1 Blossom

The sky was a black tranquility married to a poetry of stars. It was the softness that called body and brain to rest and let the heart go to its steady rhythm. Night came as a reward of sorts, a restfulness about to calm the soul.

Ever Angel, the heir to the throne of Angelic was walking unusually slowly as if her brain was struggling to direct her legs to take the next step.

Ever's mind is distracted by the council meeting which was going to happen in the capital within two days. All the members of the royal family were supposed to meet after thousand long years. In the capital all the Angel children were required to find their life partners. Ever was highly worried about finding a life partner within such a small period of time. Ever was never a type of girl who fell for boys, all she cared about were the stories Julian wrote for her and the time spent with her family and Julian. They were her life, they were her everything.

The cold onshore breeze blew right through Ever's pink, sleeveless silk dress. She bowed her head to one side, patting her eyelashes as they weighed down with mascara.

It was the type of coldness that would seep into your bones, as if your heart was a door left ajar for the icy wind, slamming only to open again.

"Ever. Ev" She heard her sister, Elizabeth's voice from behind her.

"I figured you might be out here taking a stroll with your best friend, 'the cold'." Elizabeth's hair flowed down her back like a brownish black ink. Her eyes were foxlike and had an icy greyish green hue like the early sprouts of plants in the snow.

Elizabeth continued without waiting for Ever to respond, "Everyone's searching you in the palace, luckily Julian suggested that you might have gone for a walk," she paused and walked closer to Ever.

Ever hugged herself with her hands, not being able to bear the unbearable cold.

Elizabeth continued, "Now don't tell me you're afraid of getting married and you've decided to run away."

Ever observed Elizabeth as if she was an enemy. She noticed that her sister was in her fighting gear, "Why are you in your gear?"

"I just came from the battle arena," She paused and gave Ever an amused look.

"You didn't answer my question." Elizabeth said.

She was an express train when speaking; sometimes people found it difficult to understand her but Ever never faced any difficulty. Ever took ahold of Elizabeth's hand and then noticed it was plastered due to a wound.

She spoke looking into Elizabeth's eyes, "Eli, after the council I'll have to marry a guy who I know nothing about and take control of a land which is unknown to me. After all of that I'll never get to live the life I want to live."

Elizabeth cut her off by taking her hand back from Ever, "What's the life you want to live? Huh? All you do is read books and spend time with Julian talking nonsense about those books," She placed her hands on Ever's shoulders and continued, "You are a queen. You were born to be a queen. That is what you are. Be what you are. Don't push yourself to be someone you're not destined to be."

Ever stared at her sister, silently, not knowing how to respond.

Elizabeth grinned, "I don't understand why you don't want to get married. Besides, I'm super excited to be a married woman."

Ever laughed lightly, gazing at her sister who had never grown up and who would never grow up.

Elizabeth continued, pulling herself closer to her sister, "Why do you hate men? And what is so special about Julian for him to be the only man you keep company with. Do you," She paused and smiled like a baby, "love him?"

Ever blushed, her pale skin turning pink. "Oh, come on Eli, we're best friends. I spend time with him because I like the stories he writes"

They started walking toward the palace, holding hands.

"Okay, I was kidding. Even if you like him you can't get married to him, you know that right?"

"Of course I do silly pigeon. I'm lucky that I don't like him."

"By the way, the royal families will be in the capital by dawn."

* * *

Her milky breasts spilled out of her golden laced bra as Michael Angelo Water unhooked it.

Enlarged brown nipples dotted both her breasts, the white of her breasts contrasted the tanned skin. She pulled him closer to her bosom. He opened his mouth and gently sucked.

He then moved his fingers along the warmth of her body and separated her from her dress. She was nude, he walked away from her to pour a glass of wine.

"Michael." Erana whispered.

Without a reply he came back to Erana and poured the wine on to her warm breasts. Suddenly the door opened with a bang. It was Peter, the youngest of the Waters.

"Erana, your husband is looking for you." Peter was panting.

Michael offered Erana's dress back to her.

"How long will it take to reach the Capital?" Michael asked, pouring wine into a new glass for Peter.

"Maybe two more hours," Answered Peter dragging the wine glass from Michael.

Michael watched his brother chug the glass of wine, still panting.

Erana came in between them. She was dressed and her hair was tied up as a bun.

Michael placed his hands on her hips and grabbed her closer to him, "Honey, you look better nude."

Erana moved her fingers through Michael's hair and placed her lips on his burning ones. They kissed as if it was the last time they would ever get to kiss each other.

On the other hand, Peter watched them with disgust. They stopped kissing before Erana winked at Peter and exited the room.

"Michael, she's a married woman!" Exclaimed Peter.

"So what? She's hot." Michael smirked.

"What you're doing is very wrong. It's okay to enjoy yourself with unmarried women but she's married. She has a husband. You're such a player," Peter complained.

Michael cupped Peter's face with his hands, "Oh my sweet little brother, you're too young to understand."

