James

Chaos clambers throughout the entire palace as guards lie on the floor fighting for their lives.

It was only a matter of seconds before we came back we noticed something wasn't right. There wasn't security at the gates nor the flags were blowing in the wind, a sign that danger lurks.

Thankfully we made it back after the attack but it did still look like a warzone, a nightmare.

Guards sit on the steps trembling over the encounter while others carry bodies out to the garden.
So far I've only seen four casualties but down here in the hallway there seems to be many more.

As Odessa follows behind, I can't help but look for the others, to see if they are alright.

Maids push through looking for first aid kits for the injured. Their bravery and determination is always admirable.

When we make it down the stairs, I notice Father speaking to a high commander about the attack.
"Sir it seems that they got through the back and far left side of the castle, their counter attack was well planned sir, it almost seems the riot at the bakery was a distraction"

Father growls with vexation. "How many casualties?"

"So far we have nine dead and thirty guards being treated for minor injuries while eleven face severe injuries or acid thrown at their faces and severe wounds in various places"

"I can't believe this happened" Father states as a guard mourns with agony. "I should have been here"

"It's alright your majesty, you did the best you could do"

Hearing this, my blood boils. He did the worst thing he could have done at the bakery. He killed people, my  people.

The images flash through my mind of the guard putting a bullet through the young man's head. He could have been my age, he could have had a family he was looking after, he could of not died if I just said something.

I am brought back into room when Alexander and five maids come towards us.

"Odessa, James, may you please assist us with the injured, we need hot water and blankets along with pain killers" Odessa nods and rushes away towards the kitchen.

I follow Alexander as he goes to a older looking guard with a scruffy beard. He winces with pain as blood drips around his right leg.

"Don't worry we're here now" Alexander bends down and examines the wound. He pulls off his bloody ends to see a gaping slashed wound.
I want to hurl at the sight as crimson blood oozes out of his leg.

A maid hands him a first aid kit and he starts prepping the wound with antiseptic wipes. With a quick motion he starts stitching the wound, having a keen eye for detail.
He always knows how to help others, especially the night Odessa came knocking on my door in agony.

The guard groans and I sit down to help him. "Don't worry you're doing fine" I try to calm him down as he tries to get up. He holds onto my hand tightly and I allow him to squeeze as hard as he can.

It is a matter of seconds later that Alexander is done. Finishing off his stitch the guard manages to say thank you and soon we move on to more and more soldiers who need our help.

I hear a familiar voice chime behind me. I am glad to see Herald and Ethan run to me.
"We're so glad you're alright!" They both shout. Ethan stares at the guards lying on the ground, looking sickly at the sight. A scent of blood and sick crawls throughout the large space.

"Where are the others" I ask, hoping for good news.
"Rosa and Charlie are upstairs, turns out Charlie wasn't a fan of being locked down in the basement while Mother is up in bed, I think she doesn't feel too well after what happened"
I only give a quick nod as Alexander calls me over.

"Look we'll talk later on" I ruffle their hair before I leave. As I do I see Father staring at us, probably making another mental note on how I shouldn't be king.

But even though today has been so long, I can still feel his hands grasp my neck tightly, slowly suffocating me.
I turn away to Alexander as we tend another wound, his sour face in the back of my mind.

* * * * * *

It is quarter to eight when I finally make it up to my room.
After countless hours of prepping wounds and helping clean up, I am truly exhausted.

All I want to do is sleep but of course to my dismay, Odessa will probably want to play a game of chess.

When I open the door, I am shocked to see her. She sits on the edge of my bed, swiftly putting her long locks of red hair into a pony tail.

"I believe it is my time to leave you at peace" she announces as she ties her hair up with a thick elastic.

My heart flutters with the news as she continues.

"I think after my previous encounter, I can face my room and besides," she chuckles "I think you need the privacy, especially if you want to bring girls, I know you're dying to have her back"

I ogle puzzlingly at her.

"I'm on about Audery, you see if you weren't a slut this wouldn't have happened" she flings a pillow towards me.

I catch it and before I can babble "how do you even know about Audery?" she smirks, showing her plump bottom lip.

"She wrote a letter to you, I found it under the bed one day while I was inspecting your bed room. She said she misses your tender lips and your delicate hands and also did a huge fancy signature at the end with dozens of kisses, she must really like you"

I blush but throw the pillow back at her. "Stop being so nosey!" I snap.
She throws herself on the bed and then places a hand under a pillow.
She pulls out a tall slender green bottle.

"I got Alexander to bring up a red wine" she grins, showing off the tall green bottle. "I bet Audery would like this"

I rub the back of my neck. It's great to see Odessa in such a great mood but honestly, now is not the time.

"Look Odessa I do love the gesture but after today, I'm not in the mood"

Slowly she pouts her lips and sighs, placing the bottle on my bedside table aside with two wine glasses.
"You can save it for another day then" she looks down and traces her index finger over my bed sheet creases.

