Canton was walking down the dark hall when a knife was pointed against his throat making him freeze in place.
His eyes didn't widen at all, he just stood there, silent and emotionless, not turning around.
"Don't scream, I need to to talk to you, prince Canton. I don't want to hurt you but you should come with me." Santos whispered.
Canton sighed against the knife, feeling bored now "fine."
Santos led him into a tiny, abandoned room into the castle.
He closed the door behind him, the knife now pulled away.
Canton exhaled and sat on a chair he found there and waited for Santos to start talking.
"I'm sorry for doing that, your highness. I thought it was the only way for you to follow me here."
"What do you want? I thought my dad was very clear with his orders."
"But you can help me. Please, prince Canton. I desperately need your help."
"There's nothing I can do, Santos. I'm not gonna oppose to my father, so if that's why you wanted to talk to me, you're wasting your time."
"There must be something you can do." Santos said, his tone tensed. "This is my only dream. And I know I'm better than her. I'm way better than her. She's not worth it. She's not worthy of this position."
Canton removed himself from the chair and started walking towards the door. "My hands are tied."
Santos closed his eyes shut. "I'm dying."
Canton stopped walking. He turned around again.
Santos opened his eyes but didn't look at Canton. "Third stage cancer. I don't have much time left." His voice broke a bit at the end. "I need your help." he whispered at last.
ODA
"What if they're dead?"
My eyes were widened.
I kept shuddering at the thought that something could have happened to Errot.
That he might not be breathing right now.
"Don't say that Oda.." Elvina said and I heard how hard it was for her to keep herself together and not freak out right now.
"Yeah, you're both so melodramatic." Santos mumbled while rolling his eyes and looking away from both of us.
He was the one that opened the door for us and filled us in-in everything that happened after Canton locked us inside the room.
Nobody thought it would be a good idea to tell me that everything that happened with Santos was just a plan.
It seems that I had to find out about it last.
He then stayed with us for a while. He kept leaving to do his job but he would always come back.
We don't know yet if Nerissa is working behind Canton's back but Santos is fairly convinced since she was stalking Elvina and Canton a day ago.
And if the Lytteltons are not in this island anymore then here's all the proof we needed.
But nobody has a clue of what happened to Canton and Errot after they walked through that portal.
Their phones are in the castle so it's impossible to contact them somehow.
We can only hope that they will come back soon.
"We are not melodramatic, Sant. Their lives are on the line, right now." Elvina said, her voice a bit tensed.
"Canton knows how to protect himself. He has great fighting skills, Elvina. And Errot is a Merlot. He has survived eighteen years in Merlot Blood for a reason." Santos said and glanced at me for a brief second.
My gaze stayed on him even though he looked away.
"That's right..Santos is right. Nothing will happen. They are alive. " Elvina said out loud trying to convince herself too.
I sat back down with a sigh, my heart way too worried.
"Canton has put me in his place while he's gone. I need to head downstairs and do his job for him." She turned to look at me. "Oda you can come find me whenever you want."
I nodded. "Yeah, I'll come by later."
Elvina gave me a side smirk and left the room.
Santos spared me one last glance before walking out as well.
I bit at my bottom lip. "Wait. Santos."
Santos stopped walking, his grip at the door.
"Do you think he's..alive?"
Santos turned to look at me. "Yes."
I kept sucking at my lip. "And what if he isn't?"
"Canton wouldn't let that happen. Put some trust into my king." He said indifferently.
"Technically he's..half your king." I mumbled, already regretting it.
"What?"
I couldn't help but notice how his knuckles turned white from gripping at the door too hard.
"Nevermind.." I looked away.
Santos let out a small scoff. "Elvina told you, didn't she?" He paused. "Of course, she never finished the story." He mumbled the last sentence under his breath.
"It's okay to admit that you were a Merlot."
"I was half a Merlot. Now I'm an Ink. One hundred percent Ink."
I nodded at him, not wanting to continue this conversation anymore.
I feel frustrated that he feels like being a Merlot is something to be ashamed of.
Santos looked down for a few seconds and then took his leave, quietly as always, his human form turning into a shadow again.
ELVINA
"Alright, miss." A guard said and walked out of the throne room to follow my orders.
