Chapter 35 - Friends

A soft knock on the door pulled me away from the book I was reading. "Who is it?" I called out.

"It's me," came Brooke's reply. Oh. What time was it anyway? It seemed like everyone was already asleep.

"Come in." The wooden door opened, revealing my best friend. On her beautiful tanned face was a smile, tough something in her eyes did not quite match the joy on her lips. I cocked my head to the side. "Do you need anything?"

She came in, shutting the door behind her with a click. How very much like her to visit me at ungodly hours like this. Brooke stopped just in front of the chair I was sitting in. "You're reading another book? You used to do that a lot in college." She gave me a look. "I thought you only studied hard to find a way to kidnap the princess? Well she's yours now."

I sighed. "If you still think that, then you really don't know me well. I love to study. Not only because of the princess."

"Just kidding Cybele." She smiled. "I know you're a nerd like that. That's why I fell in love with you in the first place. You look so sexy while reading."

I rolled my eyes at her. "Don't remind me. Anyway, what is your purpose of visit? I know you didn't come here to talk about my sexiness." I gave her a pointed look. "Is something bothering you?"

"Come on," she said, leaning down and poking my nose gently with her finger. "Can't I visit you because I missed you? Is that not allowed anymore?"

"It's not allowed anymore." My lips quirked up as her face fell. "Alright, alright. It's still allowed. But just because you're Brooke and I've known you since the beginning of the century."

Her smile returned. "Good. Now I want you to close your eyes Cybele."

My eyebrow raised. "So you can attack me with kisses? No way!" I joked.

We both laughed. It felt so good to see her smile once more. I didn't realize that Brooke was that important to me. It was with deep regret that I took her friendship for granted all those years. But I'd never do that again. The thought of losing her that day on the farm was enough to open my eyes and value her.

"Don't worry. I won't kiss you," she said. "Not when you're expecting anyway. Just kidding," she added when she saw my wide-eyed look. "But I do have a gift for you Cybele, and I want you to close your eyes so I can give it properly."

"Why can't you just give it to me now while I'm looking?"

She pinched my cheek. "Because that's not exciting. Come on, just close your eyes. Please? Pleeeeeease!" Brooke gave me a hopeful look.

"Okay. Just stop being a crybaby." I closed my eyes momentarily, only to open it again. "No funny business," I said with a warning tone. She crossed her heart with her hand, making me laugh. Once more, I closed my eyes, relaxing comfortably on the chair.

"No peeking," I heard her murmur excitedly.

"Yes. Just get it over with."

A few seconds passed.

Silence.

I didn't dare open my eyes. "Hey, what's taking so long?" She didn't speak.

Something felt terribly wrong, I realized in an instant. My eyes snapped open. There stood Brooke in front of me, a very satisfied look on her face. What was going on? I reached out to her, only to feel pain on my chest. Pain and something slimy and wet. The image as I looked down made me gasp out loud.

"Brooke?" I croaked, confusion lining my features. "Why?" My hands tugged on the knife sticking out of my chest. It was useless. I was bleeding profusely and it was starting to get cold.

My best friend had a blank look on her face when she said, "It's nothing personal Cybele." She stroked my cheek. "Now sleep. . . You'll see your parents real soon." My vision dimmed. I raised my hands, trying to grab anything. There was nothing but air. I felt her caress my face again. "Shhhh," she cooed. "Sleep."

I tried calling out her name, but my own blood choked me. I gurgled. Gasped. For a few seconds confusion overtook my body. Then came the terrifying fact that I was dying and I wouldn't see Talia again. Just as quickly as the fear arrived, it vanished in an instant. And then there was nothing.

"Bad dream?" Van murmured as I opened my eyes. She was looking at me strangely.

I decided to dodge her question. "How long was I out?" I croaked, my voice too raspy for my liking. Bloody hell. It was too surreal. Like the knife was sticking out of me and I wasn't even sure if I was still half asleep.

Vanessa frowned. "You've been sleeping for hours your highness. As soon Brooke and Talia retired for the night, you've been curled up on that sofa like a baby." She trashed her arms wildly. "Then you began doing this. It wasn't a sex dream was it?"

