Th13rteen

Chapter 65

Th13rteen

Chapter 65

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Aurelia...

"Aurelia, calm down."

"Do not tell me to calm down right now." I snapped as I stormed out of my castle's portal room. "Someone find Captain Harold right now!" I shouted into the bustling hallway. At the angry tone of my voice, the servants all quickly scurried away to hopefully follow my order.

"Rel, stop." I felt Alex's hand grip my wrist and spin me around to face him. "Just take a breath. It's okay." He tried, but failed, to soothe me.

"Okay? It's okay?" I yanked my hand out of his grasp to continue storming my way to the garden. "It crossed a line this time. It didn't just come at me, it used me to go after you. That is not okay!"

"I know you're upset, believe me. Do you think I'm not upset, too?" I could hear him breathlessly trying to keep up with me. "I almost lost you twice because of that thing. Twice, Aurelia. And let's not forget watching you get stabbed to death in New York. But if I've learned anything, it's that being upset isn't going to help stop it."

Knowing he was right, I stopped my aggressive pace, slouching my shoulders. "I know." I pouted.

"Hey, it's gonna be alright." He pulled me into a tight hug.

"I know, I know. I'm just freaked out." My voice was muffled in his shoulder.

"I am, too, believe me." He started to rub my back. "I don't know what I would've done if it hadn't left your body."

"Would you really have let me kill you?" I asked in shock.

"I honestly don't know, and I'm glad we didn't have to find out today."

Before I could say anything else, a frantic Captain came speeding around the corner. "What is going on? The servant who summoned me seemed very urgent and frightened." He reached us and immediately clamped his hands onto my shoulders, moving me around as if to check for injuries. "Are you hurt?"

"No, we're fine." Alex answered for me since he could tell I was at a loss for words. "But we need to talk."

"Come, we shall chat in the garden. Allow me to fetch the Queen and we can all talk." He gave me a gentle pat on the arm, sensing my stress, before taking off towards my Grandmother's study.

"Come on, darlin', let's go." Alex tugged on my hand gently and I started to follow him.

The whole walk to the garden was silent. Not just among us, but in general. The castle was silent. The workers didn't keep up their usual chatter, sensing that something was troubling us. It made the usually lively halls very eery.

I didn't like it.

As soon as we made it outside, all the flowers retreated into themselves, and all the animals hid in the bushes, peeking out at us with prying little eyes. "Oh, come on! You guys, too?!" I huffed in frustration. The silence and caution was killing me. Sensing my frustration, one brave little fox crept out of hiding and curled up at my feet. Giving him a little pet between the ears, I sighed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell."

"My child, what has you so upset?" My eyes turned to the Queen as she, Harry and Will entered the garden, sitting across from Alex and I.

"You guys got here quick." I said.

"Well, the matter seemed urgent. No time to waste." Harry replied. "So please, inform us of what has you both so out of sorts."

I zoned out as Alex retold the story of what just happened back at his Kingdom. I tried to block it out as best as I could, not wanting to relive it. I didn't want to see the horror in Alex's eyes as he tried to calculate what the Darkness was going to use me to do.