When Love Runs Red

Copyright © 2012: Letitia Van Herck. All Rights Reserved.

                                               When Love Runs Red

                                                 Chapter Fourteen

Queen Daniela bellowed in untamed, progressive rage. Her jaw was slack, her lips pursed and hands clenched into hard fists. She all but hissed at the guard before her. He was a young guard that went by the name Gerard and who had a soft face and almost childish features. He looked painfully grim, as was the Queen though hers bordered closer to rage. She had recently been told Dante had been dealt a stab wound to the gut and it was not yet apparent if he would make it. The doctor had been concerned if he could in fact live or if it was a hopeless cause. She was simply furious!

            The riots had already gotten under her skin, but the mere tactlessness of this act had driven her to the point of fury. Dante was the nearest thing she had to a friend and he had served and protected her for all her time ruling. He was stern, brooding, and rough but he was also efficient and caring in his own rather peculiar way. She curled her fingers as anger rippled through her blood. She would turn the kingdom inside out if it meant acting out her revenge. She wanted to hiss in disgust for the putrid creatures that were the commons made her irate. She distasted them for they were needy and the pinnacle of all her problems, as well as the reason she had suffered for many years prior to her ruling. She shuddered involuntarily at the very memories she tried to suppress.

           "How is Lady Watson faring?" She found herself asking. It seemed only right; for she presumed the girl was rather taken with Dante. It was the only natural response, however, as he had saved her life. Gerard’s face seemed to pale considerably at the question.

             "She seemed incoherent your highness, it was unfortunate she had stumbled down the hall when they had brought Dante in. She was frantic to say the least and tearful. I am quite worried. She has locked herself in her room and has denied anyone access to her chambers for most of the day. I fear she hasn’t eaten anything and she will starve herself from worry and fear for him. I have never seen such behaviour," Gerard informed her, though his jaw was slacked and worry tainted his eyes. The Queen wanted to sigh. She had been correct the girl had become frighteningly attached to Dante, but not in the same maddening sense Ivory had. That his absence would make her so ill was a wonder to the Queen.

             With a heavy sigh she gracefully sat back on her throne and pinned Gerard with a hard stare. He flinched beneath her gaze; making her want to smirk cruelly. She enjoyed striking fear in the hearts of others. She tapped her long red nails against the arm of the throne and thought briskly about what to do next. She could order Charlotte’s presence or she could leave her to her sorrows. But there was another predicament that had to be taken care of.

            The council had requested a royal ball within the palace and at a rather unsuitable time too. It seemed they had taken a sudden interest once more in Ivory and wished for their sons to woo her. The Queen wanted to scoff at the idea; for they were delusional fools to think her niece’s heart would be swayed by them. She was too taken with Dante to even consider another for a partner.

          She stopped tapping her nails and sat in resolve. Despite Dante’s health she would have to continue planning the ball, for it would not only keep her occupied but serve to ease some tension if her trusted ambassador didn’t make it. She prayed he would, had faith he would too because as a rule Dante didn’t give up. They would find out in a mere few hours and to fill that void she would continue to harass the help in every way fathomable while planning the ball.