Eyes As Dark As A Night

15 (The aftermath)

King and I walked in tense silence, the forest growing darker and more twisted the deeper we went. The branches seemed to reach out like skeletal fingers, and the air grew colder with each step.

"Where are we even going?" I finally snapped, unable to bear the silence any longer. I was stepping on my dress and it looked like, the person who made it effort was in vain.

King didn't respond immediately, his eyes scanning the shadowy path ahead. "Away from that chaos. You needed air," he said flatly.

Me? Needed air? With mud invading my shoes and painting my dress? He has to be joking.

My once pristine dress now looked like a canvas of chaos—blood splattered and smeared with mud. If anything, it was a fierce fashion statement.

I scoffed. "I needed air? Or do you need to run away from your problems? Not trying to be a bitch or anything but it was you who got in a fight back there and then made that pervert declare war on your entire Kingdom"

King stopped abruptly and turned to face me, his eyes flashing with a dangerous glint. "Watch it, Skylar, "

I took a step closer, my voice lowering to a venomous but teasing whisper. "Or what, King?  You'll lose it again like you did back at ball? A little boy who can't keep his emotions in check.

For a moment, we stood there, the tension crackling like electricity between us. Then, without another word, King turned and continued walking, his fist clenched.

But I unfortunately did not care about his little attitude, "soo, why did you fight? I don't know if you don't have 20/20 vision or you just don't give a damn but I obviously could handle myself, which I did by the way."

"That guy is a prick and he gets away with too much shit since he is the prince of the Water Kingdom. Self-entitled asshole."

ironic.

Wait. He was a prince? Does that mean the prince of one of the core element kingdoms, just declared war on another core element kingdom, because of me?

"Yeah it's as bad as your thinking, I fucked up." King clenches his jaw, as he continues to walk forward not looking at me.

This shit is getting better and better.

The trees closed in around us, and the path became almost indiscernible. My skin prickled with unease, a sensation of being watched creeping over me. I glanced around nervously, but there was nothing but shadows.

"Skylar," a voice whispered from the darkness.

My heart skipped a beat, and I spun around. There, in the dim light filtering through the trees stood my mother. She looked just as I remembered her, with soft eyes and a gentle smile.

"Mom?" I breathed, my voice trembling.

"Skylar, my sweet girl," my mother said, stepping closer. "I've missed you so much."

Tears stung my eyes. "How are you here? You can't be real."

My mother reached out a hand. "I've always been with you, Skylar. Watching over you."

I hesitated, a part of me knowing this couldn't be real, but the longing for my mother overwhelmed my caution. I took a step forward.

"Skylar!" King's voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding. He grabbed my arm, pulling me back. "There's no one there."

I wrenched my arm free, glaring at him. "Don't you see her? It's my mom!"

King's eyes were hard, filled with a mix of concern and frustration. "It's not real, Skylar. It's the forest playing tricks on you, it's spelled, the forest is cursed."