NYX: THE HANDSOME PRIDEFUL LAD
"mother, who was that" Malachi ask "he is no one, just a passer by, came to collect some bread" I lie forcing a smile to my face and Malachi's eyes narrows at me he is the more observant one among the trio and sometimes the hardest to lie to, I quickly search for what to change the topic and realize they are wearing crotchet Beanie hat "what's with the hat?" I ask and they immediately starts fidgeting and my eyes narrow "what did you do?....." "I wasn't the one who did anything" Genevieve quickly Denise "it was the boys, they went to the river and swam in it, then pulled me into to keep me from snitching" she reports and the boys both scowl at her "tattle tale" they mutter "mother, we didn't mean to jump into the river but we saw a very big fish, so…. We." He corrects "Mali and I decided to catch it for dinner" Marcellus explains and I sigh….. this children I open my mouth to say something but he quickly adds to appease me "but grandma Harrison, got us a change of clothes and the hats to keep us warm so don't scold…" while he explains I just stare at him the facial resemblance to Dominic remind me of what just happen and I fall into a trance "mother?" Malachi calls and I snap out of it seeing their concerned faces I smile "fine. I won't scold you guys this time, but next time I won't relent, what do you want for dinner" I say straightening from the squatting position and walk towards the kitchen "we're not hungry mother" they say simultaneously and I stop in my tracks turning I raise a brow "and why's that" I question "grandma Harrison gave us muffins in the afternoons and we're still full" Genevieve explains and her brothers nod a knock on the door pulls our attention to it and my shoulder draws in right my face blanches 'please let it not be Dominic' I pray "Nyx, are you in there" I hear Teresa from the other side of the door and my shoulder relaxes before I say "y-yes, come in" I invite and the door opens before she steps in with a wide grin on her face "good evening aunt Teresa" the kids greet "good evening to you too children" she greets jollily before she faces me "and why are you extra happy, this evening" I ask her smile infectious we walk into the kitchen to talk "I heard…." She begins but is cut off when Marcel ask "mother can we go to the meadows campfire, now" "no, you can't, you have to wait for me" I say "but mother….." Marcellus whines "no, Marcel it's going to be too crowded there tonight, the only way you guys will go is if you have an adult with you" I say in finality and he begins to sulk but then Teresa came to the rescue "Isaac is yet to go you could get him to take you" she says and his eyes brighten before he darts out to break the news to his siblings before I hear the front door open then the gate and their little feet running to the Harrisons place and Teresa giggles and I sigh with a shake of the head "so, where were we" I ask "oh yes, I heard that some of the soldiers would join the bonfire this evening" she say then lets out a playful shriek "it's literally the perfect atmosphere to find love Nyx, I can't wait, get ready let's go" I don't want to go anywhere especially after what occurred I just want to hide inside and hope he'd go back before the day light arrives and this was just a weird dream that my mind conjured up
I open my mouth to protest but seeing how happy and excited she is I swallow it down hopefully I won't bump into Dominic at the bonfire, hopefully. "we could go now" I say walking to the sitting room but Teresa stops me "no, no, no. Go clean up first you smell like pastries, which is not a bad thing but, just go clean up" she say shooing me away to the wash room. I quickly got clean and change into a new gown the colour a light shade of green its fitted at the upper side and a little flowy at the waist the sleeves long and lose that sways beautifully when I move my hands before going out to meet her again and she nods in approval "better?," I ask "better, now let's hurry up before all the good ones gets taken" she says pulling out the door causing me to laugh.
