Crown Of Hearts

Chapter 19

My ears were buzzing. How stupid was I not even consider that Theo was different from them? He wasn't. Why would the Nine spare him?

" What are the Nine going to do with them?" I swallowed back my fear.

" Imprisonment, maybe worse."

" Prince Soto could help us," I said weakly, refusing to imagine Theo locked behind bars, alone and cold. It wasn't his fault, he was royalty. He was just born into it.

" And when will that happen? In thirty, forty years when the King steps down? How many generations of children have to suffer before he King decides he doesn't want to rule anymore?"

I flinch at his harsh tone. But Zak was right. Too many lives were at play.

" I understand what you mean. I'm sorry I shouldn't have said anything." I whispered before he could answer, I ripped the earring out. I was too rough, and my ears ached.

**
Meanwhile

Zak leaned against his chair and ran his hands through his hair. He didn't want to believe it when Ian and Peter warned him that perhaps Clara was developing feelings.

They didn't tell her it didn't matter if the earring were on her ears or tucked in her pockets. They were always recording.

They knew that some kind of activity caused Prince Theo and Clara to share some secrets and he knew from her tone, she was slowly developing an attachment to him.

But for her to straight out plead for the Nine to save Theo and later suggest that they wait for Soto's reign. This was a problem.

" Ian. Work faster. We're getting Clara out of there as soon as possible."

Ian called back in response.

The Nine could not know that Clara had different ideas than what they wanted. They would abandon the entire mission and either leave her trap in the castle or send someone else to...take care of the issue.

He groaned and placed his head down, perhaps he, Ian and Peter had grown attached to Clara.

**

After discovering a pack of cards by Rachael's bed, I found myself playing Theo's little game. But instead of memorizing lines. I memorized situations and possibilities.

I don't know when I started crying. Maybe it was after the second round or third. But I was sniffling as I shuffled the deck once more.

I wasn't terrible at shuffling decks anymore. I wiped the tears away roughly and placed down a King.

King: do nothing, spend as much time gathering information as possible for the Nine. Complete the two months and go home.

Ace: Stop collecting information, spend more time with everyone and pray that the Nine change their minds.

I hesitated when I pulled a queen but placed it firmly aside the king.

Queen: betray the Nine.

The slamming of the door caused me to jump and I turned to find Rachael, looking rather tired.

She sighed heavily and walked a few steps before noticing me. I brushed away any remaining tears.

" Don't tell me you've picked up that weird thing Theo does with the cards? I knew I should have burned that deck."