The Medoran Chronicles~ A Fanfiction

Part 10

   KAIDEN'S PERSPECTIVE:

 Kaiden was confused.

  His mind was a complicated, messed-up puzzle of distrust, and he hadn't any idea of what piece went where. He knew he could never place any of his trust or his heart with Aven. Obviously. The shining gold made him squint, clearly hiding ulterior motives. No, that was just good old Aven; but Alex had changed. All that has kept him with that girl, he now realised, was desperation. A pathetic, desperate wish for her to love him was all that had kept him devoting all he could to Alex. 

  He resented her for doing what she had to him, playing him along with supposed innocence so that he would stay with her like an obedient dog. And that act of 'hating being caged'?  Kaiden thought, his fury spilling even into his thoughts. Aven had shown him that all Alex had wanted from that was Kaiden's sympathy. Along with sympathy came his pitiful love. His mind knew that, but his heart... He still yearned for when he did care for Alex. He resented her, hated her, wished she would leave his life, wished he had never met her, would revel in her pain...but, confusingly, some small part of him still wanted to care for her. Those years had been the happiest of his life.

As he sat in his Myrox-lined armchair, massaging the bridge of his nose, Aven rushed through the door.

  His gold-and-black etched robe billowed and he grinned. 'Kaiden, quickly! I've got something for you.'

  Expected another uselessly extravagant gift, Kaiden strode out of the room and plastered a smile across his face. Aven was beginning the realise how fiercely stubborn Kaiden could be in not bringing him into Medora, so his gifts become more and more excessive until Kaiden was almost sympathetic toward the Meyarin. The list had begun with a glorious mansion before it became great golden spires with his name etched into it, golden statues of himself, his own suite in the palace, Meyarin women. But even if he wasn't truly grateful, Kaiden had learned that if he didn't smile, he would earn Aven's temporary distaste; which then included all of his discrete yet glaringly obvious punishments.

  After they had flown out of the palace on the Valispath, Kaiden realised that they were going to the prison. The obnoxious traesos structure stood boldly amongst the golden glory of Meya like a disease. Kaiden was almost scared it would spread, infecting the rest of Meya's purity. In a way, it was; or, Aven was. He pushed his people into poverty with the help of his sons. Eventually, families were forced to donate endless daughters for the princes to 'use' and boys to become Zeltora warriors. It was easy to forget this was just a simulation that the Library created, that Aven was the only truly real person here, except Kaiden. And possibly that wretch, Alex.

 As he flew, Kaiden resisted the urge to tug at his cloak. All these extravagant layers were like liquid against his skin, but they were too soft. They were stunning, bold and exquisite. Too much so. He hated being pampered as he had been while thousands throughout Meya were stranded in the depths of poverty.

  Kaiden averted his eyes from the pale, emaciated beggars below.

  Kaiden opened his mouth to ask where they were going, but the wind filled his mouth like liquid. He was saved the trouble of attempting to talk again, though, because they soon landed on the black, almost unforgiving material of traesos. The feeling the rock cast upon him made him so hot and so cold all at once, it took him a few moments to recover and catch up to Aven.

  'I think it's...Yes, Cell 13,' muttered Aven. It was a challenge to hear him over the shaky moans and metal clanging of the prisoners; Kaiden almost placed his fingers over his ears to block out the dreadful cacophony. 'Here we are!'

  'I wonder what it is,' he mused fakely. Oh, wow, Aven, your closest to dead prisoner! Wow. 

Aven strutted forward and flung the door open with a face that cried 'ta-dah'. 

  In front of him, was a sight that made the tight knot of resentment in his chest that Aven had been nurturing for so long...loosen.