A Flicker In The Still Forest: From Forest To Flames #1

by K. Lyn Hill

  Words squirmed their way up her throat in one last attempt to hold onto the past. "Will you stay?" Her small voice sounded nothing of her normal conviction.

  Her mother’s stoic face remained of stone, only a slight tilt of the head suggested she found anything suspicious. "That would be improper. I shall see you at the wedding."

  Her heart sank but she was grateful for the time she received. Then she realized if her mom was here then maybe her dad was here too. “Is dad here?”

  “Darling, your father didn’t realize the wedding would be moved up so soon. After your little incident before the first wedding attempt, he had to return back to Aritrithria.”

  He left without knowing she was safe? That didn’t sound like her dad at all but then again, it wasn’t. Just someone who looked like him. “He didn’t wait to see if I was safe before leaving?” She must have whispered because her mother’s twin cocked her head.

  “Are you feeling alright? You sent word to us the day the wedding was supposed to be to let us know you were safe. He left immediately after.”

  Huh. “Oh. Yeah, I remember now. It must have slipped my mind.”

  She didn’t look convinced but began walking towards the door. “You make a beautiful bride.”

  She never thought she would get to hear those words come from her mother lips. She choked back a sob. “Thank you. I love you mom."

  Her fake mother’s eyebrows shot to her forehead. Geez, did their family never offer affection? "Yes, my Dear."

  Ouch. She couldn't even say the words back? Her mom’s twin glided to the door with one quick toss over her shoulder. "I love you too." Then she was gone.

  Aerity felt like a brick was lifted off her chest. The gift was perfect...and she knew exactly who it was from. She would bet all the money in the world it wasn’t really Damien’s idea. The desire to go to Siel was overpowering. One she had to fight with all her strength.

  She was saved from her own temptation when Carly came back into her room. Feigning fright, she came in with her hands above her head as if a surrendering criminal. “It’s just me. Don’t attack with your ninja sticks.”

  Aerity released a laugh. “I never should have taught you that word.”

  Carly shrugged and then pointed at her. “What’s up with your busted-up face?”

  Aerity’s laughter grew louder. “And I shouldn’t have taught you that either. They sent me my mom.” Carly raised her eyebrow in question.

  “My mother died in my world.” She answered quietly.

  All traces of laughter, faded. Carly looked at her with sympathy. “Oh Aerity.” She breathed.

  “It was just nice to see her again, ya know?”

  “Yes, I do.” Carly answered sadly.

  Not wanting to keep up this deep conversation, Aerity threw on her most convincing smile. “Ok, I’m ready for you to paint on my mask. Make me pretty.”

  Carly insisted on coating her in far too many oils and layers of makeup. Aerity would look and smell like a whore house by the time she was done with her.

  A few hours later, Aerity was once again plastered inside a dress that had to have been made as a torture device. Although she had to admit it was figuratively breath taking, it was literally breath taking as well. She was convinced it was an un-proclaimed murder weapon. The corset was lined with translucent beading that caused fragments of light to shift and glitter, making it look like she was walking under a disco ball. Sheer lace draped down, hanging off her shoulders in capped sleeves. A slit was cut up the side of her thigh, which surprised her with all their woes about inappropriate dress. Accompanying the sleek fabric was a train that drug behind her in a parade of embroidered delicate flowers etched in blue and gold. The colors of her future kingdom.

  Charcoal smeared across her eyes in an elegant fashion with a rosy color staining her cheeks and lips. Hair piled high, woven with pearls and beads that made her hair the shade of sparkling copper. One glance in the mirror and she knew exactly what she looked like...a queen in every sense of the word. At least she would be one day.

  Carly preened in the mirror beside her, taking in her miracle, which was exactly what she did with Aerity’s transformation. Before she could thank her hand maiden, a loud banging rocked the bedroom door. With eyebrows drawn, Carly made her way to discover their visitor. A shaking high-pitched voice cut through the room. "My Prince! Your Highness! What can I do for you?"

