'My Lord?' Kamora asked, just as Jarosh exclaimed, 'Really?'
Lord Maroke nodded stiffly. 'Greyson mentioned that you might be bored. I was thinking of ways to alleviate this problem of yours, and I think this is a great idea.' He looked at Kamora, who was still shocked by his agreement.
'However, I can't help but worry about your safety.'
'Don't worry about that,' Jarosh said quickly, waving his hands. 'I'll take some guards with me.'
'That would make you too conspicuous in public, wouldn't it, Kamora?'
Realising he had asked her a question, she nodded quickly. 'You're right, my lord. It might attract unwanted attention.'
Jarosh frowned for a moment, then his eyes lit up. 'We'll wear disguises. That way, we can blend in easily.'
Kamora sighed. He was determined to go out.
'That might work,' she said, defeated.
'Great, then it's settled,' Jarosh said, unable to hide his happiness any longer. 'We'll leave tomorrow.'
Lord Maroke nodded, then stood up. 'All settled then.' He stared at Kamora for a moment too long before giving his son a soft pat on the head. 'Perhaps after your outing, you can tell me all about it.'
He walked out of the room, leaving both Kamora and Jarosh in shock over his outward display of affection, no matter how awkward it was.
'Father is acting strangely,' Jarosh said with a frown, his eyes lost in thought. She agreed with him, glancing at the room's entrance. Her racing heart had finally calmed, but the ache still lingered.
'Why don't we plan for our outing tomorrow?' Kamora suggested, trying to change the subject. Her idea worked, as Jarosh's eyes lit up and he smiled giddily.
***
As soon as Lord Maroke closed the doors to his study, his hands flew to his chest, and he stumbled, quickly regaining his footing before he landed face-first on the floor. He walked up to his study desk and collapsed into the seat behind it, clutching his chest tightly. When he had been in his son's room, he had struggled not to collapse on the floor from a pain he had never felt before, or perhaps couldn't recall feeling.
The more his thoughts turned to Kamora, the more the pain intensified. This was his curse manifesting, he had no doubt about that. However, what puzzled him was the reason behind it. Who was Kamora that she could evoke this kind of reaction from his heart? He took calming breaths, attempting to clear his mind of thoughts about her. After a while, the pain finally subsided. Nearly an hour had passed by the time it had gone.
He made a mental note to remind Greyson to investigate Kamora further. There was nothing inherently special about her that should trigger his curse. Yes, she was beautiful in an innocent manner. Everything about her exuded innocence, a trait he had always avoided in people. This automatically eliminated the possibility that she might be his long-lost wife.
He had once inquired of Greyson if there was any image of her, and his assistant had replied that the incident occurred before any images could have been created.
He sighed, raking his hands through his hair. He reclined in his seat, closing his eyes. He thought about his son, who appeared to be quite taken with Kamora. The past few days had been unusually peaceful, surprising even Claudia. Kamora might be the person his son needed. He had no intention of taking another wife.
A twinge of pain pierced his heart, causing him to wince—an expression that felt unfamiliar. He decided he needed to consult his healer. Perhaps they could find a way to alleviate these sudden bouts of pain he was experiencing.
***
As Kamora lay down on her mat, she let out a deep sigh, resting her head on her arm, hoping to fall asleep. Her mind drifted back to her recent interaction with Lord Maroke. After he left, she and Jarosh spent the remaining hours planning their upcoming outing. It took a while to convince the young Fae to go to bed, as he was very excited about leaving the manor for the first time.
Kamora found it surprising that Lord Maroke agreed so readily to his son's request. She had expected him to refuse, thinking he might consider the commoners market beneath them. However, his quick agreement caught her off guard.
She sighed again. There was something about Lord Maroke that she couldn't quite figure out. Whenever she saw him, she felt a strange pull. Her heart raced, and she wasn't sure if it was from fear or some other feeling she wasn't supposed to think about. The way he looked at her sent chills down her spine, and even now, she could still feel the effects.
Lost in thought, she kept thinking for a while until fatigue finally overtook her.
The darkness was heavy, with no light at all. Kamora tried to calm herself, taking deep breaths to prevent herself from panicking.
Kamora.
The same voice echoed in her head, the deep voice of Lord Maroke. She knew it wouldn't work, but she still responded, 'Who's there? Where am I?'
She kept repeating this for what seemed like hours until suddenly, a bright light flooded the darkness, making her cover her eyes with her arm. When the light faded a bit, she lowered her arm and saw an image in front of her.
It was her, but much different. She looked like a noble, her eyes bright and her smile warm. Her hair was long, reaching past her waist and she seemed free. In love. Kamora's heart raced as she watched the image. It was like a glimpse into her past life—the life she forgot.
'It's so beautiful,' she watched herself say. 'I was right.'
Kamora stared hard at the image, trying to see if she could spot anyone else in it. But it was useless; she only heard her voice.
'I knew you would enjoy it.'
'Just take a deep breath. You'll be okay.'
'I'll manage.'
Who was she talking to? Her heart raced faster, and she felt an urge to find out the truth. She tried to move closer to the image, but it didn't change.
'You both will suffer!' A loud voice screeched, and the peaceful scene vanished. Another scene appeared, one she had seen before.
Blood—there was so much blood.
She had seen it so many times, but it still scared her. She screamed, her face filled with fear.
It was too much. It was all too much.