I looked around the veranda for a moment, waiting to spot someone hiding behind one of the potted bushes, but it was deserted.
I sighed, grateful it must've been my imagination. I was just about to go back inside when I saw it. A flimsy white piece of paper. It was folded neatly into a little square and was inches from the threshold. I reached down and picked up the note and examined it for a moment, before hesitantly opening it by its crisp edges.
The Only One
I dream of a joy that never before have our lips drank from.
And our thirst been quenched. That resurrecting glow of peace.
That comes from the simplicity of love.
What man should bridal his own love, for the one he truly desires most?
His one and only?
A man who has more love than the simple desires of his demons inside.
A man who shall not fall to the sorrows of darkness and misery.
For she is one who possesses the love to save him from himself.
A love stronger than lust. One that cannot be taught, only felt.
For when the bright and beautiful morn shines down on this heart.
Will there not be endless day?
The cold, black night never again will befall this paradise of her.
Her.
The one.
The only one.
- Mid
Speechless at the beautiful words, I gazed down toward the south wing, where I knew he must be. The doors to his balcony had been shut. The light that had been in the window the day before, suddenly extinguished. I walked back into my room, shutting the doors with the poem still in hand.
As I laid down to sleep, I knew one thing for sure. That I didn’t have the power to stop loving him, no matter my tactics of avoidance or animosity. I couldn’t deny my feelings for him, or the reality of the space he filled in my thoughts. Shutting my eyes, I proceeded to fall asleep to the frustrating reality that I’d never be able to forget him.
Twenty-Nine
Every decoration, every ivory rose and auric tablecloth, added to my perpetual torture. The wedding guests were flaunting their obvious pleasure, the euphoria in the room palpable. I was envious of their insouciant behaviors, wishing I could be as indulgent.
I shimmied the front of my bodice higher onto my chest, wishing suddenly for more layers of covering. Though the room was bubbling with warm affections, I was frigid with loneliness.
I played with the fork in front of me, admiring the intricate silverware. The colors of the wedding were a dusty blue set against gold and white. The tables were bursting with golden tablecloths and elegant alabaster flower arrangements, candles embellishing every surface and crevice available in the big hall. The sun had fallen over the mountains, and the ballroom was a scintillating coruscation in the night.
“May I join you?” Startled from my pensive thinking, I looked up to find Embrosine. She looked dazzling, dressed in a gold satin evening gown, her auburn hair curled to perfection down her exposed back. She’d chosen to forgo her cloak that night, which was a rather daring fashion choice for a royal.
“Of course,” I said as she took a seat beside me.
“Sunn has successfully disappeared again.” She had a frustrated look in her motherly expression.
“I’m sure she’s just off exploring somewhere.” I assumed it was an accurate guess, considering the young teenage girl was known for getting distracted rather easily.
“The wedding is beautiful,” she appraised. She was looking around the room, admiring the impressive set up.
“It is, isn’t it?” I replied numbly, and she seemed to notice my grim tone.
“I see the way you two look at each other,” she commented, and this caused my pulse to quicken.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I looked down at the napkin in my lap and began folding the edges nervously.
“I’m not going to say anything to anyone,” she immediately allayed.
“It’s sort of complicated,” I mumbled, and a sad look filled her amber-colored eyes.
“Love is a weak contender when fighting against actuality.” Her words did well to sum up the inner war I’d been fighting with myself.
“Well if it isn't two of my favorite people,” a dainty voice chirped beside us. And to my surprise, I found Liony settling into the seat next to me. She stood out, wearing a bright pink tulle dress, and matching flush bow in her hair. She loosened the cloak from around her neck and draped it over the chair behind her. I was then able to see her blue heart radiating from her chest.
“Liony, you came!” Embrosine seemed genuinely surprised at her arrival. Liony rested her chin onto her palm, leaning closer as if she were going to tell us a secret.
“What kind of friend would I be if I missed Mid’s wedding?”
My spirits had brightened a little with the two women beside me, and I was grateful not to be sitting alone anymore.
“Should we dance?” Embrosine suggested, and before I could protest, Liony eagerly complied.
“Absolutely! It is only tradition to eat and dance before the bride and groom arrive!” Liony jumped from her seat and grabbed my hands, tugging me anxiously.
“I’m not really in the mood,” I whined reluctantly.
“I have a remedy for lousy moods. Do you need some convincing?” I knew she was talking about her power.
I narrowed my eyes at her. “Keep your happy juice away from me,” I joked, not needing any emotional manipulation. I grudgingly followed after the two of them to the middle of the floor where a handful of couples were swinging to the music. It was hard to be grouchy with Liony’s infectious smile and Embrosine’s good-naturedness. Eventually, I was dancing with them, and the music transported me to a blissful forgetfulness, where there was only the music and our laughter.
The music died down sometime later, and Oli appeared on the musician's stage, his voice echoing throughout the busy room.
“Attention, if you all would please make your way to your assigned tables where dinner will be served.”
