12 Happy Place

Mira laid in the garden trying to read a book she had found in the hall on her way outside. She couldn't really understand some of the words and symbols. She was laying behind her favorite fountain. She didn't feel like being snuck up on.The grounds were so large and she had barely wandered past this fountain because she was nervous about making Lanthier angry. She had been going outside for a week now and had not incurred his wrath again. He actually seemed like he was very busy. She hadn't really seen to many people before a couple days ago, now she saw soldiers coming and going. If they saw her most would glare on their way past her. She didn't know what she ever did to any of these people besides to be accused of being a witch. She had been trying to stay out of the kings way but she really wanted to see the rest of this place. Something deep down kept telling her everything here was hers. She laughed internally at herself,

'Mira you sweet idiot'. She got up and looked around to make sure no one was watching and left the fountain behind. She decided she would make her way to the stables. She had never seen a horse up close before. She let her self in and froze. She had walked in on Damanos. He was getting ready to take out a large white horse. The horse waited patiently when his master stopped to look at Mira. Mira lowered her eyes to the floor. She had only met him once but he seemed more patient then Lanthier. However, she also sensed she made him uncomfortable so she didn't want to take any chances.

"Hello Damanos." She said eyes still toward the ground.

"Hello Mira." He narrowed his eyes at her. "Making yourself comfortable?"

"I wanted to see a horse".

"Ok". She nodded her head and turned to walk away.

"Mira do you want to ride"? Damanos didn't know why he was being so nice. Evidence was mounting that she couldn't be trusted regardless of her timid demeanor. Against his better judgement however he believed she was as naive as she seemed. Most of all his brother was acting strange almost as if he had found a forbidden mate. What better way to keep an eye on things then to be kind to the girl.

"I've never ridden a horse".

"Really I thought witches were one with their animals"? Mira didn't respond. She knew it would be futile to convince him she was not a witch. She found the courage to look up at Damanos and his steed. He was looking down at her with kind black eyes, as kind as they could be for an other-worldly being.

"Never." She replied. Damanos led his horse outside the barn and helped Mira mount him. He led the horse around for a time then informed Mira he had business to attend to. He helped her down and hopped atop the large horse and took off. Dusk was setting in so Mira grabbed the book near the fountain and began to walk back toward the castle. She stopped when she felt a pair of eyes on her. Lanthier had been talking to one of his soldiers but now he was glaring at her. His eyes followed her while she quickly made her way into the castle with her head down. She entered her room closing the door behind her, heart beating fast. Lanthier looked like he despised her. She had avoided him for days now but couldn't help but wonder where he was. It felt like he was avoiding her too. She didn't know why he hated her. Worse she didn't know why his hatred bothered her. It wasn't like she wasn't used to being hated. She wondered why sometimes his eyes glowed red helping to emanate his anger and other times his eyes danced with gold as they looked at her. She remembered the night when he fed her and blushed. She tried not to think of that night, it made her want things that she was embarrassed about. Why would she want anything from her captor. The person who despised her for being a witch.