“Why didn’t you say something?!”
“I didn’t know you were expecting Stephan today!”
We were interrupted by the sound of someone pressing the door chime to my room. “Yes?” I called out.
“It’s me, Stephan. Can I come in?”
Quietly, I said to Ella, “You need to go. I’ll fill you in later.” Giggling, she let me push her to the door. Her girly giggles drove me crazy sometimes. It also drove me crazy how she could switch from being concerned to absurd at the flip of a coin.
Taking a deep breath, I answered the door. Stephan was clearly surprised to see both Ella and me in my room. Evidently, he had spent some time getting ready to see me; he looked handsome. His simple outfit of dark brown slacks and a snug button-up forest green shirt did wonders on him. I wondered how I had never noticed how good-looking he was before that moment. “Oh. I didn’t know you were with Ella right now. I can come back later.”
“No, that’s ok. I was just leaving. I’ll see you two later.” She waved with her fingers as she left and Stephan chuckled at her silliness.
Fickle Ella.
I stood aside and gestured for him to enter. My chest ached and stomach turned – in a good way – and it made me even more confused. As the door slid shut behind me, I leaned back against it. Stephan turned around only a couple feet away from me. With his grey-green eyes looking into mine, he said, “I ran into Peter when I was trying to find you in the library.”
“Oh. You did?”
Stephan took a step closer. “He told me what you did and why you did it.”
“He did it, but I was going to,” I corrected.
Why did Peter tell Ella and Stephan that I broke up with him?
I couldn’t look away from Stephan’s gaze.
Trees and Blossoms. I love him, too. What is wrong with me that I didn’t realize it sooner?
“So, he told you I broke up with him because I have feelings for both of you?” I asked, inwardly grimacing with embarrassment for some reason.
He shrugged. “Well, he said you broke up because you’re not sure if you are in love with either one of us, but I suppose it’s all semantics.” He took another small step forward and hesitantly took one of my hands in his.
“Right. Semantics.”
I’m down to one-word phrases now. Great. He just kissed me the other night. Why am I nervous? Because everything is different now. That’s why. And now I am rambling in my head.
He laughed breathily. “You don’t need to feel nervous with me, Rose. I’m still the same person.” He pulled me closer to him; we were now only a few inches apart.
He knows I’m nervous. Of course he knows. He knows me.
I swallowed hard. “Yes, but now I have tingles running up and down all over me at the very sight of you.”
Did I just vocalize that?! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!
“Is that so?” Stephan smirked and put a hand around my waist and pulled me in the rest of the way.
Don’t shut up. Answer him.
I still couldn’t turn my gaze away from his, though his eyes said so many things he had never told me until two days ago. “Yes? I mean – yes.”
Letting go of my hand, he brought his up and traced the edge of my face with it. Tilting his head, he said, “You are so beautiful, Rose. I love everything about you from your bright green eyes to your soft heart.” He brought his face within an inch of mine and looked at my lips.
He’s going to kiss me. He’s going to kiss me outside tradition and I’m going to let him. And I’m excited for it. I hope it’s more than a peck. I hope he ravishes me. Ravishes? Do people even say that anymore? Does that mean what I think it means or something more than what I want? I know what I want. I want Stephan to kiss me. I’m rambling in my head again…when did that start happening? When Stephan threw me for a loop. That’s when.
I bit the corner of my bottom lip and could only stutter, “Th – Thank you. You’re beautiful, too. Handsome. I mean, handsome.” I closed my eyes in self-mortification.
When did I become a stuttering fool like this? I was never like this with Peter. Of course, we were together nearly as long as we knew each other. I’ve never been in a situation like this with Stephan. Not on our own, at least.
He misinterpreted the closing of my eyes and brushed his lips against mine tentatively. I could feel him smile in his kiss and swallow. I involuntarily mimicked his swallow. Cradling my head, he gave me a deeper, but still gentle kiss. My knees weakened beneath me and I could barely stay standing. As he pulled me in closer and supported my weight, I felt him sigh and I shivered. I couldn’t resist reciprocating by putting my hands around his neck and bringing him as close as I could.
