spades

chapter 27 | Cas

Fuck fuck fuck.

I almost tripped over my own feet as I ran up the almost countless stairs to get to the floor Hibi was in. I had started off by playing it smooth and walking as if I didn't know what was going on.

That was until I saw Hibi climb out of a fucking window like a fucking spider.

I had to kick myself to stop from shouting out her name, reminding myself that she was an outlaw in the territory we were in. I then proceeded to try and get her attention but she seemed pretty focused on trying not to fall to her death.

If she dies I'll kill her myself.

I picked up my pace into a speed walk so I could meet her halfway and offer her to jump in my arms and I was almost there. Until a window behind her head smashed and an arm wrapped around her neck, dragging her through the window.

Then I started sprinting.

And with my bad stamina and with the way I was gradually slowing down to run up these stairs I was starting to think I wouldn't make it.

And that fucking terrified me.

The imaged of Hibi's lifeless eyes fueled my legs to pump harder.

My mind was plagued with horrible images of what would happen if I was there a second late but I shook them off and took a deep breath.

C'mon Caspian, Hibi can take care of herself.

But I didn't truly know the extent of how good she could fight. And what if she was being put up against some big burly guy with biceps the size of her head. My feet burned as I nearly reached the top but I kept pushing.

Fuck Hibiscus you better be alright.

I cursed beneath my breath as I finally reached the top. I swung open the door eagerly only to hear a sound of someone colliding with the door on the other side and their groan of pain that followed.

C'mon Cas ignore them, Hibi needs you more.

I started to jog to find Hibi but mentally kicked myself in the ass I felt my resolve break as I went back to help the person who was hurt. It was a young dark skin female, she was tiny but only height-wise.

Every other part of her was ample from the large dark bush of tangled tight curls that hung in a halo on her head to the large eyes that looked up at me in a scowl. She narrowed her dark eyes at me and yanked her hands out of my grip with a guarded look.

"And who the fuck do you think you are?"

So much for helping a lady.

I didn't even give her the time of day as there were more important issues at hand. I turned on my heel and proceeded down the hallways. But I was stopped before I could make it far. "Where do you think you're going?" I glanced back at the woman.

She began to storm towards me and my head gradually titled to the floor as she stood in front of me, a barely reaching my elbow.

This must be very embarrassing for you.

But she seemed unfazed by our extremely large height difference as her face burned in anger that gradually turned into deep thought as she assessed my face deeply before her eyes narrowed. "Is your name Caspian by any chance?"

I swear to the four kingdoms if this is another unknown face from my past I'm knocking her into that stone wall.

"No, it's Casper"

She crossed her arms over her chest "I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with that name". I cleared my throat, remembering my backstory.

"I'm a new guard, very recently hired for the mission that happened today" She raised an eyebrow.

"Oh really, and what is a common guard doing in the royal wing?" My mouth dried.

"I'm doing a round of the area, we were told to do a sweep in search of traitors and other people potentially harmful to the crown" She didn't look like she was buying my bullshit in the slightest.

"Well that's really noble of you, Caspian was it?" I opened my mouth the correct her but she silenced me with her hand "It's quite funny that you're a new guard yet I don't recall ever seeing you roam these hallways"

"Well, I-

"Save it" She leaned on one hip "I find it incredibly bold of you to assume that you can walk in here and pretend to be a servant of the queen" She snickered "Your gall is quite admirable but ignorant considering I personally have never heard of a Caspian in these hallways".

"I-

"Which I think is incredibly shocking considering I do guard evaluation and hiring"

My mouth fell agape as I had clearly been caught in a lie. She took a step closer to me "And to make matters worse you came into my quarters and lied straight to my face about who you were when I heard all about you nearly five minutes ago".

I gulped.

"Don't stare at me like a deer in headlights" She gritted her teeth "I should feed you to my pet cat for your insoolence to be quite honest" Her confrontational stature relaxed "But since you're a friend of Hibiscus's I shall have to let you go". My eyes widened.

"Wait you know-

"Yes, she's practically blood to me" She rolled her eyes before giving me a once over "My question is what are you doing here, she left already so if you're looking for her she's gone" I shook my head.

"That's the thing Hibi's been taken!"

She looked taken back but soon her shock turned to confusion "That doesn't make sense, you and I are the only ones in this hallway except" Dread filled her face "Well except my mother".

I raised an eyebrow "No all the other maids and guards are in the judgement hall-

She cut me off "My mother's not a maid" I ran a hand through my hair.

"Then who is she?!"

"Adaora, you know? The Queen of this kingdom" I looked over the girl once more and I was right. Her and Adaora had absolutely no resemblance. Not even in the slightest, from the different hair textures to the different shade of brown in their eyes. Their face structures were not even similiar in the smallest. "Don't look at me like that I'm adopted".

Adaora has an heir?

Since when?!

"I'm sorry you said your mother is who-

"I'm going to finish you off like I should've done all those years ago!"

Both I and the dwarf of a stranger paled and our heads at the sound of Aunt Adaora's murderous voice. We took off down the hall the place where the noise came from. As soon as we reached the door I yanked it open, nearly ripping off the door hinges.

My eyes immediately caught the bruised and battered body of Hibi that lay writhing in pain as she clutched her stomach. She coughed up dark red blood and let out a groaned of pain. Adaora stood looming over her broken form with a weapon held up high that's metal caught the sunlight in a sinister glare.

"MOM!"