To Bewitch a Devil

139 Leaving

“Quick”, he discarded his jacket and wrapped it around her. He held her close, and when they reached the throng of people, he pulled the jacket over her head, making sure there was no silver hair showing.

Neera followed as he led her, and she could hear the noise and confusion disperse in what was once a joyous gathering. Hooves stomped on the ground, cries of kids rang, and guards ordered people around. Axel was hurrying, and Neera could feel dizziness set in with each step she took.

“Go inside”, she heard Axel say. She almost missed a step as she climbed into the carriage, but Axel held onto her till they were both in.

“Go, go, go!” Axel knocked on the roof of the carriage. But there was a throng of people exiting the castle, and it moved at a slow pace. Neera leaned against him, and Axel noticed the gauze was soaked with blood.

“I will get you to the nearest clinic as soon as we are out;”, Axel said. Neera only nodded against his chest, and he held her close, hoping she wouldn’t pass out before they were out of the castle.

Meanwhile, as the carriage moved along, Zavian ordered the search for Neera. No one could find her yet, and he was getting anxious.

All he did was own up to his truth. Neera was the only one he wanted to share his life with, and it was mutual. He had seen the fear when she stood in front of everyone, and before he knew it, she had run away. He had not expected the reaction. He had thought that she would accept him once he proposed since they both liked each other, but the reverse was the case.

He was so deep in his privilege as the King that he had wound up hurting her and scaring her away.

A guard returned to meet him. “Your Majesty, she was seen last by one of the maids. She is suspected to have left the castle.”

.....

“On foot?” Zavian panicked.

“We don’t know, your Majesty.”

Zavian paced the space in his study. He had to find her. The thought that he might never see her again looked like a future he didn’t want a part of. The fear made his heart squeeze, no, he had to find her before she would leave. Forever.

She was the person he wanted to marry, and all he wanted was her. Damn the repercussions. Only he didn’t imagine the repercussion included him losing her forever.

“I want every carriage searched”, Zavian ordered. “No one leaves until they are searched, understood? Also, search the carriages that have left. Station guards at the exit of the Kingdom.”

The guards went about their duties in haste. At the gate, Axel could finally relax when there were just two carriages ahead before they exited the palace. Neera’s hand was looking bad, and she kept her head against him.

“How are you feeling?” He asked softly,

“Woozy”, Neera slurred on her words. “I don’t know if it’s from my bleeding arm, or from everything happening.”

“Don’t worry, we will be out soon.” He assured her. Finally, he was going to be with her. The king was really delusional to think that he could marry her.

The carriage ambled on, but just when they were about to exit the castle, a guard raised a palm in front of Axel’s carriage, signifying for it to stop. Axel stretched his head outside the carriage’s window and found the guards discussing among themselves.

After talking for a few seconds, one of the guards made an announcement. “All carriages are to be searched. The King’s orders.”

“Oh no”, Axel whispered. Their carriage was the first in line. They had been so close to leaving!

Neera looked at him, her lids half closed. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s no problem.”, he watched the guards disperse, and two advanced towards his carriage. With several rasp knocks on the roof of his carriage, Axel shouted to his coachman, “Go! Now!”

The horse neighed with determination, and the guards were thrown off guard. The carriage raced outside, causing Neera to bump her wounded hand into its walls.

Axel sat back down next to her. “I’m sorry, but we are going at this speed for a while.”

Behind him, there was a dusty cloud trailing in their wake. The carriage tilted dangerously as the driver took a turn, and Neera clung onto Axel. She thought about Zavian, and the possibility that she might never see him again, but her safety mattered, and there were simply some things Zavian was not capable of protecting her from.

“No, no, no!” She heard Axel yell over her head. She looked up and found his eyes wide with alarm as he looked behind them. Neera raised her head, and trailing after them at maddening speed, were some of the King’s guards on horses.

Axel stuck his head outside the window again, and yelled at his coachman, “Don’t stop! Faster!” He looked at Neera. “We could lose them when we enter the town.”

Neera hoped they would. The carriage had gotten onto rougher terrains, and hooves thundered all around them. She could hear the ones from behind getting closer, and her hope dwindled. They were going to meet up with them, and they were going to take them back to the palace.

“Axel”, Neera called out to him. Axel must have known her thoughts because there was panic evident on her face when he looked at her.

“We could jump out at the next turning, they wouldn’t know. We just have to be really fast...” Axel spoke;

“Axel...”

“Just hold on, Neera, we are almost there.”

“Axel, I can’t.” She raised her bloodied hand to him. “I really can’t jump out.”

“I will wrap around you...”

“Axel..”

“I will not leave you to go back there, Neera,” he said. “I will not let you get killed.”

But before they even reached the turn, something snapped from underneath the carriage. Axel threw his arms around Neera as she screamed, and the carriage dragged with a screech before it came to a stop.