Her mother had been pacing the room after everyone had left.
"Osiris what was that back there with Orion?" she was feeling nervous, what was everyone going to think after seeing her daughters powers. Her necromancy. And now word would get out. Where was she? Orion should be here and she's off running away off. What if she runs away…
Her father King Osiris was gleaming over what he'd seen, completely forgetting the power surging mess that was his daughter just hours ago. He was so worried about her happiness in her marriage with a stranger and it's true love. She would be happy after they united their people. The relief he felt took prescient over the real problems that they could be facing.
"I know to think how lucky we are that we arranged not just a marriage but a blessed match, Andromeda, she was marked!" So happy that this wasn't the worst thing he's ever done to her. He starred at the papers on his desk, sorting and signing documents.
But her mother, the Queen, was riddled with worry. Had her daughter been doing magic without a teacher? Was she aware of herself? Was she okay? Question after question filled the queen. No answers, just a 1000 more questions.
It was dark out now and her daughter still hasn't come home. The queen was worried. She told the servant to go and fetch her brothers. She couldn't wait any
longer she needed her daughter to come home. She acted strong but deep down
Andromeda was sensitive, especially in all things that regarded her precious
daughter. Orion was head strong and stubborn, just like herself. She knew the
news she would be overwhelming for her daughter. And that she would react
harshly and would be very against any forced nuptials.
Andromeda sighed.
Orion should have been in class so she could have had time to tell her, to prepare her daughter for the fact she would be in an arranged marriage.
The king tried to reassure his wife "my dearest, Orion is a strong princess she will be fine, she can handle herself, you saw yourself today she is a formidable opponent." The king sounded to proud of his daughter didn't he realize that now people would know their daughter was capable of wielding power she shouldn't have? Things were so fragile between the clans right now.
"Osiris, I do not worry of harm becoming of her, I worry she won't come back." She finally admitted. "Our daughter just underwent a traumatic transformation and given, in her opinion, the worst news possible."
"But he's her fated match Andromeda, she will get past the shock and she will find happiness. We really couldn't have asked for a better outcome. Be grateful the gods have gifted us with such a blessing."
Scared her daughter feared herself. Feared her uncertain future. Scared she chased her daughter away forcing this choice on her. But what else could she do? It was not an ideal situation, no, but it wasn't like she would just let anyone marry her daughter. She would, at the end of the day, pick her daughter over her kingdom. Some say that makes her a terrible queen. But others would say it what makes her a great one. To value the individual over the many. Her daughter must know that this was the only way the other territories would agree, if they were
willing to give up their daughter, the only girl to be born into royalty with the throne to show they hold no ulterior motives and simply want for everyone and to survive and take down what ever is causing the Rot.
"And what of them knowing about her powers? About her abilities? Does that not scare you?"
"Of course it does. But we have one of the most powerful militaries in the kingdom, we can protect her." King Osiris said to his wife. The king and queen were known for their ruthlessness and they wouldn't hesitate to tear anyone apart to protect their daughter.
Things weren't always as good as they are now. Before the kings grandfather took the throne the people were suffering the crown that ruled all of Elysium cared about power and magic, they'd forgotten themselves and become full of pride and superiority. A civil war broke out when the last queen took the throne, this was before women had equal status, because of this it was the final straw among some of the clans so they rebelled against the high elves rule. It went on for 100 years, after the truce was made and the land was divided and ruled by the presiding clans. It took a long time to recover for all the clans, after the queen had died the king's grandfather ruled and helped make the country prosperous once more.
Soon after Aldrich showed up to answer his mothers summons.
"I need you to gather a search party and look for your sister." Andromeda said.
"If Rion doesn't want to be found, we won't find her. You know the mist in those mountains, they seem to only let a few pass through." Alderic answered. "But I'll have the people around the city and here in the palace keep and eye out and I'll inform you of her arrival as soon as she comes back."
***
It was well after dark and Orion was feeling a bit more calm she had plenty of time taking in the fact she was getting married and that she had no choice in her love life anymore. All the playing would end. She was going to be married. Leaving the cave, she climbed up the steps and walked toward the clearing by the lake where Priscilla was. She was about to head home when she heard the snap of a twig close behind her. She grabbed her daggers from their sheath armed for what ever was to come from the woods. Her palm itching from the fresh mark on her skin. She'd been so distracted by her thoughts she didn't feel it. She heard a voice as the sound of footsteps approach her.
