Regiphobia

The Truth

Juan knocked on the door of the guest room, feeling sick to his stomach. The day before, he'd seen something horrifying. Something he knew he wouldn't be able to truly forget, even if the details slipped from him. His stomach churned as he waited for a response, thinking about Goda and what Gabe had been doing and how he hadn't seen the other since that moment.

Arial opened the door, a bit surprised that anyone had knocked at this hour. It was so early in the morning, she hadn't had a chance to get ready. Her blond hair was pulled back in a loose, low ponytail, her makeup was off, and she was wearing a baggy men's shirt and sweatpants. Not a way you'd expect to see a monarch, but she was still beautiful as ever.

'Sorry for not being ready, what seems to be the issue?' she said. The rest of the castle was asleep at this hour.

"I... apologize for my unprofessionalism, Your Majesty, but I need to inform you of something. It has to do with the king and his fiancé," he said.

'I'm not sure that's-'

"Please, ma'am. It's important," he said quietly, "He's not safe."

Arial's eyes widened as she stepped out of the way, allowing Juan inside. She shut the door behind him, locking it and motioning for the bed so he could sit. He did, with her soon sitting beside him. 'What's wrong?'

"I saw something yesterday. Or- Today? I haven't slept yet, I don't know what time it is," he said, "But- It was the king. He was... he was hurting Goda."

Arial made a look that seemed like a silent gasp, her face paling as she covered her mouth. He continued, "He had a knife, and there was blood on Goda's chest- It was horrifying."

'Oh god. You're not joking?' she signed, terrified.

He nodded. "I... need your help."

'How do you know Goda?' she asked.

"I-" he looked over at her. He had to trust her to care about Goda. "Well. I've been kind of having an affair with him behind the king's back?"

Arial just looked shell-shocked. Why hadn't he told her any of this? How long had it been happening? Questions raced through her mind as fear for Goda consumed her.

"I need your help. He needs your help. I can't protect him, I..." Juan looked down.

Useless...

"I can't protect him..."

She put a gentle hand on his shoulder, the room surrounded in a deafening silence of words she couldn't say and tears neither would let fall. He looked back at her, "I just want to keep him safe. Is that too much to ask? To not see him hurt anymore?"

She shook her head, her soft blue eyes looking into his. She pulled her hand away to sign, 'We have to talk to him. We have to get him away.'

"Yeah. We have to do it today," he said, determination filling his eyes, "We don't have any more time to waste."

She nodded back, 'Be in the hedge maze at noon, I'll bring him.'

Juan nodded back, they gave their goodbyes, and he left. His heart was pounding as he went downstairs, slipping back into his room and laying down. He couldn't sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Goda's fear and defeat, the look of a monster, the blood, the knife, everything replayed in his mind. He looked over at José, debating waking him up to talk. Well, he knew how little José slept, he was most likely just laying silently, waiting for morning to come.

He felt sick. He waited until light slipped under the crack in the door. José sat up as soon as it did, grabbing his gear off the wall and getting ready. Juan turned to face the wall, unable to keep up the smile he forced on himself. He wasn't happy. He wasn't. He knew that. But he had to be, didn't he, to make everyone else OK? But it wasn't working. Goda was still hurting.