This job is already killing me and not even a day has passed.
How is Canton doing that for a thousand years now is a mystery to me.
I sighed and leaned my head back at my brother's throne, closing my eyes in the meantime.
"Suits you."
My eyes immediately snapped open.
Nerissa was standing before me, studying every single part of me.
The moment she locked eyes with me, she continued. "You would look great as a queen."
I glared at her. "What are you doing here? Don't you have anything better to do?"
"Anything better than to talk to you? Nah." She said, her voice naturally hoarse.
"I thought you were hired to spy for your king."
"My king is not here, so."
"So you're just wasting time by doing nothing."
"Come on, El. This is our first conversation after years and you want us to fight?"
"I want a lot of things. For example, I want you the hell out of Ink Blood but hey, we can't have everything we want."
"I refuse to believe you didn't miss me once while I was exiled. In fact, I can see that you're still angry which means that you're not over it yet."
I let out a small humorless chuckle at that and got up from the throne.
I walked closer to her in confidence, my eyes glued on hers. "You know I can't lie, don't you?"
She nodded at me.
"So, watch my lips when I say this." I pointed at them and saw her eyes falling there. "You hurt me very much. I really thought we were gonna be together for life. I did. And I was hurt by it for a very long time. But the anger I feel now is purely directed at me for being so stupid to let myself get my heart broken by a narcissistic, hypocritical little bitch like you"
Even after I finished talking, her stare remained at my lips.
She stayed quiet.
"Did I leave you speechless?" I almost smirked.
I almost smirked at my victory before she pulled me in and started kissing me, her hands gripping at my shirt hard.
I instinctively kissed back for only a second and then decided to open my eyes and stop her.
But when I opened them, they locked with Oda's.
She was standing at the door of the hall and she was not moving.
I pushed Nerissa away, my gaze never leaving Oda.
"I...I am sorry, I didn't know-" she immediately looked down and walked away in a slight rush.
"Hey, Oda."
Nerissa rolled her eyes while I wiped my lips clean and run a bit to catch up with Oda.
I don't know why but I kind of feel like I was caught in the act.
Like I was doing something I shouldn't have been doing.
I finally reached her and placed a hand on her shoulder to turn her around. "Wait." I said a bit breathless. "Damn, a girl can run fast, huh." I said and attempted a small smirk.
Her expression on the other hand was serious.
She looked down again and started rubbing at her arm, awkwardly.
I suddenly don't know what to say.
How to react.
"Is...is something wrong?" I tried.
"No, uhm hey. I have to ..be.. somewhere" she said, still avoiding my gaze.
"Oda...what you saw..was not-"
"Why are you explaining yourself to me?" She kept rubbing at her arm, probably bruising it now. "It's not like..we...yeah." she turned around again.
I frowned and grabbed at her shoulder once again.
She sighed nervously and turned my way, looking everywhere but at me.
"Did you not want me to kiss her?"
"Obviously, she cheated on you." She mumbled.
I raised an eyebrow at her. "Why do I feel like this is not the only reason?"
She stayed silent at that.
"Oda." I started and placed a finger under her chin to lift her head up so she could look at me.
Oda closed her eyes. "I think I like you." She said extremely fast, I almost didn't hear her.
My eyes widened at that but hers stayed closed shut.
My finger froze under her chin.
My heart is somehow beating fast.
Maybe it's beating fast because of the shock.
Or because of what I'm about to do.
But I'm not gonna stand here and analyse it more than I already have.
Her eyes were already closed when I decided to place my palms against her now red cheeks and connect our lips into a slow kiss.
ERROT
The lady's eyes widened and she gasped.
She was looking intensely from Canton to me, surprise and possible terror on her old and crinkly eyes.
Once the shock was gone and she realised who Canton was, she raised her hands up in defence and immediately looked down.
"Your majesty" she bowed. "I thought no one was here. Nobody ever is. My deepest apologies."
Canton didn't move his gun. He was frowning but he still looked excessively cold. "Who are you? Where are the Lyttletons?"
The lady kept her stare on the ground. "I'm Amara, king Quinten's servant. I'm cleaning this house every week. But the owners are never here."
I glanced at Canton.
