Early the next day, Ella stood out in the woods, waiting for Ava to meet her. The trees towered over her like menacing shadows, covering her in their darkness as the sun rose from the horizon.
She knew she was being completely idiotic. That she left the castle without telling Blake where she was going. How she strolled out from the farm house so the guards wouldn’t see her.
Ella just felt so helpless, stupid, and weak... She wanted to prove that she was strong enough to depend on herself...
Deep inside, she knew she needed to be watched. She had horrid thoughts that crept through her head at times. Mainly ones that wanted her to hurt herself... the others were ones that she wanted to hurt others... get revenge… but whenever she had those thoughts, she would tell herself that she was crazy... a psycho... and the suicidal thoughts would overcome them.
Ella would rather have those than want to hurt others.
Suddenly, a rustling noise came from behind her, and she flipped around to see a tall girl running up to her.
When Ella saw the girl’s golden locks, she lowered the black hood off her red hair, making her strands shine in the sunlight that was now peering out of the tree tops.
Ava stopped three feet away, panting as if she ran a mile. Then she looked up, stepping to Ella slowly.
“Ella,” Ava whispered, “you’re in trouble... A huge amount of trouble....”
“I guessed that,” Ella said with a light chuckle. “I was beaten pretty badly.”
Her stepsister glanced around, a worried look clouding her expression. “Where’s Prince Blake?”
“I didn’t tell him I was going to be here,” Ella stated. “I’m tired of having him worry about me.”
“Ella,” Ava’s eyes widened at her words, “you shouldn’t have snuck out like that. How is he going to find you if you’re in trouble?”
“I can take care of myself.” Ella’s voice had a tiny hint of irritation in it.
“Sister, listen,” Ava pleaded. “You can’t take care of yourself all the time. You weren’t raised right. You were raised horribly, and I know that your mind isn’t in the right place currently.”
“What do you mean?” Ella asked defensively.
“You’re hurting,” she explained. “You’re insecure, in pain, and you’re scared.”
All that did was make her brows draw together.
“Ella,” Ava said, “your mind is vulnerable. Prince Blake is not the only one who can read it, you know. And you need to know, Sister, that there are more mind powers than just reading them. People can control it, make you see things that aren’t really there, they can make you go crazy.
“You’re in so much pain right now, Sis,” Ava said, “that your mind is so vulnerable to her... to my mother... and you need to be around the Prince because he’s purposely protecting your mind with his.”
“What?” Ella said.
“Trust me,” Ava begged. “You need to stay with him until you can learn how to fight, keep yourself safe, Sis.”
“How is he protecting my mind?”
“With his,” Ava said again. “You have to listen to me. You have to. Call him, Ella. Tell him you’re here. I can’t protect you anymore.”
“Wait... what...?”
“Call him. Call him through your mind.”
“No... I can’t... He’s done enough, don’t you think?”
“You can do it,” Ava said. “Just think about him and talk to him.”
“Ava, why aren’t you listening to me?” Ella questioned. “I can’t... he gets angry... his eyes... they’re terrifying....”
Ava stared into Ella’s eyes sympathetically. “I have to go. But first I need you to listen,” her voice became quieter. “There’s a cabin by the waterfall. You’ll see it if you walk forward for three minutes. When you reach it, go inside, lock all doors, and call Prince Blake.”
“Why?”
“You need shelter, Sis,” Ava explained. “You’re sick and you need safety. But you have to call him before you fall asleep.”
“Wait... sick...?”
“Call him, Ella.” And Ava vanished.
*****
Ava was right. It only took three minutes until she reached a log cabin by a waterfall. The coffee-colored wood glistened in the sunrise when Ella stood by the front door.
When she turned the knob, she was surprised to find the door unlocked, and she walked in.
The room was awfully warm for early morning, a cotton bed resting on the right with silk sheets tucked in on the corners, there were no lights on... so no one was home... and Ella saw multiple cabinets filled with medication, mugs, and glasses in the kitchen area.
She walked over to the bed and sat down, concern prickling her nerves.
Was this someone’s home? Did she barge in uninvited?
Then she tried to do what Ava said. Ella focused on Prince Blake, picturing him. His image faded and she opened her eyes.
No... I will not call him... she thought. I’m just going to stay here... for a little...
And Ella fell onto the bed, suddenly feeling exhausted.
She closed her eyes for a moment, letting her mind drift off...
