Revelations

He turned his attention to my room.

"Who brought you these black flowers?" He asked with anger in his voice as he picked it up and observed the plant I left by my door. He found the note in the plant and I saw his anger turn to rage as he saw it was from the Empress. I let out a sigh.

"It is only natural for her position. It is not something that bothers me Kache," I spoke calmly, feeling my body tense up at the anger in his voice, no matter how much he seemed to be holding it back.

After taking a deep breath he came to my side and pet my head again. "You truly are something special," He smiled at me and kissed my head again. "May I stay here awhile longer, like this?"

I nodded. It would be bad to refuse him, but I worried that Leo would show up early or while he was still here. But I had a suspicion he was not so dense he would knock if he could see His Majesty here.

He continued to pet my hair, seemingly waiting for me to sleep. I pretended to drift off to a peaceful sleep to see what he was planning to do if I slept by his side. After some time he seemed to believe I was deep in sleep as he pulled away and spoke quietly to himself.

"Why Viola, do you still remember another? Why does your heart not beat for me?" His tone was filled with heartbreak as he got up and left without another word. I could hear quiet murmuring outside my room so I quietly got up and listened in. I pressed my ear against the door, it was fuzzy, but I could make out a few words.

"Why does she still remember? She collapsed today and mumbled his name, not mine. I want her medication increased to keep her from remembering him," He said, his tone demanding.

"Your Majesty, it is dangerous to increase it so sharply over a few days. There is no guarantee it will make her forget the love of her previous life. Please, think of her health too," I heard pleading from what sounded like Nurse Nevi. I knew I was right to be suspicious of those medications.

"Fine. But anything that can be done to keep her memories of him at bay, do it," His voice was stern as I heard him storm off in the distance.

"Heavens, help this poor girl," I heard Nurse Nevi sigh to herself as she retreated somewhere else. I felt conflicted with her. I could tell she cared deeply for me, but she had to follow His Majesty's orders even at my expense. I should be careful tonight with Leo coming, they may be keeping a closer eye on me now.

I started to pace around the room, my exhaustion replaced with the stress of what this meant. I am being drugged to continue to forget things, which is why my dose increased so sharply after one day. My memories came back. Not just any memories, important ones to my life. Now, His Majesty is suspicious of me because of my memories of Leo coming back earlier. His jealously was enough to buy me according to Livian, I must be careful.

In the midst of my thoughts, I heard a light tapping at the bars of my window again. I hurried forward and saw that familiar face smiling back so warmly at me. Even in the dark of the night his features shine like a diamond with the warmth of the rising sun.

"Viola, my love," He outstretched his hand again. I kindly accepted and felt the warmth of his hand against mine. He must have been running again as his breath was heavy.

"I missed you. I want to know what happened that day on the beach. After you said you never should have followed me. Was-was that something true?" I asked, full of hope for the answer to be yes. My heart was beating like crazy in my chest as I felt the rush of emotions just from the memory. Why am I so excited by this one person?

He laughed before nodding his head 'yes'. "That day was a few months ago. The day I followed you was three years ago we were fifteen years old. We hid our relationship well for those years, but on that day when we confessed our love, we spent too long with each other and your father discovered" He stopped, looking down and holding back the tears before he could continue. I heard him sniffle as I gripped his hand tighter.

"They broke us apart, I was thrown out with bruises and His Majesty bought me to keep an eye on me. I saw you were set to be His Mistress. I was helpless to help you, and when you tried to see me, you were caught and brought to him. You never gave up on me even when I gave up on myself," He looked down in disappointment. His voice was shaking in pure misery and anger. I looked closer at his arm and saw long scars up the sides, perfectly smooth at an angle. There were old bruises on the back of his hands and burn marks. My tears started to flow again as I stroked them gently.

"Is it worth it? What we have, when it caused this?" I asked him, trying desperately to keep my voice steady.

"If it wasn't worth it, then this would be for nothing," He gave me a weak smile as he picked my hand up to kiss it. I looked at him and couldn't help myself. I was overcome with emotions and I pushed myself to the edge of the bars as he read my intentions. He so gently grabbed my face as our lips met through the bars. He tasted like sweet candy as we continued to enjoy the moment. The smell of him filled the air and I put my hands through the bars as I held him the best I could. The wall between us was agonizing.

He pulled away as he stroked my head again so sweetly. He messed up my hair and I couldn't help but smile. "I must go, lest we repeat our mistakes again," He let out a awkward laugh to try and cover up the painful memories of the past. I nodded in agreeance and snuck in one more sweet kiss from him. I never felt such a rush of happiness straight into my soul from the touch of another, and I didn't understand it, but I loved it.

I watched him run off towards the sunrise. I looked down at myself and realized I never changed my clothes from yesterday and little Livian never came by. She must have been asleep when I returned. I changed my clothes myself and looked at myself again in the mirror, enjoying my privacy to observe myself without another person watching me.

I saw reflecting back at me the slow healing bruises from my head still, my arms and legs covered in large purple spots. I moved my hair back and looked with a smaller mirror at the back of my head and saw there was a large healing cut there. It looked like I hit something sharp on the back of my head. Curious.