His jaw was clenched.
His stare was glued on Amara.
"Did you receive any weird orders for today? Other than the usual, I mean."
He was back on sounding authoritative.
"Actually..the king told me that today would be the last time I would come here. He wanted me to pick a few clothes up for him. He's apparently shutting the island down. That's all I know."
Canton lowered his gun down and rubbed at his face in frustration.
Amara raised her eyes up again, looked at Canton for a few seconds and then glanced at me.
Her gaze got fixed on me.
As soon as we locked eyes she glanced back at Canton who had probably turned his face red by rubbing at it too much.
He caught her staring and gave her a stern expression "eyes off, Merlot." He ordered.
She immediately obeyed.
"Is there any chance the owners went back to the palace, in Teal Blood?" It was me who asked this time since Canton is purely trying to hold himself together.
"I have no idea, sir." Amara replied.
"Does anybody else live in this island?" I continued.
"Not that I know of, no."
I sighed.
Canton was now sat on the couch, his palms covering his face.
"how can we leave this place? Where is the portal?" It seems that I've been doing Canton's job for a while now.
I resisted the urge to glare at him and tell him to get it together.
"Portal? What portal?" Amara asked, her gaze back on me now that Canton was busy by not paying attention to us.
I stilled.
"You know. The portal we'll use to get back to Ink Blood? That portal "
Amara was just staring at me.
"Hello, lady?" I waved a hand in front of her unreadable face.
She blinked. "There are no portals here."
Now it was my time to freak out.
I looked at Canton, slightly terrified, but he was still lost in his own world.
Great.
"What do you mean? Where did you come from? Did you perhaps fly here or something?"
"The only way for anyone that comes from Teal Blood to arrive or leave from here is by boat. The king orders for someone to take me here. I usually work for eight hours but I end up spending the day here. It takes twenty four hours for us to return to the palace, anyway. The island is kind of ...out of the map."
I must be staring at her like I've seen some ghost.
There's no way I look calm right now.
My eyes fell on Canton again but he remained unmoving.
I became paler. "king Canton, did you perhaps hear that?"
The lady pursed her lips into a thin line and glanced at her feet.
Silence.
"King Canton!" I said louder this time.
Canton then glared at me. "What, Merlot? Yes. I heard Merlot two. We are stuck in here for two more days and then we will have to go through dickhead junior in order to go back to Ink Blood"
I highly doubt he even remembers her name.
I blinked at him.
"And... you're fine with that?"
"According to the lady we don't have any other choice. Do we have another choice, lady?" Canton glanced at her, his whole aura screaming passive agressive.
He definitely doesn't remember her name.
Amara kept her gaze on the ground. "No, your highness"
Canton then turned back to me. "See? She said no, your highness. Now stop whining."
I closed my mouth sat and went to sit at the couch next to him.
I took a deep breath and run a hand through my hair.
Amara glanced at us. "I'm gonna grab the clothes and clean a bit up since we are gonna stay here for the day. So, if you'll excuse me."
Canton didn't even move.
I nodded at her on his behalf and gave her a small smile.
She definitely doesn't deserve our frustration.
And with that, she was off to the bedroom.
Canton wasn't uttering a word.
Ten whole minutes went by like that.
I wonder if I should just say something.
I glanced at him.
"Hey...are you-" I placed my hand on his leg comfortingly "how are you fee--"
Canton froze. "Take that hand off my leg."
I immediately pulled my hand away and instantly regretted the action.
Why would I even do that?
I'm so stupid. So, so stupid.
Canton then turned to look at me. "I do not want your pity. I despise pity"
Kind of too late for that.
"I'm sorry." I mumbled and looked away.
Canton then leaned down and started peeking at the table and its small drawers.
I raised my eyebrows. "What are you searching for?"
Canton stopped for a second and took a breath. "My will to live." He said and kept searching for whatever he wanted to find.
"It's right next to you." I smirked trying to fix this awful mood.
Canton's eyes almost widened.
He then sighed and looked at me.
He stayed silent for a few seconds. "I don't see anything."
I rolled my eyes in a playful manner. "Oh, come on. Low blow."
Canton ignored me and continued making a mess out of their stuff.
