Forbidden Essence

Forbidden Essence : Poisonous Fruits

Forbidden Essence

Chapter 23 : Poisonous Fruits

"Alice!" Edmund's voice boomed in the room, "Alice!" he cried out, his voice laced with horror, and disgust. Ohhh, this feeling of sickness was near a plague, the way it sucked the energy from my upright limbs. 

I looked up from my bent position, heaving. Edmund was angry, very angry. His arms very levitated in the air and his eyes tighly pinched closed. A soundless laugh could not help but escape from me. Indeed, such a sight was incredibly humiliating, yet seeing him so after what he had gifted me - a wedding gift -  I felt a pang of satisfaction. At the feeling of someone placing a hand of my back, and my hair being pulled away from my face, I glanced to the side in attention. Bryce's worried face welcomed my disdainful glance. I instantly grew stiff and withdrew from his touch as if scolding fire assaulted my skin. He looked pained, but I could not think of a reason why it would effect me after what he had done. Despite the fact that my husband stood before me in disgust, yet this man, this betrayer, once a friend now a foe, aided me in pulling my hair back and comforted me more than my husband ever could.

I was absolutely not effected by it. 

"Are you well?" Bryce asked, his visage holding worry and distress at my state despite my cold demeanor.

"Leave me be." I responded hastily, turning away.

Madam Alice bustled in, crying out at the sight, "Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! What has happened?" She quickly walked across the room and grabbed a hold of me. "Dear darling, on your very first day. Are you feeling well?" I was about to speak when Edmund cut in,

"Alice." Edmund's eyes were still pinched closed, but his voice now had a underlying threat. Alice helped me up and quickly waved maids in to clean up. One came and quickly began to lead me out. I slanted my head to glance at Edmund's exchange with Alice.

Madam Alice angrily placed her hands on her hips and snapped at him, "You're a man, Edmund, for heaven's sake. Do you lack the ability to clean yourself?" I was rather humiliated but he deserved it. My gaze landed on Bryce, as he aided the maids in cleaning the mess. I should have let him remain on his knees in the mess, yet a voice from within called out, unable to see him in such a manner.

"Bryce. Come." At my call, he glanced up in surprise. No. It was shock, great shock.

At that moment, Edmund's eyes opened as well, and he watched as Bryce stood up and walked my way in a daze. Suddenly, his eyes grew hard, as if in dissappointment. He shifted his gaze to narrow his hunting cat eyes towards me. Holding his gaze, I glowered, communicating the hate  I felt for him at the moment, and the joy that shot through me at seeing him covered in my regurgitated insides. I turned and nodded at the troubled maid to lead me, while Bryce silently followed us. He waited outside as I was led into a room with a large bath prepared - it did occur to me that perhaps it had been for someone else, however at the present moment the stench that was emmiting from me was horrid enough to make me inconsiderate. My clothing was removed and I was quickly enveloped into the cool water. The scent was washed away by herbs and pleasant auras.

Thoughts bombarded me, why would Edmund do such a thing? Is he mocking me, or does he simply wish to see me strangle Bryce? Or both? It is simply my luck that I had to be tied to a man like Edmund, a hidden coal among diamonds - a hidden thorn in a field of flowers. I fell into deep thought, what is it with Edmund that makes him such an impossible man? If he is angered at my betrayal, then he is mistakened! It was not a betrayal, it had been a mission to protect my land, and family. Everything had gone against the plan, I was never to have relations with the prince, with Bryce, or the King. I was to seek information and be on my way. I was never to face my father, and I was never to catch the eye of the prince. We were never to fall for eachother. We were never meant to marry.