Irama's Cursed Love

Chapter 8

We walked through the doors of the mansion in silence and headed to the lounge for dinner. As soon as Hetbanna saw us come through the door she ran over to us and started yelling at us. "How could you be so inconsiderate!?" , she yelled."What in the world are you talking about?", I asked confused. Hetbanna rolled her eyes and pointed at me saying, "Axela came to me crying saying that Nived broke up with her because of you." She glared at Nived after saying this as if daring him to contradict her. She then asked, "Care to explain?" Nived sighed heavily before saying, "Yes. I did break up with Axela." Nived didn't get any father then that because Hetbanna slapped him."Ow", he exclaimed rubbing his cheek."What was that for?" "That was for breaking my second best friend's heart", Hetbanna said with venom in her voice. She continued after taking a deep breath."It was also a warning to not break my best friend's heart." "I'm sorry for what I did to Axela but it doesn't affect how I feel about Irama. I promise to not break her heart.", Nived said with sincerity. Hetbanna sighed and turned to me asking me a question with her eyes. I nodded my head and said ,"Yes" in response. She smiled before saying "Stay here" and turning to go fetch Ryma."What did Hetbanna ask you?" Nived asked curiously. I gave him a half-smile while saying, "She asked if I was happy with you, dufus. What else would she ask?" "I don't know what about 'can you kill Nived for me?' ", Nived said with sarcasm. I laughed and shook my head before asking "Why would I even want to kill you?", Nived just shrugged in response."Oh so you want to play that game mister?", I asked Nived playfully. He innocently asked, "What game?" "The 'Shrug in answer to Irama's Questions' game." "I didn't even know that such a game existed." "It does now." "So you made this game up?" "Maybe", I said slyly."Irama",Nived said sounding irritated."Okay. I did make up that game but people do that a lot." "Why didn't you say so in the first place?" "Because I like teasing you silly", I smiled and shook my head again."And I like doing this" ,Nived said bending down and suddenly kissing me. I was shocked at first but quickly recovered and placed my hands on his face. When we broke apart I said " I like when you do that too", smiling up at him."I love you Irama", Nived said before kissing me again. I responded with ,"You better." He smiled and shook his head lovingly before saying, "Why can't you say I love you back?" "I just did in my own way." "Why must you be so stubborn?" "Stubbornness is one of my amazing qualities." "Of course it is." By the end of our conversation Hetbanna had returned with Ryma."So what do you guys want to do now?" Ryma asked casually. I answered with ,"I want to see the Lake of Fire. Will that be okay?" Nived smiled and kissed my forehead before saying, "Anything for you my love." "May I ask why you want to go to the Lake of Fire?" Ryma asked. I sighed before responding with, "I want to go because I want to know what it really is." "Why?"This came from Hetbanna."Didn't you find it weird that you were sentenced to die in that lake but never did? Aren't you curious to see why that is?" Nived nodded before saying, "I understand what you mean. I've been here a year since I was declared an Unwanted and I've always wondered after I realized I didn't have to die why our people think being different is dangerous and why we had to be sorted. Didn't you?" He directed this question to Hetbanna and Ryma. They both nodded."It's settled then no more questions until we come back from the lake. Are we all in agreement?", Nived asked. We said ,"Yes" in unison. Nived smiled and said ,"Okay then let's get going" before taking my hand in his and pulling me to the door. I laughed and said, "I coming Nived no need to pull me." Ryma and Hetbanna followed silently. We were silently walking while holding hands down the dirt pathway leading to the Lake of Fire when we heard a loud voice asked, "Where do you think your going?" We looked up to see Rebmis flying above us. He landed in front of us and stared at us waiting for an answer. Nived gave him one."We, Mr. Rebmis, are going to look at the Lake of Fire." "Very well but be back before dark. We don't want anything to happen to you.", Rebmis said before giving me a look and flying away. I shook my head trying to get the look Rebmis gave me out of my head. The look he gave me was like the ones my mother used to give one of those looks that make the person giving it look like they know more than the person receiving the look. I shuddered as I thought about what Rebmis might know that I didn't know. Nived must have noticed that I was shaking because he asked, "Are you alright love?" I looked up at him and smiled reassuringly before nodding."Yeah. Rebmis just startled me a little bit.", I lied."You sure?", Nived asked worryingly."Nived, I fine", I said with what I hoped was a convincing smile. It must have been convincing enough because Nived nodded and said "Kay. Let's race Ryma." He let go of my hand and dashed off down pathway with Ryma close behind. Hetbanna caught up with me and we walked the rest of the way down the pathway together."Why did you lie to Nived?", she asked as we walked. I sighed and said, "I didn't want to worry him." "Worry him about what?", she questioned."I think that Rebmis and Mr. Norich know more than what they're telling us." "What about?" "They're not telling us more about this place and the prophecy everyone seems to be talking about. I'm scared." "Why?" "I think I'm the one the prophecy talks about." "Don't dwell much on the meaning of the prophecy ", Hetbanna said."Why?" I inquired."Prophecies can go multiple ways. For all we know there might be another child of Hypnos here." "You're right I am worrying about the prophecy to much. Thanks Hetbanna. You're the best." I then hugged her."What are friends for? Maybe you should focus on more pressing matters?" "Like what?" She pointed down the pathway at the boys who were still in front of us. I looked down to see what they were doing. I shook my head in disbelief at what I saw: Nived and Ryma were rolling down the pathway while wrestling each other."We better get down there before they hurt themselves or into the lake," I said. "Agreed." We raced down the rest of the pathway to where the boys were and pulled them apart."Why in the world," I panted, "Would you fight on a pathway leading to a lake called Lake of Fire?" Both looked down shamefully and replied in unison "Don't know". I looked at Hetbanna with a look that said "boys are so stupid at times. She nodded in acknoledgement and said, "Aren't we supposed to be investigating the lake?" I hesitated before nodding my head in response. I then slowly approached where the beach shore met the lake. I picked up a piece of bark that lay by my feet and tossed it into the lake to see if it would burn. I was shocked yet relieved when it didn't. "Our experiment is successful", I announced solemly. The others clapped and shouted in celebration. We were intterupted by the sound of a bell. "What's that for?", I questioned. Nived took hold of my hand before answering,"That bell tells us that it's dinnertime and that we shouldn't be outside any longer." He pointed to the mansion with his other hand and I saw all the other Unwanteds who were outside running in as if their lives depended on getting in at time. "Our lives do depend on getting in on time", Nived said. I looked at him in shock before realizing that I had said the last part of my thought out loud. "Why?" I wondered. "The High Chief's highest officers do nightly border checks to make sure everything is the way it's supposed to be. If the find out about this world that is hidden in plain sight they'll tell the High Chief and we all would be executed for sure." "High Chief Nia doesn't really like us does she?", I asked tentivly. Nived gave me a loving hug and kiss before saying "No, my love she doesn't." He then took my hand in his and together we walked back to the mansion.