"But seriously, what are you looking for?"
"Anything. Any lead." He said sternly.
"They wouldn't have left anything important behind."
Canton then snapped the drawer shut and shot up from the couch, his hands shaking a bit. "I'm going out. Don't follow me." He ordered coldly and walked out of the house.
I made myself more comfortable on the couch and sighed.
Amara suddenly walked out of their room and walked to me.
He replaced Canton on the couch.
I looked at her.
"Are you a slave too?" She asked.
"Yeah. Tough job right?"
"The toughest." She replied. "I heard king Canton is ruthless."
"Yeah well, not really but you could say that." I paused. "I'm not making any sense, am I?"
She smiled and shook her head.
"Anyways. How is the Quinn guy like?"
"He's..demanding."
"Aren't they all?"
"I believe so."
"And you've never met the owners of this island?"
"No, I suppose its a secret."
"You must know something about them."
"I really don't." She said somewhat dryly.
I frowned just a tad.
"I'm sorry, I'm just..going through it."
I nodded at her, completely understanding.
"So, how did you become his slave? Did he.. find you? How did it happen?"
I started biting at my bottom lip, feeling a bit uneasy now.
"I wanted to escape Merlot Blood and decided on going to Ink Blood to save my life. Ended up destroying it more but hey at least I'm not in danger anymore."
Amara had this blank expression on her face, no emotion whatsoever.
"Why aren't you in danger? Who can guarantee your life?"
"The King." I said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "He wants me alive, so I'm under his protection." I felt a bit relieved at that, a smirk making it's way into my face.
"He wants you alive?" She frowned. "I suppose because you're his slave?"
"Eh...not really. It's a huge story. Goes a couple aeons back. Has to do with a specific person or something. Works for me." I shrugged.
"Oh. Okay." The lady said, now staring at nothing in particular.
"What about you? How did you end up with Quinn?"
"I was sold to him for money when I was a little kid." She said and got up. She gave me a quick smile. "I have to clean this mess now."
"Yeah, sure."
♛♛♛
One hour.
Two.
Two and a half.
Three.
Four.
Five hours.
He decided to return five hours later.
Amara and I were sitting on the kitchen counter, eating some delicious spaghetti meatballs she made for dinner.
He walked in, looking the same as before but now exhausted too.
Amara immediately got up from her seat and bowed at Canton.
I looked at her and then glanced at Canton. I awkwardly repeated the action.
Canton ignored us and laid on the couch.
"King Canton, do you want some food?"
Amara asked.
"No." Canton said.
"Any drinks?" She pushed.
Canton then decided to acknowledge her presence. He raised a questioning eyebrow at her. "Define drinks."
"Well, they have bourbon, beer--"
"Bourbon." He said without a second thought.
Amara smiled. "Coming."
She grabbed a bottle and walked to Canton.
She extented the bottle at him.
Canton took it and gave her a nod as a thank you.
Amara considered him for a few seconds.
Canton took a few sips and then turned to glare at her "What, lady?"
She tore her gaze away abruptly.
"Anything else you want me to do for you before I leave to take my rest, your majesty?"
"No. You're dismissed."
Amara nodded. "Have a pleasant night." She said and headed to the room again, closing the door behind her.
I placed my plate into the sink and walked over at Canton.
"Where were you?"
"Is this an interrogation?" He took another sip.
"It's just a question."
Canton didn't say anything.
"Aren't you gonna answer me?"
"Silence is also an answer."
I exhaled but didn't pressure him more.
"Where do you think I was, huh? Where could I have possibly gone to? A trip?"
"No, I-" I started, startled by the outburst.
"Drink." He said and passed me his bottle.
I blinked.
"I don't like bourbon"
Canton gifted me one of his infamous death glares but he added extra intensity this time.
"....taste changes." I grabbed the bottle and took a sip.
My whole body shivered, cringe making me die inside.
"Well?" He asked.
"Do you want me to answer as a Merlot or as an Ink?"
"Ink."
"It was awful."
"Shame on you." He took it back and kept drinking.
"How do you manage to consume so much of this in such a little time?" I asked quite impressed.
He ignored me. "How did your parents get killed?"
I froze.
I felt my blood run cold.
