The Untold Truth (Shadows of the past; Book One)

1 - Lusine

"Lusine? It's time to awaken, my dear."

The first thing she hears when she wakes up, it takes her a while to actually open her eyes, as it always does. She sits up and stretches, listening to the popping of bones in various places on her body. She opens her eyes to see her maid placing her outfit for the day on her bed.

"I'm positive you don't have any family matters to attend to, but your mother does expect you to go out and buy herbs, she's running out."

Lusine nodded, standing up and walking over to her vanity. She brainstormed ways to do her hair before she got into the shower. The ice cold water against her skin woke her right up. She thought cold showers were the best.

As it was a quick shower, she got out and pulled on the form-fitting dress her lovely maid, Ira, had sat on her bed. It was gorgeous, a deep purple color, with the loveliest V neck. It fit her perfectly, as most of her clothes were tailored exactly to her measurements. She admired herself in the dress before sitting down at her vanity. Her hair wasn't usually hard to deal with, for that she was thankful for. Her father had always complained about how much her mother complained about her long, thick hair. She smiled at the memory, closing her eyes as she ran her brush through the curls in her hair.

"You always look so peaceful, my love."

She smiled harder at the voice and sat her brush down, turning to face her surprise visitor. He smiled back and kneeled down in front of her. She watched as he laid his head on her chest, and in response she kissed his head.

"Dalai, it's a bit early for you to be here."

Dalai smiled and hummed as he melted in her arms. She played with his wavy hair while waiting for him to respond to her. Lusine and Dalai were to be wed, but it was a marriage of love. They had been a couple for a while, longer than her parents could stay together for. She wouldn't trade him for the world.

"I didn't get to see you last week. I missed seeing your face, your smile."

He said, wrapping his hands around her waist and laying his head on her shoulder. He was the son of the Count and Countess of the lower half of Zempeth, they met at a family dinner and are basically inseparable.

"You're too sweet, Dal. Would you like to come with me to gather herbs?"

He hummed on her skin, kissing her neck chastely. She pulled his head back so he was staring up at her, he was absolutely stunning.
Tan skin, from being in the sun for hours upon hours. Gray eyes, that held nothing but love as he looked at her. He had a scar ran over his aquiline nose.

"You know I do."

She smiled and kissed his nose, to which he held her face gently and kissed her lips. She smiled into the kiss and pulled away to look at him more. She stood up, and he wrapped his arms around her waist, leaning on her stomach.

"You're hungry."

She laughed a little and grabbed his hand as he stood up. He looked her over, his hands still resting on her waist.

"You look like an angel, even more than usual."

"Okay, Dalai. I need to speak with Lusine. Are you two fully clothed?

Lusine sighed and walked over to her bedroom door, opening it to see Chaya leaning against the door.

"Hi, sweetheart. You look delicious today."

Lusine rolled her eyes and opened the door further, letting Chaya in. Chaya was her closest friend, the first once she met when her family moved to Zempeth. She was very flirty, to almost everyone.

"Hi, Dalai. Hogging my girlfriend, again."

"You hog her every other day, it's my turn with her."

He walked up behind Lusine and held her waist, kissing the side of her head softly. She leaned her head back to look at him, to which Chaya pulled it back to look at her.

"I'm going to steal you from him, one day."

She walked closer, and held Lusine's hips, leaning on the same shoulder Dalai was on.

"إذا لم تتزوجها، سأفعل."

"إذا لم أتمكن من الزواج منها، أتمنى أن تفعل ذلك."

Chaya smiled at Dalai and patted his cheek, removing her hands from Lusine and moving away.

"Lusine, my love, my darling, my sweet baby. Could you maybe, go to my parent's house and give Minnie her birthday gift?"

Lusine crossed her arms, and frowned at Chaya.

"You said you were gonna give it to her this year! What happened?"

"We got into a fight yesterday! She doesn't wanna see me!"

"Why did you fight?"

Chaya shut up, her face going completely blank.

"Actually, I should just give her the gift. Thanks for the conversation, baby. I have to go now!"

She ran out of the door and closed it. Lusine looked at Dalai, who was staring up at her and laughing.

"She's still in love with you. It's very obvious."

Lusine sighed and nodded, tapping his hands.

"I don't blame her. You're like a goddess, looks and personality."

She smiled and kissed his nose, walking to slip on her shoes. She slipped on some flat boots, she was going to be walking through grasslands. She was looking for her bag, and smiled when Dalai grabbed it for her.

She put what she needed in her bag, along with a few small jars, just in case.

"Ready?"

Dalai asked her, his hand ghosting around her waist, she nodded, letting him open the door for her.

__________________________________________

"I hate that woman. With a passion."

"She meant no harm, I'm sure of it."

"She definitely did! I don't even know what I did to get her knickers twisted up like that."

Dalai chuckled and opened the door to the shop for Lusine to go in. They both looked around, expecting to see their friend Maven at the desk. Instead it was a pale, ginger boy. He was an elf, which was shocking. the Elven and Faerie folk resided in Sautha.

"Hi. Is Maven not in today?"

He put his book down and sat up, looking Lusine over. She had forgotten how judgemental the elves could be. And how beautiful they always were.

"She's been sick. May I help you?"

His voice was crisp, a slight rasp, and an accent. Which was understandable, since he wasn't from there. Lusine nodded and took out four of her jars.

"Yes, you can. Maven usually gives me refills on specific herbs. I don't know if she filled you in."

He nodded and opened a drawer, grabbing two medium sized jars and sitting them on the counter.

"She said you should take these, so you don't have to come back every month for a refill."

Lusine smiled and took the jars, stuffing them in her bag along with the smaller ones.

"I'll be filling in for her for a few weeks, or until she comes back. Whichever one, I'll be here for a while."

He sat back down at the desk, picking up his book and holding a toothpick in his mouth. Lusine thanked him and grabbed Dalai's hand, walking out of the store.

"He was gorgeous, Lusi."

"Wasn't he? The elves are so breathtaking."

Dalai laughed, kissing her cheek.

"Don't I know it."