Read Forever, After... :: FA - Chapter 16

Chapter 16 - 'Far from Perfection'

Hide it.

White muslin slid across marred skin,

Colour, breaths, messy, threats.

It's turning, it moves.

Silken to the touch. A new image is birthed.

No!

Hide it!

No longer white, but stained red,

What is exposed now looks dead.

Do you like it? Does it matter?

No! Just...

Hide it!

Eyes clearer than a stream stare at me,

Wondering, search, different, shameful.

Again. A cycle that doesn't stop.

Will it be different this time?

A layer is added. I think I like it.

But wait, It looks the same!

Hide it!

No room for error,

the corrections made stain my hands.

Madness at its best.

But I want it,

No! Hide it!

But I want it!

No! Hide it!

The mirror reflects true horror

Painted red, each side its own story.

He's looking at me,

He wants to say something,

But the decisions mine to make.

I apply it once more.

Better, change, freedom, euphoria.

No it's still the same.

Hide it!

Rubbing it away does not change anything,

The mess is still there.

No, not on my face...

In my head, or maybe in my heart.

I have to kill them, but...

What about me?

They've broken rules,

But so have I...

A reflection, maybe...

My mind screams to,

Hide it.

This vulgar side of me.

This image which rises the bile in men's stomachs

Sex, love, resignation, resolution.

It's a gift this love.

But I'm tempted, tempted to

Hide it.

I didn't notice it, but a new hand held mine,

A new image appeared besides my own.

More pure than than my heart,

A new image emerged.

The red that blinded, disappeared,

Another chance!

But No! I must

Hide it!

"You don't have to force yourself," said Ustrith.

"I want to," said Waide. The brush used for the application of the rouge hovered mid air.

Walking out his chambers bare-faced meant normalcy, or at least some semblance of it. A soft chuckle left Waide's lips. Anyone with ears to hear knows he gave his pearl to a nymph of low status and a man at that.

They all saw him openly welcome Ustrith into the castle. This was of course to his older sister's shock, though none of them stopped him. Not bothering to raise a barrier he was sure they heard all that had happened in his chambers. Waide wondered if it was a mistake to boldly bring Ustrith into his private area.

Too late.

Even with his thoughts gathered he still felt hesitant to apply it once more. Applying it would mean open admittance to having relations with another man. The crime in itself, would make him a hypocritical leader.

He is to, by law, put to death two of the King's guard. From Waide's point of view the offenses were laughable, but he knew of the power of tradition. He could not deviate from the preordained path. They chose to engage in interspecies mating, bringing innocent lives into the picture. They chose one another... but didn't Ustrith choose him?

The brush clattered noisily on the table top. Waide buried his face in his hands. His inner turmoil wreaked havoc on his mind. Warm hands drew him close. He leaned into the arms of the one sitting next to him.

"I'm turning into a bad leader." The words were muffled, but still discernible.

Ustrith kissed Waide's cheek. He could not begin to understand the magnitude of the situation Waide faced.

"Do what you think is right," said Ustrith.

"Does avoiding today's hearing count as the right thing?" said Waide. A half smile could be seen on his face. Ustrith chuckled in response.

"I may not be familiar with the royal court, but I'm sure that isn't a good idea. You are the one with the final say." Waide gave his words some thought.

"Ustrith, I, I want to save them," said Waide.

"Then grant them an official pardon..."

"But I also know the King's confidants would hound me to do what is expected in his absence."

"Then show compassion and make their deaths quick. It is not your fault they went against the rules of this land."

"It may not be, but it is love that brought them together. A love... like ours. They are being harshly dealt with for crimes we commit easily within earshot. The entire situation just feels so..."

Frustrated, Waide pulled on the ends of his nut brown hair. He shouted, releasing his hair as he did so. His pale green eyes turned neon green in an instant. The way things were playing out hurt him, to the point of anger.

Why should they be allowed to enjoy the comfort of each other, while protecting themselves from the fist of the law with his status as Prince? Why is it that although the crimes were similar in nature one was overlooked, while the other chastised?

"Waide," said Ustrith. He lightly dabbed the sweating face of his love interest.

"I've said it before and I'll say it again. You are my King. It doesn't matter that the throne isn't yours now. It doesn't matter that you are fourth in line. You. Are. My. King. And I believe that my King's decision is what is best for everyone, not just himself. If he kills two men today, I offer kind words. However they are a small bridge of opportunity, built to be crossed at this very moment!"

Ustrith held the hands of the man next to him. Pouring his heart into the next words spoken, Ustrith said, "A few weeks ago were you not the one that lamented the unfavourable position you were in." He kissed Waide's soft lips, staining his red in the process.

