Over the course of a week, the days went on in a usual routine. Waking up and being at the door by the first crack of dawn. Day one she pries the door open, and our eyes would meet subtly before we avert our gaze, I'd stand silently as she ate breakfast in the thick silence, never uttering a word to the maids when she is need. And soon it expands to a month, and I quietly witness her demeanor steadily decline.

Those days they went in silence, she neither looks at me, nor does she even acknowledge I am there for most of the time. And Ray has still been missing in action. I stand firmly with my hand clasped around my wrist, intently watching her under the hood of my eyes, observing her new strange behavior. Muted and distant, it was like a hollow shell that lacked a soul. Attire black, hair remained voluminous and healthy, her beauty is undefeatable even still, but Tiana wasn't there.

And pretty soon the silence between us becomes galling. Disturbing me to the core.

Was she still angry for what happened between us a few weeks ago?

Not even a sharp glare of any kind warning me to look away. I know she can feel when I am watching.

I knew to plant myself firm and give her the space she needed, but once again I'm plagued with greed, today my patience had reached the end of the thin thread and snapped, I throw my gaze left to right as she ate her yogurt slowly, eyeing the cutlery hanging on the edge of the table, a maid strolled by hitting the end of the knife and I manage to catch it midway.

"Oh, I am so sorry." she bows. Fearful of whatever consequential wrath that might have followed. But there was none, Tiana would never yell, but yet there was not even a sound or a giggle. My eyes keen on her eyes as she glanced to the two of us, scrutinizing the pupils void of light and drained of color, before she returned to her yogurt.

"Leave us." I commanded to the maid; I listen as her patters fade away out of the kitchen. "Tiana look at me." I beckoned, but it was as if I was not even there. I pull the wood of her chair until she faces me, now I was in her line of sight, my palm slithers to her cheek -- cold.

I pull the yogurt from her hands while she blankly watched my every move.

"Tiana, what's wrong? is it about what happened?"

No answer.

"Are you ill?" I kneel to the ground, determined to get her to speak, but it was like no soul roamed in the shell. I touch her body, I touched her hands, she does not move.

"Helping yourself, huh, brother?"

My teeth grits, to the sound of his nonchalant voice at the entrance of the dining area.

"No sir," I croaked darkly, already feeling my blood boiling at his presence. "The Queen is ill."

"And how would you know that?" I hear him striding closer until Tiana drifted her eyes upwards to him, and I examine as his shadow lined the side of her face and the scent of expensive cologne fanning down my frame.

"She is cold sir."

His palm extends and he felt her forehead. "Hmm, she is a little bit."

Anger swarms me and I rose up to my feet, now face to face with his grin. "My king, allow me to take her to bed."

"Oh?" he drawls.

"She needs rest sir, she needs medication."

The ends of his lips curl darkly, and his eyes rake my frame from chest to head "Mutts like you love a vulnerable woman don't you hm. Stand down, I can take care of my wife, you're dismissed for the day, brother."

I argue no further, steadying my heaving chest as he bent down to cradle her in his arms. My eyes on his every move, gritting my teeth when he doesn't hold her properly, keeping my hands at bay when her neck loosely falls off his shoulders.

"Oop, I gotcha." he says to her, her head onto his shoulder, shielded by his chin.

Maids scurry in the background, clearing off her area as they set his.

"You know this wouldn't be happening, had you just stayed away from her." he says in the midst of patters and clinking utensils.

I swallowed; a mild pinch had begun to awaken in my chest.

"Think about it, if you had just stayed away from her and not pursue your childhood crush, would she have been labeled as the foolish one hmm? do you think any of this would have happened?"

I allow everything to simmer for the moment, glaring at him in silence.

"I'll say it again. If you had just stayed away from her, would any of this would have happened."

It wasn't a question. It was his statement, and it pierced right through me like an arrow, I was nonexistent, she meant what she said, I'll always be beneath her.

And just before he twirls around, I caught her eyes and the single tear that slipped down her cheek.

***

I lean my body back on the mattress, dress suit ditched, and the white dress sleeves rolled to the elbow with three buttons undone, my head angled up to the ceiling and legs parted. My fingers gripping the sheets, rummaging it all over in the silence of my room, when it is disrupted by a knock.