We returned to our table where the rest of our families had come to join the meal. Everybody except the bride and groom took a seat at the table. It was customary in Aveladon for the guests to feast and celebrate before the bride and groom were presented at the ceremony. Then another feast would occur after the ceremony, and more dancing. Aveladon was known for long weddings and making unnecessary traditions as an excuse to have more feasts. At least this was how I’d esteemed it.
The meal was three courses. A delicious citrus salad was presented for our appetizer, spiced chicken with a lemon sage rice and warm bread and butter for the main course. Endless refills of Lush Fire were given and finally dessert at the end. Several cakes had been baked in all different flavors and colors, along with cookies and other baked goods. I tried to eat but had only managed a couple of bites due to the knots in my stomach.
I caught Oli eyeing me from across the table.
“You’ve barely touched your food.” He frowned and dabbed his lips with his napkin. He wore a white suit and a blue tunic. A delicate white rosebud was pinned to his lapel and the contrast with his red cloak was dashing.
“Not hungry I guess,” I replied, and this just caused a more worried look to enter his eyes. Luckily my father stood from the table at that moment and I was saved from having to explain.
“I would like to say a few words.” The hum of conversation quickly died down and silence filled the room. “To my daughter Jasper, and her fine groom Midennen. May their union present a lifelong bond between Aveladon and Ethydon. I wish them happiness and joy as long as they live.”
The crowd cheered and I deftly felt myself clapping. I could feel the night coming to its climactic moment and didn’t know if I’d be able to handle what would happen next.
“We will conclude the first feast and if you would please prepare for the wedding ceremony.”
The dinner tables were swiftly removed from the roo
m, and the guests were ushered to another part of the ballroom. Rows of chairs were set facing a beautiful white arch made of white roses. Blue drapes hung from the archway, blocking the audience's view of who might be standing behind. Beneath the blooming arbor was an altar. Several items rested atop it: a white quartz stone, a bell, a loaf of bread, and a tree branch. I knew that the ceremony would entail all of these items and symbolized their union in some way. As I took a seat between Oli and Embrosine, I thought I might be sick.
It took a moment for all the guests to find their seats, but once settled, a thick cloud of suspense cloaked the room. I looked at the ballroom doors behind me, then again at the set of blue curtains. I knew they would enter from these locations and felt my hands begin to shake. I caught sight of King Knadian walking up toward the altar and felt my stomach convulse.
“I can’t be her. I’m sorry,” I muttered and quickly stood from my chair. I heard Oli and Embrosine hurriedly whisper to me, asking me where I was going. I ignored both of them and managed to slip between the row of guests and out one of the side doors into the castle hallway.
When I was finally alone, I let the tears come. The corridor had a small loveseat and I sat down, burying my head in my hands.
“I’m guessing those are not happy tears for the bride and groom.”
I whirled around, coming face to face with the man who had enslaved my heart. He looked unbearably handsome that night. He wore his traditional brown cloak with a white suit underneath, similar to Oli’s except his tunic was gold and the rose on his lapel was red. He had the one and only red rose amongst all the white ones in the ballroom that night, and it was surprisingly fitting. His dark hair was slicked back, curling at the nape of his neck, and I lost my breath when my gaze locked onto his emerald-scarlet eyes.
He’d successfully created a whirlwind of chaos, that had resulted in an unforgettable calamity, the breaking of my heart. And standing there looking at him, I didn’t know if I would ever recover.
I watched as his eyes gleamed with entertainment. The hurt I caused him only days before seemed to have vanished replaced by his cocky self-assuredness.
“You think this is funny, don’t you?” I made an obvious point to try and stomp past him. He reached out, tugging me to a stop.
“The humor helps me ignore the reality.” The confidence in his voice suddenly wavered, revealing a small parcel of the pain that actually lingered beneath.
“Well, I wouldn’t want to make you late for your ceremony,” I said sarcastically and tugged my arm from his grasp.
“Sabeara wait. . . ” I could hear the entreaty in his voice and it was enough to stop me in my tracks.
“For what? We’ve run out of time. You are moments away from marrying Jasper.”
“Sabeara, will you please, just look at me.” I turned around, and it took everything in me to look into his emerald-scarlet eyes.
“Before I go out there, I need you to know something.” He was surprisingly calm as his hands reached out and cupped the sides of my face. Seeing that he had my full attention, he continued.
“That day at the wishing pond, it was you I wished for.” It was the first time I saw tears pool in his eyes and his voice got suddenly husky with emotion. “I don’t know why we were dealt these circumstances, but I don’t regret meeting you.” I could feel my own hot salty tears leaking down my cheeks and he gently wiped them away with his fingers. “I’m sorry I’ve been so difficult these past few weeks, but it’s because I love you, Sabeara, and I didn’t want to let you go.” I didn’t stop him when his head dipped down and he pressed the softest of kisses onto my lips.
When he pulled away, he let his forehead rest against mine, and I whispered faintly, “I love you too, Mid.”
When I pulled away I deemed that it must be our last goodbye, knowing this was the finality to all we wished could've been. I turned around to leave and didn’t return to the ballroom; instead, I took to the stairs and distanced myself as far away from the ceremony as possible.
