10: Darken, DarkHeart

Chapter eighteen: Astraea

we walked down the street until we got to the stationary store. this time Oberon stayed with me as we looked at the different options.

the shelves lined with bottles and tubes of paints of every color. 

"i dont get to pick out my own paints normally," i muttered to Oberon as we looked. 

"i know." he smiled. "this feels kind of nice, to spend the day with you." 

"i agree." i did not smile in return, i just looked away. "i wish we could do this more often." 

he said nothing, picking up a few paints. 

i spotted a box on the shelf, made of red oak. it had a lid made oof the same wood, with intricate leaves carved on it and a simple handle. i opened it up and saw it was full of high end paints. 

"we can get it you know." Oberon said over my shoulder. 

"i asked too much of you today." i said, "i can come back another time for them."

"what is mine is yours." he said, picking up the box and walking to the counter where a man in simple clothes stood, "we would like to buy this, and about ten canvases of various sizes, high end."

he looked Oberon up and down. "are you sure you can afford it? that box alone is two-hundred and thirty-six gold. then the canvases would add another fifty gold, then you would have to carry it out because we only delivery to our high end clients."

i stepped forward and leaned on the counter, "how about this, send the bill and canvases to the palace, the royal treasurer will deal with it. they are for the queen, we are just working on her orders."

"the...the palace?" the man stuttered. "my apologies, i did not know that you were here on her majesties behalf." 

"no shit." Oberon muttered.

"just have them sent there as soon as possible." i said, "have them delivered to Lunar, and tell them Robin asked you to do so."

"very well." he bowed to me.

i looked to Oberon, "lets get back to the palace."

"theres one more stop i would like to make." he told me as we left the shop. 

suddenly i felt the tip of a blade pressing at my back, Oberon walking away. "um, Robin, i have a bit of an issue here."

he turned and his face went pale. "let her go, Cassius." 

"oh, so you remember me Oberon." he laughed behind me, i knew the voice right away, that book store worker.  "as soon as you entered my shop i knew i had to catch this pretty toy of yours."

"she is not a toy." Oberon said, setting down the bag and pile of books, "what do you want?"

"to make you suffer." he answered, pushing the dagger in enough that i could feel it break skin. 

i let of a small cry of pain. "Robin, its not a normal dagger." 

"let her go." he took a step forward. "whatever this is, she has nothing to do with it."

"you took my mate from me." he said, sounding mad, "so i will take yours."

"Cassy?" Oberon looked mad, "she is alive and well." 

"you know what i mean." he snapped, "you made her fall for you, fucked her, then left her. she was never the same after that."

"another one Robin?" i asked without really asking. "how many women have you hurt?"

"countless." he answered honestly. 

"Cassius right?" i spoke calmly.

"yes." Cassius pressed the dagger farther into me. 

 "look, Oberon here, he hurt me too. hes trying to use today as a way to make up. but feel it inside of you, im a fairy too. i can honestly tell you, i plan on betraying him really soon, to a point where he will be heartbroken as your mate. so please, let me live, i have nothing to do with your issues with him."

he pushed me to the ground and glared at Oberon. "fine, ill let her live. i want to see what she has planed for you."

with one swift movement he rushed forward and snapped Cassius's neck. he fell to the ground dead. 

"What do you mean, you plan on betraying me?" Oberon looked down at me, at this moment i really was scared of him. 

"i....i.... i had to lie to him." i said. 

"you cant lie." he said, "you never could, you have always simply bent the truth."

"but..." i muttered, thinking of his words. "i thought i still have been. why did you never tell me?"

"because it was fun watching you change your words to seem like lies." he answered. "it was cute."

"now answer my question Astraea." he walked towards me. 

"i...i cant." i said, stuttering my words once more. i then stood to my feet, "you have no right to get mad at me right now, not when you have done nothing but betray me lately." i motioned to Cassius's body, "apparently your good at that."

i bent and picked up the herbs and books, "im going home."

"we still have one more stop." he said as he grabbed my arm. "i told you i had plans for today, so please, let me have this one thing before we go back to being cold to eachother."

"fine." i sighed as he took the books from me. 

he led me through the busy streets until i started to recognize where we were. we were heading to the grave yard. 

he led me past tombstones and into the Darken Family pot where there were many family members buried here. "why are we here?" i asked. 

"because its not just your birthday." he answered as we stopped at a familiar grave.

the headstone read 'Alexander Darken II, King of El'gorin, Eldest Son Of The Great Dragon.'

"Alex." i fell to my knees, tears falling from my face. i placed my hand on the ground, "hello there brother, its been a while. i really wish you were here right now. your probably put Oberon in his place, i know you never let him pull shit like he has been."

"now that is just mean." Oberon spoke as he knelt next to me, "happy birthday friend." he reached into his cloak and pulled out a bouquet of roses, placing them on the grave.

"when did you get those?" i asked. 

"when you couldnt find me outside the bookstore." he answered. 

"i just wish i could talk to him." i said, "he would tell me if what i was doing was right or wrong." 

"he was always your voice of reason." Oberon nodded. 

"Robin," i spoke softly. "i would do anything to get Alex back, but i havent even tried. i am begging you to give up on your sister, stay with me and our child, please. otherwise... i will have to do something so terrible..... youll never forgive me."

"you know i cannot give up on her." he said, looking upset once more. he leaned into my ear, "i dont know what you have planned, but know that whatever it is, i will find out and stop you."

he walked off as i sobbed on my brothers grave. suddenly, a bright yellow flower landed on the ground in front of me, and Alexander flower.... 

i picked it up and held it close to my heart. "you are tell me that i am doing the right thing.... arnt you brother?"