Yes. This is what I wanted.
I’m not sure how long we stood there kissing and holding onto each other, allowing ourselves to explore each other’s heads, necks, backs, waists and hips in a way we had never even considered before; all I knew was that it felt right. It didn’t feel like something I needed or wanted to hide. It wasn’t a secret to be kept. It wasn’t silly or frivolous. It was real and I never wanted it to end.
At that moment, I could clearly see that I was a mess of perplexity. I thought my feelings for Peter were the strongest I would ever feel, but then, in Stephan’s arms, I felt the same strength, different as it may be. With Peter, it was a passionate love. With Stephan, I felt the years of companionship that built up to that point in time; to the moment of our first real kiss.
When he finally stopped our kiss, I opened my eyes and smiled at him. Stephan smiled in relief back to me. “You have no idea how long I have wanted to do that.”
I giggled.
Did I seriously just giggle?
“How long?” I asked breathlessly.
“Hmm.” He spent a moment calculating; I could see it in his expression. “Ten years, give or take a few months.”
With wide eyes, I said, “Ten years?! You’ve been in love with me for a decade and you never said anything? That’s longer than I’ve even known Peter. We could have had so much longer together if you had said something.”
Stephan chuckled. “I was fifteen, Rose. What is a fifteen-year-old boy supposed to do with emotions like this? Scratch that. What is an eleven-year-old Princess supposed to do with such a declaration of love? You were so much younger than me. My parents had been trying to convince me it was alright because I might marry you someday, but I didn’t know what to do.
“Over the years, it became more difficult. I knew you were not allowed to fall in love, but I wanted to court you. I wanted to hold you and kiss you like this, but I was too afraid to break the rules. When Peter told me about you two, I was furious at him and myself that he had the guts to do what I had been afraid to do for so many years.
“But I swear to you, Rose. From now until my dying breath I will love you and cherish you and be the man you need me to be. I am that confident that I will be your husband and King.”
I was dumbstruck at his avowal to me. Smiling, I put my cheek against his chest, tucking my head in the crook of his neck. Embracing me a little tighter, he rested his chin there. “Still, you could have said something at some point.”
He chuckled and turned his head so his cheek was pressed into my hair. “I’m saying it now. And you know I am probably more prepared than anyone else for the King’s Test. This could be forever in only a few short months.”
I took a deep breath. “That’s a possibility I wouldn’t be opposed to, Stephan Oak.” Then, I took my turn and kissed him.
Chapter 19
In the next moment, Stephan’s eyes glassed over and his arms went limp, causing me to fall to the floor. “Rose! I’m sorry! I’m not sure what came over me. It was like I was somewhere else for a moment.”
Realization hit me like lightening. “No.” It was all I could vocalize.
No. No, no, no. Please don’t have whatever the Cedars and Willows had.
Stephan bent over and helped me up. “What
’s wrong? You look like you’re going to be sick.”
I shook my head. “I think we need to take you to see Doctor Winston.”
“Why?”
I swallowed, though my mouth was dry and felt a sharp pain running through me. Putting a hand to his cheek, I explained, “Stephan, you’re having the same symptoms the Cedars and Willows had.”
His eyes became huge. “What?”
“I don’t want to stand here having this discussion. We can talk about it with Doctor Winston.”
Grabbing his hand, I pulled him out the door and down the stairs. I held tight, not caring who saw. It was all I could do to stop the tears from coming up. When we entered Darrel’s lab, I didn’t even care that I was interrupting his autopsy on Duchess Elizabeth Cedar.
“Darrel. I need you to stop what you’re doing immediately and help me.”
He slowly lowered his scalpel and lifted his glasses to the top of his head. Briskly walking to me, he said, “What is going on Princess Miriam?”
