Chapter 57

~Kamari~

A primal darkness whispered seductively in my mind. Lately I struggled to contain the tempest raging within me. The Shade part of me whispered sweet promises of freedom from constraints of royal duties. It urged me to unleash a fiery, and revel in chaos. But I knew the consequences of succumbing to the darkness. The "gift" my mother bestowed on me felt like a curse, it could cause my own actions to become reckless, and it felt as if there was no outlet. No one understood how this really felt for me, because they didn't have Shade blood with them. Part of me wondered what it would be like to meet one. 

The heavniess in my chest, reminded me they no longer existed and I would never get answers to my many questions, it almost felt like grief. I'll never know, and I have to be fine with it and move on. But that didn't mean the thoughts and feelings stopped. My skin itched to do something bad, maybe that's why I hunted down my husbands, the ones who weren't leader. Causing my own trouble and in turn making our pride grow heavy with tension. I hadn't done that in a while. I was good, I behaved. But now that I was alone in my chambers, it chipped at me like carving a statute. I suddenly see Mael as i look out the window, his usual fruits in a small wagon. I felt bad I had not gone to his garden, and left him waiting. Giving myself an excuse I race down towards the Kingdom, striding towards Mael's stand. He sees me, and smiles, "Well, look who decided to break rules. Sad you couldn't make it–"

"I want to go." The words slipped out. Mael looks baffled at first, he leans forward his arms on his stand, "Go where Kamari?"

"To your garden. I have time now." I smile, trying to be calmer than I felt. Mael stares at me, for a moment, then he smirks, "Do your husbands know?"

I jaw clenches. "Their fine with it." I lie. "So, can we? Do you have time?"

"I always have time for you." Mael comes around and takes my hand, "Come," he leans into my ear, "Before your Husbands know your missing…" My eyes sparkle with mischief, I happily walk out of the Kingdom with Mael, for some reason with him, it seemed so easy to feel I'm not doing anything wrong, it was just a little walk to a small Garden after all. I wouldn't be long. I tell myself. 

Mael and I walk a ways away from the Kingdom, my blood rushes with thrill. It was as if i was with my mother again, acting like wild fools. 

"I can't wait to see where you grow all these wonderful fruits!" I was giddy to do something I wanted to do alone for once, it was nice. Mael leads me into a forest, I inhale the plant filtered air into my lungs. "It feels so nice here." 

"Have you not been out lately?" Mael asks, and I shake my head, "No, not in a while. Having Ignis and everything else, I haven't had the time. But now I am, even if it's for a little bit." Mael smiles at me over his shoulder, "Well I'm happy to spare you from royal duties for a change."

We walk farther into the forest, a little out of the way than I expected. "You must be tired doing this day after day. This is quite a ways out Mael."

Mael suddenly stops, then turns around, "And this is the part where you close your eyes." His warm smile makes me chuckle, "Why? Aren't we almost there?"

"Almost," Mael's voice had undertone of something I couldn't quite place. I sigh, "Alright." I close my eyes. I suddenly feel his hands on my shoulders and the heat of his breath against my neck. "I'll guide you. But no peaking." He whispers playfully and it sends a shockwave down my spine. I walk forward guided by his hand on the small of my back.

"I'm curious Kamari, you said you'd always be honest with your people, so I have a question." Twigs and leaves crack softly under our steps. "Go ahead, ask me."

Mael pauses for a second, then asks, "What happened to your father?"

I halt, surprised by his question. "What?" Why did he ask that? I open my eyes and turn to him, and I realize that that's the only thing I haven't told about myself to my Kingdom. I clear my throat, "He was murdered." I couldn't tell Mael the truth about what happened, he would think me cold and ruthless. "You found both of them that way? Your ex-fiance? How awful."

I turn away from him, and my gut clenches, "Yeah."

