Chapter 1: Leaving Again

Darion MacTavish searched for his wife through the house, going as fast as his wheelchair could take him. The study was where he strongly believed that she'd be. The door was slightly left open when he arrived, giving him a glimpse of the view within. Within the room was the very person he sought, his wife, Devra Hays. 

Although she sat at the reading table, Devra was deep in thought and temporarily unconscious of her surroundings. Darion hesitated at the door, wondering if this was a good idea. It wasn't like he had a whole lot of options to begin with, and so drawing breath as if to steady himself, he drove his wheelchair into the study.

Devra broke out of her haze immediately when she heard the wheels rolling in. She quickly tucked back strands of her thick dark hair which were covering her face partially and then focused her gaze on her crippled husband. Immediately she saw him, immediately she looked at his face, Devra could guess the purpose of his visit. Her face immediately creased into a frown as she looked at him with contempt and disdain. 

"Are you leaving again for a few days?" She asked sarcastically with her voice bearing the weight of her displeasure.

Darion could only sigh in exhaustion. It was true that he was actually leaving again, but it was the constant look of pain, disdain, and disappointment from Devra that got to him more than anything else. He wanted to speak to her, to assure her that he'd be back before she'd even realize it, but his words momentarily caught in his throat. 

At this point, Devra wasn't exactly angry, she was completely tired, totally drained from this relationship. This wasn't the husband she wanted but she was roped into this marriage against her will to begin with. Her troubles began three years ago when she was manipulated into marrying the crippled Darion MacTavish by her own grandmother. 

Devra Hays came from one of the most popular, wealthy, successful, and powerful families in town. The only problem she had to deal with at the moment was her brother Gary Hays. Even though Devra was the oldest child in the family and the rightful heir of the Hays, her family had a thing against female heirs. Her family dynamics could not allow her to maintain her position. They all deemed her to be weak, the fragile one, the weaker sex. "A woman has never headed the Hays family, never has, never will!" The head of the family, her own father had repeated to her over and over again on countless occasions.

As the rightful heir of the Hays family and female child, Devra's biggest rival was her own brother and the people she called family. Her family would do anything in their power to prove that she was indeed as weak as they painted her. It was for this reason she believe that she was made to marry the cripple, a cripple who was found injured and comatose at the roadside. 

Darion was brought in and she was made to marry him, a desperate move to suppress her wealth so her brother would take over. Devra was frustrated but was ridiculed by the other powerful families in town but she had managed to keep it all going for three years.

For three years, she had endured living with Darion; for three years, she had endured the scorn she received, the ridicule, the mockery, and the laughter, but what was even more annoying was the fact that he'd disappear now and then without telling anyone where he was going. He'd always vanish for a few days without a trace and this happened every single month for the duration of their marriage. 

What was even more annoying was the fact that each one of his mysterious disappearances always left her with tens of thousands of dollars in expenses. Devra was tired of all this. She was fed up with Darion, and most importantly, she was fed up with his constant disappearances. Unfortunately, today was one such day when he had to disappear again.

Darion knew exactly how Devra was feeling; he was sorry to see her feel that way, but his travels, on the other hand, were necessary, and this really wasn't the time to let her in on what he was always up to. No, that'll be when the time is right.

"I really wish there was another way, Devra." He spoke softly, hoping to calm her already raging spirit. "I'm really sorry I have to leave again, I really am. But for what's worth, I assure you that I'll be back as soon as…." Before he could even finish saying what he wanted to say, Devra, in a fit of rage, hurled a teacup at him. The teacup smashed against his paralyzed legs and shattered on impact.

Darion wasn't angry, he wasn't in the slightest angry with her for what she had done. She didn't know who he truly was and he wasn't ready to tell her, not yet. Three years ago he was a hero on the front lines, a war God who led soldiers into battle. Three years ago he was involved in a decisive battle where a coalition of enemy forces had ambushed him. Being the war hero that he was, Darion had managed to secure victory but at the cost of his legs and his life had never been the same again.

"Where the hell do you always disappear to?" Devra's inquiries broke through his thoughts. "Tell me, Darion! Where are you always going to? Why wouldn't you tell me? What exactly is wrong with you?!" She asked frantically. 

The look on his face told her that there was just no way she was getting the answers she needed. Devra sighed, steadying her breath. Questioning him was like beating a dead horse and she needed to calm down. "Your business remains your business, Darion." She stated. "But I've got to admit that this whole thing is draining me. I think you either tell me what's up with you or face divorce…."