Castleside Academy

Chapter Twenty-Four: Hazel

I wake up Friday morning. I roll out of bed and get dressed. Toby's last day in the infirmary is today. I get dressed in jeggings and a cami and crop sweater and boots. I walk out and go to the infirmary. I walk in and see Toby on a laptop.

I sit down next to him on the bed. He looks up.

            “Hey, there,” he says with a smile.

            “Hi. How are you feeling?” I ask.

            “So much better,” he says.

            He scoots closer to me and puts an arm around my waist while he continues doing something on his computer. I peek over his shoulder. It's an email to his parents. I start to read it, but we hear footsteps hurrying into the infirmary. We look up. We see none other than Toby's parents hurry in.

            They run over to the bed and immediately start hugging Toby.

            “Toby! We were so worried when we heard! Our plane broke down so we couldn't get here very fast! We're so sorry about everything,” his mother says.

            “Mom! Mom! Calm down! Start from the beginning!” Toby exclaims.

            She and Toby's dad sit down in the chairs next to his bed. Toby puts down his laptop, and we both sit crisscross applesauce. We switch to holding hands.

            “Toby. We heard what happened to you, and we heard about Hazel's bravery. We're sorry for acting the way we did. We will be glad to have Hazel as a part of this family,” Toby's mother explains.

            “Mom. I-I don't know what to say. Thank you,” he says.

            “Also, your father and I talked it over, we'd be glad to have Hazel visit with us part of the summer. We're very happy you've found someone,” she says.

            “Really?” Toby exclaims.

            “Definitely. We're so pleased,” she says.

            “Mom! Thank you!” Toby says, hugging his mom and dad.

            “Anytime dear. Now, we just wanted to check in. We're going to leave now. Good luck with your studies,” she says.

            They kiss Toby goodbye, and exit.

            “Toby! This is amazing!” I exclaim.

            “I know!” he exclaims, wrapping his arms around my waist.

            He leans over and kisses me for a long time.

            We part, and he leans his forehead on mine.

            “I love you,” he says.

            “I love you too,” I say smiling.

            “So what do you want to do today?” he asks.

            “Hmm...” he hums.

            My eyes grow wide. “You—”

            “I'm just kidding! You know I would never. But like I said before, you're so cute when your shocked,” he says.

            I push him away. “Shut up!”

            “You like saying that,” he says.

            “You like calling me cute,” I say.

            He pulls me into his chest and kisses me for a long time again. He really likes to be dramatic. We part.

            “You really like doing that don't you?” I say.

            “Hmm. Deja vu,” he says.

***

The next day, Toby takes me on an outing. Seeing as how we haven't been on one in a while. He takes me to the lake. We go and sit on the dock with our lunch. We eat quickly, then just bask in the sunshine. Toby and I are sitting next to each other, me leaning against his chest. His arm is around my waist. We are watching the water glisten in the sun.

            Toby kisses my head.

            “My mother invited you for the month of June for our summer break,” Toby says.

            I look up at him. “Really?”

            “Yes,” he says.

            He leans down and touches his lips to mine. Sweet innocence. I love him so much.

            At three o' clock, we go back to the castle. When we enter, we come to the most odd sight we've ever seen in our lives. My own father is standing there yelling at Duke Kilter, who is being arrested by the guards.

            “YOU! You were the one who sold all the children that were kidnapped to the evil people! You framed Tyson Nilsilt! HOW DARE YOU KIDNAP MY DAUGHTER! YOU ARE GOING TO PAY!” my father screams.

            Duke Kilter spits on his shoes. “Well done. But I'm not alone. There will be more pain!”

            “You defy all the kingdoms that sent their children here!” my father exclaims.

            “Dad!” I yell.

            Toby takes my hand. My father looks in our direction.

            “Hazel, honey. I'm sorry you have to see this. But it has to be done,” he says.

            I run over to him. I hug him, then look at Duke Kilter with disgust.

            “You almost had Toby killed. I would have lost the only one willing to marry me,” I growl at him, then in turn, spit on his shoes. “You are evil!”

            “You're just another one who has a gift, and Toby was the only way to get to you. But he also has a gift. We have to kill you and Lexi and Luther-” he gets interrupted.

            “Shut up! You will not speak to my daughter that way! The penalty for this, is death!” my father shouts. “Take him away!”

            The guards take him to a door, where the dungeon is.

            “Hazel, are you okay?” he asks, looking at me.

            I nod.

            “Dad, what happened?” I ask.

            “Too much to explain now. You and Toby go back to whatever you were doing,” he says.

            “Wait, dad. Toby's parent's came yesterday. They've invited me to their palace for the month of June,” I say.

            He smiles at me. “We'll talk later, honey.”