"Nothing like that Van. Have you slept?"

She stared down the floor. "A little. I couldn't sleep much. Not after all that happened." The naughty smile returned on her face. "Plus your majesty kept kicking me on the shin. Are you sure you're alright?"

"Positive." I stood up and stretched my arms, allowing the muscles to relax. It felt so stiff after sleeping uncomfortably. "I need some air so I'm going outside. Try to catch some sleep. I'll wake you when the sun rises."

Without waiting for a reply, I went on my way, leaving the blonde girl and the quiet house in favor of the chill of the dawn and the stillness of the morning. My breath fogged as I let out some air. The cold was what I needed to shock me into waking up. Inevitably, my thoughts strayed to my dream. It was as real as it could get. I shook my head, wanting to get rid of it.

Among all the people in the world to betray me, Brooke was last on the list. Well that list didn't include Talia, but still. It was a very strange dream to have. One that I shouldn't think about anymore. The important thing was Van was alive, Brooke was reunited with us, and Talia was away from the queen. Now all I had to do was keep them all safe somehow.

My ears picked up on someone walking near me. Brooke. I let her snake her arms around my waist. "I missed you," she whispered near my ear. "I thought I'd never see you again Cybele." Brooke laid her head against my back. What I really wanted to do was recoil from her. Not because I didn't love her or miss her, but due to the dream I had.

"I'm glad to see that you're okay." I felt her take a deep breath. "Who else would have rescued Vanessa from that burning stage?" I broke free from her embrace, turning around to face her. "How did you do it anyway?"

She shrugged. "Pure coincidence. I was searching for you when I saw those creepy people take Van up the stage. When the canopy collapsed, I had the opportunity to untie her and make her switch with one of the guards. Easy."

"I can't say that I'm not impressed."

Brooke stared me in the eyes. "That's my mission in life. To impress the great Cybele." A thoughtful look passed on her face. "I saw everything you know," she trailed. I opened my mouth to ask, but she continued in a rush. "You seem to have forgotten that Talia's room in the palace was equipped with cameras."

My stomach sank to the ground. I swallowed hard, realizing for the first time that she was right. It must have been painful for her. I took her hand which was covered with fading bruises. "That night. . . You were watching?"

Uncertainty and pain reflected on her face. "Just the beginning. I couldn't stand to see the rest."

My mouth opened, yet no words came out. What could I tell her? Sorry you saw me making love to my girlfriend while you were in love with me? As if that would work. She'd downright slap me.

"I don't know what to say," I murmured, still holding her hand. "Are you alright?"

"It's nothing," she dismissed, though the pain lingered in her dark eyes. "You made it clear from the start that you were in love with her. How could I ever compete with that?"

"But I do love you too," I blurted. "As a sister," I added hurriedly before she had any wild ideas. "And I do know that Vanessa is crazy for you. Give her a chance. Please. . . If not for you, then for me." It was so wrong to ask her of that, but what could I do? It was the only way the four of us could be happy, Van included. The blonde was willing to catch her while she'd have to wait forever for me. I couldn't do that to her in a million years.

Brooke took a deep breath. I noticed that her hands were trembling, yet I pretended that I didn't see it so she wouldn't get embarrassed. "I'll try Cybele."

"That's good enough for me."

Both of us remained silent after, just staring at the sleepy town below the hill. It was like an unspoken agreement passed between us. I had to admit that I missed moments like this when it was just the two of us and no other words were needed to be spoken. We would talk with our silence and understood a million things. Maybe that was the thing with friends. Sometimes you could be very comfortable doing nothing at all. It was different with Talia though. With her I preferred our lips moving, whether it be kissing or spoken promises.

"Cybele?" Brooke spoke after a while.

"Yes?"

"Remember what we used to do back in college?" she asked, a playful smile spreading on her face. "Aside from all the hacking, studying, and modeling. Remember that we used to train together?"

"I can recall that," I replied, my mind going back to the days when we enrolled in shooting classes. "You were always good with the gun, but the dagger was your expertise." I glanced at her. "Why are you asking me this now?" She took something from her back pocket. It was a dagger which was still sheathed on its holder.

