Chapter 12

Reclining the seat in the office, Shades monitored the cameras of the summer estate. It held many cameras, and for that he was thankful this weekend, as he was doing his job alone. He knew he would get little sleep, but he could make up for that. He also knew that his employer would reward him well if she were kept safe and to herself.

He scanned the wall of six monitors, keeping watch on two of them. The top one on the left showed Joseph, sitting among the rocks on the southern border of the property. Had anyone else been there, they would have never noticed him. He sat still, from morning till night, in the same place. Shades would talk to him as if he could hear, urging him to go to her. She was the object of the camera in the middle, the other he kept close watch on. She had been much like Joseph for the past two days, she had sat in relatively the same place. His Queen would move though, and she would be unmistakable to anyone looking on.

As the sun began to set, Shades watched Joe turn and walk away. Even from this distance, Shades could see how badly he looked, it reflected his pain. As his friend left, Shades glanced at the woman standing, staring at the ocean. He could not believe how stubborn they were being. Not only was it killing them, but this was something that affected him and his men, hell the entire country could suffer. He literally jumped out of his chair, slamming it back against the small table behind him. He hit the door with the force of a raiding army. He was going to stop this nonsense. He had every intention of tying the two together if he needed to. Tripping through the cobblestone path, he ran toward the beach.

His shoes sank as soon as he hit the soft sand, slowing his advance. He scanned the beach for her, he had to tell her that Joe had been here, he could still stop him. The waves washed ashore, leaving the foam to outline it's border. He looked again, puzzled as to where she went so quickly.

It had taken him less than a minute to reach the shore. He would have passed her had she went back inside. He turned completely around, again stopping to face the sunset. She had vanished.

The last of the light reflected off of the water. It was a ray of that light which shone directly on the material. It was the flimsy red wrap she had been wearing. The tide was bringing it in. Shades wasted no time. He slipped off his shoes as he ran into the sea.

Fighting against the tide, he moved out in search of her. The sea was ahead of him was vast, but he did not faulter. He moved swiftly and with the dedication that a Queen's security guard should have. The salt stung his eyes, and burned in his nose as he dived. The water a cloudly sea-green, making visibility very limited. He was not a good swimmer, but as he searched for her, that was all but forgotten. Coming up for air, his legs hit something. It had to be her. Before he had filled his lungs, he was back in the water.

A little more to his right and she was in sight. He hardly registered the blackness encasing her until he again reached the surface. Barely able to comprehend the situation, he headed back to shore, pulling her as his arm carried her shoulder. When his feet skimmed the bottom, he stood, helped pick her up, and carried her to the shore.

Dropping her to the sand, Joseph turned her over on her side, hitting her back. When no water came, he layed her flat. His mouth covered hers as he tilted her head back. Shades watched the man, knowing he would give his own life for her. Joseph breathed into her, first once, then again. He listened for her, then tried again. Joseph repeated the breathing once more. Then again. Shades dropped to her side, feeling for and willing her to have a pulse. Joseph glanced at him, waiting for his expression to tell him something. He nodded, "It's faint, but there."

Joseph hit her chest, "Damn you, you stubborn woman! BREATHE! DAMN YOU, BREATHE!" He again breathed for her, then again. It was then a slight gurgle emitted from her throat. Her body jerked, forcing fluid from her lungs. Joseph turned her on her side, allowing her to cough it up. She choked a whole minute, until she got a good breath of air. Her eyelids flickered open, focusing on him. She had been so close to death; she was soaked, covered in sand, and sick from the salt water, but she had never looked so beautiful to him.

Joseph sat beside her in the sand, helping her to sit up. She didn't try to speak, she just leaned against him. He had not thought of himself and Shades until now. He glanced at his friend, noticing he was okay. Joseph had never been so thankful in his life. "You came back." Shades simply stated, nodding at his best friend. Joseph gave him a half-hearted smile. "Yeah," was all he said.

"Listen, I'm going to call her doctor. Can you get her inside?" "Yes. Keep it under wraps, huh." Joseph knew that anything between the three of them would never get out. He turned his attention back to her. She was looking better, the death blue disappearing from her skintone. "Clarisse, can you walk?" She shook her head slightly, but still leaned against him. "Here, let me help you up. We have to get you inside, and dry." He raised himself up, holding her as he did. When he had his footing, he lifted her up. "Lean against me." She nodded, molding her body against his.

Late into the night, Joseph sat next to her in bed. She had recieved a thorough examination from Dr. Jaqueas, not to mention a thorough lecture. She had taken it all in, but had yet to speak to anyone. Joseph tried to chose his words carefully. "The doctor left you some medication, an antidepressant. He, we, think it's a good idea. It will help, Clarisse." She stared ahead of her, at nothing. "I know I left, and reguardless of our differences, I think it's a good idea if I come back for awhile," he continued. "When you're up and on your feet again, well we'll see how it goes. I do love you, Clarisse. You have to know that." Joseph hoped some of what he was saying was getting through. "Tomorrow we'll go back to the palace, unless you still want to stay another day?"

Just when he gave up on her speaking, she did. "It doesn't matter where I am."

"Why do you say that?"

"Every place I go, I have to be Queen Clarisse Renaldi. I'm tired of her. I want to be Clarisse, just Clarisse."

"I see, I also understand. Would you stay another day, here with me? We have alot to talk about, and this is an ideal place." He touched her cheek with the back of his hand.

"Yes."

"Good. You will always be Clarisse to me, you know that." He moved closer and kissed her cheek. She rested her head against him, allowing sleep to overpower her.