It had been a week since I drunkenly made my entrance into Alexandria again. Aiden came to check up on me every chance he got. He brought me medication and clothes and food. As usual, he would lecture me about safety and apologize for what he had done. In my head, I still loved Aiden, it was impossible not to. But in my heart, I knew I couldn't forgive him for a long time.
"One step- careful!"
I took a tiny step as Aiden stood in front of me guiding my strides forward. I felt like a baby attempting to take the first steps while the parent holds out their hand. My bandages were still on, but the bottom of my feet had become smoother, according to Doctor Simone.
"Take my hand," Aiden says and hands it out to me. I look at the hand and then at his desirous eyes. With a hard swallow, I nod and take his hand. They wrap around mine instantly, and I feel tingles all over my body. I missed his touch. "There you go." Aiden smiles at the big step I took which motivates me to walk faster across the room.
As I take another step, the pain from my feet sends a stinging shock to my body causing me to trip and fall into Aiden's arms. I blink vigorously, feeling my hands holding onto his biceps.
"Are you okay?" he asks straightening me up, his hands on my hips and mine still gripping his muscles. I stare into his eyes, and they look so innocent and worried. I gulp and let go. He notices the tension and brings the wheelchair towards me.
After helping me sit, he calls in Mary.
"I have some business call to attend. Mary, did you already leave dinner in my room?" Aiden asks. I keep looking at the floor, my hands in my lap.
"Yes, your highness."
I feel him linger around me, and then leave the chamber.
Letting out the breath I was holding, Mary comes and sits in front of me.
"What happened?" she asks like I'm about to tell her some hot gossip.
"I crashed into him, and we had this moment. Like, I felt weird all over my body."
"Ooh girl, you're in loveeee," she sings the word 'love' and giggles like an idiot. Mary comes back around and exits the dorm. I reach the foyer and see that girl from last week. Mary had told me her name was Ingrid.
How ugly.
"Good morning ladies," she chirps. I scoff and look at the main entrance door where the sun is shining through the glass and hitting her face. "Going for a ride?" She smiles at me innocently, and I can't help but roll my eyes. And feel like punching her.
"What are you still doing here, Ingrid?" I spit out her name with bitterness.
"I'm standing by Aiden's side," she leans down to my level and whispers, "something you can't do."
My nose flares with anger, and I can feel that punch making it's way to my hand.
"Iris, why don't we leave-"
"No, Mary. I have something to say to Ingrid." I put my hands on the handles of the wheelchair and stand up. I hear Mary gasp as I take tiny steps towards her, hoping I don't fall and ruin this badass moment. When I'm all up in her stupid, different looking face, I whisper, "Who's standing now, bitch?"
She scoffs and folds her arms. Mary brings the wheelchair, and I sit down back in my spot.
"Chocolate?" Mary offers and I scoff at her gesture. What is she doing giving the enemy food?
"For what?" Ingrid asks taking it.
"It's my birthday." Mary smiles, and I watch Ingrid unwrap it and pop it into her mouth. I give Mary a frown and turn around. It is her birthday after all. "Don't sleep too late!" Mary waves and we leave Ingrid all alone.
"Thanks, traitor," I say sarcastically.
"Iris, you have really changed since you left," Mary says to me while pushing the wheelchair down the hallway.
"I just became more brave and confident."
"You think you can teach me?" she says.
"Let's start now!" I say turning my head back and looking at her. She gives me a confused look.
"How?"
I smirk and look straight ahead. "Go as fast as you can."
She hesitates, but I can feel the speed picking up and eventually its Fast and Furious twenty-one around here. I scream with joy as we rush down the hallway, servants and maids staring at us like we're crazy.
"Let's go!" I yell feeling the air in my hair and Mary's laugh lighting up my world. I haven't felt like this in so long.
"And just what do you think you're doing?"
Mary stops suddenly, almost sending me flying off but I grip onto the handles and look up at the person.
"Y-Your highness," I say quietly and bow my head. I can tell Mary is freaking out because the wheelchair is vibrating a little. Queen Alexandra stares at us with her two bodyguards behind her before signalling them off.
"Let me try," she requests. I gawk at her and Mary looks like her soul left her body. Before coming to help me, Mary-Jane was with the queen, and I'm pretty sure Alexandra was sober.
"I'm sorry, what?" I say. The shock and surprise in my voice are beyond anything.
"You heard me. I want to try," she says grabbing my arm and making me stand up. At that moment, I smell a strong whiff of alcohol from her breath. Ew.
I look at Mary who's staring at me all worried, her hands sweating like her forehead. "H-help?"
"She's drunk. Very drunk," I whisper trying to walk towards her. "If something happens. It's accidental."
"Bring the p-pretty girl cru-crutches!" The queen laughs after. Her head going back and forth and round and round.
In a few minutes, I am handed crutches that help me stand next to Mary. "Just one ride." I look at the queen, and she nods like a child. She's in her nightgown which means she was most likely having dinner while Mary was with her.
"Iris, I don't wanna do this!" Mary pleads, and I put my hand on her shoulder.