“This isn’t the time for titles, Darrel. Stephan is having the same symptoms as the Cedars and Willows.”
As his jaw dropped, his holocomm started beeping with an incoming comm. He quickly shook himself and went to answer. It was Father.
“Doctor Winston, I have some news.”
Darrel pinched the bridge of his nose where his glasses normally sat. “Let me, guess, Your Majesty. The Oaks are having the same symptoms as the Cedars and Willows.”
Hesitantly, Father drawled, “Yes. And the Junipers. – How did you know?”
Oh! Poor Peter!
“Because Princess Miriam just brought Count Stephan to my lab. He is exhibiting similar symptoms to the Cedars and Willows.”
“I did not realize he had arrived.” He paused. “Can you bring Princess Miriam over to the holocomm and give us a moment?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Darrel gestured for me to come over.
“Hello, Father.” I said, still trying to hold back my tears. “Is Peter sick, too?”
“No, but he’s very angry that I won’t let him go home.” Quietly he asked me, “How long has Count Stephan been here?”
“I’m not sure. He was in my room for quite some time, though.” I bit the corner of my lower lip and gave Stephan a sidelong glance.
Father quirked a brow. “Is there something you would like to tell me?”
Looking down at my fiddling hands, I said, “I think if you are planning on quarantining Stephan, you should probably quarantine me as well.”
“Because you have been with him? It would be quite an undertaking to quarantine everyone who has had contact with Stephan since he’s been here.”
“Everyone hasn’t had the same contact I have had with him.” I sighed. “Father – we were kissing in my room when he glassed over and dropped me on the floor.” I looked at the two gentlemen in the room with me for a moment and saw that both their faces were pale.
Face in hands, Father said, “Oh, Miriam.” He sat like that for a moment, then slid his hands down his face. “Alright. Bring Doctor Winston back.”
“Yes, sir.” Darrel and I switched places again and I walked into an embrace with Stephan. He stroked my hair. I felt guilty; he was the one probably dying and he was comforting me.
“Doctor Winston, please put Count Stephan and Princess Miriam in the quarantine room until you have both tested their blood and concluded your examinations on the Cedars and Willows.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I am just about finished. I have a theory, but I do not want to say anything until it is conclusive. I will take a blood test from Count Stephan, as well. Even though he is not displaying symptoms, I would like Count Peter to be sent down for testing and quarantine, too.”
Without another word, Father nodded and disconnected the comm. Darrel turned to look at us. Having given up holding back the tears, I was in deep sobs in Stephan’s arms and he had his cheek on the top of my head as he continued to stroke my hair. Darrel nodded solemnly like he had a difficult task to perform even though he didn’t want to do it.
Clearing his throat, he made his requests. “Very well, Count Stephan, please come have a seat in the Drawing chair. I will draw from you first, then Princess Miriam.” We let go of each other and neared Darrel. Stephan sat first and put his wrist in the blood drawing cuff. The device hummed as it searched for a good vein and he winced when it found one and quickly drew three tubes of blood for Darrel to examine.
When it shut down, Stephan took his wrist out and we switched places. Because Darrel only needed one tube from me, the cuff was quicker for me and we were soon being led down a hall to the quarantine room.
Stephan went in first and I followed. Before the door slid shut, Darrel grabbed my wrist and pulled me back in the hall. “She will be with you in a moment,” he assured Stephan, then closed the door.
“What is it, Darrel?” I asked him.
His glasses were still on top of his head and he instinctively itched the bridge of his nose. “I feel I should tell you my theory.”
Furrowing my brow, I responded, “But, you just told Father that you did not want to tell until you were sure.”
“I am fairly certain. I just did not want to say anything official.” He took a deep breath. “Do you remember last night when you said the symptoms almost sounded like Oramatosis, then we both dismissed it?”
“Yes – Wait – Are you telling me it is the Daze?”
