by Bar Sagi
Violet looked up at her slowly, her eyes red from, and tears still flowing down her face. For once she didn’t look like a lady, but a heartbroken teenager.
She took a deep breath and told Yasmin in a tiny voice, “I broke off the engagement.”
Chapter 26
“I will be there!”
Yasmin stood there, gaping, as Violet told her she was breaking off the engagement. A thousand questions burned in her mind, but all she could say was, “Why?”
Violet looked at Yasmin with heartbroken eyes. She bit her lip. “Isn’t it obvious? He’s not in love with me. He doesn’t even like me!” She burst into heaving sobs.
Yasmin stood there, unsure of what to do. Sure, she thought of herself and Violet as friends, but what could she say to make Violet feel better? The situation was so complicated that Yasmin didn’t know where to begin.
As if the tears opened some invisible door, a flood of words burst from Violet’s mouth. “I always knew, deep down, that he didn’t love me. But I wanted him so much… I… I ignored it.” She looked at Yasmin, her gaze clouded with tears. “I am trying so hard not to be jealous, but why does it have to be you?”
Violet collapsed on the ground, sobbing, and Yasmin sat next to her, unable to speak.
“I…” Yasmin tried to think of something, anything. “The David you knew wasn’t the one I fell in love with.” She gasped, amazed at herself.
What was she doing? But her big, fat mouth kept on talking. “David here is so much more… stone like. He hides himself, and hates everything about this place.” Yasmin waved her arm at the palace around them–the marble hallways, the servants everywhere, and everything so clean, so perfect.
“The David I fell in love with, the one I knew, he’s different. He has a bit of a temper, and he’s funny, and kind. He’s not the most patient teacher, though.” Yasmin giggled at the memory, even though it hurt. “He can be such an idiot sometimes, but in the end, he’ll do anything for the people he loves.”
Violet looked at Yasmin with wide eyes. “Is that really David?” Tears flowed again as she kept crying. “I never even knew him!”
“Violet…” Yasmin didn’t know what to say, so she put her arm around Violet, comforting her in some small way. She held on to Violet as she cried and cried, letting all the pain flow away.
At last, Violet straightened and brushed away her tears with determination. “I’m going to leave Atlantis for a while. I’m going to my grandpa’s. I need some time away.”
Yasmin just nodded. She knew better than to argue with Violet. She also understood how painful it might be for Violet to see David. It had been horrible for Yasmin every time she had seen David after finding out about Violet. It had been like her heart was breaking all over again.
After Violet left, Yasmin roamed the halls, too dazed to go to her room. She couldn’t seem to remember, even though she had been here a long time. As she wandered into a small dining room by accident, she heard raised voices.
“What do you mean you aren’t willing to get engaged to someone else?” That was the queen’s voice, and she must have been furious to be shouting like that.
Yasmin heard David’s response and strained her ears despite herself. Even though it hurt, she found herself wanting to hear his voice again.
“I can’t get engaged again, Mother.” David spoke slowly and carefully, as if afraid to upset his mother. “I can’t betray the person I love again.”
“Who is this person?” the queen demanded. “Tell me now, Son!”
“It’s Yasmin, Mother.” David had so much sadness in his voice. He was also suffering, Yasmin realized with a pang.
“Well, then break up with her! I’m doing this for Atlantis!” Queen Andrea said, sounding furious.
“It’s already over Mother, she dumped me.”
“Well, good riddance. Now, there’s this duchess from–”
“NO!” David shouted, interrupting his mother. “I already told you, I don’t care if she broke up with me, that doesn’t mean I have to hurt her too!”
Yasmin walked out of the room quietly, touched. Did David really care that much about her? She had broken his heart, and he was shouting at his mother, unwilling to move on.
Granted, it had only been a few hours, but she had never heard him speak to his mother like that before! Was he willing to overcome his fear for her?
Yasmin shook her head stubbornly. She didn’t need David, she didn’t need anyone! She was going to be fine by herself! She was a strong, independent woman, and she didn’t need anyone in her life! She had managed just fine on her own the past few months, and that would continue. Boys. Pah! Who needs them?
Yasmin considered going home that evening, but decided to stay. If she went home now, who knew if she would have the courage to come back? And she still wanted to help Atlantis. If so many people were hurt, then she would do her best to help them, even if it meant using her powers again. Besides, it didn’t look like she had a choice.