"Shut up, we are all same age."

"But I was a few seconds earlier than you." He blinked at Peter and smiled wildly.

* * *

Ever was sitting by the window, observing the sunlight longingly with her hands folded sedately around her book. The light there was never direct since her room faced north, she found this peaceful.

"My lady." Someone called out to her.

At once she recognized the voice; the only voice she was willing to hear and that could pacify her.

"Julian." Ever's voice resembled the morning sunlight, so fresh and clear.

"I'm here to present you the first copy of my new work. It is exclusively just for you, my lady." He announced.

Ever smiled and closed the book she was reading, "Come, sit next to me."

She made space for him as he sat next to her; their bodies touching. It was a peaceful picture, two best friends sitting close to each other by a window. Take a moment to stare at their eyes, they read a different story, a story nobody knew, a story nobody would ever know.

Julian handed Ever his newly written novel. She opened it and read the title 'The Bleeding Heart'.

"This is something I never believed I would write," Julian said with a smile, "I named the protagonist 'Ever'."

Ever smiled and looked out of the window as if she was waiting for the sun to hit her room.

"You look worried," he said, taking the novel from and placing it on the window stool, "Is it about the royal family council?" He asked, hundred percent sure that his guess was right.

"Yeah, I heard they'll be here in few hours," She said, moving a little bit closer to Julian; their hands touching.

This was nothing extraordinary; they were best friends without barriers.

"Are you afraid?" He asked, sighing deeply with tension as if he was the one in trouble.

"Yeah."

"About what?"

"About everything, meeting people I've never seen, getting married to a stranger, being enthroned as the queen." Ever voiced her thoughts.

"Ev, they are your family. You're the future queen. You must definitely get married to protect your dynasty, it's your responsibility." Julian insisted.

"I know Julian, I know." She sounded weak and tired. Of course she was tired she had been awake the entire night thinking about her future.

They sat in silence listening to the birds singing outside Ever's window.

Angelic was the land of Angels; The Children of God. The Capital was the paradise of Angelic. The Capital enriched so many gifts from God.

"Wouldn't you like to meet them?" Julian asked, breaking the silence.

"No, Julian. I know they are family but I don't know them. It's your father who taught me about them, so I don't want to meet them now."

"But you can have new friends." Julian suggested.

"I have enough friends in the Capital." Ever rejected Julian's proposition.

They were silent again.

Ever admired her best friend, there was something about Julian that drew people to him. He was handsome and quiet. He was tall and slender, with black wavy hair and sky blue eyes. There was always a golden smile painted across his face. Ever had never seen him go out and deliberately make a friend, they just came to him. There was nothing threatening about him, nothing at all. He was an easy listener, a good audience who gave encouraging feedback laced with intelligence. He worked hard and he got his work done. Only once in a while he would sulk over getting his work wrong but it did not happen to him often, and he had poor tolerance for the feeling when it did.

"Queen Angel suggested Joseph Angelo Water will be the best husband for you." Once again Julian broke the silence.

"She discussed about him with me." Ever added.

"You like him?" Julian asked, raising his thick brown eyebrows.

"No." Ever hissed, "No, he looks rude."

"What?" Julian asked.

"Mum showed me several paintings of him and their family. He has a tattoo on the right side of his face which moves along through his neck to his chest."

"What's the tattoo?" Julian asked curiously. He always wanted to have a tattoo but his parents never allowed him saying that the tattoo ink shortens the life span.

"A snake decorated with flowers." Ever whispered as if it's a secret she's been told to protect.

"Wow." Julian drew an image of Joseph in his mind. He must be like burning fire, Julian thought. Immediately Julian decided to make Joseph the protagonist of his next novel.

Ever smiled at Julian's reaction, Julian turned to face her, "Ever, you must marry that guy, no matter who he is." he laughed lightly and finished, "All men with tattoos are great."

Ever smiled but remained silent.

Julian continued ignoring Ever's silence, "Ever, you have to be strong." He placed his hands on her shoulder, "No matter what, I'll always stand by your side."

"Promise me." Ever was looking into Julian's eyes so desperately.

"I promise you." He hugged her so tightly.

* * *

He kissed her and the world fell away. It was slow and soft, comforting in ways that words would never be. He was dressed in his battle gear while she was wrapped in a pale long white dress, both lying on the green grass. His hand rested below her ear, his thumb caressing her cheek as their breaths mingled. She ran her fingers through his sweaty locks as he pulled their bodies close until there was no space left between them. She could feel the erratic beating of his heart against her chest.

"I love you, Ever." Cael whispered in between the kisses.

"I love you too." She whispered back.

Suddenly Ever pulled Cael's sword from its sheath and plunged it on his chest. Blood oozed out from his chest as Ever cackled without remorse.

Right then, Cael woke up.

"Cael, Cael." Parisa, Cael's sister called out from beside him on the bed.

Cael sighed deeply, coming back to reality.

"Cael, we've reached the capital."