Chapter 6 Amaryllis
AMARYLLIS
Hair spills onto my shoulders as I untie the purple ribbon that held it in a tight bun.
Outside, the moon is high in the sky while I perch at my vanity, dressed in a short white nightgown with matching stockings to cover my sore feet.
Ribbon still in hand, I rake my fingers through my hair until the strands near my face are tucked back in a neat bow, while the rest falls over my shoulders.
Then, with a yawn, I set to work applying nighttime oils to my face.
I never used to bother, but I’ll admit the oils Camellia mixed up for each of us have worked wonders on my skin.
Sweeping the oil across my cheeks, I hum absentmindedly. I’m moments away from finishing when a loud creak interrupts my routine.
“Hello?” I call out, lowering my hand. “Dahlia? Is that you?”
There’s no response – until a cold wind sends goosebumps down my arm.
Turning from the mirror, I hear another creak as the long curtains behind my chaise longue flap in the wind. They tug on the iron bar holding them up above the open window, making it groan ominously.
I want to laugh, but nothing comes out.
I really don’t remember opening that window…
Rising from my vanity, I make my way over to the chaise longue. I’m almost at the flowing curtains when a flash of black whips past me.
“Who’s there?” I squeak, whirling around. But the room is still empty. All I can see is my four-poster bed, my gilded vanity, my bookshelves, a tall dark figure by the dresser, and—
A tall dark figure!?
Air rushes from my chest. I open my mouth to scream, but before any noise can come out, the figure darts towards me and clamps a hand over my mouth.
My heart slams against my ribs. I think I’m going to collapse, until I feel arms wrapping around my waist, and the intense scent of leather fills my nose.
“It’s alright. Don’t be afraid. It’s just me.” The voice is low, soothing, but still my eyes stay shut.
“Listen to me, it’s alright. You’re safe. Open your eyes, Ruby,” he says again.
Slowly, my eyes open.
Before me, his face lit up by candlelight, stands the man who saved me three nights ago in Night Alley. But of course he’s not just a man – he’s an assassin. The very word fills me with fear, and yet, for some reason I haven’t stopped thinking about him.
I never told my sisters the full story. They know that I met the Scorpion, and that he agreed to help us with Hugo, but Blossom would throw a fit if she found out that I’d invited an assassin into the palace.
She’d tell me I should’ve left as soon as I found out what he really was.
She’d say princesses are like prey to men like him, and she’d be right.
I certainly feel like prey as he towers over me, clad in black leather with daggers peeking from his sleeves.
But there’s something else there too, underneath all the fear – something that feels warm and tingly, and makes my fingers want to explore a certain forbidden place on my body.
“You shouldn’t be in here,” I whisper as his hand falls away from my mouth.
He shrugs. “I said I’d come and find you.” Lifting his chin, he glances around my bedchamber. “Pretty room for a maid.”
I swallow. “Yes, um… well, the princesses are very kind to me.”
“Seems like it,” he grumbles. Then his tone softens. “I found a way to get Hugo to leave the palace.”
“You did?”
He nods, still keeping a tight grip on my waist. “Once I confront him there’s no way he’ll want to stay here. I just need to catch him alone and then you and your… close friends can live in peace.”
There’s no hiding my joy. “Oh, thank you! Thank you! We’ll pay you. I mean, the princesses will. Anything you want, it’s yours.” This is all so perfect. Hugo will be gone and everything will be as it was. “Oh, and there’s a ball next week!” I add.
He lifts an eyebrow.
“I mean, there’s a ball next week, so if you need to confront Hugo with less risk of being caught, many of the guards will take time off to attend the ball, and the servants will be busy preparing,” I explain. “It would be a good time to speak with him.”
A soft hum vibrates through his chest. “And I suppose you will be attending this ball?”
“Of course,” I say, but then I catch myself. “I mean… I’ll be attending to help with the food and tidy the plates, and—” Quick, what else do maids do? “Make sure the princesses are alright, and—”
I gasp as his grip on my waist tightens.
“Princess Amaryllis.” His tone makes my knees feel weak. He knows my name… of course he does. “You really shouldn’t have lied to me.”
My insides twist. Perhaps I should try to scream again. But I doubt the guards would reach me in time.
“I’m so sorry,” I blurt. “I just didn’t know if I could trust you. I know it’s not safe out there for princesses. Father always says—”
“Do not bring your father into this conversation,” he growls.
I flinch. “I’m sorry! I would’ve told you the truth if I’d known I could trust you.
