My Shadow and His Flame

Fourteen-Past

Layden

I lead Layden out from the balcony. I've never shown anyone the gardens I have found in the kingdom. Some Morers that heal plant life stay here in the palace for our special gardens. I usually have to dart around so palace workers don't see me. I don't know why we aren't supposed to go see the gardens but I don't care. I'm going to be Queen for heaven's sake.

Layden's smile starts spreading, "Rori, I'm all for fun, but where in the hell are we going?"

"You'll see. It's beautiful," I responded. Every now and then we would stop to look for workers. Once we have to pass the throne room, we almost get caught. I quickly grab Layden's other wrist and disappear so no one can see us. I think I'm getting better at this shadowing thing, finally. Its only been almost 18 years.

I'd use my ability the whole way but it is exhausting and much more fun without it. Soon enough, we reach a corner of the palace. A door leads out to the gardens, but I take a window near to reach a roof. I step through the window and give my hand to Layden.

"Come on, we're almost there," I tell him.

He gives a worried face that goes away when I smile at him. He gives me his hand and we are on the roof. The garden is huge and so breathtaking. Layden looks around, his beautiful gray eyes sparkling. I make the light hit him perfectly to enhance his features. How can someone this beautiful live a poor, Morer life. Light freckles spot his tanned face. Outdoors work making his skin tone darker. When he lives the life of a royal, his skin will turn as pale as mine.

A light smile plants on his face and he turns to me, "Rori," he pauses taking in the scene again. "It's so beautiful."

"This is my favorite garden in the palace. Most gardens have a Natriling that come once a month to touch up the gardens. But this one and one other uses Morers to heal the plants. A Natriling hasn't touched the two gardens in decades . This is all the work of plant healer Morers, "I explain to him. His smile grows more.

"A Morer's work. Wow," Layden says. He loves it just as much as I do. "Why did you take me here?" he asks.

"I wanted to show you that some of us care. I care. Also it's just so beautiful and with it coming from a Morer makes it even more," I tell him. We sit on the roof staring at the gardens for a couple hours. As time went on, we moved closer to each other. Sometimes we spoke a few words, but saying nothing meant so much more.

When I'm sitting between his legs, laying my back on his chest with his arms around me he speaks. "Hey Rori?"

"Yeah Layden?" 

"Tell me about your life, your family," he says. My life? There isn't too much to it.

"There isn't too much to it. I was the firstborn, a few minutes older than Ve. At 2 my lightning ability started and I electrocuted a bunch of people, but they're fine now," Layden lets out a soft laugh. "At 5 my shadowing ability appeared and my Uncle Lee died in a war front. Skonels couldn't get to him in time. He's who Ve got his eyes from."

Layden shifts, holding me tighter, "I'm sorry."

"It's alright. I don't remember him all that much. At 8 my shadowing abilities didn't develop properly so my mother gave me that awful nickname. At 9 my Aunt Tora ran away. We aren't sure where, but that one hurt. We were really close and we share the same eyes. I miss her a lot, I think my father misses them both too. All he has left his my mother's sister. I really like Aunt Cordelia, but she's not Tora. Cory and Eve get along well, with the whole Destrayen thing. We still don't exactly know why I got blue lightning though. It's rarer. Purple is the normal girl color and green is the boys'. No one has had blue in a few generations. Just another thing where I don't fit in."

"Well, it just makes you more unique. It means something, you just have to figure out what it means. You're special, you're meant to do something great," Layden tells me. He pulls me up more so he can kiss the top of my head. The lightning flows through my body begging to be released. I don't understand this feeling, but I need to test it's limits.

I get up and turn to him, his gray eyes sparkling in the sunlight. I put my hand to his face and smile. I press my lips to his and the feeling explodes. It courses through my veins from his touch. He places his hand to the back of my head and deepens the kiss. Something slips and we both fall, I fall on top of him. We both laugh and smile. He kisses me again.

"Tell me about your life," I tell him smiling. He's smiling at me and looks up at the sky, clear as day.

"Mine is quite boring to be honest. I have two sisters and a brother. Zaiden can fly and works for Magnar. He's 19 and the Coralena is 18. She works with Velius as a spy with enhanced balance. She's the one who helped me try to seem as if I had that ability. Alya is 15, she is so smart. She can memorize absolutely anything. Wouldn't be surprised if she works higher up when she comes hear. Might use her as their personal library. We all share the same eyes but split by hair color. Alya and I have our Dad's hair while Zai and Cora have my Mom's brown locks. 

"My two friends, Orla and Cree, have been with me my whole life. We had to live the thief life. With Orla and Cree, it was quite simple. Orla easily silences peoples' senses while Cree can teleport. I'm just the brawn of the trio," he chuckles a bit.

"It was a tough life, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. We are just fortunate enough to not get any abilities they need at the war front. I assume Orla and I would be shoved there if they found us.

"I just wish I knew how they were doing. I didn't see them or my siblings at Kingstrium. I don't even know where Orla or Cree work now. Their job day was a couple after mine."

I could help him see them. I've escaped the palace easily before, why couldn't I now?

"I can take you to see them you know. That's how you and I met, I snuck out. It's easy with the vines along the walls of the balcony," I tell him. "We can go tonight."

His smile covers his face and he grabs my face to kiss me. "Thank you Rori, thank you." He kisses me more.

I'm living for their relationship. What ship name? Larora? Lori? Auroden? Comment one you'd like!! Don't forget to vote/like this chapter!!