Inside the Shadow

Chapter Twenty-two: Always behind you - POV Mairi

      "I've missed you on my trip." Zach was sitting across from me, us in a diner we would frequent on dates. "I missed you, but I got you a welcome home present. Are you ready?" I was attempting to come off as flirtatious, hoping to arouse his interest. "Right now? OK," Zach responded, looking around for what I could possibly have had for him. I stood up and joined him on his side of the booth, my hand now on his upper thigh, right as I leaned in to bestow his celebratory kiss. As I was leaning in, something stopped everything. 'It's not real. Zach was with her.' Once I froze, my subconscious spoke to me, a reminder that Zach had ruined us, and the scene before me was merely another sad memory of what once was with him, a tempting dream. The developing emotion of rediscovering Zach's infidelity made me realize how I still was hurting, and I didn't believe I would forgive him anytime soon.

      Once I understood everything was just a dream, I woke up in a luxurious bed, just as nice as the one I slept in from the first few nights on floor three, us now staying on the fourth. The room was peachy orange with complementary pieces of blue-gray in the majority. It felt quite cheerful. With the curtains drawn enough to let sunlight in, but not directly in my eyes. I chose this room because it was the most girly one and had a window facing the suns' rising. I got up and moved into my chair, wheeling myself to freshen up in my conjoined restroom. The shower was equipped with a portable shower seat, allowing me to wash myself easily without assistance. I took my time showering before preparing to do my hair and deciding what to wear. The wardrobe in my room housed a few beautiful gowns, not formal but definitely regal. I had decided to wear the yellow one that had reminded me of the bright yellow of the Suns that had crept in to wake me. The neckline was boat-necked with a purple bow in the center. The dress was slightly long enough, so I was covered sitting, but not too long that my shoes weren't showing. The abdomen of the dress had a built-in lace bodice embroidered with small red, orange, and blue flowers with green leaves adorning the lovely colors. My shoes somehow matched my dress by also holding the same lace overlay on yellow flats with the same pattern. I had done my hair in a half up-half down style, choosing to braid the top part into a sort of looped crown, but it wasn't perfect.

      I was starting to be more myself than ever and becoming comfortable with the idea of being practically paralyzed, probably for the rest of my life. Once I was content with how I looked and felt, I left my room and proceeded toward the fourth-floor dining area just beyond the end of the hall. This floor setup was quite similar, but the details were grand and distinct, and the furniture also differed. Reaching the dining table, I joined Erin and Joshuah, who were greeting me during their already served meal. Once I rolled up to the table, taking my place next to Erin, I was quickly served my breakfast as well. The luck of us all being here at the same time, unplanned, was unmatched. Breakfast was a standard one in Ember Hollow. Poached eggs from a common Cormatror, sort of like a bird, but still so different, oozing the black aura that all the living creatures held. Those lay atop a carb-like bread, but not quite, along with some sort of specially seasoned starch and greens steamed with a sauce. I still was not quite used to the food here, but I made the most of it, not all of the meal being unappealing.

      "How did you sleep, dear?" Joshuah spoke, pausing; they both were now giving me their full attention. "I slept well enough." I kept my answer short before turning to speak to Erin, right as the emotions I felt from my dream began to overwhelm me. I could now tell that even though I loved Erin, I was still not completely over Zach or what he had done to me. "How are you feeling since yesterday?" I wondered, seeing as Erin had gone through the soul-bonding ceremony yesterday, and it had a mighty effect on numerous people and the land, including him. I did not truly know what he had been going through mentally, other than what I had seen before and after I was soul-bonded to Lial. I was a bit surprised that Erin had so eagerly done everything they wanted of him without a second thought. I couldn't tell if he was trying to impress them or if he truly believed in the prophecy. I honestly didn't know what to believe, so I was left to trust the young man I was beginning to love, and his newly active father.