” Tears blur my vision, but I blink them away.
There’s no point in crying. If he wanted me dead, I’d be dead already.
Then again, by the way his hand has just slipped lower on my back, perhaps he wants something else first.
“Ruby…” he mutters.
I swallow.
Stars give me strength. With a strained breath, I dip my head. “Do what you want with me, but please, spare my sisters. They didn’t do anything wrong. It was my decision to go to Night Alley. My decision to find you. None of them even know that you’re here! Please, you can just kill me and leave!”
Any minute now, I’ll feel a dagger pierce my chest. I’ve angered an assassin, and now I’m going to die. I hear quiet footsteps as the Scorpion moves away, any warmth leaving the space on my back where his hand touched me.
Perhaps it’s not so bad. At least I know Blossom will be there for my sisters. They’ll be alright without me. Maybe everything will be—
A strange sound pulls me from my panic. Is that… laughter?
I lift my head. A few metres away, my killer leans against my bedpost, eyeing me with an amused expression.
“Why would you ever think I’d kill you?” he asks, holding back laughter.
“Well, I…” My heart skips a beat. “Wait. You’re not going to kill me?”
With a chuckle, the Scorpion shakes his head. “I can’t deny that it hurts to learn that you lied to me. But I’m not going to kill you, Ruby. I only kill people who deserve it, remember?”
“Oh,” I breathe.
“It was definitely a shock, though,” he continues, folding his arms. “Learning I had a princess in my office was quite a surprise. Especially one of Sol’s treasured daughters. Never thought I’d see the day when he’d let one of his own out of their gilded cage.”
“It’s not a cage here.” I narrow my eyes.
The Scorpion chuckles. “Clearly not any more if he’s willing to let you explore Night Alley on your own.”
My lip curls. Just because Father wants to keep us safe doesn’t mean we’re prisoners. He loves us. The world out there is dangerous, and I have first-hand experience of that danger now.
“You’re wrong,” I argue. “This palace has never been like a prison to us. Our father’s just trying to keep us safe.
He’s a good king, but there are horrible people out there.
Horrible, evil people who don’t believe in him and don’t trust him to make the best decisions.
I don’t really understand it. Surely they can see he’s a gift to our kingdom from the Stars.
” The smile on my face echoes the pride I feel in my core.
I love Father. He’ll always do what’s best for us.
But my smile falters when I catch the Scorpion’s horrified expression.
“He’s really got you, hasn’t he?” he mutters.
“What are you talking about? Father loves his people. He was chosen by the Stars to take care of them. He—”
“Your father is the worst king this kingdom has seen in centuries!” the Scorpion snarls as he marches towards me.
“Have you no idea of what he’s done? The havoc he’s wreaked on our cities?
The number of his people who are starving and poorer than they’ve ever been?
The unnecessary wars he’s started with our allies? ”
“Stop.” I shake my head. “You’re wrong. Father wouldn’t do that.”
“Wouldn’t he? What about all the innocent people he’s had executed? The women he’s raped?”
No. He would never.
“But you kill people!” I yell. “Whatever my father did, I’m sure he’d have a good reason!”
“Don’t you ever compare what I do to him!” the Scorpion seethes, his features darkening with anger. He’s inches away now, so close I can feel his breath on my cheeks.
When I don’t reply, he turns from me to pace around my room. “Your father is a swine. And I’m not the only one who thinks that, either. Ask anyone outside the palace. Shit, even the guards here would probably agree.”
“No. That’s not true.”
“Yes, it is,” he growls, continuing to pace back and forth in front of my bed. “Stars, I knew Sol was bad, but I never thought he’d stoop this low. Manipulating his own daughters.”
“Stop.” I scowl.
“You know he visits Night Alley too? I’ve seen him there. He’s no stranger to the whorehouses and dragging unwilling women back to the palace with him. Can’t blame them for not wanting to go, though. They don’t always make it back in one piece.”
“I don’t want to hear any more!” I shout, but I can hardly hear myself over the pounding of blood in my ears. None of this is true. Father is a good man, and he loves us all. The Scorpion is lying. He has to be.
Breathing heavily, I don’t know what’s happening before it’s already too late. One moment, I’m scrambling around for something to cover my ears; the next, a pointe shoe is in my hand until suddenly it’s flying towards the Scorpion’s head.
I gasp as my shoe soars through the air. It hits the side of his head with enough force to make him flinch.
My heart stops.
Slowly, he turns to stare at me with a wide-eyed look.
At least he’s no longer talking…