Meeting Kealith

Mirelah;

"Mmm... "I groan as my eyes slowly flutter open, and I feel someone stroking my hair gently. I relax into the person's touch as my thoughts take time to fall into place. I finally open my eyes fully, and I'm met with a red interior… Of a carriage. 

I quickly look up, to find Queen Velnara. Her gaze is outside the carriage window and she's gently stroking my hair. I hear the sound of liquid swirling, and when I look down, there is blood floating in a circle around the ankle I twisted. Except it… doesn't hurt anymore. 

I look back up at Queen Velnara, and I marvel at her beauty. The orange glow of the setting sun makes her flawless glass skin look like it was carved from heavenly gold. Goodness, she is beautiful. She looks so peaceful. Like she would never hurt a fly.

"Queen, Velnara? "I call, and she shudders a bit before looking down at me. She was lost in thoughts. What was she thinking about?

"You're awake. I was wondering when you'd come around. "She says, and I blink at her.

"Does your ankle still hurt? "She questions, and I look down at my feet. I wriggle it a bit and blink in amusement.

"No… It doesn't even seem like I was hurt. "I reply, and she chuckles lightly.

"Good… "She replies, and just like that, the blood stops moving. 

I watch her hold her hair up as the blood floats towards her and begins to circle her neck. I watch it form into a beautiful, solid necklace, and as it rests against her neck, she drops her hair. That necklace has been blood the whole time!?

"It's Emberwine. We get it from Nightfire Lilies. They grow in specific valleys in the kingdom. When cut, Nightfire Lilies bleed. Their thick, dark red sap is a key ingredient in making our substitute for blood. The flowers are as old as the realm. They're what inspired the name of the kingdom and motivated the first kings to pursue blood magic. "She explains, and I sit up as I look at her. 

"Real blood isn't this light. "She adds as she points at the necklace, and I blink.

"We don't kill to get blood. But it doesn't mean we can't. "She adds, and I just stare at her. Wondering why she's telling me all this, and if to even believed her. 

"We're not the monsters the world has painted us to be. "She whispers, and I look down at my hands in shame. They must feel bad that I tried to run away like that. I made it obvious that I'm afraid of them, and Queen Velnara seems hurt by it.

"I'm sorry I tried to run… "I whisper, and she turns to me. She smiles brightly and then reaches out to pat my hair.

"Don't apologize. It proved you're strong. You're a perfect match for Kealith. That boy needs a strong woman by his side… I won't be with him forever. "She says, and I struggle to find my smile. She says I'm strong, but I still want to run. I'm afraid and I can't get over the fear.

I'm still not okay with this marriage, and from the look of things, there's no escaping it. I'm truly going to get married to Kealith. Nobody even cares what I want… How I feel. I mean, I'm used to it, but this is a whole different level. I'm getting married in a week, against my wish. Could things get any worse??

The carriage suddenly slows down, and a man dressed in iron armour appears at Queen Velnara's window. He immediately lowers his eyes on seeing her.

"Your majesty. "He greets with a bow and after he leaves, the carriage starts moving. 

I stare at my shut window, and I'm too afraid to open it. We're finally at the Varkaine's palace.

The carriage finally pulls to a stop, and Queen Velnara turns to me.

"Welcome to your new home, Mirelah. "She says as she places a hand on mine with a warm smile, and I just stare. Unsure of how to react.

"Your majesty! Your majesty! "A man suddenly begins to scream from outside and when I look over at Queen Velnara, her usual calm has shattered, and she looks tense. Almost even afraid…

The door beside me suddenly swings open, and I see a stout, sweaty man who's panting heavily. He gives me just a glance before staring straight at Queen Velnara.

"What is it? "She demands worriedly, and the man's reply causes me to freeze.

"It's Kealith! He's… "The man begins but stops to eye me suspiciously like I'm not supposed to hear what he wants to say.

"It's happening again! "He says instead, and When I turn back to Queen Velnara, I see worry consume her face.

"What!? Now!? Of all times! "She exclaims, and I blink in confusion. Is something happening to Kealith?

I give her room as she rushes past me to get down from the carriage.

"How bad is it? "She questions as she begins to rush away with the man.

