Kingdom of isolation - you can't hide

Fifty Five ~ Aurora

Aurora

Doing my makeup is therapeutic, an escape from reality at times. Especially when I'm listening to music through my headphones and ignoring the problems around me. There could be a fire happening right outside my window and guess what? I wouldn't care. Well, no, I would care because my entire family is right around the corner.

My phone buzzes on my vanity table like it's been doing the last couple of days, the option to disable notifications or even block that bastard's number is nowhere to be found. I should throw away my phone but that would mean getting a new one—and I don't like being wasteful. So, I ignore it, focusing my energy on that winged eyeliner hack I saw online not too long ago.

My room here is always kept the same whenever I come over, untouched and pristine. Bet, it's mamma's handiwork. I smile, thinking about my sweet mother. She still treats me like her little baby and honestly, I don't mind. I'm just a baby in her eyes and that's okay. Everyone loves being pampered by their mother—no matter their age.

"Hey! I was getting to the best part of the song!" I howl at the rude jostling, gel liner going askew in the process.

Grey eyes glimmer with mirth. It's like seeing a ghost, but it's just my moody brother who's decided to bless us with his presence. I can recall the last time I saw him, and it was on my wedding day. I would have been offended if he wasn't ghosting everyone. So, seeing him after months, it's a bittersweet feeling.

"You should knock, you know." I huff, trying not to smile as I put my makeup brushes away. I'll just rock a wonky eyeliner today, no big deal.
"Really?"
"Yes," I beam, jumping off the bed to give him a hug. "But, since you're king and all, I guess you could get away with it. Just like you can get away with ignoring us all."

"Good to know about my privileges." He grumbles, patting my back awkwardly. He's terrible with showing affection, always has been.
"Missed you." I whisper into his chest.
"Me too," He responds, ruffling my hair. "Mom's been calling you down for dinner. What were you doing?"

"Oh, I lost track of time," I say, pulling away from him. "I'm so hungry, let's go!"
"I need to talk to you first."
I stop in my tracks, turning to face Caspian. "Can it wait?"
I can see the struggle on his tired face. He wants to say no, I know he does. So, I put him out of his misery.

"Guess I can spare a few minutes for you, Ian." I sigh, taking a seat at the foot of my bed.
"Have you heard anything about some rebels causing trouble?"
Rebels. There's that word again.

"Hm, I'm not sure." I frown, tucking my hands underneath my thighs as I look up at him, "Why are you asking?"
Caspian doesn't respond at first, pacing the length of my room with slow, measured steps.
"No reason, they're just going around causing mayhem for people."

"Wait, I think there was something at the docks? He was talking to Killian about something going wrong at the docks and I think Killian suspected it was rebels. You think they're the same?"
"Possibly. What did Alexander say?"

"I never got to hear the rest of the conversation.." I trail off, biting my tongue. "I don't think he believes it's the rebels, though."
Grey eyes bore into my soul, a mixture of curiosity and suspicion as he asks, "How do you know?"

Well, brother, I don't think you'd like to know. I avert my eyes, willing my mind to focus on something else. Anything but..that night. I've been avoiding it like a plague, trying to bleach it out of my mind.

Pride in tatters just like my clothes, I had no choice but to distance myself from the problem. The longer I stay in Alexander's company, the more I find myself losing in the feeling of being wanted so intensely. So fiercely. He's a manipulative asshole but those eyes never betray what he wants to do to me. And that's terrifying.