Midnight Cove

Chapter Twenty-Six: Mine, Always

There were no days in the Underground, time seemed to stand still. One perfect evening that stretched on into an eternity. I had no need for want at the Dark Palace. I was made to feel as one of the royal family. The servants never spoke to me, they would nod or bow, and then run off to do my bidding. At first, I found it off-putting and spoke to Phoenix about it during our first meal together.

"Why won't anyone talk to me? Is it because I'm human?" I asked, a little upset that when I had asked if there was red wine instead of white the servant just turned and left, coming back post haste with a fresh glass of red wine. Then, setting it on the white linen tablecloth he immediately retreated once again.

"What?" Phoenix rose his eyebrows. If anything displeased me he would act without hesitation.

"The servants." I clarified. "They never talk to me. Not a word." I was extremely perplexed by this, but I didn't want to overplay the situation and end up getting someone fired because of Phoenix's unrelenting need to make me happy.

"Oh," he relaxed back into his chair. "They don't speak to us unless they are asked a direct question. It's just etiquette." He smiled, "Don't worry about it, Darling."

"Oh," I said, a little embarrassed.  I wasn't used to royal life. This was something new to me entirely. The idea of a high ranking station was a bit odd, especially since I was coming from such an average, or in all actually, below average lifestyle. I hadn't even come to terms with the money Terry had left for me, and this dwarfed that by so much, it was unreal.

"How do you like faery food?" Phoenix asked, wanting to take my mind off of the servants. He knew I was feeling more than uncomfortable. I doubted he realized how less than worthy I felt of all this extravagance.

"It's wonderful!" I couldn't deny that. The food of the Faeries was ornate and scrumptious. It was so pretty to look at I felt guilty for eating it. That is, until I put it in my mouth.

The baked goods were sweet and light. I found I had to pace myself, or I would look like a glutton. It never seemed to give me the feeling of being full, or heavy, the way human baked goodies would. I didn't feel hungry either. It was just a pleasant way to pass the time.

I had never seen an overweight faery, but I didn't know if that was because of the food, or just because they were Faeries. It was easy to see that one could overindulge without trying. I made sure to always leave something on my plate. Sometimes I would gauge myself by how much Phoenix was eating.

We would often have breakfast together on the balcony of our suite. One morning, he broached the subject. "Why do you stop eating when I do? I've noticed you only eat as long as I am, never more." He had asked gingerly, making sure not to offend me or embarrass me by the question. He was always sensitive to my feelings.

"I don't know," I lied. Then, deciding to be a little more truthful, I added, "Because I never feel full. I don't want to look overfed." I didn't want to say fat. It sounded vain and ridiculous.

Phoenix leaned back and laughed wholeheartedly. "You can't get fat off of faery food. It doesn't work like that." He sat forward again picking up his fork.

"Moreover, Coral, I love you exactly the way you are. If you gained weight, then I would love you that way too. You are always going to be the most beautiful woman in my life."

He looked into my eyes, his face holding back so many deep emotions. I smiled and looked down at my plate. Then, I took up another roll and ferociously bit into it.  Phoenix laughed at my overdramatization and I swallowed my mouthful of food before I, too, joined in his merry chuckle.

And so, my time spent at the Dark Palace went on like this. Each meal a happy production, every conversation was spent in laughter. It got to be that I was so used to being with Phoenix I hardly missed my life above ground. It was only at bedtimes when I would think back on all the things I left behind, which wasn't much. I would occasionally reminisce about my job at the coffee shop, or my little apartment studio with the bamboo floors.