Yasmin had a long talk with Amanda about the battle, including the fact that her father, Richard, the old king, was still alive. When she had told her, Amanda had been shocked, but it was like she had somehow known. Instead of getting hurt, Amanda asked Yasmin not to tell this to anyone.
She didn’t want her mother to know, because Amanda thought her mother was already fragile enough about Richard’s death ten, no eleven, years ago now, and she didn’t want her to get hurt. Yasmin agreed to keep quiet, because she really couldn’t care less.
Lying on her bed that night, Yasmin thought about going outside to look at the stars. It was a cool night, but a sweater should keep her warm. She snorted as she pulled one on, thinking about how warm it must be in Israel about now. With a pang, Yasmin realized just how much she missed home.
The hallway was empty of people, save for stargazers, or scientists into their work. They worked well into the night. Yasmin walked a little ways into the forest beside the palace until she found a clearing.
She gasped in wonder at the clearing. It was beautiful, with a small waterfall emptying into a pool the size of her room, and fish swimming in its depths. The stars were reflected in the pools waters’ and it probably would be a lot of fun to disturb it.
The clearing was quite large, and she heard an owl hooting in the distance as she sat down, relaxing. The leaves blew in the wind, and the spring flowers were gorgeous, probably. She couldn’t see very well in the dark. That’s why she had brought an electric lamp. She set the lamp down, smiling to herself. It felt much better than a flashlight because it cast light everywhere.
Yasmin leaned against a rick, shivering. The wind was growing strong, and even with the trees to protect her from all of the wind, she was getting cold. Maybe she should go back inside.
Yasmin heard a crunch of leaves and froze. Who could it be, at this hour? She called a fireball to her hand, calling out, “Who is it? I’m very good with fire, I’m warning you!” She would have added lightning, but with her magic so weird sometimes, she wasn’t going to risk burning anyone to a crisp. But fire could do that too. Oh, well. She could use wind instead.
“It’s just me,” David said, stepping into the light.
Yasmin blushed and closed her hand, extinguishing the fireball.
“Hi,” she said, blushing. Everything felt so awkward.
“Can I sit?” He gestured to the rock beside her.
Yasmin nodded, although she would rather he stood. She supposed that would be a bit mean. But just a bit.
David sat down, too close for comfort. He looked at the view, sighing. “It’s beautiful here. This is one of my favorite places to go to when I need to get away. If you like, I can show you a secret passage under the castle that leads here someday.”
Yasmin nodded, feeling uncomfortable and wishing he would go away. She couldn’t quite get the words out, though. She
was very aware of David sitting next to her, in a way she wished she wasn’t. Every time she thought of him, it hurt. And now here he was, sitting next to her. Why?
David spun toward her, a look of desperation and seriousness on his face. “Yasmin, I know what I did was wrong. I won’t ask for forgiveness, even though I am apologizing. I left you alone for months, when I should have been there for you. I get ashamed whenever I think about it. One of the reasons I love you is because you wouldn’t have ever done something like this. You wouldn’t have let anyone control your life. I wish I had your strength.”
Yasmin felt breathless as David continued. “I am going to do my best to make up for it, though, so one day you won’t be hurt when you look at me. I’m never going to leave you again. If you don’t want a boyfriend, that‘s fine. I’ll still be there for you, in any way I can. I won’t leave you alone. Not again.” His eyes were pleading as he reached for her hand. “So what do you say? Will you let me be there for you?”
Yasmin felt tears flow to her eyes, but not because he was apologizing. No, she was overwhelmed because he just somehow knew. David knew that she had felt so lonely these past few months, and he was going to do everything he could to be there for her. And that was the best present in the world.
David leaned against a rock, looking at the stars in silence. After a while he tried again. “So what do you say? Yasmin, don’t leave me hanging!” He sounded a bit scared, as if afraid she would shove him away again.
Yasmin laughed for the first time in what felt like forever and leaned against David. His shoulder was warm. She snuggled against him, safe in the knowledge that he would be there for her.
David put his arm around her, and as Yasmin drifted off to sleep, she was sure she heard him whisper something. But Yasmin’s eyes grew heavy, and she never heard anything.
As Yasmin fell Asleep, David looked at her drooling on his shoulder and smiled. From now on, she wouldn’t be alone. He would always be there for her. He would be there to make her smile, to make her laugh, and to brush away her tears. He would never leave her again.
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