"Don't feel to bad Kamari, you were bound to do it." That sentence hangs in the air, I freeze. And like the hackles of a dog, my guard goes up. I slowly turn towards him, his eyes latch onto mine, and I feel a shift in the atmosphere, "Why would you think I'd do such a thing?" Now I was more than aware something was off. Mael wears a half-smile, "The blood of a Shade runs through you, they're not meant to be held in."

"That isn't new to me. What do you mean to do, scare me? Your making me question you, Mael. Why you'd ask such things. All related to me being part Shade." Mael searches my eyes. Looking around I see nothing but Forest, no Garden. I roll my eyes. "This is a pathetic excuse for you to get me alone." I shake my head, but when I start walking, he grabs my arm and out of instinct I turn, my nails pierce his flesh as I shove him away from me, with a pissed off hiss. He takes a step back, then I realize I just poisoned him.

"Oh-Oh dear Goddess…" I hold my hand to mouth. I shake my head, "I'm sorry." A massive lump grows in my throat. Mael's head falls back and what I assume is a surprised reaction, is a dark chuckle. Then notice the scratches on his chest, heal. My eyes widned. "Argh, Goddess above your venom is addictive." Mael's eyes flash purple, and all the color drains from my face, my heart thunders in my chest.

I take a step back, I shake my head, "Kadea's hell…" I cover my hand over my mouth, and as I start to back away Mael stalks forward. "H-How?"

Mael smirks, "Dumb luck?" Now it made sense, all the fruit he was able to provide, why he stayed in my Kingdom for so long. "Your here for me…" 

His steps become more determined, and I start stumbling backwards, he sighs, "I should have stolen you from that Castle when I had the chance. Seems you're a popular commodity now." My heart starts to ache, Mael was there the whole time. Something in me snaps, and instead of backing up, I start to advance towards him. Mael stalls, " You're telling me you were here the whole time, watching me go through what I went through? Watching my mother die!?" Anger tore through my voice. Mael's brows furrow at me, a flash of hurt in his now glowing eyes. "How did you find me Mael!?"

Mael glances to his side, before answering me, a touch of guilt in his eyes. "Your soul called to me."

My voice shudders, he could have been there, so early in my life, and he didn't try?! That's what was killing me. "And you just decided to do nothing."

"There is nothing I can do against magic, Kamari. Calea had that damn Castle sealed by your father's request, until you broke it. Even then," he shakes his head, "You didn't know what you were, if I had come to you then, do you think you would have been receptive to me?"

A jolt of anger rips through me, and I slap him, nails and all, and I shriek at him, letting him hear the hurt i felt. Mael flinches at hearing my shriek, "Don't think my intentions were cruel Kamari, I am the last of my species. I can not take as many risks, being in your Kingdom, with your mates is a huge one." Mael reaches out to caress my cheek but I step back and give him a sharp hiss. Mael swallows hard, "You have no idea how long I've been waiting for you, Kamari, but I suppose my patience has been an enemy." His arm slaps down to his side. 

"How come my husbands can't tell you are a Shade?"

Mael gives me a half-smile, "Haven't you heard? Shades are masters of illusion, like, now. Where do you think you are Kamari?"

I roll my eyes, "You took me to Forest Mael."

"Not just any forest, Kamari." Mael turns. He moves his arm as if he was pulling back an invisible curtain, suddenly the area around me changes significantly. Bioliumances life and foreign plants surround me, and it feels as if I've entered an entirely different world. "You have your Kingdom, and this is mine." Mael, barely touches a flower bud and it blooms, then he turns to me. "And since you're in it, I'm not sure I want to let you go so soon. I understand your hurt, but let me atleast have a few moments with you, aren't there things you wish to know about Shades?"

I could feel my soul ache, I was torn. I wanted to hate him so badly. But, there was a connection I couldn't deny, the pull to know more. And there was a chance I wouldn't see Mael after this, because once my Husbands found out, they would hunt him, tare him apart. The sudden lurch in my stomach made me realize I didn't want that to happen. Mael gives me his hand, "I beg you Kamari, indulge me, just this once."

I stare at him for a long moment, then place my hand in Maels'.

I'm so dead when I get back home…