  His voice was heavy with regret when he responded. "I need to speak with my bride." She had expected it to sound aggressive, but it was filled with guilt instead.

  Carly's voice diced the silence. "Your highness, it’s bad luck to look upon her before the wedding. I beg of you not to see her yet."

  “It’s important. Please let me in.” She couldn’t remember the last time she heard him say please to anyone, let alone a servant. That must have made Carly crack because a moment later, he entered the room. His eyes were tight and puffy, showing he hadn’t slept much the night prior. They stared at each other for a few moments. Their breathing began to fall in sync.

  "Is everything ok?" Her question slashed through the silence. His eyes held no mirth. Just sadness. "I was hoping to see how you enjoyed your wedding gift." He seemed so vulnerable. It contradicted his consistently beast-like behavior.

  Trying to remain polite, even though his presence churned her breakfast, she replied. "I was planning on thanking you at the wedding. There has been much going on so far this morning. I highly appreciated it. It was much needed. Thank you." His proximity was making her nervous. She couldn’t handle any more ups and downs. If he was using this moment to be kind, he was wasting his breath. She praised herself on the smooth words that came out.

  “Yes, well I just hoped you liked it and wanted to see your reaction. I guess I missed it.” It was the softest she ever heard him speak. Seeing her mother was perfection. She couldn’t have thought up a better present. The desire to run and jump in someone’s arms, raced through her. She trampled it down. Who she wanted to run to, she couldn’t, as much as her heart yearned for it. She thought about how Damien’s arms would feel wrapped around her. Then the image of a boa constrictor came to mind and she shut it out. Was he truly sorry for what he said about her? It didn’t matter, she scolded herself. He was a beast. That was all there was to it. No redeeming factors could make up for his past offenses. It was a little too late.

  He looked like he had more to say but she ignored it, not caring. “If that was all, I really should get back to getting ready for the wedding.” His broken gaze met hers as she carefully extracted herself from the bench she stood upon without tripping over the train and onto her face. That would just suck.

  "Aerity, I...” He struggled with his next words. Glancing off to the side, she heard him mutter a curse under his breath. “I messed up. Big time and I know it. I just wanted you to know how sorry I am with the things I said to you. I have no excuses. I assumed things about you out of ignorance and impatience.” He released a hard, pent up breath. Air wheezed from his lungs as his eyes focused skyward. She never saw him so flustered before either. Part of her liked it, the other broken part, felt nothing.

  “Eli said you have a limit and once that limit was done, your trust was lost forever.” He paused. “It’s my deepest desire that you’ll allow me to take a step back behind the line I so adamantly crossed, and we can start over…?” She didn’t know what to make of his words. He didn’t sound like his normal asinine self. He genuinely sounded apologetic.

  She could always remain neutral to him while accepting his waving white flag. “We are getting married today. I would want nothing more for our war to cease.”

  Relief poured over his features, helping his stance to relax. He opened his mouth and then closed it. She waited patiently for him to gather his thoughts. “Do you think we have a chance?”

  She knew what he was asking. Could they salvage what they had lost? As much as she wanted to tell him no, she didn’t have the heart to do it anymore. �
��I think it depends.”

  Hope struck his eyes as he intensely stared at her. “Depends on what?”

  She took a deep breath and rested her hand on his forearm. "I see you Damien. I see a broken heart that just wishes to be mended. I see a leader who will do anything for his people, rushing out to battle some unforeseen foe. Someone who has persevered through loss, betrayal and blood." Reaching up to cup his face. "I see how much you ache to be like Siel, to have no care in the world, a smile on your face and everyone looking at you with stars in their eyes. Your lips twitch with laughter but you hold back because of protocol or how it will be interpreted. You feel regret after your actions even when you try to hide it, which is why this has been such a roller coaster with you. One minute your mouth is getting you into trouble and the next you’re cursing your own errors.” Her voice closed on a whisper. “Damien, I’m trying so hard to see you but you keep giving and then taking it away. Sometimes I think we could work and then you’re doing something else to confirm we can’t.”