"Fourteen have been injured, your Majesty. "He replies, and I raise a brow. 

Kealith injured fourteen people? I slowly get down from the carriage, and I see the Varkaine brothers rushing in a direction. In the silence of the grand castle grounds, I hear chaos in the distance. 

I slowly begin to walk in the direction the Varkaine's went and as I draw closer, the noise gets louder.

"Hold him down! He's going to kill somebody! "I hear someone yell, and I swallow. My steps become slower as I draw closer.

"Kealith, get a grip of yourself! This is not the first impression you want her to have of you. She's already scared enough! "I hear Darven groan, and I freeze. 

My heart begins to pound as tears begin to sting my eyes. I'm scared of what I'll find, but I can't stop my legs from moving.

"Kealith, you could hurt her if you appear in front of her like this. Stop it! "I hear King Damarion groan, but he's met with a growl.

I stop when I get to a fleet of stairs, and I look up at the tall steps. All the noise is coming from up there. They are all groaning like they're trying to hold Kealith down. What is wrong with him?

"My dear, please. Now is not the time to have an attack. You're finally getting the girl of your dreams. If you don't take control of your body, you'll ruin everything! "I heard Queen Velnara scold, and with a deep breath, I start my journey up the stairs. 

If the person causing all this chaos is the man they want me to marry, I must see for myself what is going on and what exactly I'm getting tossed into.

I soon get to the top of the stairs, and everyone falls silent on seeing me.

They are holding someone down with red ropes I believe to be manipulated blood, or Ember wine as Queen Velnara called it. 

"Oh, fuck. "Cassain, the third Varkaine brother cusses on seeing me, and Queen Velnara looks at me.

"Oh, dear. Get away from here, Mirelah. Fast! "She yells, and just then, the man on the floor looks at me.

I feel my breath get stuck in my throat as his bright red eyes lock on mine. He suddenly throws his hands in the air, tossing everyone around away, and I fall to the ground at the impact.

Blood begins to swirl around him as he walks up to me, and I begin to back away from him. Forgetting there are steps behind me, I move further away and scream in panic as I begin to stumble down the stairs.

I am certain that I will die by the time I reach the last step, but I miraculously stop falling. I open my eyes and find myself in someone's arms. We're surrounded by a storm of swirling blood, and it's the most terrifying... yet mesmerizing thing I've ever seen.

I look up and find kealith staring at me. Causing my breath to hitch. He looks relieved to see me. Like he's grateful I'm here.

 I didn't expect him to be so… beautiful…

I have seen quite several men in pictures and on the palace ground back in Vermonia, but… Despite being covered in blood and looking so beastly he's still… He's still so beautiful.

Strands of blood-stained black hair have fallen over his face. Blocking his glowing red eyes, and with trembling hands, I gently push them away so I can see his eyes properly. They're enchanting. Like magic pulling me in.

My hand rests on his face as my thumb runs over his low, beard. The blood around us thickens, swirling faster. Wrapping us in a red ball, but I'm not worried about that. I'm more interested in the man whose touch is causing my skin to tingle. 

"You came. I'm keeping my promise… Are you happy? "He whispers, and my brow creases.

 As his voice sinks in, I get pulled into a memory I can almost swear isn't mine. His voice is like an echo in my mind, pulling me somewhere deep. Somewhere I shouldn't go. And just then, the memory floods my mind.

The sun is setting and I'm on a tree branch with a little black-haired boy

Will you marry me when I'm older?

I ask him, and he smiles wildly at me.

Yes, I will! I'll protect you from every bully and make sure you never cry again. It's a Varkaine promise! 

The boy who seems to be about 8 years old replies, as he nicks his finger and shows me the blood trickling out of it. 

Remembering this, my head suddenly starts to hurt. I groan in pain as I hold on to my head, and Just then, Kealith lets out a groan. The ball of blood around us splatters and Kealith and I fall to the ground. I shut my eyes as we tumble down the rest of the stairs, but Kealith shields me with his body.

I open my eyes when we crash with a final thud, and when I turn to him, he's smiling at me. I watch his eyes flutter shut, and I try to reach out to him but everything fades to black.

What was that memory? Have I met Kealith before now? If I have… Why have I never remembered?

What's just happened?