Soft and inviting

Fate and catastrophe. It feels as though I have heard the combination of these two words before Ripplingly familiar. As though the memory is trying to reach me. One of the branches above lightly brush and pulls his hood open and I manage to finally view his dark brown copper hair. As damp as a night of new moon, deadened and sullen. A direct contrast with his bewitching eyes.

I come to realize I do not know this man at all, whether he is flame or darkness, spark or death. Just the fragments of words, a part of the painting, a section of a life. As soon as I spot his two distinctive features, memories of the man on the day of the banquet resurfaced.

Chaos borne by deceptive words, a hawkish era peeking underneath a veil of sardonic jesting, like a long ballade with an incoming refrain of blood. He is the man from that night. The one so covered in wounds and barely covered hostility. Whose every mouth and reflexes is covered in edges. As if the war in itself stalks after him.

Maister door blocker.

"You- How are you here?" I stutter through my shock, jolts of disbelief thundering through my mind. The man merely enjoys his drink and didn't bother fixing his hood. The secret has flown out of the bag and into the table. But it feels like I still do not know anything at all.

So, all along, he is a guest from the Vranid empire?

That means my assumption is right, he is a noble and a rather high-ranking one. I imagine only high-ranking nobles would be sent as an envoy. Even to our kingdom, no matter how powerless we are in comparison to them is still considerable with our allies. They couldn't possibly intend on causing everyone distress over their manners right?

"Why wouldn't I be in my own country?"

Don't tell me he is a duke. He certainly has the bearing of one. The pressure exuded. But would one be so flooded in the scent of blood? I think to myself, of the impression he gives, the sharpness and the cold. Could a man of such standing, of such power and access to resources, be so desperate, on the day he clutched at me, who or what was he searching for?

I hold my questions to myself, close to my chest and within the protection of my sternum. Casting me aside one moment and reaching out in the other, what exactly is going on in his mind? "I thought you took your offer back, maister door blocker, or should I say, your grace? Why the sudden plan to take me under your shelter?"

The man in front of me laughs, that tormenting low chuckle, awakening my ears. I fiddle with my sleeves confused about what exactly is so hilarious. He merely wades his fingers in the clear water and took one of the fallen berries. One that is venomous.

I cast another glance at the splotches of red in the air and the trees at the side. Dogwood, the tree of curse and blessing. The very same wood used to crucify our God around 1600 year ago. I turn my vision to the man. On the confession stall, perhaps it is by fate we met. And now, as time itself watches us, and our journey, are we heading to paradise or hell?

Maister door blocker, are you the answer to my prayers, or the deception of the devil?

"I left because you're the type to stop me from ingesting this berry. And took you back since you'd stop the enemy blade from reaching my throat. There is only one hand I would be willing to die under, and that is myself."

As he spoke, the berry gets closer and closer to his mouth, I react out of instinct and threw it to the side. Out of a sudden, the boat sways and my footing falter, causing me to fall into his embrace, my hands around his neck and lips nearly brushing against him.

Within the burn of his gaze and the beating of my heart, I immediately felt the need to stand up. The emotions in his eyes. The blaze of his breath inching down on my skin. Its lethal. And I intend to not be ensnared. However, the boat shook again and propells me forwards. And my lips immediately bump into his.

I screamed in horror.

The taste of vanilla takes away my senses. A submerging softness eating away at my rationality. And a tinge of warmth reminding me this is real. Before I knew it, butterflies crept into my stomach, and even without looking, I could tell they are golden. Surges of electricity may have struck me but he- he is soft, inviting almost.

To my surprise, maister door blocker is the one to move backward. But with my hands still on his neck, he couldn't go far, by the time the boat shook again, I realized the oarsmen is doing this on purpose as a service. I badmouth him in my heart when I am pushed forward again, but this time the man reacted and blocked his mouth.

Taking advantage of that situation, I scramble backward, placing my hands on the table and slowly and steadily moving backward. The man in front of me too, let his hand downwards, I try to not remember the feeling of his heartbeat on my left hand which landed there. Of the effect my kiss had on him.

I stare at him. His eyes were on me. Eternity seems to stretch forever but my heart wouldn't die. Out of reflex I touch my lower lip and rubs it with my index finger. How can such a callous and venomous man taste so warm and sweet, even now I cannot comprehend it.

All of a sudden he stood and told the oarsmen to pull the boat to the side, seeming to be in a hurry. I wondered if he is off-put by me. If I have crossed the boundary once again, "I recall taking the offer back. This is not the type of responsibility I wish to take."

As he walked to the road, I stand up, with the wind caressing my hair and causing it to toss against my back. Hastily speaking before he disappears and our paths never cross again. There is but a moment's time before he is far from range but I knew of what to say.

Words taking form in my aorta and breathing life into my tongue.

Maybe it was because of the balmy sun, but under the flurry of petals and the gentle rays, the desolateness shrouding him seemed to have lessened. For once he seemed like a young man instead of a creature of the night. Less deadly and more alive.

"Neither do I yearn for such a thing." Maybe it is because of his awkward gait that conveyed his panic, but I still managed to summon a smile and words that feel too bright for the situation. "But you know, maister door blocker, even if I am not the one the person responsible for your happiness will come."