Kingdom Come

Chapter Thirteen: Sleep

"How do you think I get money? I kill people for a fucking living. I need to use my damn shoulder," he growls angrily. I sigh,

"I... understand? But if you keep using your shoulder and pulling your stitches out, you're gonna make it a lot worse... and then it'll take months to heal, and will leave a scar. Right now, it'll just heal right up in a single week. So please just try?" I ask him, having to unwrap his wound and rewrap it tighter.

"Fine," he mutters, albeit annoyed. "I'll try to stop using my shoulder," he growls. I smile slightly, continuing to wrap his wound tightly.

"Thanks Zack," I whisper softly, finishing wrapping up his wound. I lean back, "Okay! All done," I tell him with a smile. I turn around to put away the medical supplies. I stand up, reaching toward the box. I set down the medicine neatly, and close the cabinet with a soft click. "Can you find me another hospital like in Dealie?" I ask him, staring studiously at the wall.

"Sure. It did keep you busy though," he mutters, I smile yeah... I was never bored! "So don't forget the damn price of staying alive," he growls, his fist closing over the cloth at the back of my neck. I flinch slightly, oh... I was so busy thinking about what might happen if he found out who I was... that I forgot even as [F/N], I'm not safe from being killed by him. I swallow,

"R-Right. I will," I stutter, he releases me,

"Tch..." he stomps out. I let out a breath I barely realized I was holding. I walk out of the bathroom into the small living room, Zack's laying on the couch, asleep I think. I sigh, smiling slightly, he looks... much more adorable when he's asleep. Almost... open even. I shuffle forward, and gently brush a piece of his black hair out of his face. I can't help it, I giggle,

"He's too cute," I muse aloud with a chuckle. My hand rests against his cheek, and my smile falters, slowly turning into a small frown, what made you like this... a murderer. Is it... my fault somehow? Is it the fault of my families greed? I do the only thing I can right now, I press a light kiss to his forehead, and move on.

I look in the kitchen for something to eat. It's still fairly early. I'll cook something up, wake him to eat, and then let him go back to sleep... he must be pretty tired. I grab a few ingredients and start cooking plain noodles in boiling water and small balls of spiced meat in a saucepan. I hum softly,

"Even if it makes me blind,
I just want to see the light," I sing softly. She... used to sing that to me every night... She had the prettiest voice...
"Breathing, leave it all behind,
I just wanna see the light," the words are engraved perfectly into my mind, every melody and lyric written down in my heartbeat. I whip a tear out of the corner of my eye. I just want to see the light... even if it makes me blind. I always loved that line, because I understood it... I understood it means that despite the consequences, the person singing wants to know and see the truth.

I continue to cook, and then neatly plate the food, letting the pans cool before I wash them. I grab the larger plate and a glass of water for him.

I set the glass and plate on the small side table next to his scythe. I ignore the blood. I gently touch his shoulder,

"Zack," I call out, my voice soft and meek. "Wake up, there's food," I offer, shaking his shoulder gently, his eyes flick open, glaring at me,

"I'm up. What the hell do you want," he growls,

"Sorry for waking you. I made some food. You must be hungry," I tell him, smiling gently. He glares for a second, then sits up, and grabs the plate, I pad back over to the kitchen, grabbing my own plate. I sit down on the bed and eat quickly.

Zack finishes before me and simply leaves his empty plate and glass on the table, rolling over before going back to sleep. I pick up his plate and glass and place them neatly in the sink.

I yawn, Ugh, I'm so tired... I quickly clean the dishes. I pull one of the blankets off the bed, and fling it over him, gently pulling it up to his chin. His hair has flopped back over his eyes. I chuckle and gently brush it back. It immediately flops back over his eyes. I smile,

"Aw," I mumble. I brush it back again, this time rolling it around so it stays in place better. I giggle triumphantly as it stays still. "Did it!" I smile. I gently adjust the blanket. "Night Zack," I whisper, walking over to the bed. I lay down, pulling the remaining blankets over me.

I quickly fall asleep.

I wake up shocking early from how tired I was last night. I sit up, rubbing my eyes. I slowly ease myself to standing. I smile when I notice Zack's still sleeping! I like him better like this, he's a lot less threatening! I go think for a moment, now what..? I sigh, there's not much for me to do right now. I end up laying down on the bed waiting impatiently for Zack to wake up.

After what feels like AGES, Zack finally wakes up, I sit up, waiting even more impatiently. He finally waves me to come with him, and I end up having to nearly run to keep up with him. After a few turns down multiple streets, he stops, glaring down at me,

"I'm getting more people to kill," he says flatly, I stop myself from flinching at his bluntness. "So stay here," he adds. I obey as he walks away. I lean back against the stone, looking up at the sky. It's been over two weeks. My parents are probably frantic to get me back. I've found enough... I need to go home. When he goes out without me next I'll leave. I'll ask for the place we're in and start toward the castle. I haven't heard of the princess being missing, so my parents must be keeping it quiet. That'll make it easier for me to dodge the people who want to kill me. I sigh sadly. I don't know anything close to what I wanted, but I know enough to start getting my kingdom on track! That is... once I'm queen. I look down at the ground, I don't want my parents to die, but honestly, they're not running this kingdom for the people. They're running it for their own benefit. And from what I've seen... if that continues, eventually someone's going to organize a revolution.

And then... when my kingdom is at it's weakest and vunerable... I doubt any of the surrounding kingdom's would hesitate to take over.