  His swallow was evident in the silence. The darkness in his eyes cleared for something much more beautiful to appear. A rainbow after the rain. "I want to accept you for everything that you are but I can’t do that when you run from me and hide. All I have gotten to see are the bad parts. The jealous tirades. The man who keeps casting me aside. I will never be able to see you and you will never be able to see me if we keep up this war. You will continue to look at me and see only what you wish to see or you will walk in at inconvenient times and jump to conclusions without even giving me time and hearing me out. I know this marriage is not ideal, it will not be easy. Wishing for a once in a lifetime love is a myth that has tied us down to the ground. I do believe that love and respect can grow with time and nurturing. It cannot be bought, bribed or stolen. It cannot be commanded or enforced. It must be earned. I would like to earn your love and respect but I... need...you...to...see...me. I will not fall in line and pretend to be the ghost of some imaginable girl. It is not her that’s standing in front of you, handing over her future, it is me. Do you understand?"

  Silence pressed on until he croaked. "Siel sees you."

  A not too friendly pang grabbed her heart. Clutching her chest with one hand. "Yes."

  "He loves you." Barely a whisper.

  Her chest strings strummed. Wetness threatened to break through the corner of her eyes. She nodded. "And yet it’s you I'm walking down the aisle towards.”

  A light bulb seemed to flash over his head as it finally clicked. "I'm so sorry, Aerity.” He whispered. “I'm so sorry for everything."

  She grasped his hands in hers and squeezed. If anything could make this marriage more enjoyable, she was willing to try it. “Can we both try a little harder?” His hands tightened around hers as if in agreement. “For our people.” She added and could have sworn there was a hint of disappointment in his expression.

  “For our people.” He repeated with a nod, placing his forehead against hers.

  A knock interrupted their little heart to heart. Baldwin peeked his head through the door and launched into a surprised jerk at the scene in front of him. "I'm sorry to interrupt my Prince but the ceremony is about to begin."

  With a nod, Damien responded. "We will be right there, Baldwin. Thank you." Damien turned back to her. "I will try to see you. We both know how slow I can be at most things though. I might need your help from time to time." A small apologetic smile surfaced.

  Aerity’s tongue clucked playfully. "Some people are just a lost cause." She lightly tapped his shoulder with hers, softening the moment. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep you in line.”

  He smiled a shy smile that lit up his eyes. She cleared her throat. "Now…it’s time to go get married stud muffin."

  Chapter Forty

  Aerity

  The feeling of disaster swept over her with a vengeance. She had felt it earlier and thought it a false alarm after her assassination attempt on Carly. This was something else entirely. The crowded room and impending marriage before her did little to stanch the nausea that threatened her stomach. The weight of her dagger strapped to her thigh offered a slight comfort, but she needed more reassurance. She caught Siel’s eye from the other side of the room. She signaled him to approach since her movements were restricted due to this blasted death trap called a dress.

  "What is it?" Siel asked from the corner of his mouth as he surveyed the room.

  "Do you feel it too?" She whispered for only him to hear.

  "You mean the feeling of impending doom? Yeah I feel it." He said.

  Releasing a pent-up breath, she was relieved she wasn't the only one. "Something's not right. I can't put my finger on it."

  He nodded absentmindedly. "Keep a lookout. I'll be watching too. My men are all on high alert."

  She didn't like it. Too much risk circled her like a bunch of sharks surrounded by a pool of blood. Announcements were made as the music gave her the queue to start moving. One step at a time. Focusing her attention part way down the lane at her future, she kept a look out in her peripheral for anything odd or out of place. She wondered if Damien could feel it too. His eyebrows were drawn in a crested V, intense eyes locked onto hers. As she reached the spot in front of him, his gaze weighed her down. A glimpse of silver glinting in the corner of her eye was the first and only warning of the attack as her body instinctively took control.

