Sunset Legend

• 7 •

"You can't let her go like that," Summer said as she got up from the couch. I looked down at my clothing of choice and frowned. I thought this was cute. She was smiling when I looked up at her again as she stood in front of me. "Your dress is fine. I meant your bruise."
Ray coughed. Sol smacked him upside the head. Summer laughed at the look Jaxon was giving them as she started to raise two fingers to my cheek.
"What are you doing?" I asked, taking a step away from her. Her disappointment of my rejection was only on her face for a second before the smile returned.
"I have the power to heal. Is it okay if I make the bruise go away?" Oh. I nodded. The bruise was only going to turn a hideous green in a few hours anyways.
Summer brought the two fingers to my cheek as I took the step back towards her. I felt a wave of calmness run through me as her lips moved, whispering something.
"All better!" She exclaimed. Then saying she needed to change for the night, she was off down the hall.
"Just to clarify, we don't hate you. You just weren't supposed to wake up," Sol said as he removed himself from the couch, joining Jaxon and I by the entry way. "But someone is a moron." Ray rolled his eyes as he joined us too.
"Accidents happen. Like not measuring the distance between the door and your head," Ray said, simply.
"You knocked me out," I said. Jaxon focused into the conversation and was glaring at Ray.
"You were out cold for almost a day. I think you're getting confused," Sol said carefully.
A day? The wedding had already passed? Well, the wedding that would of happened. I wonder what Frosts and my mother were doing. I hoped my father was okay. Was Bells worried?
"Solstice." Jaxon brought me out of my daze of panic and questions. "What happened?" It took me a minute to realize he was asking about the kidnapping, not my moment of wondering.
"I punched someone in the nose and then he dropped me. Then I just remember getting hit with something while I was on the ground before falling unconsciously into the snow." Jaxon's nose was flaring as he stared at the two men before me. I almost wanted to laugh at their faces as they waited for Jaxon to unleash whatever he was holding back, but I had other questions. "Why did they kidnap me?"
With a flick of his finger the two men shuffled their way out of the room. Jaxon grabbed my elbow, leading me to the couches. I sat on one, surprised out how comfy it was as I sank into it. He sat on the other end of the same one.
"It had to seem real to you. The guards had to hear your fighting. It would of been weird if you just disappeared in the middle of the night." I suppose that made sense, even though at the time I was beyond terrified.
"Won't they come find me here?" The smile that appeared on his face shined with pride.
"Have you ever heard of this place before?" I shook my head no after pondering for a second. Of all the maps I've seen, I never saw the land of Sunsets. "They believe that the lands were wiped out centuries ago. They don't even know this place exists."
I began to wonder just how far away I was now from home. They would not find me here. Frosts would not find me here. I never had to see those damned, daring eyes ever again. My heart felt light.
"The wedding?" I had to know. The smile disappeared from his face, his eyes turning a dark gray that resembled iron.
"I don't know if this is something you should know tonight," his voice was quiet, but almost demanding. I didn't move. He sighed, running a hand over his hair. "Frosts tore apart your castle. He thought the staff was in on it. He just went on a total rampage."
Bells. It was hard to breathe. My heart felt heavier than it did before as I kept the tears pooling in my eyes from falling.
"The only people left untouched was the king and queen. The castle isn't even stable enough to live in anymore. They're all moving into the castle built in the middle of the lands."
I felt my stomach doing flips as I thought about my room shredded, furniture thrown around. The table where I ate all my holiday dinners with my family broken, the room shattered.
"Why didn't you tell me people would get hurt?" I whispered, a tear breaking through my build and rolling down my cheek. Jaxon watched as it fell off my chin, plopping onto my dress.
"I didn't know. I'm sorry. We couldn't let you marry him though." I turned to look at him, another tear escaping.
"I would of if it would of saved all those people," I admitted. I would of to save Bells, to save the bodyguards who protected me for so many years, and the cooks that were nothing but kind to me.
"You don't understand-"
"Then explain it to me!" I shouted, rising off the couch and standing over him. "Explain to me why my people had to die!" I was outraged, but not at Jaxon. I was furious with Frosts, with my mother. I hated them for hurting innocents, people who cared about her. The only people I ever trusted. My only friend.
"Because they weren't your people." Was all he said as he rose. "I was trying to be nice and give you a night to let lose after being locked away for your entire life." He grabbed the sides of my biceps. "Please. Just relax tonight. Everything will be explained very soon. Stop with the questions."
They weren't your people. They weren't my people? How could they not be my people? That was my home. Wasn't it? I thought about my mother who always restricted the conversation of magic to nothing. The constant dressing up that I never found comforting. The fake contacts... my real eyes; a shimmering gold that reflected off a sunset.
I felt like I had the wind sucked out of me as I began to wobble backwards. Before my head could hit the ground arms wrapped around my waist. They brought me back up, pushing me lightly down onto the couch. Jaxon watched me, hands steady on my hips as he crouched in front of me.
"Welcome home, Solstice."