Chapter 32: 31
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***
" Your father has told me everything. " Logan said to Clarissa as they leaned out the balcony in the ballroom to look at the sky which was filled with stars.
It was a place that was usually quiet and where Clarissa had always favoured just like her late mother.
" If you don't want to go you don't have to. I will find a way to defeat the Eradains. "
Clarissa didn't even turn to face him. " We have less than two weeks before they attack, you should know when it's time to give up. You can call it retreating to make better plans. "
" But not at your expense," he said, sounding angry.
" Calm down," she said, placing her hand on his arm. " I'm only doing this so the people I care about can be safe and if you pop that vein Gabriella is not going to forgive me. "
" I'm just worried about you. " he sounded sad.
" Don't be. I can take care of myself. "
" Sure kid. " he sighed
She huffed. " Stop calling me a kid. "
Tears formed in his eyes and in response to her words.
Clarissa heard him cry and rolled her eyes.
She had always found him to be too soft.
Suddenly he pulled her into a hug and normally she would have pushed him away and told him to stop treating her like a child but if there was anyone who would ever be considered as her second father, it was Logan. So she let him hug her for a few seconds. " I'm going to miss you. You better give that fool hell. "
" Oh he'll wish he treated me with more respect," she said, pulling away.
She wiped the tears away from his eyes.
He chuckled. " I don't doubt it one bit. Speaking of which, " he said, bringing out some papers from within his clothes. " Your partner in crime sent you some letters. "
She took them from him, " I'll go through them later. "
" Can't I at least see what's in them? "
" No, she sent you yours. "
" You kids are not being fair. "
" Bye Logan. "
When she arrived at her room, Leonard was there waiting for her. " So we leave tomorrow. "
She nodded.
He felt uneasy, he wanted badly to tell her how he felt, to beg her to stay but he knew this was the right thing to do.
" Was there anything else you wanted to talk about? " she asked him after a few seconds of silence wondering what was on his mind.
He shook his head. " I just wanted to check on you to see if you already slept. "
" I see. " she smiled at him. " Did you check if Dante has slept? "
" Yes, "
" you're worried about tomorrow's journey," she said, sensing the unrest within him.
" It seems I am," he said, running his hand through his hair.
" You should get some rest. You'll feel better for it. " She said to him.
He nodded and left her alone. Clarissa went to Dante's room and saw his cat at his feet.
She felt relieved seeing the cat. Dante had been looking for it earlier and it seems he found it.
She went to the cat and rubbed its fur just like she rubbed the child's hair.
The cat stared at Clarissa even after she had left the room.
***
Early, the next day before the sun had risen, Clarissa bid her father and Logan goodbye and their journey to the land of Shadow's Kiss began.
Her cheetah moved with them at the side of the carriage while Dante sat with her in the carriage with the cat he had named Zeek in his lap.
Leonard sat on a horse and trotted beside her.
Raphael was also at the other side of the carriage riding a horse.
Both men had said no words to each other, although Raphael had been studying Leonard quietly all this while.
He noticed the close attention he seemed to pay the princess. More than a friend or a guard would. He could sense there was something between the two more than their friendship. Perhaps the man had feelings for the princess. Just like the princess had feelings for him.
It seemed his friend had a rival.
They had been on their journey for several hours. Soon enough, they would be stopping to have a meal.
" Leonard. " He called to the man at the other side of the carriage and moved his horse to the other side of the carriage to move with him.
Leonard turned to the man who had been watching him closely for the past few hours. He said nothing to him. He had also been watching the man. To him, he thought the man was sneaky and there was more behind his smiles and bright eyes that always seemed amused.
" The princess, who is she to you? " Raphael asked with his ever-present smile.
" My friend. " Leonard answered, looking ahead.
" You gave up your life in Haven's Peak just to follow her to Shadow's Kiss to protect her. I find that interesting. " Raphael said, watching his expression.
Leonard raised an eyebrow. " My only mission in life is to protect her. "
Interesting, Raphael thought.
" But doesn't that make you useless? Her husband to be has all that is needed to protect her. Of what use will you be then? "
He watched for a reaction and for a second he saw Leonard pause but then he looked at him and said. " Even if she were to chase me away, I wouldn't leave. I would give my all to protect her. "
There was something here, deeper than he had first thought. Perhaps even more than the feelings he perceived. He wondered how far this man would go to protect the princess.
There was a fire in her and wondered if that would be enough to make his friend fall for her and if so how would his friend take having a rival. Kieran had never had to face a situation such as this where he was a second choice. He wondered who the dear princess would choose if there came a time in the future where she had to.
Before he could ask any more questions to any of them, a whistling sound of something moving at a fast speed through the air came to him.
His eyes turned red and he turned his horse around. The air seemed to move around him.
Leonard turned, wondering why Raphael had turned around.
He looked at the man to see his eyes red like that of a vampire. Then he heard the sound that Raphael had heard. At that moment, a knife headed straight for his face was diverted by a blast of wind to a nearby tree.
They were under attack but who would attack them?
Leonard heard the familiar chilling laughter that had been a starting point of his childhood.
Witches
Author's note
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