"How did this topic come up?" I mumbled.
Canton just shrugged.
I run a hand through my hair and clenched my fist right after.
"They..my mother was killed when I was just three years old so I don't remember much of her...she was killed by other Merlots for.." I took a breath. "For food."
Canton stayed silent and unmoving, his grip steady around his bottle.
"Uh..my dad raised me. He was killed when I was fourteen. By Inks." I glanced at him.
He clenched his jaw.
"They got me and stabbed me. But then they let me go. I never understood why they would just let me go and not end what they started in the first place. Why they had to kill my father"
"They killed your dad for his organs. And they wanted to do the same to you. But then, they took a good look at you. They saw their fellow scientist in you. Do you realise that your looks have saved your life one too many times?"
I felt the anger coming back at me in waves. "I'm so tired of this. I'm sick and tired of hearing about him and how much we are alike. Cause we are not. I'm my own person. I'm not him. Alright?"
Canton took another sip and then looked at me dead in the eye. "You're not him. You're better."
I caught myself staring back at those green eyes and wonder how drunk could he already be to confess that.
That was before my stare turned into a daze.
"You shouldn't have gone through so much trauma at such a young age."
I feel like I'm imagining this whole conversation right now.
It just doesn't feel real.
It also feels weird coming from his mouth.
From him.
I wanted to reply.
I wanted to tell him that I should have been the one saying that.
That what he went through is not comparable.
That it can't even compete to anything or anyone.
But I didn't speak.
I felt numb.
"The scientists. His team. They work on their own. It's like they are not even Inks. Feels like they are their own tribe. So, they act on their own accord. After my father died and Tristian went away, I fired them. But they continued...they continued the experiments out of the castle." Canton paused, his eyes still glued on mine. "I never ordered them to go down there and kill Merlots."
And I understood what he was trying to say.
I understood and he didn't have to elaborate any more.
It was loud and clear.
I'm finally able to read behind his words.
Behind his facial expressions..when they make an appearance.
Behind his body language.
Behind his eyes.
I realised I'm still in a daze.
I'm not talking.
I'm not uttering a word.
I'm just looking at him.
Unable to do anything else.
Again.
I think I whispered the word stop.
I'm not sure.
"Errot."
He said.
I didn't react.
"The only time I tried that compelling spell on you was when you were having a panic attack back then."
And I caught the meaning again even when I didn't want to this time.
I looked away from him and gulped inaudibly.
"You're drunk. You're gonna regret ever saying all those things to me" I mumbled.
Canton glanced at his bottle and the not even half empty bourbon inside it but decided not to speak at all.
It was better that way.
It was.
He then placed it on the table and got up.
I looked at him.
He looked back at me and started walking out.
I decided to follow him this time.
We went all around the house and at the backyard it had.
Canton must have investigated the whole island while he was away.
He laid on the grass and started staring at the night sky.
I copied his exact position.
It was a great night to stargaze.
The sky was clear off any fog or clouds.
The stars were shining bright.
They were too many to count.
There was this beautiful silence.
It felt like the world was on mute.
I finally understood one of the reasons why he could possibly love it.
No one was there to disturb you.
To disturb your peace.
No words or people could torture you while in silence.
Only the ones in your head.
And while your head is a dangerous place to be..it will never be as cruel as the world. As the monsters in it.
I finally got to appreciate the silence.
I kept looking at the stars and never once felt the need to talk. To say something.
I didn't need to.
He didn't need to.
It was comfortable. I was comfortable.
I was drowning in the night.
He was drowning in his thoughts.
A lot of time passed by like that.
I was gradually drifting off.
My eyes were closed for a very long time.
I, myself, was convinced I was asleep.
Cause when he whispered my name, I didn't reply even though I heard him.
I also heard him when he uttered the words I'm sorry, Errot.
And thank you.
I've heard those two sentences a million times before.
From random people.
Everyone likes to drop them around like they are insignificant.
Like they are not true.
But I know he means it.
And I know he can't lie.
But I was too tired.
I was incredibly exhausted .
I was so exhausted that my body was long asleep before my mind could process the idea.
But it followed quick enough, as well.
I fell asleep so fast, I might have dreamt about it after all.
♛