Chapter 10

"Olivia, did you tell Charlotte I wanted to see her?"
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but Charlotte is out. She left word downstairs when you were asleep. She shouldn't be long. Is there anything I can do for you?" The young lady strived to take care of her, having wanted this position for as long as she could remember.

"No, thank you Olivia. Just let her know when she arrives."

"Yes m'am."

Olivia left Clarisse, and she was alone once again. She picked up the note from Joseph and read it again. Although his words were not spoken, they sounded harsh to her. He was angry, again. She had often reprimanded him for it. This time was different, she felt. His note was hurried, and there was a sense of pure hatred for the Viscount in his words. He would kill him. It would be her fault. This had tragedy written all over it. Joseph had immunity to the law, for held the Genovian law in his hands. What he was doing was dishonoring his Queen. There would be no question as to who killed him. It would eventually leak out as to why. Her public would find out. It was the same thing all over again. Joseph was doing to her exactly the same thing Mabrey had wanted to do. Now his death would be on her hands. Her reputation would be ruined.

She picked up the phone, "Priscilla, I need to see Shades please."

"Yes m'am, right away."

Waiting for him had done nothing for her. She was pacing about the suite as he entered.

"Shades, you have to find him, stop him." Clarisse knew the two were thick as thieves. If anyone knew where he was and what he was up to, it was Shades.

"Your Majesty," he bowed slightly, "I know where he is, and why he is there. I can go, and will, if you ask. However, Joseph intended on ending this. I will not be able to stop him. It would take the whole Genovian Army. You know him, he is head strong."

"Yes, I do. That's why I'm worried. He's not thinking clearly. If you can't stop him, please go and try to convince him that killing the Viscount will only cause more trouble. Stop him if you can."

"Yes, Your Majesty."
"And Shades, watch yourself, and Joseph."

"You can count on it."

Shades left her. She felt somewhat better knowing that she had sent someone to be with him. Maybe he would not act so foolishly. She had never known Joseph to act like that before. His anger must have esculated to its' highest point. Clarisse couldn't help but blame herself. It was her fault.

Blood pooled around his head. The gash was wide open, showing the bone white of his skull across the top of his forehead. Joseph knelt down, checking his pulse. He was alive. Joseph took a good look at this man and thought of his Clarisse. Clarisse. Her name burned on his tongue. She would not want him to do this. She had stopped him this morning in Parliament. Still, the anger of what he did to her burned deep inside of him. He wanted revenge. He wanted him dead. He wanted this over. He wanted Clarisse. Clarisse.

"Joe?" Shades knelt next to him.

"He's alive." Joe looked at his friend.

Shades slid his hand in his jacket, pulled out his cell, and dialed for help.

"Come on, they'll be here in a few minutes. It's only four minutes from town." He stood, pulling Joe up with him. Joe just nodded, still looking at the dark blood on the floor.

She was still pacing the floor when Charlotte entered. "Your Majesty?"

"Oh, Charlotte, I, ah, I wanted to see if you could schedule me some time off soon. I know there are a few things I cannot get out of, but I just need a break. Maybe just a few days?"

"I'll have to run over the schedule for the next couple of weeks, so I can't say anything for sure until the morning."

"Of course. No hurry. I just wanted to take a break Charlotte."
"I know, and I will find the time, I just can't say when right now."

"Thank you. Charlotte, one other thing. You are one of my only friends." Clarisse stood facing the woman in front of her. "I wanted you to understand why I did what I did. I don't want you to think any less of me for it."
"Your Majesty.."

"Clarisse, please."
"Clarisse, you don't have to explain anything to me. To be honest, I think I know more about why you do things than anyone else here." Charlotte smiled at her, hoping to cheer her up.

"You do, don't you." It was more a statement than a question. "You are with me from morning till night. You schedule my appointments. You travel with me. You work with me. You live with me. I never really thought of it like that before. I guess I take you for granted, Charlotte. Forgive me?"

"Always. Clarisse, what you are to me I could never describe. I love working with you, living with you, and just being with you."

Clarisse did smile this time. Then she did something she had never done before. She wrapped her arms around her aide, and hugged her.

Never had Shades known Joseph to be so quiet. For a fifteen minute ride, it was one of the longest in his life. Shades pulled up behind the palace. He turned off the ignition, and looked to his friend.

