Two Lovers - 2

«THE TALE OF TWO LOVERS |2|...»

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"You do?" I asked, and he confirmed with a gentle nod. "That's impressive." I muttered, though he heard clearly.

"What do you mean impressive?"

"Well, I always thought I was born in some typical ancient village-"

"Oh, now don't get your hopes high." He said and I flashed a puzzled brow at him. "Oij village is an ancient uncivilized village."

"Really? You're lying."

He laughed out, "you must have been slightly crushed now, huh?"

"Crushed? Not really- hey, don't laugh!" He was still roaring out in laughter which made me a bit furious. I always had it at the back of my mind that Oij village was an ancient one, one that was still growing and obviously, hadn't reached any level of civilization. Hearing Luther to had confirmed my claims should had been somewhat pleasing to my ears, but instead, it aroused some anger inside.

"I'm sorry alright, but they are a small group of local villagers and they even have an ancient language."

Ancient language?

"I went there once when I turned eighteen, and I must say that it was a rather fruitful adventure. Mostly fruitful because that was all this city had back then." He said, like in a trance. One he had somewhat enjoyed. "Every morning we went out to hunt, and even after telling them I was not a fan of killing gentle spirits of the woods, they would still force me to join their hunting. They had desiring taste for snakes and ...rats. A whole lots of rats."

"Rats?"

"Yes. They loved rats. We only ate meat in the morning, the rest of the day, we ate apples and nuts and more nuts." He said, not so much pleased in his discovery. "But all in all, I enjoyed my stay in Oij's village."

I watched him smile and I couldn't help myself from staring. I wanted to avert my gaze, but it became too difficult to do. Soon, I was lost in his radiantly beaming eyes. "You did, huh?" I heard myself asked.

"Yes." He sighed, bringing his focus now to me. I could feel my heart racing, as my stomach flipped, my whole body vibrating with anxiety. "I enjoyed every moment in that village. There were good people there." He said, filling my ears with just the right amount of soothing words I needed to hear. But if they were good people, then why did my mother abandon me? "Are you okay?" I heard him ask, and my focus resumed to his face once again. A move I instantly regretted.

My stomach churned and I swallowed hard. Resisting his charms was much harder than I'd thought. But what made him so ...fascinating? I'd met men far more good looking than him. I wondered if there was a button on me that had been broken? I was broken, and needed fix urgently. I sighed with despair, allowing myself to give in to his magic. His gaze went through me like a blast of Ice. "What is on your mind?" I asked, rather dreamingly.

He paused for a while, then smiled. "I want to kiss you." His lips parted to announce his thoughts and I imagined I'd heard him wrongly. He waited, perhaps hoping I would bulge from his seductive wish. "Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you-"

Without letting him finish his words, I let myself get closer to him, and without any hesitation, allowed my lips touch his. It wasn't just any type of kiss. Not that I of all people would know that, since he was my first kiss. There was just something different about that moment. I surrendered to that twinkling moment, and brought my demons to sleep. Even with my eyes closed, there was so much to see. Nothing was blurred or dimmed because I knew it was what I wanted. It was of my intention, and I'd won this time. The darkness in me bowed to my wish.

When we pulled apart, he wore an expression that brought a warm smile to my face. His eyes widened, perhaps in disbelief, and there was a hint of honestly in them. "What?" I asked teasingly.

"It was magical." His mouth parted the words in a rather funny tone. As if he'd just had a full spoon of a delicious meal. I was forced to laugh as he said all kinds of sweet words that filled my ear with a melodious tone.

I took it as an opportunity to say to him. "You know you're not unimportant," I said and his expression soured. "I know you don't want to hear, but you are the rightful heir to this throne of Vatră. Whether you like it or not."

"You don't understand," he pulled away, creating space between us. I wanted to shift closer, to make him realize that I did care and it was the only reason he was hearing such words from me. "I don't have a say anymore. Not even my own father believes in the words I say. They whole kingdom don't have their allegiance sworn to me because I'm a nobody-"

"Then prove to them that you're not."

"How?" He asked, his voice a little harsh and louder. "Sorry. It's just, I have tried, Melissa. Nobody is on my side." In his tone, I heard the desperation that came with it.

