Chapter 23

Cyprus looked away when Evera spotted him. The nineteen-year-old girl blushed secretly and walked down the tunnel. She walked whenever she was free from lessons or work in the stables. The torches flickered on the walls as she felt him draw nearer.

"You do not seem to like people much.” She met his strong featured face and smiled. His smirk made her falter but she replied in a steady voice.

“People seem to not like me.” She turned again, not letting him near, like every other boy. She felt strange to them and they thought her peculiar. If she left the men alone, they left her alone. Melancholy but true and she didn’t mind. Her hand grazed the wall and her toes dug into the dirt.

"Which people are those?” She gazed back. He was pulled away by another girl though his eyes lingered on Evera.

The scene changed to the stables, weeks later. Cyprus came behind her and grabbed for her waist, kissing her neck.

“Dance with me.” And dance she did. The horse she was just cleaning neighed for attention but soon gave up, letting the two enjoy their time together. Evera laughed at Cyprus. He was the only boy who sought her affection, even though he loved other girls. But that was the way of things. Fae were free to love whomever and so they did. Marriage was a rarity, especially in the Unseelie court.

The stables vanished and were replaced with the boisterous training arena.

Evera was led by the hand by Cyprus, away from the crowd cheering for the latest games of archery and combat. He took her down the tunnels, twirling her every so often. She jumped and yelled, feeling like one of her normal classmates. Cyprus was only 23 years of age but he had just completed his training and was able to advance to the harder levels of combat. The harder levels were more dangerous, using knives and swords but that was the purpose. Sealy and Unseelie were constantly at war and the Unseelie trained hard.

Cyprus pulled her into an empty room used for training the younger children.

“There is no one else I wish to celebrate with. Evera, I am passionate for only you.” Evera took in a breath. Fae cannot lie. With that, he kissed her as passionate as he had said. She returned the embrace, enjoying the rush of his hands as they caressed her body. Her night was spent in bliss and intimacy. She felt both normal and special with Cyprus and most importantly to the girl, she felt loved.

The memory changed again to the entrance of the weapons training center. The clash of swords and the thuds of daggers hitting their intended marks were heard just beyond the doorway.

“I’ll be waiting for you at the stables.” Evera’s eyes were filled with life from the night before. She hadn’t expected him to change from his uninhibited ways when they had started their involvement. He kissed her forehead goodbye and they parted ways, her hands letting his go reluctantly.

The stables faded into view, Evera seated on a stack of feed. Night was falling and she returned to her room, leaving the empty stalls behind. Cyprus had not come. In the comfort of her room, the Faerie gave way to a passion of tears.

The next morning, she was told how her lover was injured by an ill-thrown knife. She ran to the sickbay, her feet thudding beneath her. When she arrived, out of breath and at the point of hysterics, the healers told her he was sent to Sileas. Something was off with his blood and there are better Sealy healers. Her knees collapsed and her heart fell to pieces.

*  *  *  *  *

Evera fell out of the memory swirls and returned to her body. She was afraid if she did not return permanently, she would lose the sanity she desperately clung to.

Her eyes were colored olive and her skin grew more flushed. As she grew healthier, she could feel the pressure under the skin of her back, demanding to be freed. What her world had come to left her both emotionally scarred and terrified.

“Hurry, William.” Her words were said for her own ears more than anything. The quiet of the night left nothing but the sound of the fire’s crackling in the sickbay. Her whisper rang in her ears, adding to the ghostly being she had become.

She freed her soul again, letting only one tear slide down her colorless cheek. She began to mourn for not one, but two past loves and her spirit flew longingly through the vacant room.