Erondale

Chapter 12

Rae’s POV

I feel cold. Bone shaking, joint screaming, cold. I can feel my teeth chattering and I shiver. I’m afraid to open my eyes but I don’t know why.

Did I leave a window open? Why am I so cold? I take a slow, deep breath not really knowing why I feel so terrified. I peel my eyes open slowly and see grass. Grass? Suddenly, everything rushes back to me and I jolt upright.

I look around me and see the King and his men are here. My pulse quickens. No one has noticed me yet so I survey the area. Alrich is talking to the King, and one of his guards, while Toby and Emma are talking to two other knights.

I see the blood everywhere. It’s littered all over the ground. My heart rate spikes as I notice the body again. Why is it still lying there? Why haven’t they moved it? How long have I been out?

The sight of the b****y torso has me jumping up. I rush over to the nearest tree and start emptying out everything inside my stomach and then some. I am bending over dry heaving when I feel a soft hand on my back.

“Rae, are you okay?” Emma asks.

Unable to answer, I nod my head, before I feel another retch come on.

“Are you sure?”

Here I am, a weakling unable to stomach this mess and my best friend is asking me if I’m okay. How is it that she didn’t faint like I did? I turn to look at her. Her eyes are holding unshed tears. I stand up and wrap her up in a hug.

“How are you still standing?” I ask, my voice rough from retching.

“Toby didn’t allow me to see much.” She whispers.

“You didn’t see it?”

“I saw a dead body but Toby kept me in his arms, like a true gentleman, and kept me from seeing it.”

Her statement had an odd feeling of jealousy rush through me. That’s strange. Was I jealous because she will never be taunted by these memories? “And now? What’s stopping you from looking now?”

“If it’s bad enough for you to pass out, throw up, and Toby holding me away then I don’t want to see.”

“I wish that I could unsee it. Who is it?” I ask, quietly.

“We don’t know.” She glances behind her. “The King is going to have his men go around looking to see who’s missing.”

“The killer was close, Em.” I say realizing something. “That body wasn’t there earlier.” My heart rate quickens, again, as well as my breathing. “Oh my God, Em. He could have been watching us!”

“Shhhh.” She clamps her hand over my mouth as I had almost shouted that last part.

“Raleigh Walsh. Come over and join us.” King Clay shouted at me.

My eyes widen as I look at Emma. “Yes, your Majesty.”

“Stop that nonsense, Rae. You call me Clay. We are like family. Come here, Child.” He orders.

I walk over to Clay, nervously. I don’t know why he needs to speak with me. I didn’t see anything. As soon as I reach him, he gestures for me to climb onto the back of his horse. I look up at him wondering why he wants me to climb on back.

“Come, Rae, I’m taking you home.” I hesitate causing him to roll his eyes. “Your father was my best friend. You are not in any trouble.”

I glance around noticing that Toby is helping Emma onto her horse. Alrich is still talking to the other knights. I look towards the King and he gestures for me to go ahead and speak to Alrich. He always seems to know what I am thinking. I give him a small smile and make my way to Alrich.

“Hey.” I say, quietly.

He must not have noticed me coming because he jumps. “Rae! How are you?” He wraps me up in a hug. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t want to leave you laying on the ground but I needed to speak with the King.”

“It’s okay, Alrich.” I pause, not really sure what to say. He gives me a small smile and grabs my hand. “I guess that I just wanted to say good night. The King is taking me home.”

I hear Clay huff at me calling him King and it made me smile despite the situation. “I just wanted to say that I had fun today and if I can help, let me know.”

“Oh, sweetheart. There isn’t anything you can do to help us on this. Thank you, though.” He gives me a small kiss on the cheek before turning to talk with the knights again.

“So, I’ll have fifteen of my men ride along with the two of you. If we can get them to split up it will cover more ground.” He was saying to the knights.

I sigh and turn around, jumping slightly when I notice Toby and Emma right behind me. Toby has a sour look on his face. I would laugh if things were different because the look doesn’t suit him very well. I reach up to Emma first.

