaven instead of a straight forward hell.

"really?" he asked. "what do i have to do?"

"you will tell no living person that you met the Faceless Queen." he nodded and i continued. "you will say nothing of what actually happened, i already have a cover story for you to tell you parents."

he nodded again, rubbing his chin, which was covered with stubble.

"and you will be followed. i will have a few of my men follow you, monitoring every conversation you have. if they hear one word mentioned of Rose or where you really were, they will jump you the first chance they get and kill you. without another thought. they'll make it look like a street thief." his electric blue eyes looked shocked, but his face said he was reasonable.

"so, what if I'm with you?" he asked.

"what do you mean?"

"when i hang out with you at school, will they still be monitoring me?" his head tilted in question, his blue eyes boring into mine. my heart started to beat faster.

"no. you'll never be close enough for that." i said. my heart thundered in my chest like a herd of wild horses flying across the ground, their hooves pounding into the earth, causing it to shake.

"what?" he asked, shocked again.

"Luke Murphey, if you go free, you will never see me again. you will see me from a distance at school, but if you come near me, i will have you smothered in your sleep." i hiss, standing up. my heart was thudding so hard now, it was a wonder the ground didn't crack open from the force of it. why didn't he get it? why do i have to spell it out for him? is he stupid or is he just playing stupid so that maybe he could get away with it.

he looked at me, astonished.

"one of my men will drive you home. he will also be the first man to monitor you. your story is you went with a friend to a mile outside the city. he ditched you, and you had to walk home. just as you got inside the city, you got into a fight when someone tried to rob your money and phone. you put up a fight, but he won and took all your things including your shirt and shoes." then i put on my mask and cloak, and stormed out of the room.

the tears were about to fall, and i don't know why. was it because i had to spell it out? was it because Luke wanted to be friends? was it because i would never see him again?

Noah snapped at one of the soldiers to take Luke home, following the plan and then followed me down the hall to the big metal door. i went outside and plopped down in the corvette's black leather seat. i forced the tears down and stared out the window, as we drove home.

why was i wanting to cry?

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hey y'all!! i can't wait to find out what happens! because hey! I'm making this up as i go along!

i hope y'all are enjoying the book so far! don't forget to vote and share with your friends if you like/love it! and don't be shy to comment your ideas and thoughts on it so far!!

also, if y'all like this one, i have another book I'm working on. it's similar to this but not the same (obviously) it's called "I'm Going To Hell". it's by me, sillylovebug432, and it's about a girl named Paige who gets out of jail and falls in love with her partner in crime, Aaron. hope you'll check it out. 😉

❤ sillylovebug432