"I must thank you for the past few weeks. You truly were a credit to me. I don't know how I can ever repay the debt"

I can't help but break into a huge smile. "It's fine, honestly" I wave a hand at her and then sit down beside her.

Our weight compresses the bed down.
Cupping her hands I say, "As long as you're happy I couldn't care less"

She leans in close and hugs me, pecking my cheek. "Thank you for everything" she speaks softly in my ear.

She pulls herself up and walks towards the door. As she leaves, she turns and places a hand on the cream door frame. Twisting her head go the side she adds "If you ever need me, you know where to find me"

I mouth a thank you and as the door draws to a close, I can't help but place my hands on my face.
I let out a huge lament of grief that seems to have been locked inside for a long time.
Squeezing my hands, I replay the moment over my hand over and over again.
I could have saved him, I could have.

A single tear falls down my cheek as I try to steady myself.

Get a grip of yourself James, you can't always cry when something bad happens.

Silence creeps in as I can hear my faint breathing and gentle sniffling.

It feels rather odd to have a room all to myself again. I shouldn't be too pleased as Odessa is gone but it is a sacrifice she has made for me and I am truly grateful.

To keep my mind at ease, I turn towards my piano and tap a few random keys to make something come together.

Soon, something actually does come together and I am left in a trance as I sit down on my small stool, trying to play while scribbling down notes on plain music sheets. I am memorised by the melody that comes together, it is not long until I can a full song made up.

Holding a pencil in between my teeth while playing, I finally have the song perfectly written and played.

I'm glad all my worries can go away by a simply tune. It shows my brain isn't truly rotting inside my head.

It is not long that when I finish up, I notice the wine in front of me, I can't help myself but crank it open.
Mother would disapprove of my drinking habits, especially after the accident, but one wouldn't kill me.

Pouring a glass for myself, the whooshing splash makes me feel lured into the sea of cherry coloured liquid.

Taking a gentle sip, my taste buds explode by the sensation of pure goodness. Damn Alexander really does know his wines.

As I continue to sip it, the door clanks open to reveal Xavier, holding a laundry basket.
Suddenly I tense forward as I dare to look up at him.
It's been a while since we have actually spoken.

"Oh sorry, I'll leave and do it tomorrow" he mutters, dropping the basket but I urge for him to stay.

"Besides, I need some company"

"What about Odessa?" he inquires, his tone a bit too sharp for my liking as he folds clothes away.

"As of today I have my room back to myself, after the rebel attack she feels she can handle anything" I chuckle to myself, knowing that Odessa is always so cocky.

"Oh" is all he says, not looking at me.
I take another sip to fill the silence.

"So...how are you" I question, turning my feet inwards and slouching forward.
"Fine" he replies quickly. Nothing else, just an one word answer.

"Okay then" I puff my cheeks with frustration as I twirl my wine in my glass.

I let out a breath audibly with bitterness as I retort "Why have you been avoiding me ever since that night?"

I want to stop and let the question hang but I continue on "I mean I was at my lowest point and I thought we were friends and friends don't abandon each other at their darkest moments" I hold onto my wine glass so hard, I'm afraid I'll break it.

He keeps on folding my clothes, not daring to look up. "Look Xavier, I know it was hard and I mean-"

"You don't get it, do you?" He finally says. His sharp tone hangs in the air as I grasp what he has just said.
I stare confused. "I'm sorry but wh-"

Now Xavier turns to face me. I can see his salou skin and thick specs reflecting against his brown eyes. They seem a little bit fogged up.

"You don't understand any of this, do you? It won't fit into your tiny brain?"

"Xavier calm down, I can't understand what you are talking about" I am applaud by his attitude.

"Look if you're stressed we can talk about it with a glass of wine, it tastes amazing and it might cheer you up" but before I can even pick up the bottle be drops the folded clothes and knocks me onto the bed.
With a thud he leans forward, pushing down against me with his torso and lips, which are now melding in with mine.

Our lips rise and fall but I can't grasp what is going on. Goosebumps coat my arms when I manage to push Xavier off me.

He stumbles back and hits his head against the chest of drawers.

"What the-" is all I say as I realise what just happened.
I quickly pounce off the bed and crouch to his level.
"Dear god Xavier are you alright?

He slaps away my hand and shouts, "Get away from me"
I try to calm him down, cooing "relax Xavier it's okay"

"No it's not!" He vents, pushing himself away from me.
"But what about your head, you hit it pretty hard", but all he does is gets up from the ground and marches towards the door.

"Xavier wait!" I shout, but he only slams the door, leaving me clean up the spilled wine on my bed sheets.

Once I am on my own, I only realise now my full length mirror is gone.

43,"p

Hello everyone! So this is Chapter Eighteen! Whoop!
I hope you all like it, I'd love to hear your thoughts of the last few scenes!

I hope you like the piano piece, it's Tom Odell 'Another love'.
I absolutely love Tom Odell :)

Thanks for reading, have a lovely day and don't forget to smile :)