"Come in."

In she walked, in a white sundress and flippers, golden hair tied up to a neat bun as her blue eyes look down at me with an expression of crest fall before, she bowed. "Nasir sir."

I watched the door come to a slow close and smirked, leaning my elbows above my knees. "Ray?"

She shook her head.

"I see."

"He does not answer my calls, and I had the whole team search him out." she says.

"You know he won't be easy to be found, he had this since we were kids, once he disappears, he'll be gone for days until he himself shows up."

I heard a faint sniffle from her, whilst I paid attention down to the flooring underneath my feet, watching the insects crawl.

"Ray will come back, and I know he will be angry." I said, "We did it for his own good."

"Keeping a secret from him for all those years sir?"

"And what do you think would have hurt him more char? knowing he was violent towards us, or the fact that he was trying to kill himself."

Her shimmering blue drifted away from my glare, while steadying her quivering lips.

"I'd rather be blamed for it a thousand times over whether he wants me to or not," I sighed. "I'll deal with it for my best friend, Ray is my brother, and I know the things he can and cannot handle. He will come around. Besides, I think I already know where he might be."

Charlottes eyes look up to me cautiously until the moment grasp in her eyes. "You mea-"

I nodded before she could finish. "I will go to him later today."

"I will go sir; you are needed at the Queens side."

Gloom drapes over me like a cloud by the mention of her, tightening my fists as I drew in a sharp breath. Seeing nothing but the soles of my dress shoes on the floor as everything moments prior rummaged over again.

"Sir?"

Charlottes voice was feather in the darkness as she called my name.

The weight of a burden slumping my shoulders, lulling me to a fog of darkness before her soft hands touched the bone of my knee. "What's the matter?" her voice at the edge of urgency.

"She has not been herself," I say. "She isn't talking to me; she isn't acknowledging me."

"Nasir, she can't, not when Gunter is around at least."

Gruffly I run a hand down my face, standing up to fresher air, hands on my waist and guided my eyes to the outdoor scenery of the castle. "This is different Charlotte. I know she isn't right."

"What do you think it could be?" she questions softly.

"Last month, she hated me, loathed and despised every bit of my existence."

"Uh ... ok. Is that a good thing sir, after your exacted your orders, this is a normal thing." She spoke to me slowly, as if I am the one unwell.

I smirked to the tone, shaking my head noting just how delusional I sounded.

In my peripherals Charlotte cautiously stands, as I arrange my cuffs. "All I am saying is char, maybe that is what draws her emotions."

Her fragrance looms around her until she is aside me. "Make her hate you?" she reiterates, watching my grin stretch across my face. "Nasir, why? aren't you her Prince Charming?"

I shrugged, lining the button of my cuff. "In some stories, the prince needs to become the villain, in order to get his girl."

***

Rubbles and ashes, mold leaking down the side of the homes, a putrid scent, and a decomposing rat on the side of a decaying building. I'm thrown glances from every person, their eyes raking down my attire as I stroll within the small neighborhood, with my hand stuffed in my pocket.

Mothers rightfully pulling their children away, men pulling back the gaping women, and the women pulling the gaping men. Were they watching me or were they watching the hooded apparition following behind me with his scythe.

"Please try and look like you're not a bloodthirsty murderer." Charlotte taunts me, casually cheesing her rosy, red lips at the fearful commoners, stepping closely to my frame and hooking her arm around my bicep. "Try and smile." She says behind her teeth, "You're scaring their children."

I exhale deeply, twisted my head over to a mother and her two kids and allowed my lips to curl into a grin in return the smaller child whimpered, fisted the hem of his mother's dress before they were guided into the house. The back of Charlottes hand swung the back of my arm, and the smile dissipates.

All her weight leaning on one leg, her head cocked slightly, and her arms crossed over her chest as she eyed me above the rim of her sunglasses.

"What?" I shrugged. clenching my fists in my pockets.

"Those kids will now live with nightmares." She huffs.

"I Smiled, didn't I?"

"Not that bloodthirsty grin." she sighs, "Look already our presence sticks out, so let us walk like were a concerned wealthy couple."

