Zemira gently sliced her meat with her cutlery and was about to put it in her mouth when Isaiah ran in, "My lord" he bowed to Altair then he raised his head, "The viscount is here".
Verona rubbed Zemira's hand and smiled while Altair stared at Zemira, "Tell him I do not wish to see him this morning. I have better things to do than entertain a mad man" he said and munched on grapes.
"I wish to entertain him, father" Zemira spoke up and Altair looked at her, "If you entertain him, you will go back home with him...today!" "Perhaps we can come to a compromise today" Zemira said and Altair gulped down. his coffee, "I do not care what you talk about with your husband. As long as you are not here by nightfall" he looked away and she bowed and left the table.
Verona waited for Zemira to be out of sight before she turned to Altair, "Why do you always behave like you hate her?" she asked and a servant poured more coffee for him, "So that she would know that she is not giving me her best" "Perhaps she will give you her best, if you commend her" "Commendation never got anyone anywhere. It just made them feel like they were giving their best when they are just a little bit above average...then they stop" he said and took a bite out of his bread.
Verona opened her mouth to say something but then she closed it and sliced her meat.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
"What is it that you want?" Zemira asked Cassian as they sat at the living room. "I apologize for my behaviour last night but I can assure you that I am not sleeping with my sister" "Then why does she bathe with you?" Zemira asked and Cassian sighed, "I can not tell you that" he said and she stood up, "I guess we are done here" she said and was about leaving but he held her wrist. He stood up and moved closer to her. So close that they could feel each other's breath against their faces. Their noses were grazing and Zemira looked away.
"Zemira, please" she looked at him. Grey eyes staring straight at her and she was mesmerized. It was as if she was under his spell. She could not look away.
Was he in love with her? No, it can not be. He only has eyes for that woman, Zemira thought, he just needs me because I am with his child.
Cassian searched for a sign of her being in love with him. Her pupils were dilated, her small nose was flaring up and her lips----he found himself concentrating more at her lips, he should not be staring at her lips----were slightly parted. She was in love with him. Those were evident signs of love.
"You are in love with me" he said and immediately regretted it. It was supposed to be an inner thought.
Zemira snatched her wrist from his grip and turned to go but he held her arm, "I am sorry. That came out wrongly" he said and she looked at him. She reasoned their proximity and took some steps back.
He let go of her arm and rubbed his nape, "Zelia is not a prostitute neither am I sleeping with her. She is my younger sister and the reason why she bathes with me is..." Cassian thought about. Could he tell her? No! She may look at him like he is weak.
"I can not tell you why I do not bathe alone" he said and Zemira's eyes widened. So Zelia was not the only one he was bathing with. Cassian closed his eyes and almost slapped himself but then he opened his eyes, "I shall tell you another day. Now can we please go home?"
"Why do you want me back so much?" Zemira asked. "You ought to know this. You are the mother of my child. And you once wanted to kill my baby, so I have to keep an eye on you". "You sure it is not just an excuse to cover up for you wanting me" she sashayed towards him.
She turned around him as she touched his shoulders, "Are you seducing me?" Cassian chuckled and she stood in front of him, "Just checking if you were in love with me" she smiled.
"Since you can not tell me why you do not bathe alone, you have to compensate me" she said and he raised his scarred brow, "I have three wishes" she grinned.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
Cassian looked around. Brick beer-stained walls, round tables supported with old barrels with four stools around, a candle was lit at each table. A chandelier was hung in the middle of the bar, giving off faint light, making the bar have an early dawn kind of look. They were at Zemira's favorite bar.
"What are we doing here?" Cassian asked as he looked back at Zemira and she smiled, "It is part of the compensation. We will just get a drink and then leave...and do not worry, I shall not be the one doing the drinking".
Cassian spotted a man dressed in a black cloak. His hood was bent to cover his face but with his shifty movements, Cassian knew the man was suspicious. The man raised his head and accidentally locked eyes with Cassian then he immediately looked away and requested for a glass of wine. Cassian stared at the man before he noticed a chubby man walking towards their table.
The bartender, Arne bowed, "My lady, it is so good to see you here. The men missed you and your generosity" "I did not come here to drink Arne, but I will show my generosity" she smiled and cleared her throat, "More drinks for everyone!" she shouted and all the men hailed her.