Just like that the nightmare I had returned unbidden in my mind. "What do you want to do with that?" My voice came out shakier than intended. I hated myself for sounding weak and nervous, even while it was a friend I was talking to.

Brook threw the dagger carefully in my direction. I caught it easily. "I want to train with you," she said while tying her long black hair in a ponytail.

"Now?"

"Uh huh." She took another dagger from her pants which I didn't notice. "What? Scared?"

"With you?" I asked with a mocking tone, watching her move her head side to side, standing a few feet from me. "You have to be bloody kidding me. I'm not afraid of anyone."

"Great!" Brooke said before running to my direction, her dagger already unsheathed. The first attack she did was made with no hesitation. She aimed for my neck, which I easily blocked with my own dagger. I pushed her back using my body.

"That all you got?" I teased, curling my finger so she'd come to me. "You used to be better at this. What happened Brooke? You got weak?"

She threw her dagger as hard as she could in my direction. The weapon whizzed past me as I avoided it with a swing of my hand. "No Cybele," she said with a hard tone, going straight at me with a determined look in her eyes. "I fell in love with you. That's what happened."

Brooke was already kicking my stomach hard before I could defend myself. Pain shot in the area, making me stumble back. "Hey, I thought this wasn't a serious fight?" I clutched at my aching stomach. "That's going to bruise. And Talia might see it and scold me."

Brooke sneered. "It's not my fault that you fight like a girl." We circled each other, seizing the strength of the opponent.

"Well I am a girl," I chuckled. "Boobs and all."

"Let's be careful not to hit it then," she murmured before going for another killer move. This time Brooke tried to punch my face but I was able to evade it by raising my hand.

"All bark, no bite."

"You wish Iris." She kicked me at the back of the knee, to which I lost my balance. I was down on the ground with my back on the grass before I could help it, the dagger slipping away from my hand. Brooke positioned herself on top of me, gloating over the fact that she won. Almost.

"I thought you'd never call me Iris again." I stared at her face and her dark pupils. She was sweating. Both of us were, which was kind of funny seeing that I felt cold just minutes ago before she arrived.

"You thought wrong. I'd always call you Iris," she whispered, her face suddenly serious. "And some part of me will always be yours, just like Iris will always be mine."

My heart melted. I wasn't sure if it was the good kind or I was just feeling guilty. "I didn't ask for it Brooke. Please don't give it to me because I can never return the favor. You'll be stuck in a limbo and that's unfair." I tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "Besides, I thought you already agreed to give Van a try?"

Her eyes became unreadable. "Even if I did give her a try, that doesn't mean that I'd forget you."

"You really are stubborn you know that?" I asked with frustration, rolling my eyes for emphasis.

"I learned from the best," she smirked. Brooke leaned down, moving her face closer. I froze in panic.

"What are you two doing?" Talia asked sharply all of a sudden. Brooke and I stared at her direction. The princess looked enraged. Bloody Mary, this looked bad. Van was also there standing beside Talia, glancing at us with wide eyes.

"Just training princess," Brook said smoothly as she grabbed the dagger near us, then stood up. "We used to do it a lot in our university days. You should have seen Iris back then. Not only was she great in everything, she was also a cold-hearted freak."

Talia's face softened. "She's not like that at all."

Brooke shrugged. "Not all of us are you princess. That's all I can say." Brooke helped me up. Once we were standing face to face, she shoved the dagger in my hand. "Looks like you got weak too," she murmured.

"I fell in love. That's what happened," I said, being careful to lower my voice so the others wouldn't hear it.

"Hmmm. . ." She turned to Van. "Want to take a walk with me?"

The blonde smiled widely. "Yes baby! I mean Brookey." She jogged towards us.

"How's your stomach Iris?" Brooke said as she started to walk away.

"Peachy," I grumbled, the pain making its appearance again, demanding to be felt.

My best friend stared ahead, not meeting my eyes. "Remember that pain. Next time I'll aim for the heart."