Through the Archway

Chapter Twenty-One -- Part Three

When they reached the palace, Mark and Taylor returned to their positions. David and Rebekah were about to push the door open to the king's hall, when somebody seized David by the shoulder and yanked him away.

The figure's back was turned, his narrow shoulders hunched, clutching David by his arm and practically dragging him along the floor. "Come with me brother," snarled a voice that could only belong to Thomas. Rebekah followed, even though David beckoned her to go. He fought against Thomas' grasp.

Rebekah chased them into a long, dark room that was mostly bare with wooden floors. Thick bands of moonlight shone in through windows on the walls, pale and cold. Thomas shoved David roughly into the room.

"Stop it!" Rebekah shrieked. Thomas turned to her and sneered.

"I know where you went. I thought we'd have a little talk," he said icily, stepping closer. Rebekah remembered his clammy skin when he held her hand at dinner and recoiled. David straightened slowly, looking from Rebekah to his brother. Thomas's chest swelled and he looked hungrily at them. "You used that archway. Don't deny it."

"Way to go Thomas, you've figured us out. Want a gold star?" David said.

"Tell me how." Rebekah stared at David, her eyes wide, hoping he would understand what she was wordlessly trying to convey. No, it's not worth it. She couldn't imagine what Thomas would do if he knew about them meeting Evelyn and James. Rebekah couldn't be sure, but it seemed like David had given a slight nod.

"No," David said simply.

"Rebekah dearest, I don't want you to see this," Thomas said. He reached over and hit David squarely in the jaw. David fell and slammed into the floor. Thomas leaned over David, then kicked him in the stomach. "Come now brother, fight back. Try again to kill me, lose control."

David is right, Rebekah thought, Thomas is a monster.

"Go on! Do it! We have a witness now," Thomas leered. David raised a hand.

"Becca, just go."

"No! I'm not leaving," Rebekah said, "You don't have any powers Thomas." She raised her right hand and with a burst of energy, threw Thomas back into a wall. She could hear Thomas laughing as she rushed to help David stand.

"Don't take the bait," Rebekah whispered in his ear, "He wants you to hurt him."

"I have a different kind of power, Becca," Thomas said, "I have resources far beyond your own, powers you don't even realize. I can have you imprisoned, along with my brother. I can have you sentenced to death."

"You can't do anything Thomas, you aren't king yet," David said. He stood and faced his brother, inches from his face. Rebekah looked between the two of them, her hand over her mouth. "What happened to you?" David muttered, "You weren't always like this."

For a moment, Rebekah was sure she had seen something like desperation pass over Thomas's face. It seemed like he wanted to tell David something, as though something was trying to get out, and his hands shook. But then Thomas grinned.

"You'll find out."

David shoved past Thomas and pulled Rebekah out of the door.

Together, they raced down the hall and into a different room. Rebekah flipped on the light switch. The room was small, a broom cupboard. There wasn't any space to sit. A mixture of window–cleaner and mothballs stung Rebekah's nose. She coughed on dust, fanning the air around her.

"What was that in there?" Rebekah demanded, "Is he like this all the time?" David shook his head and winced.

"He came back from his tour of the kingdoms and something had changed in him." He touched a hand to his jaw, testing it.

"Let me see," she said. David pushed her away, claiming that he could handle the pain.

"You can't go back in there looking like this," Rebekah reminded him. David sighed, then turned his neck. She observed the beginnings of a bruise.

"It doesn't look broken," Rebekah noted.

"How could you possibly know that?" David joked, then winced.

"I climb mountains, remember? I need to familiarize myself with broken limbs... and jaws." Rebekah placed her hand over the wound, concentrating. Healing a wound took time.

As she healed him, Rebekah had the feeling that the moment in the garden, their conversation, and their adventure in Sylvain, was fleeting. There was more to David than he was showing her — another side that he didn't let anyone see. Rebekah could tell that he didn't trust her as she trusted him.

"I'm going to kill him."

"That's what he wants you to try and do," Rebekah said, "He wants to lock you away David, by making you seem unfit to rule."

"He's right though, Rebekah," David said, "I am unfit to rule. I've wanted a different life for as long as I could remember. I've wanted to escape."

"Is that what Mark was talking about? The yacht party?" Rebekah knew at once that she'd said the wrong thing. David pulled her hand away, all signs of trust between them gone. He was no longer smiling, but suddenly withdrawn, like he had pulled a mask on.

"That isn't any of your business," he said, "You don't know me."

"David —" Rebekah started. It was too late to repair the situation. David opened the door and left, leaving Rebekah confused and alone.