Rogue

Chapter Six - Kidnapped?

Chapter Six – Kidnapped?

Running his hand through his hair Hemming suddenly looking extremely uncomfortable which instantly put me on edge. Taking me by the elbow he pulled us to one side slightly out of range of the other men.

“I need you to come with me. You’re not safe at the palace anymore your position has been compromised. The Queen knows you have met me and isn’t the slightest bit amused. I’m worried she may do something.” Hemming’s tone had turned bitter with the mention of my mother.

“I don’t understand what you mean compromised? It’s my home and why would my mother do something to me? Hemming I just met you I can’t leave the only home I know” Ever since I met hemming my mind has been in over drive with questions.

“Tsuki.” Stopping him instantly I have no interest to be called by my middle name especially without the answer I was promised.

“Don’t call me by that name; until you answer my questions Hemming I want you to call me by my name.” I was beginning to get frustrated and I couldn’t hide it in my voice.

“It’s your name Tsuki, why are you making this difficult? You need to come back to where you belong, you’re not one of them your one of us. Stop being so dense Tsuki you know you are different you’re not part of the air kingdom.”

I couldn’t stop the tears that began to fell down my face. I ran, as fast as I could I just ran. I needed to get away from him; he spoke to me like a child. I’m not stupid far from it in fact I just don’t have any memories past two years ago that’s not my fault. Surely he can see that this isn’t my fault. Finding myself standing on the edge of the woods I look up at the palace; tall towers of white rise out of the ground, a master piece of engineering a beautiful structure that has the best defences of any castle in the four kingdoms. As a kingdom we have been preparing for a war that has never happened nor does anyone know when it will happen.

From what I have gathered my mother was told by an old spinster who was renowned for her future seeing ability that the air kingdom will find itself in a battle of supremacy against the other kingdoms. That a single person holds the balance of our world on their shoulders, that them and them alone will decide the fate of the air kingdom. Since that point food has been stored, defences have been built and rebuilt, soldiers trained daily for war fare. I have been trained in defence as well as etiquette, escape plans have been drilled into my brain since I woke up two years ago. Taking one last look at the beautiful building I put the plain white cap back on my head as I make my way back through the castle towards my room.

Walking through my door the candle light seemed to glow and illuminate my room in a soft sort of focus. Walking towards my bed I pull the covers down slightly a smile appears on my face as I look at an exhausted Rosie dressed in one of my silk gowns that I had pushed upon her when I took her clothes to escape in. Tucking her back in I walk into my marble white bathroom and run myself a hot bath, needing to sort my thoughts out I sink into the steaming bubbles. I feel my body physically relax as the bubbles wrap themselves around my body.

Laying in the warm water my brain won’t shut itself off slowly I begin to go through each of Hemming’s points trying to work out why he would say them and if there is even the slightest hint of truth to them. There is no reason to trust or believe him but his tone when regarding my mother was so strong and one very similar to my own when I mumble to myself in my room. I thought it was just me who had such a strong loathing of her; everyone else seems to praise the ground she walked on. Maybe there was some truth to it maybe I was in trouble, if I am I can’t stay here not when I have no one to help me or look out for me. Crap, I should of probably gone with him he has shown me trust and friendship more than anyone else has at the palace.

I need a plan and I need to get out, I can’t stay here; grabbing my robe I get out the bath and begin grabbing essentials out of my bathroom. Realistically I will need basic toiletries, a few items of clothes some practical and some not so and a few comforts that I can’t live without. Looking at the belongings I have gathered I search my room for a vessel to put them in that is easy to conceal. Noticing the cleaning trolley that Rosie left in the corner of the room; I find a backpack and a hand holdall and began to place all my belongings in them. Once packed I place them in the trolley and conceal them with a sheet making sure no one would notice the concealed items.

Slowly winding my way through the castle I pass very few people due to the time of day; coming up to midnight most of the castle where sleeping or in their own dormitories. I quickly walk through the kitchen stopping to grab a few rolls and slices of meat for the unknown journey I am about to take. Grabbing my bags out of the cleaning trolley I walk through the thick oak door to the outside; the crisp fresh air enveloping me, causing goose bumps to appear on my skin. Taking a deep breath I spin to face the castle a sad smile appearing on my lips as I take one last look at the palace that I have called home the last two years, at points it’s been more of a prison than a home and that is how I can just walk away so easily. I turn and run as fast as I can to the lake, if this is the last time I am going to be in the air kingdom I need to see my tranquil waters just once more.

I could smell him before I see him. “You came back; I didn’t think you would still be here.” Slowly turning I come face to face with my dream boy looking at me with a smug smile plastered on his face.

“I knew you couldn’t stay away.” He was teasing me and I knew it the smile appeared on my face before I could stop it. “Come on Tsuki it’s time to leave this place and come home.”

“One thing before we leave, please call me Willow it’s the only name I have ever gone by and I don’t want that to change.” Looking down not wanting to see how he reacted to the statement.  Lifting my eyes to meet his I see his soft smile, holding his hand out I willingly put mine in his and return his smile.

“Come on then Willow, we have a long run ahead of us and there are a lot of people who are looking forward to seeing you again.”