Belladonna tossed another pebble to the lake, disrupting the perfect reflection of the moon above on the previously still surface; it rippled, and just then, she heard something from the trees behind her, but she had reacted too late.
It was a good thing that one of Alaris’ shadow warriors was her bodyguard though, it was behind her in a second before taking a step back seeing who it was.
“What did the Priest say?” She asked. She had discussed her worries with him and they had both gone to the Priest afterwards. He said he needed time, but she needed air. Also, she was terrified of what he would say, so she had decided to leave.
“It’s the gem’s magic,” he said, a smile crossing his lips as he sat next to her on the sand and bumped his shoulder against hers, “just like I said. You worry too much.”
She nodded. She was probably thinking too much about it. That must be why it felt strange.
There were many things the presence of the gem in her was doing. For one, it was responsible for these sparks she felt anytime she and Alaris came in contact; these burdening feelings.
She would know what to do with them if she felt responsible for them but she wasn't.
Alaris had said the gems were a pair and it was a connection that existed between them. It was normal for the Bearers to feel such a connection.
With this knowledge, Belladonna had made it her point of duty to ignore it; her life was already too complicated to start thinking about such connections and feelings, but it seemed the gem had made it a point of its duty to make ignoring it difficult.
Also, Alaris wasn't making it any easier.
With victory at his grasp and time washing away his sense of loss, he had gone back to being he used to be; humourous and flirty.
With time helping with her grief, Belladonna could feel herself move on; she could feel herself living life once again, just as Eli had told her to.
There were, however, times she couldn't help but remember, but at least now when she did remember and cry from those memories, it wasn't from bitterness anymore.
Time healed all things, it was just a question of how long it would take.
“You should be celebrating with the others.”
“You shouldn't be alone.”
“I’m not, I have your shadow with me.”
“I am better.”
She looked sideways at him and rolled her eyes. “Of course you are.”
“You know it.” He winked and they laughed.
Soft, low.
They both looked back at the lake that was still rippling with the slight disturbance of the pebble. They were seated shoulder to shoulder.
“I remember the first time we met. It was somewhere like this.”
“It was in my mind.”
“But it was like this. The sea, the sand, the silence—”
“— the lies,” she added with a teasing smile.
He chuckled and shrugged. “The lies.”
“The deception.”
He rolled his eyes playfully and laid back. Alaris glowed on his own; there were his unique serpent-blue eyes, his long hair, and the glowing tattoos that lined his dark skin. Those features were even more prominent under the moonlight, aided by the fact that he was shirtless and had only gold jewelry and body paint. “My irresistible handsomeness, not that it ever changed.”
“Here we go again.”
“Good times, you can't lie that you do not miss it.”
Still seated, she looked sideways and stared at him. “Why would l miss being confused? It was the most consuming time of my life.”
“The thrill! You must miss it.”
“Again, I ask, why would I?”
“Because of all that I’ve mentioned and especially because you had all of my attention. We both know how special that is.”
She rolled her eyes and laid back next to him. She didn't participate in the celebration, so she didn't have on any body paints. She had on a green tent dress she had made for herself though.
“All these battles and I thought your cockiness would have vanished.”
“I would be nothing without my pride.” A moment of silence passed between them, the sound of the lake filling it as they watched the moon together, memories flashing before their eyes.
“We have come so far together.” Without warning, his hand slipped around hers and he held it in a gentle grip. The gem surged feelings to the surface, and she attempted to pull away, but when he spoke, she forgot all about the gem and the feelings.
It was just them.
“Thank you.”
She blinked and intertwined her hand with his.
“You are welcome.”
He took in a deep breath. “You know you can stay after this; you can stay with me.”
“Stay with you?”
“We will be perfect together. Strong. Think about it, no one understands us more than we do, we—”
“No. I don't want that. My life is not here. There is a meaning for me out there and I must find it. My heart is sealed, you deserve more.”
When she looked at him, he was already looking at her. He smirked.
“Well, that is unfortunate, for you of course. You will miss me terribly when you leave, your heart will ache forever.”
“I’ll be too busy with my adventures to miss you.”
Then all pretense seemed to fade away from his face. “I will miss you when you are gone, Nightshade.”
“Alaris.” There was silence, and her grip tightened around his.
He sat down, letting her hand go.
She sat too. “You will have your throne, your Kingdom, everything that is rightfully yours. Perfection. Everything will be too perfect, you won’t have the time to miss me.”
“I will. You are the only one I truly have. How can I not miss you? Your place in my heart will never be erased, you will forever be my Nightshade.”
Those may be the most sincere words he had ever said to her.
Tears fogged in her eyes. “I will miss you. I will miss you too much. You will always be dear to me.”
He pulled her into an embrace and her arms tightened around him.
For a moment, they stayed like that.
Words weren't needed, the silence was enough, the whispers of the wind, the crashing of the waves; words would have been useless.
Then he pulled away and wiped her tears away. “Come, let me take you to the sky. We’ll see if we can touch the moon.”
She smiled. “An impossible quest.”
“I won't take another rejection tonight.”
“I wouldn't dream of giving it. Sweep me up in your arms and fly me to the sky.”
Something sparked in his eyes and he gave her a mischievous smile. “With pleasure.”