Sin: Path of Poison

Chapter 9 Part 2

"Let me." She said. Immediately calming down as she went to work fixing the tangles. Just then a woman came in through the door, her gaze landed on me, she stared briefly before averting her eyes. It was the same servant that had first been questioned in the room.

"My master is outside, he'd like to have a few words." She trailed off.

"I'm afraid that it's not proper." Nomi replied patiently. The servant cleared her throat, obviously in agreement.

"The Crown Prince sent his head guard to chaperone the conversation." She replied, still looking apprehensive. Nomi walked past her, opening the door and stepping out. She tightly closed the door behind her. I was left alone with a woman in front of me who seemed to be exerting a lot of effort to look at anything other than the person in front of her.

"I can arrange a meeting for you in the morning with her. She's not currently dressed appropriately to meet with you tonight. We don't have any extra maid robes for her to wear while her robes dry out." Nomi explained. He stood in front of her looking unsatisfied with the answer. The scent of my body was causing him some sort of internal conflict that he couldn't resolve.

With a quick motion he took off the heavily embroidered robe he was wearing and stood with his arm stretched out, offering it to Nomi. There were still several layers of robes under this embroidered outer layer, so it wasn't as if he was at a loss. Still, it wasn't appropriate for someone in my position to wear such an item.

"Have her put it on." He waved his hand towards the room. "I won't be long." Both Nomi and Blake looked at him in disbelief.

"You know what they'll say about her if someone sees her wearing this? Right?" Nomi asked in a low voice. She wasn't one to be bullied despite her lower status. He stood his ground, unwavering.

Giving one last glare to Blake, she walked inside and helped me cover myself properly with his robe. The robe was too long and big. I held it up in an awkward bundle, causing many winces from the others as they pictured the amount of money I was currently wrinkling and creasing. I carefully walked out the door to stand with my head low and eyes downward.

"I don't mean to startle you, and I didn't mean to say those things." He sighed, trying to explain. "My mother passed away eight years ago, I'd always been close to her. For some reason, I don't know why, you smell like her. It was as if she were in the house again." He clarified, not wanting to be misunderstood.

"Mm. I understand now." I answered, lifting my head slightly but keeping my eyes lowered.

"Can you look at me, just once? I'd like to see you." He asked nicely. I raised my eyes to meet his, the dark round circles pulled in everything in my sight despite not searching for an answer. He almost stumbled forward into me before catching his balance.

"Your eyes." He trailed off as he tried to focus on the small amount of white around the perimeter and avoid the blackness. Yes, have enough poisons forced into your body and you too can have matching eyes, assuming you lived long enough, I thought.

"I've been told they're disturbing." I said, remembering a comment from the past.

"No." He replied. "Actually, they're quite captivating." Blake choked slightly hearing the comment. My eyes widened and I looked away, trying to feign a shy and innocent youth.

"I should go back inside, I'm sorry for your loss." I added, referring to his mother. I turned around to leave but stopped briefly to remove his robe, hiding behind the extended robe, I shoved it towards him while dashing through the door.

I could hear him pull the robe tightly to his chest and walk away while Blake remained stationary. The servant inside walked past me to leave, she walked out so quickly she almost ran straight into Blake. Nomi came forward to peek outside and see what the problem was.

"He's arranged a different room for her." Blake said, looking off to the side in thought.

"Where?" Nomi asked, concerned.

"The first guest room, upstairs, first door on the left. I've already looked it over. He promised to leave her alone, he's trying to make up for his, whatever this is." Blake trailed off, confused.

"The Crown Prince?" Nomi questioned, wanting to know his reaction to everything.

"First he was going to offer Ryn money or clothing as an apology. The Crown Prince refused any gifts on her behalf, this is the best they could come up with, a middle ground." Blake explained.

Suddenly moving uncomfortably, Blake loosened his belt slightly and pulled out his long over tunic. It wouldn't cover my arms, but would be better than nothing as I'd have to walk back through the halls of the house. Tightening his belt again, he straightened the rest of his robes. He looked awkward as he handed the clothing to Nomi, avoiding looking at her entirely. She took the clothing inside for me, looking more than irritated by the whole night.

"I'll help you put this on." She commented as once again we tried to figure out how I could hold everything together without tripping and falling.

My body was covered by Blake's black tunic but the long white sleeves of my robes hung from my arms and moved gracefully in the slight breeze. The contrast of the feminine gentleness cascading down from underneath the masculine dark tunic felt at odds with each other. The layers of deceit ran much deeper than they knew.

Blake took a look at me and quickly looked away, walking ahead of us at a brisk pace. Nomi pushed me after him and told me she'd find me in the morning. She'd probably take a bath herself before retiring to the servants quarters. I obediently followed after Blake as he took me to a room far larger than any commoner would own, yet it paled in comparison to the room the Crown Prince was in.

"You can return the robe tomorrow, keep it on for now." He was probably concerned he'd accidentally see something he shouldn't if I were to pull the same stunt I did with the last robe. I held back a laugh while keeping my face unaltered. Having once witnessed the quickest glimpse of white robes flowing swiftly through the air, it was already too much for him to take in.

"Mm." I agreed. I stood looking up at him from just inside the room as he stood in the door looking down at me. After another moment of stillness I gently shifted my weight from one foot to the next, the small gesture returned him to the present. Blake's face turned a slight red as his eyes widened.

"I'll leave first." He replied, sounding panicked. He quickly left without waiting for a reply, standing guard down the hall.

The Crown Prince's room was only six doors down, but on the opposite side of the hall. Our host's room was straight across the hall from the Crown Prince. Pierce's room was in the middle. With Blake standing guard in front of the Crown Prince's room, that only left Lei unaccounted for. I gathered a small amount of energy and opened my channels.