ORCHIDS AT MIDNIGHT

⁖℘༒𝕯𝖊𝖘𝖊𝖗𝖙 𝕮𝖔𝖓𝖋𝖊𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖔𝖓 I

*Universe 4 (dream)

(This chapter is inspired by Sylus's: Grassland Romance 5 star)

Alyssia stood on the castles roof, her heart heavy with the weight of her feelings and the responsibility that had now been bestowed on her. The moon cast a gentle glow over the oasis, but no light could penetrate the darkness in her soul.

Her thoughts turned to the light skinned man, and she wondered if he ever thought of her, what he thought of her.

There was something about him that she couldn't quite point out but all she knew was that she was drawn to him, connected to him. One thing held her back, what ever she felt for him was forbidden. Forbidden by the elders, the gods, the kingdom and for her fate, a cursed, tragic fate.

As the new queen, she wondered, would she not shorten her lifeline alot more if she met him again and they touched, and they stared into each others eyes, once more? She exhaled deeply, looking at the reflection of the moonlight on the body of water in the middle of the desert.

Then again, she thought, was that not what had drawn her closer to him in the first place?

She remembered his features, white hair, his red eyes that shined like the blood ruby, beautiful, his skin, a shade like the sands of the desert, how strong and coarse his body felt when he carried her. His face was covered with a white keffiyeh scarf, only parts of his hair was exposed and his eyes.

The short conversation they had as he carried her to his horse.

"Return with me, my people must know who saved my life from the sand worms". Alyssia said her arms around Sylus's neck as he carried her to the black horse that fed on some grass, along a small body of water.

"I go to your people, and they will take my head. It's not the first time I have come across them". He said.

Alyssia bit the inside of her cheek, tightening her arms around his neck.

"Will you not let me see your face?,".

They got to the horse and Sylus placed her on it's back.

"If you saw my face you'd think me for a demon". He answered. He patted the horse twice before taking a hold of the reins. Alyssia studied him carefully, he had a tattoo of a desert rose on his back. She caressed the mane of the horse and spoke;

"Why will I think my savior for a demon?. If not for you...I would've been devoured". Alyssia said.

Sylus stopped in his steps and looked behind his shoulders.

Alyssia's words struck a chord deep in him. He had never thought that someone would actually see past his rough exterior. He wanted to hold on to that moment, to hear Alyssia call to him, to see the way her face lit up when she spoke to him.

He sighed. "Being saved by me would only tarnish your imagine...your highness".

Alyssia's eyes widened.

"How did you-".

"Your pendant...the blood ruby, only royalties have that". He interrupted.

Alyssia's hand unconsciously went to the red gem, she smiled. There was something she felt, something that pulled between them.

"It is the same color as your eyes". Alyssia laughed at the thought that, the both of them might hold a similar fate. The ruby on her neck was gifted to her to prolong her life if she met her fated lover.