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TWELVE
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2024-10-29 19:42:56I stare at the porcelain bath, considering it.
My bedroom door is firmly closed, away from Vaia, Taius and everyone else in this place. Yet the thought of bathing has me shivering, not wanting to feel vulnerable for a single moment in this place. Yet I'm desperate to wash this day off me, and with the chill that has fallen over this place, a bath sounds delectable.
Running the bath, I add some fragrant oils and salts, and begin to undress, looking out at the stars that wink and glimmer tauntingly in the distance. Who knows when I will have any semblance of freedom again.
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The King’s Possession THIRTEEN
I walk into the dining hall for breakfast the next morning with my head held high.Taius is alone, sitting at the table, having not touched a single piece of food on the table. What I can see of the breakfast, looks foreign, with fruits and citrus found only in the warmer climates such as the Golden Province, cut and displayed in a way that has my stomach yearning for a taste.His eyes find me, more olive green this morning rather than the shadowy forest colour like what I stared into last night during my bath. My blood chills at the intensity of his gaze, the sensuous way it sweeps across
The King’s Possession FOURTEEN
I can't breathe. I don't want to breathe.I'm waiting for something, that never comes. I at least expect my skin to start burning, and then for every molecule in my body to dissolve. Instead, nothing comes. The only change I feel is the slightest breeze, wistful and soft, as it playfully flutters along the hem of my dress. Disobeying Taius's request, my eyes open.My knees nearly give out beneath me. In all honesty, I didn't expect it to work. No, it didn't work.
The King’s Possession FIFTEEN
I knock on the door, my breath hitched in my throat.The note is crumpled in my hand, but I brought it nonetheless. I'm here less out of necessity, and more out of curiosity. Vaia summoned me to her quarters with a quickly written note, containing nothing but a few words. I'm frightened she's here to pummel me over the head for being in her brothers company, or rip the clothes from my body and claim them as hers.As much as Vaia is not my favourite person in this place, she does have a beautiful quarter all to herself, that I find myself envying. From rich wooden floors sweeping up to pale wallpaper, the place is furnished neatly with a few rugs, furniture and most impressively, hand-built, carved bookshelves laden with an endless supply of books.
The King’s Possession SIXTEEN
Of all the things I've done in the past week, this is my biggest lapse in judgment.Still, I've snuck my way through the hallways, night having falling at it's latest hour; right at midnight. I could be walking into a trap, into a plot for Marek to try our escape so he can resume what his original plan was. Killing my Tani. Yet still, with one tentative foot in front of the other, I slip out through the empty kitchen downstairs, and outside.Taius's demand echoes throughout my head, as I wrap my jacket tightly around my limbs, inwardly cursing my foolishness for coming out here.
The King’s Possession SEVENTEEN
Jessa.I'm writing to let you know I'm safe. I have no doubt me leaving abruptly in the night troubled you, but know everything is okay.I have a job now, a better one. You'll never believe it, but I'm working for a King. I wish you and Fran could get a job too. I miss you two. Anyways, I hope you're doing well, and if you wish to write back, then send it to this address.Akara.
The King’s Possession EIGHTEEN
I don't look over my shoulder until I've weaved through a few streets and emerged back onto the main road further into town.Marek will be following me...I know he is. I just have to get back to Elan as soon as possible. I doubt Marek will appear when I with someone else, since he hasn't done so before, and as Kailor's personal guard, Marek may be intimidated by Elan. Although I doubt it. I can imagine how a stand-off between those Summoner's would go.No one takes much notice of me as I walk down the cobblestone streets, pulling my hood up over my head some more. Everyone here is going ab
The King’s Possession NINETEEN
Where Marek is being held isn't exactly pleasant.Shadows guide me down a hallway bathed in smooth concrete, the dim lights above me doing little to ease my anxiousness. Despite it being a holding cell at the edge of Taius's property, it was easy to access. The Guards simply watched me, as I ran, distraught to the entrance, as if they knew their was little point in stopping me.The Nobles had quickly retired to their rooms after the incident. Taius couldn't stop me, as I ran out to where Marek is being held.&n
The King’s Possession 20
Dusk has turned to night, moonlight bleeding in through my gauzy curtains.I haven't been able to find sleep. My mind is clouded with the events of the day; of Tai and the Nobles and their lethal boredom. But Marek takes the top spot for why I can't sleep. His eyes, deep and threatening, bluer than the ocean, and colder than ice. He wouldn't have killed me today, even if Evolet held a knife to his throat herself.A thought glides into my mind, persistent as ever.