We walk on the grass covered path ways heading to the spot where the bonfire celebration is held at the very top of the hill the moon at it's fullest illuminate our surrounding not letting the night completely set in the night air is cool and calming as it caresses my skin and weave through my hair leisurely swaying it, I close my eyes and take in a lung full of air the calmness to soothes me Teresa is just a few steps ahead of me as she whistle a jolly tune matching her excitement for the night ahead the opposite of what I'm feeling, I dread the night ahead I really want to turn back and go hide inside my home with my kids until Dominic finishes what ever business he has to take care of here and leave but I can't kid myself I know deep down that he won't leave without a fight and that is what I dread. The music and chattering of the people tear through my line of thought as we draw nearer to the bonfire and Teresa's hand grabs mind as she quickens her pace to get there faster pulling me along with her "slow down Teresa the nights only begun" I say in amusement a giggle escaping my lips "not Really at this rate all the good men will get taken" she counters and I chuckle letting her pull me.
on getting there, I take in the settings it's the same as every year, there's a huge bonfire set in a clearing in the middle and logs of woods surround it in a big circle I do a quick scan of the surrounding, checking if I'd spot Dominic among the crowd but seeing no sign of him I let out a sigh of relief there is a lot of new faces here tonight I spot my children at the opposite side of the bonfire talking to other kids their age and Isaac is seated not to far from them talking to the woman he has been courting for a while now miss Giovanna Rhodes who laughs at something he says and he just stares at her fondly, I also spot Mr. and Mrs. Harrison dancing to the music at the back among other couples with a huge smile on their faces which makes one appear on mine. not up to two minutes we've been at the bonfire and Teresa has been swept away by a dashing young man for a dance, with no one else to keep me company I move to the Corner taking a log that's not too close to the others I sit on it and then assume my role as the wall flower I am. Have always just been an observer and not a participant.
In the middle of my people watching, some one comes to seat next me at my right and I turn my head In the direction to come face to face with a big navy blue hat that almost appear black and has a single red feather at the side, a smile breaks out on my lips as I immediately know who it is, he wears the same hat every time. "O' my. Hain!," I say pleasantly surprised "how have you been, it's been over two months since the last time I saw you" he chuckles "glad to see at least one person misses me" Hain says in mirth "who said I missed you" I say teasingly and his smile grows. Hain Aldridge is one of those people I grew close to in my stay here in Evergurd, I met him a month after I moved to meadows hills, he helped me through a lot of bad times, like when I wanted to build my cottage, he helped pull some strings with the lord when he didn't want to let in any more migrants. and when I was due for birth he took me to the midwives house, he's been nothing but helpful and we've grown close. "Did you go to rocketeer island again" I ask and he humms "had to make sure my business is moving" he replies his eyes locked to mine "well I'm glad you're back?" I say but it comes out more like a question, Hain runs a business passed down by his father at rocketeer island and that means he travels a lot. "If you're asking if I'm staying longer this time the answer is I'm not sure" he says and I nod "don't pout, Nyxy "
" I'm not pouting, hainy" I counter and he reaches to pick my hair that rest on my shoulder feeling the strands before tucking it behind my ear, "well good then, because I have to go take care of something, I only came to see you briefly" he informs and I sigh "at least find a time to rest, okay?" I say my words laced with concerned "look at you being worried for me" he teases but I don't mind "of course I worry for you" I say and he stares at me for a brief moment before he stands up his height towering over me "I'm off now, take care Nyxy" Hain says before ruffling the top of my head and then walks back the way he came I watch his figure disappear down the hill before I turn back to find Mr. James Spencer the miller standing in front of me he looks nervous as he wipes his palms on his trousers and gives me a timid smile which I return and he stares at me as if stunned "good evening Mr. James, happy harvest day" I greet and he snaps out of it "good evening miss Nyx, happy harvest day to you too" he says before clearing his throat and draws in a deep breath "do you mind…umm.do you want to dance with me miss Nyx" he ask anxiously before stretching his hand out to me and I'm stunned didn't expect that, I think to decline as I don't like attention on me but then everyone is doing their own thing plus it wouldn't hurt to have a little fun for just tonight so I nod "yes, I'd love to dance." I say, placing my hand in his extended ones and he pulls me up and together we walk to where the dancing is taking place a few musician are perched next to a tree as they play their instrument. The music playing now is a jolly one, couples are hooked by the elbow as the swing each other around, Mr. James and I assume our position and join in, in the dance and laughter bubbles out of us as we swing around. A while later the sound changes and so does our dance, now instead of our elbows being linked it's our hands as we pull apart and then pull closer to each other before clapping on the cue of the lively music. we continue to gyrate to the music until it changes again. This time to a much slower music and with the change of sound our dance moves changes again, to a sort of ball room dance. my left hand move to Mr. James left shoulder and his snakes around my waist as he pulls me closer but leaving an appropriate gap between our bodies while our right hand link, one The villagers begins to sing a somewhat sad romantic song the words are silly but we sway to it anyways. Now that things are calmer I can feel eyes on me but one out of the lot is more glaring, more intense and it's coming from my right my head snaps in the direction and behold standing in the more secluded area close to a tree is Dominic the moon shining above cast a shadow on his face but I can tell it's him as his silver hair is always visible no matter how dark it gets his heated gaze trained on me has me gulping as our gazes lock pulling me into a trance state.
