Dreams in the Distant Sky

Chapter 20 - Surprise Appearance

 Kaya pov:

Becci, Rose, Alice and I parted near the kitchen to head out for our respective chores. Alice handed me the usual tea and snacks and I headed to Lord Silas's study with it in my hands. Just like always, I entered his study after a knock and receiving permission. I was mildly surprised though to see him putting on his coat as if he were getting ready to leave to somewhere.

I stared at him for a moment, taking in his appearance which caused my heart to skip a beat. I averted my eyes while mentally scolding myself for staring though and proceeded to serve his tea in the tea cup.

"I don't need tea now, Kaya." Lord Silas said making me look at him. "We have someplace to go to now and I can't waste any time in drinking tea."

I blinked dumbly for a moment before putting down the tea kettle and turning to face him completely.

"We're going somewhere now?" I asked slowly, realizing that he had said 'we' instead of 'I'.

"Yes." He responded and walked closer to me. It made me a little nervous and I averted my gaze and fidgeted while standing where I was.

I tensed and snapped my eyes to look at his face when he touched the side of my head and ran his fingers through my hair, just as he had done so once before. However, unlike the last time, he didn't pull away from me when he met my gaze. His lavender eyes bore into mine deeply with a strange emotion swirling in their depths. He hesitated for a moment but then placed his hand on the side of my face and rubbed his thumb over my cheek tenderly. My heart picked up speed and my eyes went wide. I couldn't even blink to break the contact of our eyes, I couldn't move for I was frozen on the spot and I couldn't breathe because I was surprised and nervous.

What was Lord Silas doing all of a sudden?!

I noticed his eyes soften as he continued to look over me. He pulled his hand away a few moments later though and let it fall to his side before he looked away uneasily. I let out the breath I had been holding and looked away from him hearing my heart pounding hard and fast in my ears but I didn't dare step away from him. In my peripheral vision, I noticed that his hands were clenched tightly, even trembling a bit though I wasn't sure whether he was angry or frustrated or merely uncomfortable at the moment.

"Kaya." He spoke softly, making me snap my head up to look at him once again. "When you said you didn't want for me to die, that my existence was important....was it true?"

He wasn't looking at me; he was looking to the side, his brows furrowed deeply and an expression of distress on his face. I was surprised by his question and by how unguarded he looked at the moment. Well, not physically but emotionally. I also felt my heart skip a beat in anticipation. Was he finally opening up to me? Was he finally beginning to trust me??

"Of course it was true....it still is. And so is my confession." I responded just as softly.

He looked back at me and I felt a twinge at the expression on his face. He looked so sad, so lonely. I knew that he was being isolated even more than before after the incident with Lord Leon – no one dared to be in his presence for longer than necessary because they were terrified of him now and they preferred to avoid him as much as possible. His parents too now rejected him and didn't talk to him even out of courtesy. Things had changed so much in these two weeks and I could tell that Lord Silas was becoming even more of a closed shell than what he was before. But if he was opening up to me now, even if it was just a little, I was ready to stand by his side and listen to him and just be there for him.

"Is it out of pity?" He questioned a little sharply.

"N-no! Of course not, Lord Silas!" I said, holding my hands up in defense. "It's because I truly think you are a good person at heart. And because you're kind and honest and just and....someone that's so much more than what people see you as on the outside."