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The King’s Possession Epilogue
Eight days later. I stare out the window, but see nothing but my own face staring back at me. The nights here in the Azure Province are long and cold, snow falling ever since we arrived a few days ago. We decided this would be the best place to flee to, hidden in the back of a freight train that Tai smuggled us onto. We almost didn't survive the cold, but we had both agreed this Province would be the last place Marek would look. It's too obvious. The door opens from behind me, the heavy wood creaking on it's metal joints. Glancin
The King’s Possession 56
My hands brush against the wall, letting it guide me down the hallway as the darkness blinds me.I'm not sure where I'm going, but it's far from the commotion downstairs. The screaming has ceased, but there are a lot of people moving, like the rebel group are rounding people up and moving them about. How many are there? Tai should be okay down there, but what if he isn't? He needs to stay for his people, but part of me wishes I had encouraged him to come with me.Suddenly, the lights in the hallway flicker on. Flinching, I cover my eyes until they adjust to the sudden assault of light, and once they finally do, I realise that Vaia is standing in the hallway with me.
The King’s Possession 55
Tai sits on the edge of his bed, a frown etched into his features.Only five minutes earlier, we were downstairs, Tai have to have addressed the guests who he has offered rooms to here. He claimed that Marek has been obsessed with me for months, and that he has been taken into the prisons to be held. None of that is true, of course. In fact, Tai's guards have been unable to find Marek."You don't have to stay in my room tonight, even if our guests will want to gossip seeing you wander around the halls," Tai says softly, finally releasing his frown, breathing in deeply. The guests already have a lot to gossip about tonight after the incident with Marek.After a
The King’s Possession 54
Tai pulls the curtain back, glancing through before closing it again.Beyond, people chatter, seated as they await the beginning of the ceremony. The nerves in my stomach accompany the sound of their unbothered voices, knowing that I'm going to have to step out there soon and exchange vows with Tai, and then kiss him in front of all those people."Don't be nervous," he murmurs, turning back to look at me. Mercifully, Tai has ordered the seamstresses to keep my dress as minimal as possible. The fabric and beading is still decadent and soft, the veil I've pulled behind me is beautifully sheer, hanging off a small crown glittering with silver jewels. This wedding isn't about the show, but about the substance, about what a union will mean for his kingdom.
The King’s Possession 53
The next few weeks past by so quickly, I hardly have time to grasp everything.Tomorrow, Tai and I will be married in front of a strategically chosen guest list. From then on, we will be closely monitoring the rebel presence, and the strength of the local villages support. If all goes well, I may not have to stay here much longer, but that is all hypothetical. Right now, nothing is known for certain.Jessa and I lie in bed together, night nearing on early morning. Sleeping isn't a realistic possibility right now, my mind busy trying to process everything that has been going on. Tomorrow will be a defining moment for all of us."Are you nervous?" Jessa asks sof
The King’s Possession 52
"I can't believe you convinced me into this."The golden glow of the lamp light above guides Tai and I down the street, the moonlight bathing the cobblestones of the street with a pale sheen. The darkness of the night is a stark contrast to this morning, when Tai approached me and asked me if I would come to dinner with him. I didn't expect us to go so far out from the estate."I promise it will be worth it Akara," Tai murmurs. I glance at him, his hands shoved into his jacket pockets, his emerald eyes watching me with gentle intention. He's dressed nicely, simply. There is no evidence in his attire that he is a King, although it's so obvious in his face. He has a regal nature about him, the tilt of his lips, the sweep of his cheekbones...You could see one
The King’s Possession 51
I woke to all the feelings of frustration and anger having vanished, leaving a hollow feeling in my stomach. Another morning of waking up to my own cruel reality, and yet another day of trying to recover from it, trying to move on.As usual, the day dragged on, Tai gone off like he usually is, dealing with both the rebel presence, and the cruel reality of the war, which has been bothering the King more recently. He hasn't shared much with me about the war, other than that it's been a financial and emotional drain, knowing that he is sending men to die.My father never spoke much about the horrors of the war either, leaving much up to my imagination. All I know is that it's a battle between independent rebel groups within the Jade Province and the Scarlet Pr
The King’s Possession 50
I'm going to go home.Hours have passed since I spoke to Marek, since I saw what he was doing under Tai's demands. I've been pacing back in forth in my room since, wondering if I should bother packing the clothing Tai's people have brought from nearby villages. I don't want a reminder of this place once I leave...Even if I don't know where to go yet.I haven't changed, my clothing and hair still wet when I decide want my plan moving forward is.I need to get away, but quickly. If I tell Tai I'm leaving, he will surely allow it, although will attempt to convince me out of it. So I'm going to steal his band, the one that can transport a human from place to place
The King’s Possession 49
Tai spent the next week being closely monitored by healers, leaving me to my own vices.Most of the week I spent writing, trying to make sense of my tumultuous thoughts, finding a place for it all within my brain. When I finally felt like I had compartmentalised it all, I was exhausted, both emotionally and physically. At least I've healed, only what appears to be small scars the last reminder of what happened that night in the cave.Today I've forced myself outside. The morning has been glorious, the dewy grass glistening under the sunlight as I wander aimlessly through the gardens. However dark clouds chased me back inside, yet another storm threatening to roll in.