"And what will you like to drink?" Arne asked and Cassian sighed, "Whiskey and tea for the lady" he said and Arne bowed and left. "I think I vaguely remember this place. This was the place we first met, right?" Cassian asked and Zemira shook her head, "We met at the inn, though both places belong to Arne. Stern and I had come for Arne's daughter's birthday party. Stern kissed the birthday girl. I decide to have sex with a man and then I met you".
Arne came back with their drinks then he left. "I think I remember your face being a little teary-eyed. So you were indeed in love with Stern" Cassian sipped his drink and Zemira sighed, "I think like is the appropriate word. Though it was not serious, we had never planned on getting married or having a baby. We only thought of the present. But enough about me, what were you doing at an inn?"
"Zelia had complained about me sulking and she decided to take me out for a shag, so she paid someone to be in my room. I mistook you for a prostitute, I am sorry" he chuckled and she smiled, "I mistook you for a soldier because of this..." she leaned in to touch the scar on his left brow but he leaned back, out if her touch.
She smiled and awkwardly dropped her hand then she heard giggling and laughing. She turned and saw Zelia playing with Peony's hair while Peony blushed. "Is Zelia---" "Attracted to women? Yes!" Cassian said as he gulped down his mug of whiskey. "Oh!" was all Zemira could say before she turned back to Cassian, "Do you not find that...a bit odd?"
"At first I did, but then I realized that she was really not into men. As long as she is happy with her partner, I am okay with it" Cassian said and Zemira picked her fingernails as she looked down, "I am so sorry for calling you all those names and for saying that you were sleeping with your sister". Cassian smiled, "I am sorry for not being able to tell you why I bathe with Zelia".
Zemira raised her head and smiled. Verona was right. Though he did not love her the way he loved Nola, he felt some kind of attraction to her, and he saw her more than the mother of his baby. But he was not going to admit it.
"Perhaps you can tell me tomorrow, when you feel comfortable with me and you are in love with me" she smiled and his eyes widened. In love? he thought. "Zemira, what are you---" she dragged him up, "Arne, thank you for the tea. Just go to the marquis' manor and request for your payment" she smiled and dragged Cassian away.
Before Cassian left the bar, he shot a quick glance at the suspicious man in black...only, he was no longer there.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
As they walked in the market, Cassian kept on wondering what Zemira meant when she had said "...and you are in love with me". Was Zelia right? Was she in love with him? And was he in love with her?
He shook the thought out of his head. He could not be in love with her. You only fall in love once and he had fallen in love with Nola. But if he was in love with Nola, why had he slept with her? Why had he agreed to her three wishes? Why had he started to stare more at her lips, like he wanted to remember how she tasted like that night? Why was he starting to see how beautiful she was?
From his peripheral vision, he saw a quick movement, followed by a black cloak. Someone was following them. He turned slightly and saw the person before he or she could hide. It was the same man in a black cloak, from the bar.
Cassian's hands immediately went to the dagger, in its sheath, which was strapped to his belt. He looked around. There were too much people to cause a scene. Also, he could not take the risk of putting Zemira----Ahem! His baby in danger. He just had to keep his guard up.
Zemira turned, "May I ask what you are thinking about?" He looked at her and his hand fell off the dagger then shook his head, "I was just thinking about your wishes. You are a month's pregnant. Is it right for you to ride a wild horse like Gerta?" "You are with me, are you not?" she asked and he opened his mouth to say something but then Zemira held his arm, "I will be fine. Relax!" she said and let go.
That was the first time they had had physical contact without hatred or without an argument. He hated himself for liking how warm and nice her hand felt on his arm, and he hated how he wanted her to touch him more.
Zemira gasped with her hands on her cheeks, "What is it?" Cassian's gripped the dagger and Zemira pointed at what she had seen, "Look! It is apple bobbing!" Cassian followed her finger and saw children dipping their heads in a large basin supported by some barrels, trying to get to get an apple in their mouths.
"Come on!" Zemira dragged Cassian to where the children were playing. "What is apple bobbing?" Cassian asked and Zemira looked at him dumbfounded, "You have never played apple bobbing?" "When I was a child, I was always indoors" he said as he played with the water.
He slipped his hand inside the cool water and looked up at Zemira and found her looking at him strangely. "You think I inherited my madness from my parents?" he smirked and she shook her head, "Not at all!" she protested vehemently and he chuckled, "I was just pulling your legs, Zemy" he smiled.
