Keepers of the Moon

Chapter 12. Toiseach an deireadh (2)

‘Come with me. Now, just… Let’s have our walk today.’

‘What do you mean?’ I snorted. Why all the hurry all of a sudden?

‘Let us just enjoy our time together. Please, just come with me. You can take Abi too if you want.’ He was agitated, jumping from one leg to another.

‘You know I can’t. I promised Erin to help her with the load of laundry that’s been piling up since the gala.’

‘But coming with me is much more fun!’ He smiled at me, but it didn’t reach his eyes. I got an odd feeling in my stomach. As if something was coming.

‘Work is more important.’ This was true for me, though it was almost like I didn’t appreciate him enough. Like I preferred work above him. That wasn’t true, I just didn’t have a choice. I couldn’t lose this job, not while everything was coming together. Though I doubted that a Prince would understand this.

‘Please, just this once. I’m sure they’ll understand it.’ He was full on pleading now, yet he still didn’t dare to look me in the eyes. I took it as a warning sign.

‘You’re acting weird. What’s wrong?’

‘Nothing! I’m fine, I just want to spend some time with you. Isn’t that what you want too?’ He kept standing there, in the doorway. I could hear his heart hammering inside his chest and his heavy breathing. Every vein in my body told me that there was something wrong with him and he clearly didn’t want to tell me.

‘You are freaking me out!’ My clear voice shattered through the room, but it wasn't enough to let Hlér look me in the eyes. He was hiding.

‘Please, just come with me. I want to spend the night with you!’

Was this what it was all about? That he was just really trying to spend some time with me? Was he just desperately craving my attention? It didn’t make any sense after our run in at the race.

‘What do you mean?’ My voice rose now, while anger flared inside me. Though I couldn’t help feel that my cheeks were warm, when he confessed that he wanted to be with me. I bit on the inside of my cheek to flush that feeling out.

Then it suddenly dawned on me, that this could be a trap. That he was luring me back to his father. So that he could finish the job.

I took a step backwards and just as soon as the thought crossed my mind, it vanished. Because that didn’t make any sense. Because if his father had found out and wanted me dead he could’ve killed me right here. I had no protection here, nobody would even notice until it was too late for me. No, it wasn’t that and I needed to trust Hlér more.

Yet that voice inside my head kept lingering. My guard was up.

 ‘I am just bored, I really want to do something and people don’t really like me here. But you do…’ He again looked away from me and I shook my head. He meant his words, I could hear the sincerity in them. Though it wasn't what drove him here, there was more at hand.

‘No, Hlér I’m sorry. I really am, but I have to go to work. I don’t reckon you would understand this. You’re a Prince, you can have whatever you want or need. If I don’t go to work, I’m not going to be able to eat, nor will I be able to afford this apartment. Do you understand? I’ll be homeless. So no, I am not going with you.’ This wasn’t the real reason, it was his odd behaviour that had set me of. Something was wrong and I needed to know what it was, before I could go with him.

He stepped forward, his eyes finally finding mine and they were full of fear and tears were glistening in the corners. However before he could say something there was a loud noise from the hall. I heard the landlady shout a whole string of impressive profanities before I was overwhelmed with a familiar feeling of discomfort. Then Tane skidded to a stop just behind Hlér.

‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’ His anger flooded my room and Abi woke up with a start. Sensing that there was something wrong she immediately started crying. I rushed over to her and picked her up, while wrapping my arms as tightly around her as I dared. I watched the two boys standing in the doorway, while giving them the dirtiest look I could muster. Bloody bastard!

‘Really, could you just tune it down a little?’ My voice was sharp, yet Tane barely even looked at me. He had grabbed Hlér at the shoulders and was dragging him out. Hlér was physically protesting, but didn’t say anything, he was as white as a sheet. It wasn't just a guard he ditched, it was Tane. 

‘He, what are you doing? What the hell is going on?’ I took a few steps toward them, while Abi was still screaming in my arms. My head was spinning with emotions I couldn’t place. I wanted to hit Tane on the head, while I wanted to pull Hlér away from him. Yet both ideas seemed rather rash and stupid and would probably lead to more problems than I wanted.

‘This doesn’t concern you.’ Tane spoke through gritted teeth and I got goose bumps. Abi whimpered and buried her face in my jumper. He dragged Hlér out with surprising ease and nearly threw him through the hallway. He looked back one last time and I got a weird feeling in my stomach.

It almost looked like he said goodbye.

Like I wasn’t going to see him again.

I walked after them, but Tane pushed me back into my apartment. He was mad with anger and he had a crazy stare that froze me on the spot. I didn't dare to move against him and this was a feeling I'd never experienced before.

‘This is not your concern, go home and stay there.’ He too had something demanding in his voice. As if I wasn’t allowed to go to work.

‘Oh, just shut up and get out!’ With heavy steps Tane marched through the corridor while occasionally pushing Hlér further along. The landlady stood at the end of the hallway with her arms crossed and a murderous look. When the men were out of sight she walked over to me.

‘What was that all about?’ Again a demanding voice. What did they all want from me today?

‘Honestly, I have no idea.’ I looked past her into the now deserted hallway, as If I would be able to force Hlér back.

‘Well, the next time you make such a fuss here, I will throw you out.’ She made herself sound very serious, but I could hear it was an empty threat. I however just nodded and silently shut the door. With Tane gone, Abi finally calmed down.

‘Mean man. I don’t like him.’ I have her a tight hug after I wiped away all the snot and tears from her face.

‘Me neither sweetie, me neither.’

I sighed and looked out of the window. Just barely able to see Hlér and Tane arguing while disappearing around the corner. The feeling of dread wasn’t going away and I was pacing up and down the room, while Abi still sniffed. Only now I realised that my hands were shaking.

‘What the hell just happened?’ I said it to no-one in particular and Abi just looked at me with fearful eyes. I knew that something was about to happen. There was a reason why they wanted me away from the castle and whatever that reason was, it was enough for Hlér to get into trouble.

I thought about Ben and Mo Bhean. They needed to know, they deserved that. Without much more hesitation I grabbed my coat and put Abi on my shoulders. And with a heavy heart and a tight knot in my stomach I made my way toward Gaeilaí castle.

I just really hoped I wasn’t too late.