Chapter 15

Bride

The door was locked, but it swung open easily as he twisted the key in the lock. Derian entered the room, feeling no qualms about his intrusion. A draft from the opened windows blew over him as he studied the bed's sole occupant. In the stillness of the room, he was all too aware of the weight of the letter in his left hand.

The Schlusig smelled of earth and rain. He leaned further, drawing the scent into himself, only partially aware that his right hand was now stroking her brown locks. He suddenly realised she was beautiful. And now he ached for her.

Averisa's eyes snapped open. She gasped in horror and pushed him away. "What do you think...?"

What did he think? He wasn't thinking. That was just it.

And now, they had been summoned.

To put it precisely, Averisa had been summoned.

Derian tossed the letter to her. The parchment had been crumpled in his closed fist.

"What is this?" Averisa frowned, holding the parchment up gingerly.

"It's time to go."

"Go wher-"

He bent over and planted a kiss on her lips.

He was going to be slapped again, but he didn't care.

* * *

The pitiless frigid wind pressed against the glass. The ground was flooded with ankle-deep water. For now, the people in Ordeasia gained a slight respite from the heavy rains that had been pounding the earth since the start of the Earthmoon season.

Layll stood by it, looking out to the wall that was the only thing between the mansion and the mob of the used-to-be-uneasy-but-now-angry people of Ordeasia. Its gates opened to ease a carriage through before slamming shut - too quickly. The carriage drew up to the foot of the mansion and three people spilled out onto the sludge.

Averisa Schlusig looked absolutely foul as she crossed her arms, looking about the mansion.

The second guest surprised Layll. A sober Eric looked up at the window, as if sensing Layll watching him. She stepped back slightly, away from the window so that she was half-hidden by the curtains of her room. She peered again, this time at the third person.

Layll's heartbeat quickened.

Derian was brooding on the doorstep, and then he pushed past the other two and entered the mansion.

Minutes later, he burst into her room. Before he could speak a word, however, Layll had already turned to him, angrily. "Why did you come?" She demanded. "I didn't summon you!"

Derian matched her anger with his. "So?"

"You were to stay put! You could have gotten the disease!"

"I could have gotten it anyway regardless of where I'd be." Derian replied defiantly. "So it would be alright for that girl to be here? Why her? Why?"

Layll stared at her godson, and heaved a sigh. When she spoke next, her voice had softened slightly. "To remove the curse."

"Curse?" Derian snorted. "There is no such thing as curses."

Layll pointed out of the window. "But, they believe so."

Derian followed her hand and looked hard at the gates. "The people believe that the disease is a curse?"

"From heaven."

Derian narrowed his eyes. "And what can we possibly do to remove a non-existing thing?"

"There is a way." Layll took a deep breath in. "We will publicly wed her to the Lord Stephen."

Derian stared at his aunt. And then said, "No," faintly.

"Did you say something?"

"Isn't there another way?"

"None that I can think of right now."

"I-I can't agree to this." Derian had turned pallid. And then quickly added. "It's idiocy!"

He was hiding something. Layll could see from the expression on his face. "What is it?" She pressed on with an accusatory ring to her question. "What have you done?"

"No-nothing!" He was trying to look nonchalant, but his eyes betrayed him.

"Tell me, Derian. I know you've done something!" Layll's voice rose and echoed throughout the room.

"I'm just..."

His eyes met Layll's. The eyes that could see through anything.

Before those eyes, the words tumbled from his mouth: "She is mine!"

"Yours?" Layll's hands gripped his collar, nearly choking him. Her bright eyes narrowed.

"I mean...we've..." He looked away. He could not say it. But Layll knew what it meant anyway.

"When?" she asked.

Derian looked at his aunt again, slightly confused.

"When did you first slept with her?"

"It- it was only once!"

"When?" Layll repeated her question again.

"Two nights ago."

Layll released her godson's collar, and turned her back to him.

"Aunt...?" Derian asked, uncertainly.

"Shut up, I'm trying to think." She had never been this harsh on him. Then again, she was never this close to failing. The mere thought of that occurring agitated her. "Did you realise what stupid thing you have done?"

"I thought-"

"Out of so many women. You had to touch her." Layll turned around sharply. "We will have to bring the wedding forward. You're dismissed."

Derian started to protest, but held his tongue. He strode out of the room with anger echoing to his footsteps.

Layll looked out of the window again. Both the girl and Eric were no longer there.

* * *