Erondale

Chapter 21

Raleigh

Christopher is coming home today. At one time, I would have been excited. However, I am not as concerned about it as everyone else seems to be. All four of the territories are hosting their own parties. Me? I’m trying to sort my feelings for a certain black smith.

It’s been about a year since the m******e at my birthday. The strange thing is, that was the last m******e that happened. It wasn’t the last murder though. There have been ten more murders since then. No one wants to tell me what is going on, either.

Every time someone is murdered, they keep it away from me. It really makes me nervous. I do get the feeling like someone is watching me every now and then. But, it has even lightened up a bit. It seems like that m******e was the breaking point.

“Rae.”

I jump and spin around to see Emma standing in my door way. Our friendship has been rocky for the last year. This attraction that I feel towards Tobias, and her crush, have been weighing heavy on my mind. I feel guilty.

“Sorry, Em. I didn’t know that you were going to be here today,” I apologize.

“Yeah, well, the Prince is coming back today. Are you not going to go see him?”

I’m a little taken back at the way she snaps that at me. I look her over and see the scowl on her face. Is she angry that I’m still hurt by Chris’ rejection?

I scrunch my brows. “Why would I?”

She tries to downplay her anger, a little, and attempts to look at me softly.“You guys were best friends, you know. You aren’t just a little bit curious?” She asks.

I frown, shaking my head. She should no better. “No.” I answer.

“Okay. Well, my parents and I are going to his coronation later today. What about your family?”

I can tell that she is trying to convince me to show up. Unfortunately for her, my family doesn’t want to attend it either. For one, Mama has too much work to do today.

“No.” I reply, with a shrug. “I have some work that I am doing with Erin and Toby. I should probably get ready.”

She scoffs and rolls her eyes. “Of course you do.”

I pause mid step. I’ve about had it with her attitude.

“Em. What’s wrong?” I ask, trying to diffuse the situation and hoping that she finally talks it out with me.

She shrugs like it’s not a big deal plastering a fake smile in place. “Nothing, Rae. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Okay.” I nod. She turns to leave. “Oh, Em.” I shout out to her.

She turns back around and, I don’t know why, I felt the need to let her know she’s important to me. “I love you.”

She sighs, and her shoulders lower in defeat, and gives me a tiny smile. “Yeah. I love you too, I guess.”

I smile back, nervous that our friendship is not going to recover. “I sure hope so.” I joke.

Emma runs over and wraps me up in a hug. “I do, Rae. I really do. It’s just that..” I look up at her face. She looks sad. “Oh, never mind. It’s stupid.”

She grabs me in a tighter hug before heading back towards the door. She turns back for a few minutes. Taking a deep breath, she tries one more time. “Think about going, Rae.”

"Okay, I will.”

I’m not going to but I just wanted her to feel a little better. She smiles and take off with a new skip in her step. Maybe I can save my friendship.

I’m washing dishes when I hear a knock on my door. I hurriedly dry my hands off before I run to the door and see Toby and Erin standing with their backs facing me.

“Good afternoon, Twinsies.” I say brightly, using their nicknames that they hate.

My heart beat rises, and my cheeks burn bright, when they turn around. There’s a magnet that feels as if it’s pulling me towards Toby. Maybe not a magnet but at least a string. Something that makes me feel as if I need just touch him.

“Ugh, Rae, really?” Erin replies, annoyed.

“What has you in such a good mood?” Toby asks.

There’s a twinkle in his eyes. I just want to lose myself in it. I hold myself still though and pray that it’s not showing on my face how much I am crushing on him. I shrug my shoulders and bounce on my toes.

“I don’t know. I’m just feeling like it’s going to be a good day.”

“Okay, well, are you ready to go to the Lake?” He asks smiling, showing off a perfect set of teeth.

“Absolutely!”

“Alright, well you’re riding behind me.” Erin states.

I furrow my brow in confusion.“Why?”

“Because we’re using your horse for the picnic stuff.” She laughs.

I look over towards my favorite mare and laugh. They have a red blanket rolled up and tied to the back of the saddle. However, there are two huge baskets tied to either side of the horse.

I raise my brow with a smirk. “What on Earth do you have in those baskets? And, how many people do you expect to come?”

“Oh, it’s just us.” Erin giggles. “Don’t blame me, though, Toby can eat one of those baskets all by himself.” She teases.

I gasp and look at Toby. “Seriously?”

 He blushes. For a second, I stand there staring at how cute he looks with his pinks all rosy. Then I remember that, if I keep staring, he’s going to realize how big of a crush I have on him. I clear my throat.

