An Unexpected Encounter
Disclaimer: Ya know I don't own it!
Note: And the plot thickens…
Chapter 17 – Lily and Gene
Gene's eyes grew wide. "No shit…So we've found you."
Lily had a confused expression on her face. "Excuse me?"
Gene smirked. "Well actually…your men found us. It was effortless…kinda like it was meant to be."
"I'm not sure what you're tryin to say…"
"Jim had been thinking about you a lot lately; having dreams and shit so I made a promise to him that I'd find ya…but it looks like you found us instead."
"You'd really do that for him?"
"Yeah, he and the others are the only family I've got, but me and Jim have been through thick and thin, so I'd do anythin for him…Look, I'm pretty sure you could care less about us. You were really just lookin to get him back, weren't you?"
It's true. He did save Jim…I feel awful for having this man and those other ladies here. Lily looked away by turning around in shame. "I can't lie…that is very true. Gene…there is so much to say, so much to learn…" Lily turned back around and faced Gene, by looking at him straight in the eyes, tears flowing down her cheeks. "Thank you."
Gene was slightly confused, but tried to sympathize. "What for?"
"For taking care of Jim this whole time…You don't deserve to be here. I'm so sorry you've had to go through all this torture, Gene," Lily said as she kept crying.
Gene took his hands and cupped Lily's face, wiping away her tears with his two thumbs. "Don't cry…He's safe and sound, isn't he," he asked as he placed his arms around her to bring her closer to him for a hug.
Lily was surprised that Gene would do such a thing, but felt relief and comfort in his touch. She too wrapped her arms around him, placing them over his waist and planting her head on his chest. "I thought I lost my family six years ago…It hurt so much…losing my parents…losing Jim." Lily looked back up at Gene and found that he was staring down at her intensely. She was lost for a moment, as they were locked on each other's eyes. She took her right hand and brushed his left cheek, feeling the growing little stubbles of facial hair. "Thanks to you, my brother is safe…No words cannot express how grateful I am to you." As she kept her eyes locked on the man before her, and without a protest from him, she moved her hand behind his head and began to pull him down for a kiss, only to be interrupted by Leo's abrupt entrance into the dungeon. She broke away from their embrace almost as immediately as she began her displays of affection. "Leo, I told you that I would call for you…"
"I'm sorry, my lady, but I must ask that you leave immediately."
"Why?"
"It's close to the time that the Prince makes his rounds around here and I don't think it safe for you to be here."
Lily grew tense and a little nervous, but didn't let it show. "You're right…I must leave now." She turned back to Gene and wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come out.
"Come, my lady. We must go."
Right now, her only wish was to stay with Gene. It felt so right to be with him, but she didn't know why. As she was led out of the dungeon by Leo, she began to feel embarrassed by what had happened and what Leo saw.
Leo locked the dungeon entrance and then faced the Queen. "Don't worry…I won't tell anyone."
With shock, Lily answered, "Leo, what are you talking about?"
"It's not so hard to see the obvious reasons for you coming here, my lady."
Lily felt a little sigh of relief. She began to think that perhaps Leo didn't see anything. "Oh, but of course. Leo, you know I only come here to receive answers from that man."
Leo laughed. "My lady, I was once young and in love too and I can see that you are headed down that road with that young man."
Lily felt herself turn red. Could he be right?? No!! Of course not! But then, why did I almost kiss him? Gene…No, I have to shake all thoughts of him out of my mind…I just can't…I can never be with him. "Oh, Leo. Don't be so silly. My love and affection shall only be meant for the King…Everyone knows that."
Leo just smiled a gentle smile. "My Queen, like I've told you before. If you ever want to talk, I am here. In the short time that I've gotten to know you in, I see you as I would a daughter. I know I shouldn't say that, but I feel that connection with you."
Lily looked at him with admiration and she smiled back at him. "You do remind me of the father I once had, but I assure you that I will not go down that route with this man…I am a married woman…It is not something I should do."
"Of course, my Queen," he said as he tilted his head to lend an extra ear to a faint sound he heard at a distance.
"What is it, Leo?"
"He's coming."
"Who?"
"The Prince…I hear his footsteps…Quickly. There is no time for you to leave so I must hide you in one of these empty dungeon cells." As Leo opened another dungeon door close to Gene's cell, Lily entered and remained quiet as the footsteps grew closer. "Try to remain calm, my Queen. Everything will be alright."
Lily just nodded but only felt her heart pounding. It was as if it were about to pop out of her chest. Nonetheless, she stood still and leaned against the cold wall, hoping Rume wouldn't see her as he began to get closer and closer…
Meanwhile…
Shit. It's been a long time since somethin like that's happened to me…He thought back to their embrace. He remembered everything about their moment. Her touch. Her scent. It was sweet. Was it a tease? He shook the thought off. Nah, the girl was just thankful…Yeah, that's it. She was tryin to thank me…So why can't I convince myself that that's all it was? He shook the thought off again. Damn it! Why do I feel that it's somethin more than what it really is? There's nothin there, Gene. Snap out of it…She's Jim's sister… As he argued with himself, he began to hear two men outside, talking. Hmm…Looks like I'll be having another visitor.
In the dungeon hallway…
"How are you today, Prince Rume?"
"Leo, you are not to leave your post at any time…is that understood?"
"I was only making some rounds, my Lord…checking up on the prisoners. It is required, my Lord."
"The only thing that is required of you is to sit at your post. The rounds are left up to me for the time being. Do you understand?"
Lily peeped through the tiny window with bars on the dungeon door, but as she saw Rume naturally look her way, she moved her head away from the opening.
"Yes, my Lord," Leo answered.
"Good…Now, you know why I'm here. Let me see that fuckin bastard, Gene Starwind."
To be continued…
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