Gravensnod (manxman)

Chapter Four

Philo

My fingers gripped the handle of my bag while running through the airport. I breathed heavily through my mouth while willing my legs to take me faster. Before I could run outside I heard a deep voice behind me yell, "Philo!" Slamming on my breaks I turned to see a royalish looking guy running towards me. He looked vaguely familiar but honestly I didn't care. "Come with me and we will go to the castle."

He quickly shuffled me out towards a car, noticing there was another guy in there. I didn't pay any attention to them and continued to stare out the window at the fat raindrops running down the glass. We stayed silent during the drive before realizing they were taking me towards a secluded side of the docks. A large boat was docked and waiting to go as I stepped out and shielded my eyes from the rain. The guards motioned me towards the boat as my fingers started to nervously shake.

I had no idea my best friend had been sick for so long. Why didn't she tell me sooner? I could have been back sooner and been here to taken care of her. Originally the plan was for me to travel around the world for three years and then come back and take Louise with me. After those original three years she wanted me to take another year. Now I wish I hadn't and simply come back to get her. A lot had changed over the last four years but the love for my sister had never left. The fact that she was in pain made me wish I would've come back sooner to have more time with her. Not that anything was going to happen to her, absolutely not.

With a sigh I ran a hand through my wet hair while looking towards the castle we were approaching. I'd never forget the travels I went on and the people I met, but also the heartache I felt. The first was while I was in Switzerland and found a newspaper that was talking about the Prince of Gravensnod's engagement. That had felt like a gut punch. By the time I was wandering through South America pictures of the wedding were circulating everywhere. It looked like it had been a beautiful ceremony and seemed like basically the entire country turned out for it.

A local television introduced Alexei and Genevieve's baby girl to the world when I was in Mexico. She looked so much like Alexei that I instantly cried and locked myself in a room for the rest of the day. Louise had originally told me after I left that Genevieve was pregnant but I didn't want to believe it. Seeing all her maternity pictures and then seeing the baby made it all very real. And god, I did not want to go back. But Louise was sick and I'd always be there for her. If only I had been here sooner.

"Mr. Carver." I blinked out of my thoughts to look up at a guard standing at a respectable distance away. "We will be docking in a minute."

Once he walked away I stood up and grabbed my bag before walking out onto the deck. I waited in the rain for the boat to finally stop moving before I took off towards the castle. The front doors were being opened as I ran towards them, where more guards were standing by. I didn't even give them a second glance before dropping my bag and running up the steps. Good thing I remembered where the infirmary was and good thing everything still looked the same.

My legs slowed down while coming to an open door. After taking a deep breath I walked in the room and instantly saw Louise on a bed, her face white. Tears instantly pricked my eyes as I gripped onto the door for support. It seemed like it took some effort for her to look over but once she saw me, she smiled. As she slowly waved I ran over to her bed and wrapped my arm around her slim body. Her arms weakly wrapped around my back as I deeply cried.

"Louise," I cried while pulling back and running my hands gently over her face. "Why didn't you call me sooner?"

"Hello to you too." She chuckled when I gave her a serious look. "Philo, I knew you were having the time of your life. I didn't want anything to take away from that."