“Be careful going home, Emma. I’m scared.” I confess.

“I will, Rae. Besides, Toby is taking me home.”

My eyes flash, with the sudden burst of jealousy that I feel, but I school my face. “Okay, then, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Good night, Rae.” She says, quietly.

“Good night, Em.”

“Rae. Take care of yourself. If you need me, let me know.” Toby says.

His voice is like a soft caress that rolls over my skin. I shiver.

“I will, Tobias. Get my best friend home, safely.”

He smiles. “I will do, pretty lady.”

I offer him a small smile. “Thank you.”

The last thing that I see, before heading back to the King, is Emma looking between me and Toby with a question in her eyes. I’m not sure why. There isn’t anything to wonder. I reach the King and grab his hand. He hauls me up pretty easy.

He is quiet for a little while as I ride behind him. I know that he’s about to speak whenever I feel him take a deep breath.

“I’m sorry about your father, Rae. I wish I could have prevented his death.” He says so quietly. “Now, we have these deaths on our hands. I fear for you, my child.” He pauses for a second. “Al has told me about your feelings of late. Is it true?”

I hesitate. What if he thinks me crazy. “Yes, your majesty.”

“Clay, Rae.” He says annoyed.

“Yes, Clay.” I amend.

“That’s better. You will never need to bow to me, my child. You are like family. Chris loves you a lot, you know.”

I scoff at that.

“You doubt me?”

“He sure has a funny way of showing it. He treated me like swine fodder last time I talked to him.”

Clay grunts. “Yes, I know. I heard about it from your father. I do apologize for that. He should have never said those things to you.”

He starts coughing and I had to grab a hold of him. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, child.” He answers.

We sit in silence for a few minutes.

“Rae, I am not going to lie. I will not last much longer. I can only hope that Chris is finished with his training before I go.”

I don’t know what to say so I just wrap my arms tighter around him. He’s always been such a kind King.

“There is nothing to be done, Rae. Whatever attacked us, has destroyed me. My injuries on the inside are not healing and I can feel myself getting weaker. I need you to know something, Rae.”

“What is it?” I ask, sensing his urgency.

“There are things in this world that most people only suspect. Things that live only in some people’s nightmares. They’re real. I may not be here on the day that you find out the truth and I can’t tell you what they are now. I just want you to remember what I am saying now.”

“What do you mean?”

“There will be a day in which you find out for yourself. Secrets will be unveiled and you will feel betrayed. Just remember. Remember, that everything that has been done was to protect you.”

“Yes, your Majesty.”

“Ah, here we are. One more thing, Rae, forgive my son. He thinks that he knows some things but he doesn’t know everything. He, too, will realize it one day.”

“Yes, Clay.”

Talon comes out and grabs a hold of me so I can climb down without injuring the King. I turn to look at Clay and he gives me a small smile.

“Remember what I said.” He looks past me. “Good evening, Selene. I’m just dropping your daughter off. There’s a pressing matter that I must attend to. Please, make sure that your children do not go anywhere unescorted until we get these matters handled.”

“Of course, Clay. Thank you for bringing my daughter home safely.”

With that, Clay heads towards the palace at a full gallop. Mama comes over and wraps me up in a hug.

“I heard what happened. I’m so glad that you’re alright.” She gives me a hug before escorting me back into the house. “You are not to go anywhere alone anymore.”

“I know, Mama.” I shudder. I don’t think that I want to go anywhere at all. “It was truly awful.”

Talon looks at us. “What happened?” He asks.

Mama shakes her head. “Let’s not discuss this. How about we plan for the party instead.”

I give Mama a tiny smile of gratitude. “Of course. That sounds like fun. After all, I am only turning 16 once.”

Mama smiles and I follow her back into the house with a million thoughts running through my head. I don’t really care about the party. Now, with the murders going on, a party seems like the last thing that I want.