The Jem

~48~

"How do I ask them about everything without sounding pushy?" Crimson paced rapidly. Hunter kicked his legs as he sat atop her fluffy, huge bed with soft chiffon covers.
"Stop panicking. They seem really sweet." He smiled comfortingly.

"It's just been sprung up on me so fast, so do I act like they're my parents or king and queen and do I act polite or normal. And how do I introduce you? Do I say; Mum, Dad this is my friend Hunter or this is my boyfriend Hunter or..." Hunter placed a gloved finger on her lips. "Introduce me as whatever you like. As for the rest act like your amazing, usual self. But I'll be slightly offended if you told them I was just a friend." He teased with a grin. Crimson huffed out a laugh but removed his finger and held it tightly.

"Are you saying we're more than that?" Her grin now broadened too. "What do you think?" His playful tone had her melting into liquid on the tangerine coloured carpet, but she played along. She tapped a delicate, olive finger on her chin, "Hmmm, I think your trying to distract me." Crimson poked his chest.

"Me? Oh never!" He winked then scooped her up, her legs looping around his hips as she kissed him. Crimson paused and said on his mouth, "Boyfriend it is." Hunter laughed victoriously and kissed her more.

                                        ~

They all sat in the big dinning room where the servants began serving the splendidly prepared breakfast platters full of eggs, tarts, fruits, pastries, cheese, bread and an endless variety of meats. Autumn's eyes widened, she probably hadn't eaten a decent meal in so long. "Dig in." The king announced and Brice began neatly piling food onto his plate but as he turned to the rest, they looked like wild beasts arriving at a free meat buffet. Especially Deeja, he could practically see the drool coming out of her mouth, as she stuffed her plate so much the food was beginning to fall off.

But Mara was just as polite as he was. She was using cutlery unlike most of them and she even wiped her mouth after a few bites with an intricate napkin. Mara was beautiful but he didn't know why he kept staring at her and for some random reason ever since they had all met Mara, Darya's gaze were like a permanent marking on him. Her wonderful yet conniving sliver eyes, were burning holes in the back of his head. He tried ignoring it but it also sort of intrigued him.

The queen began to speak. "Chrysanthe...Sorry I'm mean Crimson. How are you doing dear?" The queen of Camalla asked.
Crimson chewed for a little while then swallowed, "Great, but there are some things I need to discuss with you."

"In private?" The queen rose a brow whilst sipping her tea slowly.

"No your majesty, I have nothing to hide from my friends." Crimson said proudly, shoving a piece of cheese into her mouth.

"Would you like to now or perhaps later on? You all look like your starving, let's just enjoy the food." The king beamed at his daughter and his kind dark brown eyes glinted with joy. Crimson smiled widely back.

For a little moment only the sound of utensils clattering and chewing was heard but then, "Deeja you eat like a horse!" Darya laughed.

"Yeah Feline! Chew with your mouth closed, you impolite pony!" Jermine agreed with a teasing look.

"Says the guy who can physically turn into a pony." She snorted and ripped a piece of meat out of her ham.

"I am very good for riding." He wiggled his eyebrows. Deeja smirked with hunger but Hunter spat out his drink and burst into laughter then Darya began laughing so hard that Crimson started too, Ember smiled a little but kept eating and Autumn began snickering a little to herself.

Brice took them all in, as ridiculous as they all were, they were sort of like his family. He started to laugh as well.

                                          ~

After the table had been cleared they sat quietly whilst the servants poured them some tea. "Your majesty, i'd like to firstly know...how did I end up in the sea of Nejma that's four realms away." Crimson stared her mother in the eye, unyielding and brave but curious and unsure.
"Please call me Rave." The king said.

"And I Clarissa." The queen added. "Well, I didn't always live in the Realm of Misfortunes." The queen began. "I first lived in the 4th realm where I met Rave.All the realms used to live in harmony then. I was a Lady in Kimmel, helping the fairies and I was very close to the queen, Petra. But when I saw your father again at one of the events we got very 'close'" Clarissa gulped but carried on.

"Then I found out I was pregnant and because all the fairies in the palace were virgins I was kicked out and stripped of my name. But they gave me a place to stay. But 9 months is a long time and over that long period of time the 7th realm began to feel threatened and people found out the person who sired my child was a king from the 7th realm. So months passed and I finally gave birth but I was on the run and when a group of fairies found me they threw you in the sea and kidnapped me." A tear slid down her face.

"Then what?" Darya blurted out. "Then Rave found me and killed the fairies with his own hands as he ripped out their throats for taking me and I had to tell him that our Crysanthe was dead. But you aren't dead! Your alive! Your safe and alive."

Crimson burst into tears.