"I know she's out here, I can feel her, I'm so close." The voice says quietly. Her sharp ears picking up the familiarity of the voice. It clicked. It was HIS.
***
Orion
"Are you looking for me?" I asked standing up putting my daggers back in their sheath.
"Well, I was looking for a little bunny that seemed to have run away from me" he sneered.
Annoyed I responded, "well looks like your little bunny rather have her freedom than a cage".
I felt the silence in the air. Good. Get the message. I don't care if we matched, I'm not gonna marry him.
"You're right I mean who would prefer a cage to all of this open space? Even a golden cage, is still a cage, isn't it?" He had a softness in his voice that time. "So, I can't blame the little bunny for running off, but I'd like it if she did come back, maybe the cage can have a door?"
And there went any credit he had gotten with that last statement. "How about no cage and then there's no reason for a door" I said back as he came from behind a tree.
There he was, standing before me. He was wearing something different now, more relaxed clothing. A pair of baggy slack like pants and a baggy shirt with a v shape neck line. It was hard to stand my ground with him standing in front of me like that. He was even more beautiful now looking at him. I could feel a warmth in my chest and my heart quickened its pace.
"I may have lost my bunny, but I found you out here and wonder if it would be a worthy trade" he snickered at me, searching my eyes with his golden ones I could practically feel him undressing my soul.
But his words aggravated me. "I'm not an object you can trade." Priscilla huffed and nodded in agreement. He walked toward me. Unafraid I stood my ground. He smelled so good; it was like sandalwood and vanilla ice cream.
I can do this. He doesn't intimidate me. The space between us closing , my heart beats faster making my face turn red. He gets close and I hold my breath, trying to steady my breathing. Can he hear my heart beating? He leans down to me and I stiffen.
"You're blushing little bunny".
He did not. Just call me. Little bunny.
SMACK
A palm print was planted on his face.
"I am not your 'little bunny'" I turned to walk toward Priscilla when he grabbed me by the same hand, I slapped him with, yanking me back some.
"Well if you aren't my little bunny, then who are you?" he said in a slick tone
"What the hell?"
He was teasing me! With all that happened today he was teasing me! You have got to be kidding me.
"I don't care to deal with you" I spat at him
"Well I care a lot it seems" he says.
Holding me by my wrist he pulled me back pinning me against the cave's wall. He held my wrist with one hand and leaned on the cave wall behind me with the other. Feeling his breath on my forehead, he inched closer and the warmth of his chest and stomach against my face and chest. It was overwhelming. To hard to breathe. My heart was beating so fast I swear he could hear it. My face was turning red and my cheeks were flushed, I was feeling so embarrassed by body's reaction to his closeness.
He whispers "I like this game of cat and mouse" in my ears.
"Thought I was rabbit" I spat at him.
"Would that mean I'm a fox instead?" He chuckled "I didn't know you considered me a fox."
Was he flirting with me?
"That would have to mean that you're a predator and I doubt you could handle me. Let me go" I growled at him. I kinda hoped he wouldn't. Why did I not want that?
The air was thick with tension and the smell of his lust. Or was it mine, could he smell mine? Oh, good gods. I could feel his excitement, it made my lower half warm and wet. I fought it.
"Let me go damnit" I said biting down hard trying to hide the fact I wanted the opposite.
"Why don't you say please little bunny"
"Ha, you're asking a lot of a princess you're holding against her will." I laughed a bit under my breath. "Let me go now, please" I was straining with the please. I needed him to let me go before I did something I'd be mad at myself for later. I don't care how hot he is or how badly I want to feel his lips on me. I felt him harden against me.
Shoot.
I couldn't take it anymore. I was done playing the damsel game. This was getting dangerous. While he was distracted by me, I bring my knee up between his legs, hitting him hard in the balls, forcing him to drop my hand and move back, it was enough for me to shove him away push past him and race over to Priscilla, "let's go girl take me home." And we flew off into the night. Leaving him behind.
How did he even find me? The mist doesn't clear the way for most people.