"We don't know where he is!" Blaze backs up, his handa in the air. Chanet holds the gun at Blaze's chest.

"You know exactly where he is! You're his little assistant, aren't you?" He presses harder with the gun.

"Last time I saw his majesty, he was in his room four days ago. On my life, I don't know what he is!" Blaze exclaims.

"Dare to test that theory?" Chanet's index finger slides to the trigger.

"I'm telling the truth." Blaze repeats himself. Chanet lowers the gun but grabs Blaze's wrist.

"You lie to me and I'll blow your head off." He whispers in Blaze's ear. The King walks into the throne room frustrated.

"No sign of Aaron." He rolls up his sleeves.

"No information out of this freak. Claims he has seen Aaron for four days." Chanet reports, gripping Blaze's wrists tightly.

"Of course he wouldn't tell you, you idiot. He is Aaron's assistant." The king rolls his eyes and takes Blaze away from Chanet.

"Put this mongrel on the ship. We set out for Aaron at dawn." He orders another crew member, shoving Blaze at him.

"I'm not a toy!" Blaze yells as the king laughs.

"Yet it's so much fun to play with you, mongrel. Maybe I'll make this a permanent job." He says as Blaze gets dragged away.

"Chanet." He calls and Chanet salutes. "Check the castle. Anyone with information will be useful." The king begins to walk towards another hallway.

"Sometimes, I hate my life." Chanet sighs.

~~~

"

My daughter is missing, Patricia!" Zack slams his fists on the kitchen counter.

"Last time I did was send her out because she needed fabric!" Patricia explains. Zack puts his head in his hands.

"And she's been gone for four days! She was probably scared off, but she would've come back by now. Not unless you or your daughters scared her off." Zack says.

"My girls may be... troubled, but they most certainly didn't scare Aphmau off! Don't ever blame them again-!" She raises her voice.

"Maybe this isn't working out." Zack blurts out. Patricia covers her mouth in shock. "Aphmau's been neglected lately. And family comes first, as you always say. Maybe we weren't meant to do this."

Patricia slaps him in the face. Zack holds his right cheek and chuckles a little. "We aren't exactly the best influence on the children, are we?" Zack walks away and up the stairs.

Patrica huffs and walks in the living room. "Girls." She says, grabbing Ivy and Lily's attention. "We have to leave in the morning. But if we go down... someone goes down with us."

"Woah mom. What's up with that?" Ivy asks. Patricia hoists Ivy and Lily up from the floor.

"Zack wants to end our relationship because he believes that we scared off Aphmau." She announces. "But this is my fourth engagement, girls. I'm not losing this one."

The spark in her eye disappears. Instead, a burning fire replaced it. "All our problems will disappear. Aphmau, who?"

"Mom, you're not going to find and kill her, are you?" Lily asks.

"Not me. We."

~~~

"So tell me." Aphmau sits up, looking at Aaron. "Why'd you kiss me?"

"I've been wanting to do that for a while now, and I couldn't hold myself together." Aaron responds, shifting his foot back and forth.

"Do you ever wonder what's going on back at home. I'm scared father and Miss Patricia's afraid, Ivy and Lily are glad, and the castle staff is worried sick about you." She explains.

"Aphmau, I think about that day and night. How Blaze must be scared, everything out of order, just the kingdom in chaos." He says, leaning on the tree. "The people are the only thing I have left. I can't risk losing them."

"I understand...kinda. My father is the last part of family I have. If I lost him... I don't know what I'd do. Probably go insane like my possible new step sisters."

"We both have pretty crazy family history, huh?" Aaron begins to laugh. Aphmau shortly joined him.

"Ah I'm glad I met you when I did." Aphmau says as Aaron cups her cheek.

"I feel the same way." Their forehead begin to touch. Aphmau could hear his deep breathing blowing on her face.

"Tomorrow, we find the nearest boat shop and sail back to Phoenix Drop. Sound like a pla-" Aaron says, then blacking out.

"Aaron?" Aphmau asks, then she blacks out.

~~~~~

Until next time, peeps!

~Purplla 💛🌻