"And how do they act?" I arch a brow, the beam of the sunlight irritating my eyes, despite me standing underneath the shade. The rays pour down on Charlottes Ivory skin highlighting her deep blue orbs, and her hair strands soaking in the pure yellow sun.

Casually shrugging, she pouts unknowingly, then glanced around, gaze keen on the poor run-down homes, and the eyes that peak at us behind the curtains. It took her a moment to search for something while I stared down at her in a brooding manner in the background. She turned back to me than, slowly raked her eyes down my suit and tie, diamond studs and the silver Rolex that paired with the dark colors, and her dress.

"They must think we are rich." she says. "Were the only ones that stands out right now, obviously dressed different from everyone else. So, let's just roll with that."

Made sense. Her point is always valid, being as though she has more free time to explore when she is sent to missions, blending in and knowing when to stand out. This is Charlotte, a woman I will always be proud calling my sister. Thank heavens she is on the good side.

Rumors about our arrivals spread into the homes, more people had begun to take a peek out to us. I grit my teeth. The more that know about is, stretched our chances of finding Ray, surely it would have reached him, and he'd find a way to relocate his hiding spot.

Think Nasir, fucking think. Think about anything that has nothing to do with Tiana for once, and just as I tried to rid it all, came an idea.

Charlotte turns to me in the nick of time as I stepped close to her frame.

"Hey ... what are - oop!" Her remaining words dissipating at the tip of her tongue. Cheeks flushing red, as she froze against my chest.

With my free hand I use my fingers to brush the free hair strands that drape over her face, "Shh. Be a good wife and smile at me." I whispered lowly.

Her brows arch together in question, and I slightly tapped her bum. "I said smile baby."

Rows of white pearly teeth flash me in a heartbeat, and her stiff stance eases up. Chest to chest, with my arm around her lower waist, we smiled to each other, displaying what I could only assume was a happy husband and wife. Easier said than done, growing up with a man that beat the woman he was supposed to love and beat the two kids she bore for him. All I knew was to never be like him and strike a woman, but how does a loving husband act?

The attention rallied more friendlier faces, but now it is I that stands there awkwardly wondering what it is to do next?

"Uh -"

"Shh," she cuts in. "Ju-just take my hand slowly and hook my arm around yours."

Too hastily I pull away when she gripped me the lapel of my suit, urging me back to her breasts. "Slowly pull away from me," she says breathily, eyes ardent on my lips. Lulled by her seduction I complied, cautiously pulling away but our fingers interlocked in the making.

For the moment we strolled along into the commoner's ground, I found that each step was harder than the last one. As If I entered my own past, the ones I wanted to burn to ashes and forget. But it was living in those times that made me a strong man.

Feeling my hesitance, Charlottes slender hands slightly tighten around mine, tugging me out of the slump.

"The past can't harm you now," she says. "Look forward and leave it behind."

I smirked. Pulling myself to where we are side by side again. "How do you do it?" I asked, focusing my eyes ahead as I lifted my arm with our entangled hands and rested them on her dainty shoulder.

Realizing the meaning she only sighs, the sigh of a relieving blow of an untangling burden. "I faced my demons," she put simply.

"Elaborate." I drawled, stifling a thick chuckle.

"I went back to my old home."

The curl at my lips released slowly. And at the feel of my settling nerves, she continues. "I couldn't let the past haunt me forever, I mean yea, in a way I kind of have to live with it ... Literally. But the real hell was watching my parents getting slaughtered before my eyes. Drenched in my mother's hot blood while they stabbed her in the back, but through it all she never let go of me."

I could only inhale deeply to such a tragedy, as the memory of mine foam at the same time.

"When will you?"

I am abruptly taking off guard.

Once again, she feels my emotions through our touch. "I don't mean to be so blunt. But maybe in the future if you ever decide to it, you can finally open and face the emotions you're trying to suppress."

"Suppress?"

"Don't be coy. Your feelings towards the Queen. Love"

Within seconds a few women flock around us, their palms each held a red rose, while the children swarm us at the waist down. Our tangled fingers loosened, and we were parted, I watched blankly as they bury the stems of the roses into her hair, braiding and complimenting, while my arms and muscles and chest were being felt up around me.

Love. Is that what this was for Tiana? Love?