“Ella!” A voice echoed through the woods, making her eyes shoot open. “Where the hell are you? Ella!”
Don’t respond, she managed to say to herself, I’m not safe anymore... Not with him... or at home... He won’t find me here... I’m okay now...
“Ella!” Blake cried. “Where are you, Princess? Answer me!”
I’m safe now...
Faintly, as the darkness consumed her, Ella heard rain pattering against the windows. She opened her eyes slightly to find dark grey clouds covering the sky.
Slowly, her lashes closed, and she drifted off to sleep.
*****
The rain patted against the wood of the cabin the moment Blake entered. And he saw Ella curled up on the bed, cheeks flushed with fever, and her breaths came out in soft shivers.
"Oh, God...” he almost sobbed. “Why the hell did you run away like that? GOD!”
But when she didn’t respond, he knew she was asleep.
Gently, he closed the front door behind him, locking the bolt. After shaking out his wet locks, he walked over to Ella as she slept quietly.
Blake pressed the back of his hand to her forehead, then her cheeks, noticing that she was burning up.
He shook his head angrily and stepped over to the medicine cabinet, pulling out a bottle full of liquid pain killers. Hopefully, they would make her fever go down.
When he poured the exact amount of purple liquid into the cap, he stepped over to Ella and settled against the head board, letting his legs cross.
His weight on the mattress seemed to make her stir, and her eyes opened slowly.
She looked up at him, and her eyes widened. “No... no... NO!”
“It’s okay,” he cooed. “I’m here, okay?”
“No! No! Please, don’t hurt me!”
“Ella,” Blake’s brows drew together, “why would I want to hurt you?”
“I’m sorry that I left!” she continued to confess, trying to back away from him, but her body felt heavy. “Really,” she nodded fast, “I am... Yeah, yeah, I am... I know I did wrong... Yes... I don’t need to be punished, right?”
“Wh- what?” he said. “I mean... yeah, I’m pissed that you left without telling me, and then hid in a cabin... with the door unlocked.” He let out a sigh. “But... that doesn’t mean I’m going to hurt you, my love.”
Ella froze, staring up at him. “No?”
“No, Sweetheart,” Blake soothed. “That’s not how you teach lessons... You know that... right?”
She relaxed a bit. “Yes... I know... I didn’t know how you... dealt with... people who disobey you....”
Gently, he slid his hands under her arms, lifting her up slightly. She was dead weight, unable to move an inch, but he didn’t mind it. He just gently dragged her to rest in a sitting position against his chest, and he didn’t miss the fact that her breathing was strained.
“Prince Blake....” Despite her exhaustion, Ella voice had a quiet relief. “I don’t feel... that good....”
“Hush...” Blake breathed. “It’s okay, Sweetheart. You’re just a little ill. I’m here now, okay? And I know you’re scared,” he brushed her hair away from her eyes, “but I will never hurt you, understand?”
She seemed to relax more... as if she were starting to believe him. “I feel cold... but I feel hot...” she whispered, eyes glazed over with a little pain.
“I know. Drink this please.” Gently, he pressed the rim of the measuring cup to her lips, tilting the medicine into her mouth.
“Wait! What is it?”
“It’s just pain meds,” Blake promised. “Macrokine... You remember it... right?”
And Ella relaxed again, swallowing it down even though it tasted like rotting apples.
Very gently, Blake guided her to rest on his lap. He pulled out a soft blanket from a woven basket next to the bed, and carefully draped it over shivering Ella, who snuggled into it like a terrified child.
She couldn’t help it... it was too soft...
“I’m sorry...” Ella said suddenly. “I just... I didn’t think this through....”
Blake slid down so she rested her head on his chest, and he stroked her hair in long caresses, pulling his arm around her back so she was pressed to him. And he let the soothing shivers of this gesture calm her pain. “It’s okay, Princess. You don’t have to apologize. I’m not angry, just a little scared... that’s all.”
Ella tried to look at him, but her head was too heavy. “You’re not mad...?”
“No,” he assured her, “I’m not.”
Ella could hear the soothing rhythm of his heart, gentle and soft, like his own type of music... and it made her want to fall asleep again, but she was scared that she wouldn’t wake up.