"Joe, you okay?"

"Yeh, I'm okay."

"I'll make rounds, why don't you just take the rest of the day off." Shades was hoping in time he'd come around to being himself again, espically before the team saw him like this.

"Do I seem that bad, you don't want anyone to see me like this?" Joe looked his friend in the eye, knowing he'd get an honest answer.

"Yes, yes you do. You're angry, upset, and you're not thinking clearly. If something did happen, could you handle it?"

"I guess you're right. I do need some time off. Thank you, my friend."

"Hey, take your time. I'll handle things for awhile. Besides, you have never taken any time off. Now would be a good time to use it. Pull yourself together."

"I never wanted to leave for anything, until now." Joe sighed, knowing his friend was right. He needed time away. He needed to straighten his head. He took out a small pad with a pen, wrote a few notes for Shades, and the two went over them in detail. Of course, Shades already knew the details, he just humored his boss. He let him mumble through the list twice before he snatched it away. The two laughed together, then parted.

"Clarisse, Shades said to let you know that Joseph is back, and that he was too late." Charlotte said questioning the message. Clarisse let out the breath she didn't know she was holding.

"Yes, okay Charlotte. I sent him on an errand."

"Anything else Clarisse?"

"Not right now." Clarisse excused her aide. She wanted to go, to say something to him. She wasn't sure what. She wasn't sure if she could look at him again. She knew she had to.

"Excuse me, but you'll want to see the news, Your Majesty." Olivia came in, switched on the television, and pointed. Even before she saw his face across the screen, Clarisse had known it would be him. She sat and listened, learning that the man she now loathed was not dead. He was in critical condition, however, with severe trauma to his head. She breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't killed him. She was sure he had left him for dead, though. An investigation was going on as it was aired.

Clarisse had to speak to Sebastian. This needed to be covered up before the media dug too deep. He'd be able to pull some strings, to get this announced as an accident of some kind. That would cover this whole royal mess, for now.

Picking at his dinner, Joseph couldn't help but remember thedeep red of the Viscount's blood, and the bone white of his skull. He had meant to kill him this afternoon. He had every intention of taking his life. The media announcement that Mabrey was still alive had gave him some comfort. This comfort was confusing. It centered around one woman. He hated Mabrey because of her, but he willed him to live because of her also. He pushed the plate away, opting for a strong drink instead.

Half a bottle later he found himself standing in her doorway. She had bathed, the sweet aroma filling his head. She was dressed for bed, all in white, except for the dark purple stained to her skin. She walked slowly, still being quite sore. "Clarisse, what happened last night?" His words were drawn out but strong. She turned her head to meet his eyes.

"Joseph. I, ah, I left you a note." She hung her head.

"Yes, but what happened?"

"I thought I had to go to him. He made me believe..." He cut her off.
"Can you not answer one simple question for me? I want to know, I need to know." He stepped closer to her.

"Would it make a difference?" She shot back at his harsh words.

"Yes, it would, to me. I know why you went, but did you go through with it?" His eyes were narrow and dark.

"I could ask you the same thing, Joseph, but I already know your answer. At least I thought things out before I did anything so drastic." She was pointing now, and her face a growing pink.

"Just what are you getting at?"

"I know what you did, I was the one who sent Shades after you." His eyes opened wide with understanding. "You didn't kill him, you know. He's still alive. Why don't you go finish the job?"

"Maybe I will!"

"You know I wanted you to stay away from him! You knew that!" Her words stung him. "You are no different than he," her words softer this time. "He wanted to ruin my reputation, and you turned around and tried the same thing." She turned her back to him. "Now I have to cover this up, as if I haven't had enough to worry about."

"Clarisse, I did not do that to Mabrey. He was like that when I reached him." She turned towards him.

"You expect me to believe that?"

"Yes, yes I do. You see, I tell you things, the truth. I trust you, and I trust you to trust me. I guess I was wrong in that."

"Don't pull that with me, Joseph. I have always talked to and trustedyou."

"Really? Think about it Clarisse. I'll give you plenty of time...I can't stay here any longer. Good thing my bags are already packed. I'll be leaving immediately." He turned to leave.

"Why are your bags already packed?"

"What happened last night?" The two looked at one another, waiting for answers they knew would not come. Joseph resigned first, nodded his head to her, and left.