“Well, okay then. On to the lake, shall we?” I ask.

My poor horse hates all the weight that is placed upon her. I keep stealing glances at Toby. Is he really going to eat that one large basket by himself?

“Something on your mind, Little one?” Toby asks, startling me.

“Not really.” I answer, shyly.

“Really? Because I can feel you glancing at me.” He smirks.

Oh, god. “Really?”

“Yes. So, what are you thinking about?” He asks, again.

“Well, you, I guess.” I blush. I can feel the heat rise up in my cheeks.

“Oh?” He sounds amused now. I steal another glance at him. “What about, exactly?”

“Oh, you know. Just trying to figure out how you can eat all that food. Where does it go?” I tease.

He laughs. He laughs so hard that he doubles over in his saddle. “Oh, little one. I’m a growing man. I need all that I can get to keep growing.”

I smile at him. It feels nice to be able to laugh. I just realized that I do a lot of laughing when I am with the twins. We finish the rest of the ride cracking jokes at each other and laughing.

Not too long after we arrive at the lake. What I don’t expect to see though is Alrich. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him. He doesn’t hardly come around anymore so it surprises me that he’s here.

I jump off from behind Erin and approach him cautiously. When he first notices me, he smiles but he loses that smile as looks behind me. His face darkens and I take a step back in panic.

He notices and replaces the dark look with a small smile. “Rae. It’s lovely to see you.”

“Alrich. How have you been?” I ask.

“Busy.” He snaps, all smiles and gentle looks disappearing with it.

With that he turns and walks away.

“Alrich?”

I attempt to run after him but Toby makes a small little growling sound. My eyes widen. Was that an actual growl? I look over at him. He does that when he’s mad sometimes. I find it strange but everyone else just shrugs it off. I knit my brows and glance back over to Alrich.

“Alrich!” I yell louder.

He just ignores me, jumps on his horse, and leaves. I turn around and glare at Toby.

“What is wrong with the both of you? Why can’t you get along?” I snap at him.

Toby just shrugs and walks off. Ugh, these guys are so irritating. I help Erin unload the picnic baskets and nearly drop it. Before I can register what happened, my horse collapses. I scream as she lands on me. I definitely felt something break. It takes the air out of me and I’m having a hard time breathing.

I’m pinned and I feel my arm snap at an odd angle as I try to move it. I scream out again. The pain is so much that I can barely even register what’s what.

I can feel someone trying to pull me out from under the horse. I’m too dazed, and in pain, to know what’s going on anymore.  I don’t even remember who I’m with. I concentrate on breathing but each breath feels harder than the next.

“Hang on, Little one!” I hear.

I try to locate the voice but I suddenly become too tired. My eyes start to close. “No, don’t shut your eyes. Keep them open. Keep them open for me, please.” I hear Toby saying, pleading.

I’m trying. My eyes are feeling heavier by the second. There’s an invisible weight pulling down on them. Everything is starting to go numb. My chest feels as if it’s crushing in on me. I think that she landed on my chest but I can’t tell. I can’t tell anything anymore.

“Rae. Don’t you dare close those eyes.” I hear someone yell.

I can no longer tell who is talking to me. I’m unable to hold my eyes open any longer. Next thing I know, I am staring at darkness. Nothing is around me. Just dark. I don’t know how long I stand there staring before I decide to start walking.

I start following a sound. It sounds like water. Each step takes me closer to the sound. It has a soothing feel to it. I realize that I don’t feel any more pain. I look down and my arm looks fine. Where am I? Am I dead? Laughter. That’s the sound that I hear. I spin around but I don’t see any one. It gets louder though.

“Hello?”

“Hello, my child. You don’t need to be afraid of me.”

“Where am I? Am I dead?”

She laughs again. “No, Raleigh. You are not dead. Just asleep. You took a nasty fall and of course your horse fell on your chest.”

“So, where am I?”

“You’re in my realm.”

“Where is that?”

“It’s not time for you to know yet.”

“When will it be time?”

“Sooner than you wish.”

“Who are you?”

“You’ll know that when the time is right as well.”

“Can I see your face?”

“Not yet, darling. Right now, it’s time for you to return to your friends. They are waiting for you.”

“How did I end up here?”

“I brought you here. Just for a short time to ease your pain.”

I pause for a moment. “Why bring me here if I can’t see you.”

“It will all be revealed when the time is right. I love you, child. Please, take care of yourself and your friends.”

With those words, my eyes shoot open and I’m staring into a pair of beautiful blue eyes.