Carmine (Completed)

Chapter 57

The wind rushed around me and left me weightless, while I sat on the beam, high above the castle gate.

The snow-covered castle settled behind me with the homes laid in bustling splendor before me.

My tongue drank the falling snow with shivering joy.

"Carmine!" Corona's voice boomed. I looked down and saw her reddened face. Passerbys looked up at me, so some stopped, while others glanced, and went on their way.

I sighed and made my way down by climbing down the rope attached to the tower that was used to carry me up the gate's column.

Corona sent me daggers that exemplified the danger I faced, but I knew better.

Corona snarled. "What were you doing up there?"

"Sitting," I replied.

"You should stay inside," she said with a bit of snide.

That bored me to death. Surprisingly, I never ended up dying the exceptional amount of times my life got threatened. It must be the blood of a God, the blood that flowed through me.

"Sorry, I wanted to feel the breeze for a bit."

Corona scowled, then grinned with a tint of odd mischief riddled on her face. "Walk in front of me to the throne room. Since you walk these halls so much, you should know where it is. Mm?"

"Of course." I led the way and knew she imagined killing me as she stared at the back of my head. We reached the throne room, and the still quiet calmed my shaky nerves.

It consumed me as we stepped onto the stone stage with columns. They blocked the bright red light burning outside across the open side door that led to a lawn. That lawn opened out to a small enclosed savannah.

Yallin sat on his throne. Excular paced around me, a joyful smile on his face. Corona stood strong and floated her narrowing eyes from Excular to Yallin.

I had to wonder who brought me here and for what purpose?

Yallin said, "Corona, why did it take you so long?"

Corona did not change much in her flat expression. "Carmine was not in her room Brothers."

Excular glanced at me with a frown then stared back at Corona. Excular's scorn littered his words. "Carmine is your responsibility. You cannot keep track of one woman? My, I can see why it took you so long to capture her in the first place." He sighed.

Corona pursed her lips.

Excular glared at her. He scratched his head then said, "No apology for making me and Yallin wait?"

Corona averted her gaze. Her stance shifted, but her lips never moved. Excular moved closer. Corona said, "My apologies Brother, Excular. I just do not think that is my fault whe—"

"I do not want to hear excuses sister Corona. You must know where she is at all times. Is that clear?" Excular asked.

Corona nodded obediently and kept her gaze forward. "Yes, Brother Excular."

He sighed. "Carmine. You will leave Ulyia tonight."

That was too quick. Had they found out about Valor and Sandream? They had not given me a plan or an idea of what would happen. I sighed and tried happier thoughts, for I knew in the back of my mind that Sandream and Valor were here somewhere.

I asked, "I thought it would be on the morrow?"

"That will not do. You have to leave tonight. Corona will prepare you to leave soon and take you there herself. We are just waiting for some assurances."