Mine (Book 1 )

Part 6

The Capital

Evie sat at her vanity while Neev did her hair. She had just received a letter from her son Hal, who had promised her that he would visit the Domus Dei at Gaia and send her what she needed. Evie missed Gaia terribly, Ayra never felt like home to her, the only thing that kept her from leaving Ayra were her two sons. "Will the Princes be back for Candle Day my Lady?" Neev asks.

"I don't think so" Evie smiles sadly. 

"May I ask you another question my Lady?" Neev asks smiling and Evie nods. "What was Candle Day like in Gaia?" Evie smiled, fondly remembering the Candle Days of her childhood. Ferra, Liev, Kerrigan and her would run through the halls of the Palace to the top so they could see the lanterns being lit by the whole country rise together into the sky. Ferra and her would even try to sneak into the Domus Dei at night to make wishes. 

It was a legend in Gaia that Devra, the God of Gods would descend to earth on Candle Day and grant wishes to those he thought needed them the most. "Absolutely beautiful" Evie reminisces. She remembers the day Ferra and her snuck into the library the night before Candle Day. It was custom in Gaian culture for the girls to return to their maternal homes on their  Candle Day's after marriage so they could pray at their Domus Dei to the Gods for children the following year. 

It was exciting for Ferra and Evie to spend every minute in Gaia together. The sisters were inseparable. They snuck into the library and read their old books about old Queens and Princesses praying to Devra on Candle Day for children. There were instances that Devra fell in love once in a while when the skies felt lonely with a woman on earth when he descended to grant wishes. The King Rekka of Gaia was said to be the son of Devra and the Queen of Gaia. 

Ferra and Evie giggled the next day as they snuck into the Domus Dei to make their yearly wish. Evie ensured Kal was placed safely in the crib before joining Ferra on their little secret tradition. They each made a wish. Ferra wished for a chance to voyage across the earth while Evie wished for love, even if it was from her husband. 

That night after the siblings went up to watch the lights, Devra descended to earth. He began granting wishes and when he crossed the beautiful woman singing melodiously to an infant in her arms, he fell in love. He entered the Palace without anyone noticing him. He knocked at her door and held out a tray of her favourite fruit. Evie had never seen a more beautiful man. She asked him to come place it inside while she put down Kal. 

They fell into polite conversation and ended up sitting on the floor laughing about things. Evie asked him to come meet her again so she could show him the paintings they spoke about. He promised her he would and he did. He returned the next day and the day after that. Evie fell irrevocably in love with him and he fell in love with her too. 

Evie never thought in her wildest dreams that she would be unfaithful. 'I could have this one night, before I leave for Ayra' she convinced herself. Although she loved Kal with all her heart, she had nothing but hate for his father. Eckhard had raped her instead of making love to her when they were married. He had raped her multiple times and he was married to several other women. She never imagined being married off to Ayra but it was the right thing to do for Gaia and its people. 

When Devra came to meet her on her last night in Gaia, she gave into him. Maybe she could feel love, even if it was for a minute. Devra made sweet love to her and they spent the entire night making love and being with each other, knowing it was their last night together. 

Evie was inconsolable as she returned to Ayra, her only solace being Kal in sleeping in her arms. Eckhard saw his eleventh wife and the most beautiful of them all look even more beautiful upon her return from Gaia. In his drunken stupor he visited her quarters. Taking her even when she resisted. Evie grew even sadder as the days went on. She was with child again. She had pulled herself up and promised herself that her children would never be like Eckhard.