"Good luck soldier," I say and give her a small push to move forward. She waits a few seconds before drifting off. I watch at the queen squealing with happiness, and I think-
The queen hasn't felt this way since the death of her husband.
"What are you doing here?"
I freeze at the voice and crutch around. Aiden stands there in a white t-shirt and sweatpants as usual. It's like he has nothing else to wear. His face looks pale, in a sick kind of way. I watch as he puts his hand on his stomach and then running it through his hair.
"Um," I look to the side where a guard stands, but he is not the talking type, "I was just getting some air."
"Let me take you to your room-"
"Actually," I cut him off, catching him by surprise. His hair looks so good this way. "Can we go to your room?" I gulp at my question, but he just smiles warmly and nods.
"Guards, wheel-"
"No-" I interrupt again. "Give me a piggyback ride." I come forward and throw my crutches to the ground. The guard picks them up and walks away leaving us two the only ones in a deserted hallway.
"I'm sorry what?" he looks startled and confused. I chuckle at his expression and ask him to turn around. He blinks several times before turning back and kneeling down bringing his arms back. I close my eyes and smile at his cuteness before hopping on. His hands supporting my bottom as he starts strolling. "Wow, you're very light." I hear him pant and groan every now and then.
"I blame you."
"I deserve that," he says with a laugh. I rest my chin on his shoulder and wrap my arms around his lower neck area.
"I'm sorry for what I said," I whisper. He chuckles and brings me up so I won't fall down.
"You don't- you don't have the right to say that. I'm the sorry one. I hate myself for what I did to you," he says quietly. I listen to his ragged breathing and look down at his struggling feet.
"You're right, but I feel that we are meant to be- but then," I sigh, "I think we are just forcing it."
"What do you mean?" he asks as we walk- well as Aiden walks. I look around to see if there are any guards, but no one is around.
"I mean that we," I stop trying to come up with words about how I felt with Elior, "- we found other people."
He stops walking and looks to the side, which technically means he's looking back at me. "Iris, I sent an entire army of my finest soldiers to that island to protect yours. What are you trying to say?"
"I don't- I don't know. Aiden, I just, I feel like that we fell apart," my voice breaks and I feel tears in my eyes.
He gently puts me back on my feet and takes my face in his hand. I look down as tears fall to the ground.
"Look at me," he says, and I do look at his eyes that are filled with devastation and redness. "I'm not giving up on us."
"I know you won't give up on us," I say taking a deep breath, "but you gave up on me." My face becomes straight, and I kick him away. I remove the bandages from my feet and watch his face twist into a series of uncertainty, struggle, and... betrayal.
He falls to his knees, clutching onto his neck. His face turning red and the veins popping out. He falls to the ground, gripping his stomach. A series of groans coming out of him from where I kicked.
"What- what did-did you do?" He struggles to say, and I walked up to him, my eyes dark and filled with rage. Like the Iris from Canna.
"How was dinner?" I say bending down and watching him cope. He held onto his neck and looked into my eyes. "It's surprising what raw meat and raw eggs can do to you." I sigh and stand up dusting my hands.
Just then Lee and Miles march down the hall with four gas masks. I smile at them as they hand me one and put the other two on their face. I lift up Aiden's face and attach the mask, so he doesn't die from-
"The carbon monoxide is ready to flow, just tell me when," Lee says. I look at Aiden, and the venom in his eyes makes me more motivated.
I kiss my fingers and place it on his mask where his lips are. After that, I stand and stride down the hall to where the front entrance is. I see Mary with the same mask and an empty wheelchair in her hands.
"What happened?" I ask, even though I already know.
"Let's just say someone accidentally fell off the wheelchair and accidentally drowned and had no one around to help," she says and shrugs.
"Makes sense."
We walk out, and the guards protecting the door are on the floor, they're stomachs still moving because I am not killer. Neither are the three behind me. After all, it was all accidental.
"Lee," I say stepping out of the palace as a car awaits us. I turn to face the palace and the shadow that spreads on me. "Do it."
I take a deep breath once the button is pressed and make my way to the limo. From the driver's seat Drew gets out and from the passenger, Zed.
"You know the gas mask won't protect Aiden," Miles says catching up with me as I make my way towards the car door.
"I know," I turn around one last time. "I just want to know if he would live to see me one last time."
"How would you know that?" He asks. I look at him and take off my mask. I eye the palace that was letting out the CO from the front door.
"When he comes to kill me."
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what the actual shit nuggets?
this story is just!!!! i told you i was gonna go crazy!
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UPDATE: well all of you hate me. Just so you know, this is MY book I wrote it and I will continue writing it the way I want. If you can't appreciate that then you can kindly read another book. I don't like to stick with one plot. I just don't want this story to be about Aiden and Iris. I want it also to be about Iris only or Iris and Elior or Lee or Miles etc.
If I see hate comments I will sue. I'm kidding I don't have tht much power. Lol but fr you guys will GET what u deserve trust me. Iris has so many possible love interest and I wanna make her the most complex character not just simple "haha I'm a maid and tht prince looks hot let's get married" NO!
Now, if you don't appreciate complicated characters then BE GONE! Also can y'all please vote before you leave?
Thank you and let's create this a safe environment 💕