Chapter 41
“Where are we racing to?” 18 year old Demina asked, looking down into her best friend’s face.
“To the edge of the world,” 20 year old Chase answered in the most serious, dramatic voice he could muster. He grinned, “To fight monsters and demons and dragons. And slay injustice wherever we find it!”
Demina laughed. They hadn’t played that game since they were eight and nine. And Chase had barely been able hold his own sword up. Now he was a captain in the king’s army and she, serving as a lady in waiting to the kindest princess in the world.
“Goodness, that sounds so brave and noble, Warrior,” she replied. Chase grabbed her hands and she pressed them to his heart, “And highly dangerous. Why would you risk it?”
“Yes. I’m afraid it is a very dangerous mission, but someone must do it. Will you wait for me, my lady?” he asked seriously, “I will send for you when it is safe.”
“I will be right here until you return,” Demina replied, trying to be serious. The two of them burst out laughing, laying on the ground.
“We were silly kids, weren’t we, Demi?” he asked, looking up at the fading sky. Demina laughed.
“You were a silly child, Chase. You were always fooling around. You always interrupted me in the middle of a story,” she replied, laying her head on his chest. He stroked her back gently; soothing her and making her relax.
“You’re stories were always interesting,” he said, mischievously, “You know where I got that though, right?”
“No. Where?”
Chase laughed.
“From one of your romance stories.”
“You read my romance stories?!” she laughed.
“Yup. My nine-year old self thought that it was weird. When I asked my sister about it, she snatched the book away so fast. I figured it was something bad so I got you to do it too.”
They laughed, content and happy.
“Ava and Jaxon seem to be doing well,” Demi mused, breaking the peaceful silence. The two had had a rough start, both of them wanting to fall in love by themselves. But they had taken one look at each other and fallen hard.
“Mmm. They do,” Chase responded. He shifted.
“This place is so nice,” Demi sighed, snuggling deeper into his chest, “Thank you, Chase. For bringing me here.”
"You're welcome."
Silence.
"Your diary was interesting also."
A beat. 1...2...
"You read my diary?!"
“Of course! How else was I to know that I was supposed to marry you?”
Castiel stiffened and Demina pulled away from him, Avelyn’s gasp breaking their kiss. Chase just stared at her, the passion that she remembered flashing like green fire. But it wasn’t the same. Not even their kiss was the same. It felt different...it felt...evil. Demina’s eyes widened and she back away, joining her friends who stood frozen with shock and anger.
“How?” she whispered, “How are you still alive? I mourned for you! You were dead.”
Chase gave a low mirthless laugh and she suddenly felt cold, the warmth of their kiss disappearing in an instant.
“Yes. I did die. In part. Just like those sixteen others. But I was given a chance that those sixteen did not have. And I want you to be a part of it. We will rule Impreza, Demi. I will be its king and you will be by my side. As its queen.”
Demina battled the tears as she was once again pulled into a memory, buried deep but never forgotten.
They’d won. Drax was asleep. He would not bother the people of Impreza ever again. Demina stood in the crowd, cloak around her shoulders, hood covering her face as they waited for the soldiers to come back. The excitement and cheerfulness of the throng was so infectious that Demi found herself screaming and cheering along with everyone else. The horses came in and the uproar grew louder. Demina looked around, smiling like crazy. Her cheeks hurt but she waved to the passing warriors, almost crying when she saw husbands and wives being reunited. She grinned. She wasn’t supposed to be out here, especially without guards. But she was here anyway. There was one face that she wanted to see more than anything. Demina watched, her smile slowly dying as she searched and walked through the people hugging and crying. He wasn’t here. Chase wasn’t here.
His majesty walked towards her slowly, holding a small dagger in his hand. He held it out to her and she just stared at it, heart pounding with dread.
“Where’s Chase?” she asked. She had to hear it. She wouldn’t believe it if she didn’t hear it.
“Demi...I am sorry. He was killed by Drax,” David told her gently. Demina looked at him not really hearing him. She started shaking, tears springing into her eyes.
“Dead?”
“He fought valiantly and I am sure that his last thoughts were of you. We lost sixteen of our best men, including him. I am truly sorry, Demina.”