He nodded solemnly again. “Yes. And I am afraid the original vaccine cure will not work this time. It is a modified version in which it only targets a certain bloodline.”
“So – you are also telling me this is a biological weapon? Someone is targeting families?”
“My theory is that they are not just targeting families, they are targeting Noble families.”
I hesitated with my next question. “Are the Oaks and Junipers as good as dead, then?”
“I am afraid so. If anyone will survive, it will be Stephan and Peter. I have Stephan’s sample and will soon have Peter’s. I can begin on a cure for Stephan right away.
“Also, we probably do not need to worry about you having caught it, since it appears to be family-specific, but I will still test your blood anyway. You should not have to be in quarantine too long.”
“You will be putting Peter in with us?”
“At least for now until I can clear him.”
“Even if I am cleared, I will be staying. If Stephan is going to die, he is not going to do it alone.”
Peter will understand. He must. We can comfort each other when it’s all over.
“It will not be easy. When I get back my results, we will probably need to strap him to the table in there to prevent him from hurting himself or you. And it may be a good decision to sedate him if it gets too bad.”
“Alright. I think I will go in the room now.”
Darrel pushed the button that opened the door and I walked in. Stephan was sitting on the edge of the bed that had straps attached to it. “I wonder what these are for,” he pondered out loud, holding one in his hand.
“Oh, Stephan,” I cried as I quickly went over and knelt before him. Taking his hands, I explained everything Darrel had just told me. When I was finished, he looked into my wet eyes and placed a hand to my cheek.
“You should go, Rose. I don’t want you to see me like that.”
I shook my head with fervor. “I am not leaving you to die alone in here. Maybe it’s selfish, but I want to have as much time with you as I can and I can’t bear the thought of you being alone in here with your nightmares.”
Wiping the tears from my cheek with his thumb, he leaned forward and kissed me. “I love you, Rose. No matter what you see here or what I become, please remember that I love you.”
I pulled myself up to sit on the edge of the bed next to him and kissed him back. Stephan wrapped his arms around me and brought me close to him. Things became intense pretty fast as he moved away from my mouth and down my jawline to my neck
. I never stopped crying. He came back to my lips and nibbled on my bottom lip. Without any warning, he bit it – hard – drawing blood.
“Ow!” I yelled. He had separated our faces and was looking past me. Making our embrace as tight as possible, he looked past me and at me at the same time as if I was something terrible.
Peter came in and quickly assessed he situation. He ran over and tried to pry Stephan off me.
“No! I can’t let you out into the world!” Stephan screamed in my face. He flung one arm back and sent Peter across the room, then squeezed me again.
Crying harder, I desperately pushed at him, trying to get him to release me. “Stephan! Stephan! Wake up!” I was screaming at him.
He has to wake up. This is too soon!
As suddenly as he had turned on me, I felt his gaze come back into focus, though I wasn’t looking at him. He was no longer looking at me angrily, but he hadn’t let go. Looking down to my bottom lip, he paled. “Rose? Rose?”
I had my face turned away, but was looking at him in my peripheral vision. Slowly, I turned back and looked directly at him. He looked horrified as he took in the fact that I had a mixture of blood and tears streaming from the corner of my mouth down my neck and into my dress.
Peter slowly walked toward us.
Bringing a shaking hand to my mouth, Stephan said, “Please, tell me I didn’t do this.”
Though I didn’t want it, a squeak escaped me.
“Rose, I’m so sorry.” He began to cry himself, let me go, and stood to walk to the other side of the room, noticing Peter for the first time.
“Peter,” Stephan said.
“Princess Miriam, is everything alright in there? Do you need help?”
I looked to the corner of the ceiling where Darrel’s voice had sounded. There was a camera and speaker there.
“Everything is fine, Darrel. Things are just progressing more quickly with Stephan than either of us had anticipated,” I replied.
“No! Everything is not fine, Rose! I bit you and scared you out of your mind! You need to leave before I seriously injure you!” Stephan screamed.
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