• Chapter 14

    “What’s on your mind Angel?”, Rian asked me, pulling me from my thoughts.

    “Home.”, I sighed.

    He looked to Caelum and sat up, “Let’s go then.”, he said, smiling and taking my hand. He pulled me up and we began the walk across the boarder.

    As we got closer, the fountain I loved so much came more into view. I smiled widely and dropped Rian’s hand to run to it.

    “Angel!”, I heard Rian shout as I neared the marvelous fountain.

    I turned my head to find two Caelum guards retaining him. “No! Let him go now!”, I roared as I ran full speed towards them.

    One of the guards grabbed hold of my shoulders. “Look miss, this is none of your business.”

    “Release me now!”, I tried to squirm from his grip, but he was too strong for me in my current state. I looked over to Rian, lying on the ground from his struggle with the guards. Tears began streaming from my eyes. “Please, let him go.”, I begged, looking up at the guard with watery eyes.

    “Wait, Princess, is that you?”, his eyes grew wide with shock. He released me and I immediately ran to Rian’s side to help him up. “Princess, I had no idea it was you. I am so sorry.”, he said, dropping his head.

    “Please, don’t worry about it.”, I said, trying to pick Rian up. My arm and back felt like they were being engulfed in flames when I attempted to lift him. “Ah!”, I yelled in pain and lowered Rian back down.

    “I’ve got you Princess.”, the guard said, lifting me up. “Nicholas! Grab the Prince!”

    “Will do Gabriel.”, Nicholas picked Rian up easily and slung him over his shoulder. “Where should we take them?”

    Gabriel looked down to me for the answer. “Home, please.”, I answered with an exasperated sigh.

    “Yes Princess.” Then Gabriel and Nicholas ran with speed only seen in cheetahs, in a matter of minutes I was being carried into my palace.

    My mother was the first to see me, her violet eyes bloodshot from crying so much and her white hair hanging a tangled mess at her ankles. “Angel!”, she wailed as she ran to me. I jumped from Gabriel’s arms and she squeezed me tightly, so tightly my arm was throbbing again.

    “Mom.. My arm is broken… and you’re hurting me.”, I said pained.

    “I’m so sorry!”, she said, sniffling, “I missed you so much.”

    “I missed you too mom, a lot.”

    Then she caught sight the healing gash on my forehead and gasped, “They did this to you?”

    I chuckled darkly, “That’s only part of it mom.” I turned so she could see my back.

    “Oh Angel.”, she said, lightly touching the lacerations on my back, “I’m so sorry you had to go through this.” She caught sight of Rian over my shoulder and her muscles immediately tensed. “What is he doing here?”

    I looked at her and smiled sheepishly, “Love.”