Zemira's heart skipped a beat. He had used her nickname. Why did it sound so much better than the way other people called it? "I was antisocial when I was a child. My parents were worried, but they got over it when I found my passion" "Which is?" "Fighting".
"So how does this apple bobbing work?" he asked and she smiled, "You have to get an apple with your mouth and you must not touch the basin" "That's a tad unfair" Cassian smirked and put his hands behind him but then he remembered that apple bobbing was not one of her wishes.
"Apple bobbing was never on the list" he said and she pouted, "Think of it as a bonus wish for all those times you held a dagger up to my throat" "Then what do I get for you stabbing me?" he smirked as he stood up straight, intimidating her with his height.
What was on Zemira's mind was a kiss. But that was impossible. He was still in love with Nola.
She looked at the apples floating on the water and turned Cassian, "You get an apple!" she giggled and pushed him towards the basin. Cassian lost his balance and tumbled over the basin, spilling the water and the apples on the ground.
The children squealed excitedly and Zemira bent to see if Cassian was okay. He sat up in his wet clothes, with an apple in his mouth, "I got it!" he bit into the apple and removed it from his mouth, "I got it, Zemy!" he said with a childish grin.
His grin warmed her heart. It was even better than the smile he had given when he was talking about Gerta. She smiled and bent down then she patted his head, "Good job! Now get up. You look like a child" she giggled and he got up.
Zemira dusted the dirt on Cassian's clothes, off then she put her hands on her hips, "What are we going to do now?" she sighed and he looked at her, "About what?" "We have to still get the portrait but you are all wet" "So? I will dry before we get there".
"Perhaps we can do it tomorrow" she said and he shook his head, "We do not know if we will not argue tonight. Night time is kind of our time for arguing" he chuckled and she smiled.
He was right. They mostly bickered at night and then their moods were sour the next day. "Suit yourself" she shrugged and he smiled.
Their carriage pulled up and Cassian was about to enter but Zemira dragged him down, "You will get the carriage all wet and smelly. Let us take a walk to give you time to dry" she said and he looked at the rider and sighed, "Meet us at Painter's Lois cottage" he said and the rider gave a slight bow and rode away.
Cassian looked around for the suspicious man but he did not see him.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
Zemira adjusted her skirt and sat on the chair provided for her. Cassian stood behind her----in his wet clothes----with his hand on the chair.
Lois looked at Cassian, "I have some dry clothes" he said and Cassian looked at Zemira then they smiled, "Do not worry yourself. This will only make the portrait look more realistic" Cassian said and Zemira nodded, "So that when we are old, we can look at it and remember today" she smiled.
When we are old? Cassian thought as he poplooked at her. Does she want to grow old with me? he thought.
"Alright monsieur!" Lois said and Cassian looked at him. Lois toyed with his handlebar moustache, "The both of you look so much in love, so let us go for something loving" he said.
Zemira and Cassian opened their mouths to protest about being in love but Lois folded his arms and continued playing with his moustache, "I see that la mademoiselle is with a baby, perhaps we can use that to our advantage" he said and they shrugged.
"Monsieur, can you hold her belly and perhaps put your head on it?" Lois asked and Zemira's face heated up. She held her cheeks. That was too much skinship. He was basically going to be holding her waist with his head on her swollen belly.
"I think that is too much" she said and looked at Cassian, "Is that not too much?" she asked and he nodded, "Can she just seat and I stand behind her?"
Lois looked at them for a while before he shrugged and took his paintbrush then he started painting them.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
Zemira caressed the frame of the painting and bit back a smile. She wondered where Cassian was going to keep it. Above the hearth, where Nola's painting was? Or in his room, which was more closer to him?
She smiled and Cassian looked at her, "Does the portrait give you so much joy?" she nodded and raised her head to look at him, he raised his scarred brow. She realized what she had done and shook her head vigorously. Cassian probably thought she was in love with him.
"No it does not give me joy!" That sounded more odd. "I mean, I am happy but not in the sense that I love it. It is my usual mood when i have a painting of myself and I am not in the slightest happier than my usual mood, just because you took the painting with me".
Cassian burst into laughter while colour rose to Zemira's cheeks. "You are quite adorable when you are flustered" he said and she held her cheeks to cover the blush. It was unnecessary because her ears were still red.
Suddenly, the carriage came to an abrupt stop and the horses neighed uncontrollably. Footsteps were heard followed by swords being out of their sheaths. Zemira's heart sunk into her belly. They were under attack.