"This is your chance to earn the favour and trust of the members of the procession. These are the men and women that will stand by you when you claim your birthright! You need willing confidants in the years to come! Do not lose precious time over a simple matter!" said Ustrith

He smiled warmly at the Crown Prince saying, "I'm sure your decision is clearer."

Waide stared deeply into the beautiful orbs that gazed upon him. Leaning in, he placed a peck on Ustrith's lips.

"Thank you," said Waide.

Lifting the brush he applied the cosmetic with ease. He rose from his seat and motioned for Ustrith to follow. Exiting the room they made their way to the court escorted by eight guards of high rank.

Sitting on the high seat. Waide could feel the stares of the room's occupants. Though no one dared to voice their true thoughts, the room's atmosphere incited a sense of discomfiture. The doors of the room opened, a wave of silence washed over the room.

Two groups of three men entered. One set wore robes woven of white and gold cloth set with heavy gold link chains at the waist. The second set donned robes of silver and black cloth, a thick band draped over the right shoulder pinned in place by a broach of similar colour.

The Prince watched as the two groups took their position before him, leaving a respectable distance between themselves. Seeing as the room was settled Waide began.

"Respected confidants and members of the royal court, I would first like to ask for the blessing of Isomorphe, our God. I ask that in his presence may the law be upheld, the guilty punished and the innocent saved. In the absence of His Majesty, King Thetoris Malewood, I Crown Prince Waide Malewood, will oversee the hearing today giving the final verdict with the power His Majesty vested in me. The hearing begins now."

A Fedir stepped up. In a loud and clear voice he listed the crimes of the two men that stood awaiting the Crown Prince's verdict.

"Rystler Xelefim, Dragonoid, is accused of breaching the code of the Royal Guard. Engaging in the unlawful mating with an Undead Skeletal Practitioner. He is accused of five counts of misconduct and several ... counts of sodomy...

Waide sat on the golden throne feeling ill at ease. He looked at the faces of the two men as their crimes were listed for the court to hear. The decision is mine to make. A thought he didn't expect slipped into his mind.

How would the King of Darkness handle this situation?

Unexpectedly, his visit to the Air room, caused its occupants to pause. Strong strides were made to the bath area. The maids moved aside, eyes cast to the floor. Sweet, fragrant oils and smoke wafted out the large bath area.

Upon entry, the agite which held reflective jewels added a mystical feeling to sacred water in the bathing pools. Or was it the other way around? The bubbling water that cascaded from the largest pool into the two small ones, was as black as the evernight.

Although he was surrounded by all this beauty, he was not interested in it. The true focus of the visitor's attention was hidden behind the long curtains of the largest body of water.

His Eminence stepped closer to the raised pool. With a snap of his fingers, the maids that sat at the edge of the pool extracting the scents left the room. The heavy double doors were shut without a single sound. The curtain that blocked his view was parted. The presence that was hidden to the one submerged was noticed.

The familiarity of the presence felt removed any anxiety as to who may have entered without permission. Yet another heart racing thought entered his mind. Why is he here? The skeleton rose breaking the surface of the serene image. The previously dim room was instantly bathed in a glorious yellow light. His golden bones radiant in each aspect captured the eyes of the one who stood silently.

Water cascaded downwards, through the inner parts of his skeleton before draining off, and returning to the larger body of water. His form shifted, bone became covered in muscle and flesh. Pushing the wet strands of hair away from his face, Titan's navy blue eyes stared keenly at his visitor.

"Ambrose, to what does Titan owe this pleasure," said Titan. Without uttering a single word, his Eminence sent out dark tendrils. They held the man tightly, removing him from the pool.

A scene to behold. Titan was dragged by the thing he treasured most. Titan struggled against His Eminence's firm hold, as they burst through the door startling the maids. Titan's strawberry strands felt as though they would be ripped out of his scalp. Thrown off by the quick pace of His Eminence's steps, Titan stumbled trying to keep up.

What did Titan do?

"Ambrose!" His body was lifted roughly and placed onto his sheets. Soulless navy blue eyes bore into his. For the first time since the consummation ceremony, those pale lips found his.

Ambrose!

A cry of pain erupted from Titan's lips. The birth maid adjusted the pressure of her fingers. The sandalwood oil didn't seem to do its job fast enough to the one in pain. Though he could feel his mind settling and the tension in his muscles loosening as time passed.

Eyes red from fallen tears, gazed at the small bump on his lower stomach. It would be a few weeks until the dark energy would condense. Leaving in its wake an empty space or a child to be birthed in months to come. Until then he had no other choice but to endure the pain.

Just as he closed his eyes. The door to his private chambers opened. Through the canopy, he saw his visitor.

Ambrose. Why?