Black Roses

Chapter 8

<<< Hey people! I have lived up to my promise, can I be forgiven now??? Enjoy! >>>

Zaria sighed in relief as she shut the door, promising that heinous woman that her attitude would be better may have caused her a bigger headache than the one she gave the town the other day. But at least she would be paid, the one positive thing. She tied the her apron around her waist whilst looking out her room window. She only wished that she could shine like the sun did, always smiling and happy. In some other ways she was like the sun, it was the most brightest when there was nothing to disturb it. No clouds meant a sunny day, right?

The wooden stairs creaked as Zaria walked down, she counted once more. One, two, three, four, five and six. Everything was fine, her knives were there. She had a couple of minutes to give Shade a quick good morning and some water for the day.

"Where are you off to? Don't you have work to do?" Zaria didn't have to imagine the stupid smile that was on Ace's face.

"By the way I would like eggs, sunny-side up, freshly squeezed orange juice, make sure there are no pips and two slices of lightly toasted bread. Did you get all that? I just made your job a lot easier. Aren't you gonna thank me?"

In the corner of her eyes she could see Ace counting off each breakfast item on his fingers. She scoffed after he caught her eye and gave her that smile of his.

"My apologies good sir but my services do not extend to the stables, if you have any issues I kindly ask that you can take them to the inn owner,"  Zaria ended her sentence with an awfully exaggerated curtsy. 

"May you have a blessed morning!" With those words Zaria left Ace and rushed to the inn for her shift. It would be another day of fake smiles and greetings.

Ace couldn't help but laugh and he made sure Zaria heard as she ran off inside. She had a horse, didn't she live in the village? Maybe a hunt or walk through the forest was what they needed to break the tension between them. 

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Zaria's shift was almost over, she was cleaning her last table when she realised that Ace was no where to be found. She hardly had anytime to think when she forcing every single nerve and muscle in her face not to spite back at each customer. She handled the plates with care and gave the woman, who she found out was named Old Mildred, an overemphasised smile, making sure she showed her teeth. To be honest Mildred was over her, at least Zaria got the job done.

It was just past lunch, by the time Zaria washed up and gladly, with a huge amount of satisfaction, threw her apron on the ground. She walked up to the window that looked down at Shade's stable. He wasn't there!

Zaria's heart-rate spiked up, she counted making sure she and her knives and got ready to leap out the window. It would take to long to go back down the stairs if someone had stolen Shade, and her practice leaping from tree branch to branch assured her she wouldn't fall. Just as she placed her foot on the windowsill making sure her boots had the right grip, she heard a loud whistle coming from none other than Ace Blakwood.

"Zaria! I'm sorry of no one told you, but we use doors and stairs to get out of a building, especially one that has more than one floor. What do you think about a walk through the forest? He's all saddled up."

It was unbelievable how fast Zaria's fear turned to relief and then to anger. She stomped down the stairs and flung the inn door opened and slammed it shut sending the whole building shivering. She could hear Mildred's sighs but she was only focused on Ace.

"Wha th-" 

"I'm going to stop you there before you lash out at me more than you did to that door. You know how hinges work right? Come on you've kept him waiting long enough." 

The fact that he had the nerve of interrupting her fed her rage. She snatched Shade's reins from Ace's hands. She wished she could've punched him in the face but she was stopped by a warning neigh from Shade. Best not to cause any more attention than she already had.

"Lead the way Blakwood." She grumbled the words out, turning her view away from Ace, she placed herself on the saddle. She patted Shade's neck telling him to follow but from a distance. She needed time and space to cool off. A walk was definitely what she needed, she hated admitting that. 

To be frank, Ace did feel a little guilty, he hadn't intended to get that reaction out of Zaria. Even if he was sorry or was showing and sign of guilt, Zaria was too furious to respond to it. Soon she would be surrounded by the trees and the crows, and unfortunately Ace's voice.

<<< So what do you guys think? LET ME KNOW!!! Also make sure you check out @rassypre. She's close friend of mine and has an amazing story that I think you guys will love. I'll definitely be more consistent with uploading, so expect a chapter per week or fortnight, we'll see. Anyway that's it from me. Again hoped you liked the chapter. Vote, comment and share!!! See you soon, hopefully in a week! >>>