"Then you must begin to draw sides now." He brought his gaze back at me, his eyes bright and attentive. "Create your own followers. You were born in this castle, so you know your people. You must stand up now for your right. Make your father and all of Vatră know that. You are no longer a child. Demand the respect that you need of them."

He was still listening, trying to process my words. "I think I can do that-"

"You can do it, Luther. It is your destiny." I assured, because deep down, it was the truth. "Enough running from your true calling."

He straightened his head high like the mighty man that he was, and in that brief moment, I was proud of him. He turned to me, his eyes filled with concerns. "You too." In low voice, almost a whisper, he said to me. He was right after all. "Enough running from your past. You have to face it now."

We disclosed pieces of our lives too casually. Hurtful pasts that were personal and had never been shared with anyone before. I was drawn to this man. Connected to him that one might even say he was my other half. "I'll return to Oij village first thing tomorrow morning." I said with all the bit of confidence I could find in my guts. "How? I can't tell yet. But I will try."

He chuckled, and I wondered what I'd said wrong. "I am proud of you." He said and I couldn't help myself from grinning foolishly. I was in love.

When I heard of soulmates in books and tales, I never imagined myself ever getting one. "Then let us meet again, in the next five days-"

"It takes at least twelve full days to reach Oij's village and back to Vatră." He pointed out, and I couldn't help but cursing at myself for being a moron.

"Okay, then how about..." I was still thinking of the perfect date when he broke the silence.

"Let's meet after a month."

A month? We only just met-

He must had seen the disappointment that suddenly grew on my face because he brought his hands and rested them gently on my wearied face. "A month is not a long enough time to tear us apart now, is it?" He smiled and so did I. Again, he was right.

"No." I said to him, fully assured of my answer. "It's not long enough. One month, then we meet back at the place we first met."

I heard him laughed. "The market?"

"Yes, the market." I confirmed his doubts.

"Alright. The market. Thirty days from now, we are to meet at Vatră's market place." I could see him struggling to keep a firm face, and when he observed my intentions, he bursted out in laughter. He got closer, pulling me tightly in his arms.

I snuggled under his warm embrace, the smell of lavender seeping through my nose."No matter how funny that might sound to you, that is what will happen. Vatră's market, hey?" I still heard him laughing out loud as if I had just displayed a funny act. I couldn't help but follow in his steps, laughing my arse out loud like the whole problems of my life had suddenly been vanquished. "The market place." I said, making sure he heard me right.

****

I settled nicely on my bed, thinking of how eventful my night had gone. Shoving the tingling feeling my heart caused me to feel, I transferred my thoughts to the other part of surprise that night had had for me. Who would have ever thought that some man would be the key to of all my problems.

I knew the path that lied ahead of me would not be an easy one. But it would be worth it. Those nightmares had to stop.

I hadn't heard of Oij village before, much less know how to reach there. Nor the dangers that would be lurking around, waiting for me already. But traveling to my origin where it had all began, it was a risk I was willing to take.

A knocked came from outside and I knew who it was. She walked in, revealing on her face a big cheery smile. "Melissa, how did your night go?" She was still smiling as she sat down beside me.

"Are you alright?" I asked because I knew it was very unlikely of Laura.

"I didn't visit the bastard." She uttered. "He called in sick."

"Sick? What happened to him-"

"Who cares?" Her cheery face transformed quickly into a frown. "I don't bloody care about him, Melissa. Let the gods help me, he should be dead already."

"Did you do-"

"I didn't." She said quickly, "I did nothing to the bastard." She heaved in a deep sigh. "He has an underlying disease. And mother knew about it, yet she still pushed further with the engagement."

"A disease? When did you find out?"

"Few days ago. I happened to eavesdropped on a conversation with his wive. Didn't mean to, but I was glad I did." She confessed. "Rushed over to tell mother but, she ..." She paused, her voice trailing off. "She-"

I wished I had listened to the rest of Laura's explanation, but some strange forces seemed to had have other plans for me. My vision blurred and the last thing I could remember was the voice of a long lost friend, calling me continuously. He referred to me not by my name.

"Mistress? Mistress?..."

Mistress.

I was no Mistress. I had no idea what I was anymore. The more reason I became obsessed with finding out about my past. Perhaps the saying; "the truth will set you free," was right.

Or perhaps it was only a mere folktale created to comfort one in their most darkest time.

I was willing to find out just how much this 'truth' could do to me.

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