Kari’s P.O.V

August 17th

The Blue Camelia Palace, Kari, and Kade’s Chambers

 Anger and sorrow, that is what comes to me every time I think about that night. The very man I was trapped with for the rest of my life took one of the brightest people I had left. All for the idea of 'doing it for the kingdom'. In reality, it was not for the kingdom, but because of the man's selfish thoughts. That my love was worth more than Nylah’s life. How cruel can he be?

Whenever a maid offered to clean the stains of Nylah’s blood on the floor, I denied them permission to do so. This would stay as a reminder to the so-called king. That his actions would have consequences. But seeing these stains would cause me sorrow. Sorrow for myself and the fact that I may never get the chance to love again. Especially with Kade being around me. The sound of the door opening filled the room as it crept. 

“Kari”

It’s him

"I am still on day nineteen of mourning Kade. Traitor or not, Nylah was someone I was friends with for four years.” 

"The council gave me permission to talk to you today.” He closed the door behind him. “The maids say you are not eating.”

“I find my stomach quite full these days.”

“You say that, but you seem low on energy. Plus, the maids said you seem a little moody. Not to mention that you have hardly left our room in days. I know you are not pregnant since we have never had sex yet.”

He is speaking as if he does not know why I am acting this way. Or was this some trick to see if I had been lying that day Nylah was killed by him? Of course, I would feel this way after experiencing the loss of the love of my life, you ass.

“Something tells me she is more than just a traitor to you.” I looked away from him. How dare he say that? 

“You are still jealous of a dead woman?”

"Kari, I am sorry." I hate that word. 

Sorry

I'm sorry, is nothing but a sedative for the mind. Only to make someone feel like what they had done had been truly forgiven when in reality, it was never forgotten.

And what he did, I could not forget. 

"If there is anything I can do to make you feel better, then I want to help." I looked at him.

“I would like to see my mother." 

“I believe we had a hard time finding her for the wedding. Are you sure-” I looked away from him again. He sighed. "Okay." Good, I didn't feel like arguing with him. "Before I go, I want you to know that I am leaving this for you. I believe you would want it.” I nodded. 

“Thank you, Kade.” 

"Kari, I hope we can move past all of this. For the kingdom, you know. " I bit my tongue. 

He only wants me to say it’s okay

That I forgive him

That I have moved on from everything he has done

The moment I heard the door close, I turned my head to see what appeared to be a small green and blue bracelet with a daisy on the light oak dresser. I quickly rushed to it and grabbed it. I clutched it in my hands. My eyes started to tear up as my memories of her came to me. 

A traitor

That was not Nylah. 

Three Weeks Later, September 7th

As the weeks passed by, I would find myself reading the books in Kade’s library. At night, I would be staring at the bracelet that reminded me of Nylah or dreaming of my mother. When I was not focused on reading, Nylah, or my mother, I would question my marriage. I am married to someone I now hate. His very presence haunts me. I know it is a stupid tradition, marriage with a person who was trained just like I, but it was shit. What makes it worse is that just like Nylah said months ago, there is no sign of my mother on this planet. This confirms what I believed. She must have gone to her home planet. 

I sighed to myself. It's been a while now, and yet I have been having a hard time getting myself to see the message that may be on this bracelet. For these types of bracelets, I know there is usually a message in them, but I feared seeing Nylah's face and breaking down the moment I touched the daisy. Today, though, I should get it over with. It would be nice to hear her voice again.

My finger ran over the daisy engraved on the bracelet. In seconds, a hologram of her appeared. “Nylah”

“Kari, I know you are going to hear something about me, but it is not true. Believe me. What I want you to know is that the king, the council, everyone, they are not who you think they are. Nor are you. You are connected to this planet in many ways, I cannot say right now, but I know that they know that marrying you to the king is what gives them control over the power you have. I am still trying to figure out everything else, but please escape. Kari, I love you, please stay safe for me.” 

Before I knew it, I was no longer in my room but standing in the large and quiet garage. In front of me was the large black spaceship with cracks encrusted in gold. I gripped tighter to my packed bag as my adrenaline rushed energy into my body. Nylah's words were what got me out of that bed. They are what guided me down the hall and into the palace's garage.

I know I should not be in here, but after what Nylah told me and the event months ago, I could no longer stay in that room. Kade was able to sleep peacefully, but not me. I admit, I thought about leaving multiple times. I even made a plan and marked pages of the books I read with my mind, but I could never go through with it for fear I would be found out. Not just that, but the possibility of the only other person I had left, my mother, being killed next. After confirming that she was likely not here on my wedding day and finding out the truth about my marriage from Nylah, I found the courage to leave.

I have been forced to marry a man who had no care for me but wanted to keep me under control. 

There is no way I am going to continue to give them what they want.