He rubbed the back of his neck where he was pricked, desperate for some way to get out. *** Her eyes widened as she held it gingerly, inspecting it with adoration. Her fingers brushed over the details and she looked up at him with a wide grin. She quickly stepped forward and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Burke! I love it!"
After a few hours, he would hear a door open and footsteps coming down to him. * * * He flushed, squinting at her. "Aw, don't be silly. It was nothin'."
Tristan, Ellie's brother, flanked by two guards, approached him, his hands behind his waist. "Xavier." * * * "I'm glad you think so."
He watched him. "Tristan. You know this is foolish." *** She seemed happy, relaxing again as she observed it.
"Do I?" he replied sharply. "My sister won't wake up, Xavier, and you were drunk. She's might not wake up." * * * He offered her a chair, raising an eyebrow.
"I wasn't drunk," he said fiercely. "Someone else was in the room. They injected me with something and tossed the bottle. I was asleep until it all happened. I followed them to the balcony but they were gone." *** She sat down, her eyes bright. "Thank you."
He squinted but shook his head. "I believe you thought that's what happened, Xavier, but we have guards posted outside all night. No one was there." * * * "Sure. Now, that weapon is for self-defense only, ya hear?"
"I'm telling you," he said angrily. "It was someone else." *** She rolled her eyes playfully. "I only ever fight for self defense. I'm not that bad."
"You were the only one in the room," he said flatly. "We will try to wait to put you on trial until Ellie wakes up." * * * "This dagger won't work unless it's in self-defense, you know."
He nodded before gesturing with his head towards the stairs. They left him alone in that dungeon, closing the door behind him. * * ** He sat down next to her, sighing as he draped an arm over her shoulder playfully. "Great."
Hours passed. Then days. Then weeks. From the whispers, he heard that Ellie's state was unchanged and that the royal siblings were growing nervous. * * * "I'm really glad you like it."
Xavier stayed in the dungeon, growing weary and afraid of what her and his fate might be. *** She nodded, leaning her head back onto his arm. "I do."
One day, on the third month, Tristan came down to him. He was alone this time. "Xavier?" * * * "Don't stab me."
He looked tired, but he spoke. "We're removing Ellie's life support," he said quietly. "She's not going to wake up." * * * "I should hope not."
"She's been gone for the last three months," he replied sharply. "We're taking her off. She's not coming back. As to what we're going to do with you, we're moving the gears to get you a trial." * * * He laughed, looking over at her. "You barely know me."