  ∞∞∞

  Damien

  He could feel the difference in the room as he watched her approach. Glued to her, he watched as she glided into the room with poise and confidence. She looked radiant in her dress. Exquisite bead work made her eyes sparkle. As she got closer, he noticed the tension in her shoulders. Her eyes were focused on him but diverted at the same time. His heart screamed that she was going to run from him again, but his mind registered her words from earlier that day. See me, Damien. Her words and now her eyes begged, willing him to understand. So he was determined to trust her. To do just as she had asked. He was going to try and see her.

  As she approached, tension stifled the air. Something was wrong. He could feel it deep in his bones. A glint of silver was the only warning he got but it was too late to react.

  Then she lunged.

  Chapter Forty-one

  Aerity

  No thoughts entered her head as her body instinctively shoved Damien out of the way of the blade and none tried to surface as she glanced down at the hilt of a sword now protruding from her stomach. Chaos erupted in the main hall with cries and screeches as the wedding crowd shoved and pushed to be out of harm’s way. Swords clashed as enemies dressed in ally clothes met the steel of their best guards. Ringing pursued in her ears as the sound of the fight slowly became garbled. A blossom of red bloomed along the elegant white waves of fabric stretched across her stomach.

  "Aerity!" A panicked sound filled the air but all noise still sounded muffled. She barely felt her legs give out or the strong arms holding her as she silently struggled to get air to enter her lungs. Choking and sputtering, she tried to cough but the only thing that came out was a wheeze. Hardened eyes tried to penetrate through the clouds obscuring hers. She heard vague yelling as her body was lowered lovingly to the ground.

  "Call the bloody healer! Now!" Authority in the masculine voice. Siel? No. It was too harsh for his calming notes. "Aerity, I need you to keep your eyes open. Please. Focus on me." Damien. It was Damien's arms wrapped around her now blood drenched body. Calling the image of her mother to mind, she prayed that when she woke up to be back in her arms again.

  "Mom." A plead slipped passed her parched lips, her dry tongue lolled against the roof of her mouth.

  "She's hallucinating! Where's the blasted healer?!" Bellows ripped from Damien. Another voice came, pained and shaken as it cut through the haze surrounding her mind. "They are on their way. Aerity can you hear me? Love, wake up. Please wake up." She knew that voice. Would know it anywhere.

  "Siel." She thought she formed the word but maybe it was all just
in her mind. She couldn't tell anymore. Battle still sprung from the background as she heard howls of screams and swords clashing. A pressure formed on her stomach, or so she thought. Every part of her felt numb. She just wanted her mom and dad...dad...he would have wondered what happened to her. He would agonize over her being dead in a ditch somewhere. How much better was the truth though? She had been about to leave him for another world. Another group of people. She wasn't going to see her mom. She was going somewhere she would spend eternity reflecting on her betrayal. Mya, Eli, the squad. She betrayed them all. How fitting that she die alone.

  She must have spoken the last word without realizing because moments later a rustle of hair skimmed her face as someone bent to her ear and cradled her head. "No. You’re never alone." The world of emotion that left Siel’s mouth broke everything left in her that was fighting.

  "Please don't leave me. Please." She heard Damien beg in the distance. “I see you. Aerity, I finally see you.” He choked.

  The last thing she remembered was the slight tickle of a single tear tracing down her cheek before everything went dark.

  Chapter forty-Two

  New Orleans

  Twenty-three years ago

  Gwendolyn

  Fools. Sniveling, rotten fools.

  Gwendolyn refused to look down at the hideous contraption they had tried to trap her in. Dead people were buried in more sophistication than this. How dare they try to fashion her in such a manner. Did they honestly think this measly piece of fabric could contain her? After all she had done and created, they still all looked at her like she was a swing set missing a few bolts. If they didn’t realize her genius by now, she clearly had much more work to do in presenting her case. When she was done with them, they would all bow to her. She stewed in her evolving anger as she stormed through the woods. Sirens alerted the surrounding area of her escape as they sounded far behind her. She moved deeper into the forest. Her creations could change the world and yet people over the centuries have always feared the unknown. Things that were different didn’t have a place amongst those pretty little items that fit perfectly into a square box. But then again, maybe they feared her pets because she let them go on a preying rampage, eating people’s body parts.