Steel Rose

Chapter 39

Belle Pov

   They go one by one. My house isn't the first, but I know we are not immune to Maven's growing paranoia. Everyone else is on edge too as the days drag on, party after party. Feast after feast. So many the days blend. Despite the torture of pattern, I cherish the moments I have before my parents too is sent away. Back to our glistening gold estate far out.

   I can only stare at the door every morning and listen for the knock of one of the kings messengers with a letter stating how it's best that the head of each house return to their homes. I can only stare blankly at the paper in my mother's hands as she mumbles the words to herself, Father at her side rubbing a fresh headache away.

   "We leave tomorrow," Mother concludes and Quinn takes the paper from her hands, his eyes running over the paper at an impossible speed. Kane takes it next, nearly crumbling it.

   "There sending away those closest to the king," Kane says his voice gruff.

   "Those with old alliences, yes," Father nods his eyes and voice soft.

   Mother shakes her head, "I can't be away from my children." She mumbles to herself. "I only have so much time left."

   Something sparks in me, "Mother don't say that," I move to her side, a book sitting on the table flipping a couple pages with the air I picked up. I quickly take the seat next to her, taking her hand noticing how frail it is. "It will only be a little while." I try to reassure her.

   "How do you know?" Kane asks raising an eyebrow.

   "Ptolemus says Maven is planning a convoy," I tell him and he sits up straighter.

   Chris speaks first his green eyes almost glowing, "What else did he say?"

   "Not much," I tell him, "Maven is sure to keep most of his plans to himself."

   Kane steps back a vain in his neck visablly erect, but his focused gaze on the carpet and  I have a distant thought about how well a lord my brother will be one day.

   Ptolemus is right. Maven leaves for his coronation tour the next week, taking along Kane and Christian. The two eldest of our house, the most important. Me and the rest of brother and cousins are left to represent the family on our own. Its not much left and I have more time to sneak away to be alone.

   With Mother, Father and my brothers gone the house seems a little empty. I spend most of my days with my seamstress. An older women with a quiet voice and a eagle eye for detail. Red flushes her face as she pins one of my newest dresses into place.

   "Hold still Ms. Belle," she says her voice hardly a whisper. "Your like a tree in the wind," she adds with a playful tone.

   I glace down at the glittering dress crafted around me, "Some tree," I say back and I see the corners of her mouth lift. My fingers dance at my side, rushed with contained energy I've gotten so used to burning with my brothers or Ptolemus.

   "Is there another I need make, Ms. Belle?" she asks pulling away pushing an extra pin into the pin cusion.

   "No that will be all, thank you." I tell her with a kind smile. "Dismissed,"

   She bows her head before gathering her supplies. I watch her leave and close the door behind her, before I let my shoulders drop and I exhale deeply. I climb off my dias, letting my dress swoosh around my feet. I'm barefoot so my feet sink into the fur carpet.

   I stare at the grey carpet as a memory from only two weeks ago a few days after most of my family left along with Ptolemus.

"And when the time comes, we rebel," he says his voice firm his eyes just as more so.

   I feel my heart skip and nerves claw at my gut at even the mention of rebeling against the crown. An unstable one. "What-?"

   "I feel as if my father has been planning this for some time now," he admits his Adams apple bobbing as he swallows. And like that my anger disappears and fear is replaced. Ice cold fear. "I could've been sure and I didn't want to place such a burden on you without good reason."

   I feel warmth heat in my cheeks, "What does this mean?" I ask taking his hand. It easily swallows mine warm and rough. "For us?"

   His jaw tightens, "I don't know Isabelle. I don't know and it scares me." His eyes suddenly ignite with panic and I feel it in my chest too. "I can't-," he presses my hand to his lips in a firm kiss to hold himself back. "I can't be apart from you,"

   I touch my forehead to his, "Samos," I sigh and I nuzzle my nose against his. I need him to clam down, "I'm right here," I tell him. "I'm here."

   He swallows roughly and moves with surprising speed taking my face in his hands his mouth opening but no words come out. His eyes search mine, for an answer I don't know to give.

   "Come with me Belle," he says finally. "Come with me and we won't have to be apart."

   I'm unsurprised by his request. Its one I would have made myself. Living in a world without him hurts more then anything. And I have to stop myself from giving him hope so soon. And he knows it, and I love him for it.

   "Think about it," he says nodding, "Promise me you will."

   I nod my head, "I will."

   He offers a weak and sad smile. I take his face in my hands feeling some growing stubble there. I open my mouth but nothing comes out. Ptolemus takes the opportunity to touch his lips to mine, both of us thirsting for the other.

   He pulls away, unlocking our lips. He smirks before he says something again, his lips grazing my ear.

   "Hell of a right hook," he jokes and I let out a belly laugh.

   I laugh outright staring at the floor, letting heavy warm tears flow down my cheeks. As promised I thought about his proposel, long and hard. Day and night, my heart wanting nothing more then to stay in his arms the rest if my life.

   But I feel sorrow calw at my heart too, and my tears come easier and my laugher fades into nothing.