When a handsome prideful lad
Grazed his presence in the orchard field.
Oh, orchard field
Oh, orchard field
He sighted the tallest tree and his gaze fell upon the brightest reddest apple at the farthest branch at top of the apple tree.
Oh, apple tree
Oh, apple tree
'I want me that apple' the handsome prideful lad announced with so much glee.
So much glee
So much glee
So he climbed and fell, he pranced and yell, he tried to plug , he clapped and sung 'wont you look at me yee'
But the apple didn't yield, it didn't budge.
But then came the masterful deceit of promises of the sweetest happily ever after.
The little apple wavered in its rest before it fell into the palms of the handsome prideful lad who took a bite and said he it wasn't the best.
The words of the songs brings tears to my eyes as I feel it's directed at me. I was the stupid apple that fell into the wrong hands.
"Your very beautiful miss Nyx" Mr. James words pulls me out of the trance as my gaze falls back on him "what, did you say?" I ask just to be sure I miss heard him "I said your very beautiful miss Nyx" he repeats his gaze soft as it roams my face before he raised his hand to tuck a stray strand and I smile at him "thank you, Mr. James" I say politely and he nods his gaze never leaving my face which makes me a little tense, I can still feel Dominic gaze on me but I ignore him not wanting him to affect me and Mr. James notices my behaviour "is anything the matter, are you tired?" He asks in concern and I shake my head "no I'm okay, it's just the song" I say in an absent voice and he smiles "yeah, it's weird and silly" he says and I nod " yes it's silly…." I echo trailing off and though I don't want to my eyes instinctively finds it's way back to the spot Dominic stood to find him no longer there and my brows farrow.
'Where is he?' my eyes search the surrounding area close to the tree but he isn't there and for some reason my heartbeat picks up in pace as worry sets in 'Maybe he got bored and decided to leave early, Good.' I internally sigh in relief but just then I feel an imposing presence crowding up behind me, I can feel the cold aura radiating off of the person.
The hair at the back of my neck stands and on impulse I moves to step away, but Mr James arm around my waist keeps me in place.
"So this is your new husband" I hear the in a deep velvet voice of Dominic say behind me and immediately my legs locks with my spine going stiff and slowly I pull out of Mr. James's hold, and slowly turn around to come face to face with Dominic.
"So, This is your new husband" he questions, but the words sound mocking, a jab at James, his demeanour is calm but I know better than to be fooled, his grey eyes are stormy as they peer down at me. I meet his stare, my throat going dry at his piercing gaze and I gulp down the nervous saliva that's beginning to gather in my mouth.
Why does it feel I've been caught cheating, I'm not, we're no longer together.
His eyes shifts to Mr. James who has moved to stand next to me with his fingers wrapped around my wrist protectively, probably due to sensing the brewing tension.
And Dominic eyes zeros in on the spot where our hands are linked before he drags it up to meet James eyes "LET GO OF MY WIFE!"