"Tch!" Cassian had let his guard down. He grabbed his sword from the carriage and looked at Zemira, "Do not come down, no matter what!" he said and his eyes flickered down to her belly which her hands were already over.
Cassian jumped down from the carriage. The footman and the rider were laying at a pool of their own blood. The horses were on their knees, writhing in pain. One of the attackers stepped on the footman's corpse then he grinned. It was the same man that was following them.
Cassian looked at the people in black cloaks. They were seven in number; four men and three women. Their leader, clicked his tongue and they attacked Cassian.
Cassian clashed swords with the leader then he kicked him away. One of the girls jumped on his back and was about to throw him over but Cassian held her hand and thew her on the ground. Someone made a cut on his arm and he looked at the man. He was scared. Cassian grabbed the man's sword and stabbed him, then he kicked him away.
Cassian sighted the leader going for the carriage. He was about to run but one of the girls held her sword up to his throat. He smirked and bit her blade then he drew her closer with her sword, into his own sword. She coughed out blood then Cassian dragged out his sword from her chest.
The leader opened the curtains of the carriage and Zemira screamed, her hands tightly clutching her belly. The leader reached out to Zemira but a sword came down heavily on his arm. Zemira immediately closed her eyes.
The man screamed when he saw his arm on the ground. Cassian was about to make a slash on his chest but a man came and blocked the strike.
The leader reached into the carriage and grabbed what his hand could find; the portrait. All of them ganged up on Cassian and he took out his dagger and drew one of the men closer then he made a huge cut on his neck. The two remaining girls attacked Cassian at once but he bent down and cut their legs, with a swift sword movement. They fell and he took another sword and stabbed the both of them.
He heard horses neighing and looked up, the leader and another man were escaping, with the portrait. He was about to run after them but he changed his mind and went to check on Zemira.
She was trembling, he held her face, "Zemy, are you alright?" he asked and she nodded, tears were spilling out of her eyes. She looked at the cut on his arm and held it, "Are you okay?" she asked as she held his face and looked for injuries on his face. There were few bruises and cuts.
He held her hand and took it from his face, "I am alright. I caused more damage to them" he chuckled and she smiled. He smirked and gently wiped her tears away with his thumbs.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
The man on the throne, Isander signaled a man to remove the veil from the portrait. The leader of the attackers, unveiled the portrait and Nola gasped.
"See, he has completely gotten over you" Isander said as he circled around Nola. Nola stared at the woman sitting on the chair, with a smile. She had long black curls and brown eyes. The dress she had worn, had brought out her ample breasts. Nola's bluish-green eyes moved to Zemira's swollen belly.
"She's pregnant?" she whispered and Isander laughed, "Not only did he fall in love and get married, he also slept with her..." Isander got closer to Nola and sneered in her ears, "...on your matrimonial bed".
Nola took out her sword from its sheath and held it up to his throat. The men bowed and left. Isander laughed, "Shut up!" she growled and he looked at her.
Nola saw Cassian's kind grey eyes, instead of Isander's dark and wicked eyes. Isander saw the sudden change in her eyes; from immense hatred to pure love.
He pushed her sword aside and seized her throat then he slowly raised her up. "You still love him, do you not?" he asked and she squirmed as she scratched his hand. "Let me remind you what happened" he growled and punched the place where Cassian had stabbed her.
Memories of Cassian stabbing her and leaving her on the battlefield to rot, rushed into Nola's head. She hated those memories. Cassian stabbed her again and she felt pain in that same spot. He stabbed her again. And again. And again. And again. She felt blood gushing out of her abdomen as he kept on stabbing her.
Isander threw her on the floor and she gasped for breath. She coughed and held her abdomen, there was no blood. It was all an illusion.
"I picked you up when Cassian left you and I turned you into what you have become and you still dare you raise a sword at me?!" Isander shouted and Nola gathered herself on her knees and bowed, "I apologize, my lord".
Isander held her face up and smiled, "Do not apologize, dear Nola, just do whatever I ask of you" he said and she nodded. He threw her face away then he walked away, laughing.
Nola picked up her sword and looked at the portrait again. They looked so happy, and expecting for the arrival of their baby. She tsked and threw her dagger at the painting them she stormed off.
"I am going to make you regret for leaving me that day...on the field" she whispered to herself.
Zemira's smile did not waver...although there was a dagger right in her forehead.