Of magic and blood

Chapter Thirty-Six

It was hard to tell how long I had been locked in this room. I was sure it hadn't been very long. However, there was no way of tracking time because there wasn't any windows, no way for natural light to find its way to me.

The guards had delivered two meals to me, consisting of bland food and cold tea, giving me some indication of time.

Everything in this dreadful place was cold. Cold and unforgiving.

I sat, shivering, at the vanity and watched myself in the mirror. I looked pale and frightened and small in comparison to the room.

I couldn't just sit and do nothing. But then again, there wasn't much I could do. The guards kept my door locked. There wasn't anything useful in this room for me to use to pick the lock and even if there was, I wouldn't know how to pick the lock.

Useless.

A noise from outside the door drew my attention. Curious, I stood and went over to press my ear to the thick wood. It sounded as though someone was talking to my guards. I couldn't make out individual words, but I understood the general concept.

And then the door started to unlock.

I had only a few moments to decide what to do. Glancing around in a frenzy, I rushed to the bedside table, grabbed the silver candle stick, and spun to face the door just as the door creaked open.

"Stay back!" I commanded, "I'm... I'm armed!"

The door closed with a slam, leaving me alone with the person who just entered. The gloom of the room hid their face from my sight.

They took a step forward and I lunged forward, ready to hit them with my pitiful candle stick. I was not going down without a fight.

"Rose, it's me, it's me! Look, it's me!"

The candle stick fell from my hand, landing on the floor with a 'thunk,' and the next thing I knew, Caspar had swept me into an embrace.

I clung to him, holding onto his cloak and his arms and anything to keep him close to me. To my embarrassment, I felt tears burning behind my eyes and a lump forming in my throat.

"You're here." I whispered into his chest, my words muffled, "I didn't think... I-I... I'm sorry I tried to attack you."

Caspar chuckled and pulled away to look down into my eyes, his hand cupping my jaw gently. My eyes fluttered closed when his thumb caressed my cheek.

"I would've done the same thing in your position." I wasn't prepared for the tenderness in his eyes when I opened mine again, "I wanted to come earlier, but Khione put me on trial in front of Morgana. I managed to convince her that I was still on her side. She only just now gave me access to you." He closed his eyes painfully and leaned down until our foreheads were touching, "You have no idea how hard it was to stand before her and tell her that I was still loyal to her."

"It was what you had to do, Caspar," I murmured, "Besides. You know what side you're on and that should be enough."

He sighed. We were silent for a moment, drinking each other in, glad to be in the other's presence. I could hardly believe he was here, next to me.

I never doubted him, but it had been driving me mad with worry that something had happened.

"Have you had any news about Lilac or Lily? Yuna? Anyone?" I asked, hopeful despite just how bad of a situation we were in.

He sighed, "Yuna is safe, at least. She sent me a message through Lysander, our father, and she's with Queen Calluna, our aunt, for now. I haven't heard anything from Lily or Lilac."

I deflated. Evander was with Lily. We had no way of knowing if they were safe.

"What do we do now, Caspar?" I shook my head in a defeated way, "No allies, no plans."

"And Morgana is going to lead a full-blown attack tomorrow. She's been mobilizing her forces all day and meeting with her generals. Total war is going to break out."

It all looked so hopeless. There was no way to move forward. Caspar was on thin ice, I was being held prisoner, Lilac and Lily were missing in action, and Morgana was going to attack tomorrow.

"I'll have to go soon." Caspar murmured, "I've already stayed for too long."

I nodded, though it hurt my heart to think that he was leaving again. After a moment's hesitation, I touched his jaw.

He leaned into my hand, eyes closed, "I'll come for you if something happens."

"Promise me that you'll be safe. Promise me that you'll come back."

He opened his eyes and looked into my gaze, "I promise you, Rosalee."

I have him a half-smile.

I wasn't sure who moved first, but suddenly his lips were on mine. A tender, shared moment that I wanted to last forever. A few moments later, he broke away.

It was a goodbye kiss.

"Rose... I..."

"I know."

Nothing else needed to be said. I knew his heart, just as I knew mine.

A moment longer, then he stepped away and I watched as he knocked on the door, it opened, and he slipped through.

It closed behind him with a resonating click. Alone once again.

The room felt colder without him, even though I knew it was my imagination. My heart ached.

I couldn't help but feel that something was going to happen. Morgana was going to realize she had a traitor in her midst. Or I was going to be put on trial. Just something was going to happen.

Now the only thing left for me to do was wait.