THIRTY
The castle music room had tall ceilings and narrow black windows. Long red curtains dripped to the floor while an ebony grand piano sat in the very middle of the room. Several candles were lit, barely penetrating the night radiating from behind the windowpanes.
I had ended up in the farthest corridor from the ballroom in the west wing. I reveled for a moment in the quiet stillness. Leaning up against the closed door, I allowed myself to cry. I quickly became a mess of tears, shaking with each gasping breath. I would think of his last words to me, then imagine him across the altar from Jasper, and another round of tears would follow. I truly loved him, and it was too much for my fragile heart to bear—knowing that I’d spend the rest of my life watching the two of them together, have children, and rule on the throne.
I thought the agony would never cease, but after a while I ran out of tears and forced myself to calm down a little, my sobbing diminishing to a subdued sniffling. I walked over to the piano stool and pulled it from its slumbering with a faint squeak. I sat down and began pressing the white keys, letting each note ring out until it had no more breath.
“It might be best to stop crying, dear. You’ll ruin that pretty face with all those tears.” Alarmed by the sudden voice in the room, my fingers stilled on the keys, and my eyes frantically searched the shadows. The silver moonlight did little to illuminate the black-cloaked figure walking toward me.
“Obsidian,” I said, my voice emotionless.
My mind had memorized the blackness of his eyes and the villainous hunger that lurked behind them. They were etched into my brain and made frequent appearances in my nightmares.
“I’ll admit, I was impressed you escaped from me.” He leaned up against the hood of the piano, his shoulder-length black hair falling into his face. I was scared to move, frozen in fear. I debated on getting up and running, but I knew that if Obsidian was in the castle, his comrades wouldn’t be far behind. He began examining a knife he pulled a little too comfortably from beneath his cloak.
“But it wasn’t all too big a setback. You see, the Obscurum king had a plan to attack Asmede and the castle.” He stood up and began pacing in front of the piano, his hands clasped behind his back.
“It worked a little too well. Like terrified animals you all ran, and burrowed your way into Ethydon like rodents avoiding the flame.” He spoke with almost frenetic intensity. Every word made me realize he was close to madness.
“It was almost too easy,” he purred happily.
I carefully reached up to the amulet around my neck which was tucked into the front of my dress. I focused on the faint azure light and tried to use some of Liony’s gift. I didn’t know if it would calm him or persuade him to stop, but I began trying anyway. I quickly realized with disappointment when the light faded and the amulet turned back to its traditional ruby that even Liony’s power couldn’t persuade his insanity.
“What do you want from me?” I asked, and my voice was surprisingly bold.
“I want to see you suffer for your family's sins,” he said wickedly. My eyes widened in surprise. “Sins, what sins?”
He laughed cynically and took several threatening steps toward me. I knew he couldn’t hurt me with his Stone-Hearted gift, but my eyes kept looking at the knife in his hand and I knew it would be just as effective.
“Your mother's sins, your father's sins. All of the pain they’ve caused.”
I didn’t understand what he meant, and he seemed to notice I was confused.
“You really don’t remember me do you?” he asked, seeming genuinely surprised.
I inhaled a sharp intake of breath. Yes, he was familiar to me, and it was almost frustrating how I couldn’t pinpoint why. Had I met him before? I tried to search my brain for any memory, for surely I would’ve remembered him if we had met in the past.
“Think harder, Little Bear, and maybe you’ll recall.” The use of my nickname caused goosebumps to erupt down my spine.
“
I can’t remember.” I was flustered and terrified. My mind was moving quickly, unable to settle on one complete thought.
“Maybe you remember a time when you were a child. It was a rainy day, and you were playing in the woods.” The image was attainable; I played in the woods a lot as a child. I forced myself to focus.
“We were playing with wooden swords by the river. You fell and skinned your knee.” The memory was a blurry image, and I could barely distinguish if it was a dream or real life.
“I helped you up and washed the dirt and blood away with the river water. We continued to play until our parents called us back inside.” His words were tearing at a wall, one I hadn’t known I had built. Every word was like a hammer, breaking away chunks and revealing the nearly forgotten memory.
“We’re cousins, Little Bear. Don’t you remember?”
I was trying to fathom Obsidian's words when the door behind us opened. I didn’t have time to reply because Embrosine suddenly walked in.
“Sabeara are you okay? I saw you leav. . . ” Her words trailed off as she saw who was in the room with me. I stood from the piano bench and nearly fell trying to run to her. I desperately tried pushing her back toward the door.
“Embrosine, go back into the hallway!” I screamed, but she didn’t budge when I tried to shove her away. She just continued to stare at Obsidian who was standing just behind me.
“Please come join us, Embrosine. We were just having an enlightening conversation.” Obsidian grinned odiously and Embrosine’s eyes were hard as stone, her lips formed into a hard line.
She carefully whispered to me, her lips barely moving. “Get out of here, I’ll hold him off. Find Sunn, take her to the docks.”
I didn’t have time to protest before she pushed me out the door with so much force I stumbled to my hands and knees on the hallway’s evergreen rug. The slam of the door was so loud, the candelabras on the wall rattled.
Granted (Granted Series Book 1) Page 23