“Prince Blake...” she whispered sadly, “I made a horrible decision... and I’m sorry... I just wanted to be in control... I felt desperate... And I messed up... I’m sorry that I made you worry... Please... you can be mad at me... You can be furious... Don’t lie about that... I deserve it... I’m sorry... Please—”
Blake silenced her by pressing his finger to her mouth. “I’m not angry,” he said gently. “I’m not going to be angry. And I understand, Sweetheart. You have control over yourself, I’m not trying to take that away. And I’m sorry if you think that. But I will tell you this,” he pulled her closer, his breath warming her cheeks, “I need you to trust me, Princess. You’re in a huge amount of danger. It could get you killed, and I can’t deal with that.”
“I want to trust you...” Ella said softly, hoping he would believe her. She didn’t want to cause him any more pain. “I’m starting to... Before... I was scared... but I saw what you were doing... I should’ve known... You’re my guardian Angel... But I now see that you’re trying to protect me... because you care about me... And I need to stop making all these stupid decisions....”
“Everyone makes mistakes, Princess,” Blake said. “I don’t want you beating yourself up over it, okay?”
Ella managed a little nod. “Okay... Thank you for being so kind to me....”
Blake tried not to squeal in happiness like a child. She just said... thank you... not... I don’t deserve you... Hell, yes!
“You can go back to sleep,” he suggested gently. “I’ll be right here.”
“I can’t...” she said quietly, “I’m afraid I won’t wake... I feel like I’m dying... Like every part of me is paralyzed... Numb... It’s terrifying....”
“You’re not paralyzed,” Blake assured her. “If you were, you wouldn’t be able to feel me.”
“I’m just scared...” Ella breathed, trying to hold back tears. She didn’t want to show that she was weak. That she acted like a child... Spoiled... Cries when they trip and only get a scrape on their elbow...
“Can you feel me?” Blake whispered softly. “My hand? What it’s doing?”
“You... you’re stroking my hair...” Ella said.
His hand trailed down to her neck, rubbing the crook in tender circles. “What about now?”
He heard the panic in her tone calm, but replaced with a little moan. “You’re... massaging my neck....”
“Right.” Blake smiled sadly. “So are you paralyzed?”
“No....” Ella’s voice became quiet.
“That’s right. You’re safe.” Gently, Blake traced the pattern of her arms, all the bends of the skin. Her shoulder blades, the crook of her elbow, down to the outlines of her palm. And he proceeded to press his lips to them as well, making Ella’s thoughts calm.
“Blake...” she said in the same tone every time he kissed her arms.
“Breathe,” he murmured, lips moving on the skin of her cheek. “I need you to sleep, Princess, okay?”
“No…” Ella said. “I… please… I... You don’t believe me, do you? How scared I am?”
“I do believe you, Sweetheart. I need you to understand that. But I also need you to understand that a part of healing is letting yourself rest.”
“No….”
“Okay,” he said in defeat, “if you really don’t want to, but you have to listen to me, okay?”
“It depends on what you want me to listen to…” Ella stated.
“Close your eyes,” Blake said softly.
“I don’t want to sleep!”
He stroked her lip with his thumb, trying to calm her frustration and fear, but really it made something inside her burn.
“Oh, geez...” Ella exclaimed at the fire in her navel.
She gasped a little when she saw his eyes study her, making her burn worse, and he smiled his playful, devilish smile.
“Do you remember,” he said, doing that annoying smirk that now made heat roll through her, “that night?”
“Which... night...?” What was happening to her? Why was she feeling this way?
“When I kissed you?” He tilted his head to the side, his playful smile teasing her with a different angle.
“Umm...” she tried to calm her heart that started pounding, “yes....”
He continued to run his thumb on her lip, eyes glowing with something she couldn’t name. “Do you want me to do it again?”
Her lips parted... and she nodded...
Blake leaned down, a burst of warmth consumed her as he kissed her temple, then her cheek, chin, and left a light touch on her lips.
He smiled as he hovered his mouth over hers, waiting for her to get desperate.
She started shaking with excitement, and he kissed her again gently, running his thumb on a soft part of her neck.
“Blake...” she wined.
“Do you want more?” he teased, hovering his lips over hers. “Hmm?”
She nodded. “Yes....”
“Well, my love,” he smiled, “you’re going to have to wait.”
“No!” Ella whimpered. “No! That’s cruel!”
“Sleep,” he said, “and I’ll think about it.”
“Prince Blake....” She pouted like a child that got her favorite toy taken from her.
He kissed her lightly again. “Sleep, my Princess.”
She let out an annoyed sigh. “Fine....”
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