Fates Intertwined

45. | Love and Other Things

It was well into the night, everyone sleeping. The group were sleeping soundly, comfortable in the new, expensive beds.

Aurora lay sleeping unmovingly. She finally slept peacefully, nightmares no longer plaguing her.

She felt a presence leaning over her, hovering, and her eyes slowly fluttered open. It took a moment for the grogginess to fade, but once she saw who loomed over her, a loud, ear-splintering scream echoed throughout the castle.

And when she looked around, she did it again.

Evelyn and Oliver sprung awake, Evelyn shooting up. She jumped out of bed, wrapping her robe around her and rushing out into the hallway with Oliver hot on her tail.

"Mom? What's happening?" Her son asked, rubbing his eyes as he stepped out into the hall.

"Nothing, baby. Go back to bed. Everything's okay." She pressed a quick kiss to his head, guiding him back into his room, and shutting his door. She glanced at Oliver, who looked as unnerved as she felt, and began sprinting down the hall to the guest quarters.

She followed the sound of crying to Aurora's room. Lina, Nara, Eric, and Madison already stood inside the room, staring at Aurora who was curled into a corner with her hands over her face.

Zyran was trying to get her to calm down, but each of his attempts failed. She shook her head. "No! No, they were here! They want me dead! They want me dead." She sobbed.

"Aurora, your family isn't here!" Zyran tried to assure her.

"I saw them! I saw them. They were here! They hate me. It's my fault. It's my fault. It's my fault they're dead!" She cried, rocking back and forth. Evelyn glanced at Oliver as Zyran glanced back at them.

He was at a loss, as was everyone else.

Everyone was tired, confused, scared, and some half-asleep while Aurora was curled up in the corner crying. Of them all, Lina stood a little ways behind Madison, but she was wide awake.

Almost like she never went to sleep.

A woman appeared then, standing over Aurora's rocking body with a glare. She was dressed in a white button up blouse tucked into a long gray skirt, her hair in a tight bun with a head cover. Her face was dirty, grime and blood staining both her face and her clothes. When her eyes locked with Eric's she was suddenly beside him.

"I want her gone." She spoke in a dark voice before she disappeared. Eric heaved a breath as he turned to Aurora. Turns out, Aurora's family was there.

***

Aurora had taken refuge in the kitchen that she had found, sitting on the counter with a tub of ice cream in her lap. It took her a long time to calm down, but once she did, she had booked it. She hated when people hovered, and that's exactly what people were doing.

Some believed it was PTSD. Others say that she was going through a manic episode.

Aurora knew what she saw. And it terrified her.

The door to the kitchen opened and Nara stepped inside. She took notice of Aurora sitting on the counter, licking the spoon clean of vanilla ice-cream.

"You shouldn't be in here." Were Nara's first words.

Aurora immediately defended herself. "I asked the chef. She—"

Nara laughed. "Relax. I was just playing with you." She walked toward the coffee pot and began to make a cup. "I used to do the same thing at home. I'd find a bowl of ice cream, a nice quiet place, and I'd hide."

Aurora looked down at her lap. "They were hovering."

"They do that." She stated. "Zyran's looking for you." She added, Aurora meeting her eye.

She sighed and took another bite. "I know."

They fell into silence as Nara made her cup of coffee, Aurora eating her ice-cream. It wasn't until Nara's cup was done and in her hands that she moved to the island and sighed.

"You're lucky to have him. Zyran, I mean." She spoke.

Aurora looked at her confused. "What do you mean?"

"It's obvious he's in love with you. He gave you his necklace that he never takes off." She glanced down at the necklace wrapped around Aurora's neck. Aurora's hand moved to it. "You're lucky to have a love like that."

Aurora jumped down, putting the ice cream away and walking to the island. "I wouldn't say we're in love."

Nara let out a soft laugh. "If you say so." She murmured, taking a sip. She swallowed, licking her lips before she was speaking again. "You know, I envy you."

Aurora's brows furrowed. "Why?"

Nara shrugged. "I've always wanted to find love. To find someone to be happy with, and you've known us for a short period of time, but you've already found that." She looked down, bringing the cup to her lips. "I wish it was that easy for me to find love." She took another sip of her coffee.

"You shouldn't envy me." Aurora whispered. "I don't even know if I like him, or if he likes me."

"You can tell."

"How?"

"The look in his eye. He always wants to be by your side. He'd do whatever you asked him to, no matter what it was or how difficult." She met Aurora's eye.

Aurora pondered on that thought. Then she realized something. "You like Lina."

Nara stood up straight, huffing a laugh through her nose. "Like is an understatement."

"Why haven't you told her?"

"Why haven't you told Zyran?" She countered.

"I'm not sure if my feelings are real," She admitted. "And I don't know if I'd be able to have a relationship with him."

"Yeah, well, Lina's not gay. She'd never go for someone like me." She sighed.

"I would." Nara's head snapped up. Aurora only shrugged. "You're a good person. You're kind, caring, compassionate. Good with kids. Protective. Anyone would be lucky to have you, male or female."

Nara smiled. "That's nice to hear."

"Maybe Lina will see you for who you are." Aurora offered.

Nara let out a humorless laugh. "It's taken her five years. I doubt it."

"Even if Lina doesn't give you it, I'm sure there will be someone else who will. There will be others." She smiled.

"Maybe."

Aurora's hand falls on Nara's, a soft smile on her face. "You'll find it someday." Then she walked out of the kitchen.