The Lost Heirs Vendetta

Chapter 24: Amora's Confrontation

I immediately regretted not bringing a weapon. Even a small kitchen knife would have been better than nothing. But, as if summoned, I instantly felt the flames in my veins crackly in response to my fear.

I reeled them back into my core, locking that power away. For now.

Amora walked towards me with her hands behind her back, her shoulders back and her chin held high. She never broke character that's for sure. I considered running, but where would I run to? The way to my room was behind her and the hall in front of me led to a bunch of servants' rooms.

I stood my ground and waited for her, which was probably one of the worst ideas of my life.

As Amora got closer, however, she brought her hands in front of her so that they were visible to me. As if she was trying to show that she was unarmed, that she wasn't a threat. I didn't take it that way though. I thought she was ready to use her powers. Afterall, Amora didn't need a weapon to kill. None of us did. Not with our power just waiting to be released from inside us.

Even without a weapon in her hand, I didn't lower my guard one bit. She must have noticed how my knees were slightly bent, how my eyes never left her. She started laughing.

"You think I'm here to hurt you?" She cooed.

I was silent. I didn't know how to respond to that. Of course I thought she was going to hurt me.

"What do you want?" I said, trying to keep my voice from wavering. It didn't.

"Just to talk," she replied.

"That's what you said last time," I retorted, readying the power in my veins to release at my command.

"Yes," she said laughing, "I suppose that didn't end well. For you of course."

She paused, waiting for my reply. When I didn't say anything, she took that as an invitation to speak.

"What are you doing out here alone?"

"Nothing that concerns you."

Amora laughed again and I felt the air shift around me. Like it was readying to fight. I felt my own power brewing deep inside me, as if in response. The room started to darken. At first, I thought another cloud was overhead but quickly realized it was me causing such a disturbance. I pulled my powers back yet again but could feel them begging to be released.

Amora looked around, surprised by the sudden darkness but luckily came to the conclusion that there was a cloud overhead as well.

"I'm not here to fight, Aleah," she said.

"You also said that last time," I clarified.

Amora took more steps towards me, but I didn't back down. Not an inch.

The closer she got, the more the air around me seemed to compress on my lungs.

She stopped three feet away from me. I could feel my heart thrumming in my chest, my blood pulsing through my veins.

"I'm surprised," she said, "that you're not dead yet."

"And why would I be?"

"Well, it seems that this assassin is trying to pick us off one by one. You'de think that they would go for the weak ones first to get them out of the way."

I didn't let any of my emotions show. I didn't give her that satisfaction.

"I think," I said, my voice steady, "that if you were to spend a day with me, you would find that I am not as weak as I once was."

At that, she let out a loud laugh that I'm sure almost everyone on the floor could hear.

"So what?" She cackled. "Did you start training? Did you beg Brock to help you?"

"I don't need to share my business with you."

She finally stopped laughing and then we just stared at each other, for how long I don't know. But then, out of nowhere, she stepped forward and grabbed me by the arm.

"What? You think you're so special now that you're marrying some prince from a far away land?"

"No. I know I'm special. I'll be remembered as the princess who sealed the alliance. The princess who saved all of Atalar from decimation."

I felt my lungs shrink. I found it harder to breathe.

"No," she said, her voice low and deadly. "You will be remembered as the coward that submitted to the prince of Trithia. The princess who let her people be rescued by their enemy. You are nothing and you will never mean anything to anyone."

She let my arm go and turned around. I watched her walk all the way to the end of the hallway. But, she stopped and turned around to look at me one more time.

"A piece of advice, Aleah," she said, "I would be careful what you say. You never know who you can trust in this castle. As you probably know, there are ears everywhere."

As if Amora timed it perfectly, she rounded the corner at the end of the hallway just as Darian arrived.

"Aleah?" he called.

I turned to see him jogging towards me.

"Is everything alright? I thought we said you'd wait for me outside Brylee's door."

"Oh yeah," I laughed, "I thought I would just go looking for you."

My voice wavered just a little. I was not going to tell him about Amoras little visit. Besides, she didn't harm me at all—which may have been a first.

"Did you learn anything from Brylee?" He asked, his face hopeful.

I remembered how we had such a good time talking together and how I didn't want to ruin it by asking a question about Breya. I wanted Bryleee to feel happy instead of sorrow for her sister. I sighed, "No," I immediately saw a bit of disappointment cover his face, "but, I'm happy I went anyway. It was good to catch up with her."

"Well I'm happy that we got something out of it," he said with a smile on his face.

God, that smile. I just wanted to put my lips on his own so bad. I wanted to kiss him so bad. I wanted him.

The walk back to my room was silent. Darian reached for my hand and I let him have it. Together, we walked without hands linked. I savored the moments when our shoulders brushed up against one another.

For the first time since I realized I may have feelings for Darian, I finally felt as though both of us wanted the same thing. To go someplace quiet and just... be.

The final steps to my room were the shortest steps of my life. I just wanted to walk next to him forever and ever. I never wanted to let go, but I did. He opened the door for me and waited for me to walk in, but I didn't.

I stood there staring at him.

"Aleah?" He said.

"Yeah?"

"Are you going to go in?"

"No."

After a moment of exchanged silence between the two of us, I spoke again.

"I need to tell you something. I think I've known for a long time but I never knew for sure until now... Darian, I—"

"Love you?" He said, finishing my sentence for me.

"Yes. How did you—," before I could finish my sentence, Darian's lips collided with mine and before I knew it we were in my bedroom with the door closed. I don't know how long I stood there kissing him. I didn't care.

It could have been kissing him the whole day and still want more.

I always feared that my first ever kiss would be with my enemy. But, as I stood here with him, I realized that he was no enemy, he was the only person who cared more about my safety than Brock and I would stay with him for the rest of my life.