DON'T PRAY TO ME

13. Confess

Rays of the sun fall on the palace like a stage light. The white stones glisten. The crystal pillars seem to be fluttering like a waterfall. In one of the large rooms - gilded with tall windows, silk draperies, and florid chandeliers - the princess stands in front of the mirror. The frills on her skirt and sleeves bounce as she twists her torso. Her diamond earrings swing. She looks ethereal. But, something is missing. Leila Rark pulls down her neckline slightly so the outline of her breasts appear. "Move the neck to here," she tells the royal female tailor. She has to tease him a little at least, Leila thinks. Her father informed her that Ivan Drazeydan will dine with them next week. He will be with his family, including his son, Slade. Ever since Leila had first met Slade, when she was eleven years old, she has had eyes for no one but him. She's eighteen now. It's time to do more than simply admire him for afar. It's time to get close. To feel. To touch. But as a Dhamenci princess it's not that easy to get alone time with a boy. So she has to make the most of her each meeting with Slade. After sending away the tailor and the maids, Leila starts to take off her clothes in front of the mirror. She unties the laces over her chest, imagining it's his hands grazing her skin. She closes her eyes and feels his body warmth on her back. His manhood between her legs. His arms across her chest. She squeezes her breasts and moans out, imagining him entering her. "Ah! Slade! Ah! Fuck me!" She cries out as she comes. She opens her eyes and looks at her flushed face in the mirror and smiles. She will have the real him inside her soon. Real soon, she thinks.

Slade and his friends enter the library. "It's pretty big for a building no one knows exists," Reagan says. They look around and spot a circular desk. They go over to it. A woman is in the middle stamping loudly on the books as she goes through the pile of new ones to be catalogued and archived. "Are you the librarian?" Bron says. "Yes," the woman says. "We are looking for a girl. A Deir girl. Her name is Rachel." "She'll be at the benches by the window over there," the woman says pointing to the left, without even sparing a glance at the boys, while continuing with her stamping. The boys slowly walk towards the pointed corner and soon see the silhouette of a girl reading at one of the tables right next to the window, just as the librarian said. Slade's heart elevates. Light pouring in through the glass seem to hug Rachel's delicate body. The ends of her long hair touch her lap as her face hovers above the pages of the book she's reading. Slade swallows. "Alright, buddy," Reagan says, patting on Slade's shoulder, "we leave the rest to you." Bron and Reagan leave this corner of the room.

Slade goes over to her table. He feels nervous for some reason. "Rachel?" He says. Rachel looks up from the book she was focused on. After she sees Slade, startled, she quickly stands up, knocking down her book, notes and pens to the floor. "Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you," Slade says as he starts to pick up her things. He places them on the table while Rachel still looks petrified. Slade is not sure what to do, just like on that day when she seemed scared by him. "I just want to talk to you for a second. Can I sit over there?" He says, pointing at the chair opposite her. Rachel still can't believe Slade is here. It doesn't make sense. This is the last place she would've thought she would see him. And he is talking to her. He even said her name! Still in shock, and utterly baffled, Rachel slowly sits down. Slade does too.

"We met at the alley that day, when you ran into the Dhamenci wing. Do... you know who I am?" Slade says. Rachel bites her lips and nods. Slade has never particularly given a thought about his popularity, but at this moment he is glad he's famous enough for her to know him. At the alley that day, it didn't look like she did. Slade's throat begins to feel a little dry. He had practiced a few questions to ask her, but they don't come to his mind quick enough. She is distracting. Her eyes, lips, neck, fingers... everything is distracting him. "Were you... by any chance, at my match in Sunvey?" Slade manages to say. Rachel squeezes her hands tight under the table. She had been caught following him, she thinks. She quickly stands up. Slade gets startled this time. "I- I have to go," Rachel says as she picks up her things. "No, wait! Look, I'm not mad or anything. I just wanted to know. Please, don't leave," he says. Clutching her notes to her chest, Rachel slowly sits down. She's in trouble, she's sure. He had found out about everything, she's sure. "Were you there?" Slade cautiously asks, half expecting her to suddenly stand up again. Rachel nods.