poisonous roots

"The mistress to serve you will be with you shortly your highness." The lady that led the way said once he stepped into the room.

"No. I want Lady Ma. No one else."

"Okay sir. Give me a moment." She closed the door quietly behind her and went to do what she could to get Lady Ma.

Zaccai paced around the room. He only came to seek an advice and to know how much Lady Ma knew of the unknown evil that was growing in their land. If she knew it was going to swallow them up then surely she would have an idea of what it could be.

The last incident had been a year ago but it was a gruesome sight he wish never to remember again. Five fairies had been murdered in Tain. It sent fear through the city causing a few to flee to the other cities and some to Tahu. The ones that had stayed back had been careful with their movements turning Tain to a ghost land at night. But time had passed and things seem to be peaceful again.

"So what do you want with me? My ladies are happy to provide the pleasure you seek, but not me. I have to keep things alive and my customers entertained." Lady Ma said as soon as she opened the door. She wore a dress similar to the one she had worn the first time they met, only in a different colour.

"I've picked a wife, or the team I sent out picked one for me." He said absently.

"Congratulations your highness? I fail to see how that concerns me."

"Is she the right one?" He eyes showed he had asked that question to himself over and over again.

"Why do you ask?" Lady Ma crossed the room to get a drink from the tray that sat beside the bed.

"You did mention destiny leading me to the right one." He shrugged.

Lady Ma came to stand in front of him. "Are you sure it's not pleasure you seek tonight young prince?"

"Answer me." He commanded rather calmly.

"Hmm, I love it when you exert a little bit of control. Charming." She ran a finger up his arm. "Does it feel like destiny?"

"I don't know what destiny feels like." He said holding her glance.

"Oh. I never pegged you for a liar." She took a sip of the drink she held.

"What?" He titled his head as he frowned.

"You sent people to go fetch. They fetched, a beauty I might add—"

"How do you know what she looks like?" he cut her off.

"—Destiny never misses." She downed the rest of the drink, ignoring his question. "I have work to do." She turned towards the door.

"What is it that is going to swallow us all Lady Ma?" He asked halting her in her tracks.

"Do you worry about that?"

"Of course I do. My father does. The house of royals do." He said in a controlled voice.

Lady Ma turned abruptly to face him. "Play your cards right, go through with this marriage, and all might be well for us all."

"Is that a solution, my marriage to a human?"

"It's a start."

"I might end up killing her. I know you know about the curse of the—"

"You won't! You can't. You will die if you do, it's suicide." Lady Ma said rather seriously.

"What makes you certain? It can't be controlled, the urge." He said at last.

"Oh, but it can. To some extent, I know it can."

"How is that possible? How do you know—"

"I just know things young Prince." She smiled.

"What are you?" He asked again, partly enjoying the mystery.

"I'd show you but I must respect your future bride to be, she's a sweetheart." She winked as she said and finally turned to leave a rather confused Zaccai.

Zaccai stood at the window to look at the moonless sky. He took a deep breath. Lady Ma had barely answered his questions, he wasn't blind to that, nor had she cleared his confusion but he felt a bit of ease. He now has someone else to talk to asides Sir Adin.

He heard the door open. "I don't require any services right now." He said not turning back to check who it was.

"Not even from me?" Grizelda asked as she walked towards him. She hugged his waist from behind and rested her head on his back. "I've missed you so much." Her sage colored hair wrapped around him. The fact they had a life of their own always fascinated him but not tonight.

"Grizelda enough." He freed himself from her. "I've said this before, whatever we had was fleeting. Let it go."

He turned to her. They hadn't been much of friends growing up but they were familiar due to their status. However their relationship had grown from familiarity to worldly events upon the sheets of Wave. It was never love, just sex, he knew this well and so was never blinded by her charms, although it enthralled him.

Grizelda was two faced beneath the beauty that she had, and it was no secret the house of Vayr sought to seat the throne next.

"What we had was more than just physical and you know it," She stepped back and started to strip.

"You doing that only contradicts what you say." He stopped her from undoing her corset. "I'm not the only one you've been with and I'm sure there's a someone who wouldn't mind you sticking your poisonous roots into them, not me." He paused like he was thinking of his next words. "You always knew I was going to marry someone else. What we had was a spur of the moment thing, we had experiences we wanted to go through and we did, and it was good. Nights with you felt a little less lonely but that's all it was. That journey ended four months ago. You need to move on." He paused briefly. "You will never be the Royal Princess of Tahu."

He clearly saw the hurt in her eyes and would have believed it if he didn't know her well enough. "You will stay loyal and faithful to a human?" She frowned.

"I will stay loyal to my wife." He replied. "She's already damned marrying me, I won't make her suffer more than she already will." He said finally and walked past her to take his leave.

"You will regret this Zaccai."

He gave no reply as he finally went out the door leaving it opened.