Legend | Celeste Academy Series BK #2

Chapter 35 ♕ The Secret Garden

Faolan was hot on Aden's tail. The boy was panicking, but he made little resistance to give Asthore to the demon when threatened. Charles told him not to put up a fight, but he had to make sure that he wouldn't get suspicious.

After Asthore was given to the demon, he apologized to her profusely. He knew the turmoil inside the girl, but this wasn't the time to explain what was going on.

"Stop right there!" Aneeka and Rowe came around the corner.

Faolan backed off like a cornered mouse. He looked around in desperation and saw an open route. However, when he advanced forward, the twins came and blocked his only point of escape.

"What's going on, Faolan?" Although Asthore somehow knew the answer, she was still confused.

He looked behind him and saw a window. Without any hesitation, he jumped off. The glass splintered into a million pieces as they broke through. Asthore screamed, but Faolan made sure she wouldn't get hurt.

They landed smoothly on the ground from a two-storey jump. Faolan was wounded, though, so it wasn't like it would've been if he was in his top form. He stumbled and broke into a sprint—this wouldn't normally be his top speed, but because of his injury, this was all he could manage.

Asthore was distraught—she felt stressed and confused whatever in the world was going on. Looking at Faolan, he was desperately carrying both himself and his lady as they made their escape.

The young lady fisted her hands, tightly gripping Faolan's black coat as tears started streaming down her face. Her ear was pressed against his chest—his heart was beating so fast. If it was ever because he was tired or because of the adrenalin rush, she didn't know.

He was bleeding.

Blood stained his cheeks and drenched his clothes. Asthore knew perfectly that he was slowly weakening because of it, and she felt utterly guilty.

"Stop." She told him.

Faolan looked down at her, refusing to heed her orders. He only held her tighter inside his arms and hastened his pace. "We're almost there, milady—"

"I said stop!" She screamed at him, hitting his chest.

The man gave a grunt as she accidentally hit his wound as well. Asthore sputtered an apology at that but still insisted on making him stop. It was apparent that Faolan was frantic as the Twelve were hot on their tails.

"Please, milady." He beseeched. "Give me a chance and let me find us a place to hide if you wish to stop."

Asthore reluctantly nodded at his words and allowed him to run quietly. She held on to him, hands wrapped around his neck. She wished to close her eyes and imagine none of these were happening. She truly did not know what in the world was going on, but this warmth—this position. It felt so familiar.

'I hurt my feet.' Her childish voice echoed inside her mind, as a memory consequently began playing at the back of her brain.

At first, she wished to block it out, but decided against it. She let the image flash behind her lids.

The sensation of small hands brushing against the bruising skin of her ankles invaded her senses. Asthore remembered flushing, not only because of the tears she shed, but because of the boy she saw tending to her that very time.

Vibrant green eyes.

'Do you want me to carry you?' A soft voice offered.

A mop of blond hair.

'Okay. But I want to be carried like a princess.' She haughtily told the other child.

A kind, gentle smile.