Legerdemain

CHAPTER-22

The third day and the last night.

My routine from the previous day was repeated, with only one slight change. The maids decided to make me wear a simple dress, something that embodied feminine energy in their kingdom. The magenta texture and the pearls stitched formed small swirls and patterns.

The moon shone bright through the window, the one that I'd closed intentionally.

The door opened as Rnyx stepped in closing it behind him. Just like two nights ago, he placed the wine bottle on the bedside table and perched on the chair. Not a few fleeting minutes later, he stood up to open the window. My hands worked on auto mode.

"Adreina, I need to tell you something." Unlike the other days, his face wore a different type of worry. His hands reached for the glass of wine, and so did mine.

"What is it, Rnyx?"

"I don't know where to start," he sounded sad.

"Rnyx, if you don't want to tell me, that's fine. You can tell me some other day when you want to." The words came out easily. He gulped down the wine, drops of it trickling down his mouth, as he wiped it off with his sleeve.

We sat in silence.

"Is your mate here?"

He looked at me funny.

"My mate is here," he confirmed.

"When do I meet her?" I asked, smiling.

"She is asleep," he replied.

Taking one sip from my glass, I looked at him. Lost in his thoughts, he played with his ring.

"How do you know you've found your mate?" Indigo eyes clashed with my brown eyes.

"You just know it in your heart. Soulmates also have the same ink impression at the same place on their body," he explained. "You are not supposed to know that until you find them, Adreina." He winked. My heart did a backflip like one of those swings constructed every year in my kingdom's festivities. But I wasn't meant to feel anything towards someone who had a mate. This was wrong.

He left my room as quietly as he came. My heart throbbed against my chest, almost threatening to break the ribcage.

Three nights done. What now?

He looked well to me. The unsettling uneasiness finally had no place in my heart and mind. He would live.

The old man's task was done. The only thing left now was for him to deliver on his words. If he didn't, I would go back to the depths of Death to deal with the swine.

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In the middle of the night, the window left opened suddenly swatted, and the fragile glass was broken into a thousand pieces. The old man had returned. No, it was his shadows making their way towards me. They slithered across the marble floor, as lightning struck outside. Raindrops drummed against the window sill, adding to my fear.

"Princessss Adreina, I am sssorry," the shadows hissed as they placed the ring on the floor. "But you mussst know that everything happensss for a reassson."

The black fog slithered away quickly through the window and submerged in the rain. Bending from the edge of my bed, I picked up the ring. Even when surrounded by darkness, it glowed a shade of rich green. Hiding it under my pillowcase, I went back to sleep.

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...*... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

The following morning, the sun was out and it subdued any remnants of last night's storm and thunder. Three nights of thinking if Rnyx was going to die at my hands. After three days of mental torture, now I had one job left to finish. Today, I would depart for the Ring of Iris and find that woman to give her back what she lost as a child. With that, my second task would be completed and I would be left with only one task at my disposal. The thought made me smile; made my soul worry a little less.

"Princess Adreina, what are you doing here?" I turned around to find Rnyx standing with his legs crossed, his stature supported by a marble statue. He beamed brighter than the sun's glow.

"I thought we were past royal titles, Prince Rnyx." I smiled back at him. His shoulders shook as he laughed. With his hands behind his back, he moved forward with grace in each step he took towards me.

"There is only one day left to a full moon. Have you found the ring?" he asked, a concerned look shadowed his smile. "Yes, I have."

"Good. We must hurry to the Ring of Iris then." I nodded in response. The gardens here were enthralling, a mystical piece of creation.

"What after I complete all my tasks?" I asked him, but it was rather a question for myself.

"The first thing I think you will do is find your flame," he chuckled. I huffed in response, knowing damn well that is what I'd do.

The trip back to the Tree of Immortals was to begin in two hours. The sun still bestowed its glint upon us. The swelling on my forehead had disappeared to a great extent. It didn't hurt to touch the almost healed gash now. The healers here were great at their job.