Chapter 39
A hundred days have made me older
Since the last time that I saw your pretty face
A thousand lies have made me colder
And I don't think I can look at this the same
But all the miles that separate
Disappear now when I'm dreaming of your face
I'm here without you baby
But you're still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby
And I dream about you all the time
- Here without you, 3 Doors Down
Note: This chapter is 3000+ words long (normal ones average at about 2000 words), so I’ve cut into Part 1 & Part 2. It’s the same lj entry, but you can close the browser and jump to Part 2 another day. :)
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Part 1
Jump to Part 2! :)
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June 5th - Grythen
Kismette
Chairon, combined with Zaelem’s absence, did put Zaelem out of her mind, she admitted to herself guiltily, but now that he was back, he refused to get out.
June 6th
Chairon
“So you sent me away on purpose? When have you ever been afraid of competition, huh?” Zaelem growled, yanking Chairon off his office chair by the collar. It was against the Honour Code to fight with another warrior, especially when he was a Wesarsh, but Zaelem couldn’t care less. To hell with everything else.
A mix of confusion and enlightenment flashed across Chairon’s face. He didn’t expect Zaelem to use violence on him. It finally struck him that Zaelem really liked Kismette very much. Very, very much. Exactly how much, he dare not quantify.
“So, what, you want to fight now?” Chairon shouted back. He jerked Zaelem’s fist off his collar and placed some distance between them, knowing deep down that he couldn’t have escaped his grip if Zaelem didn’t let him. “Remember that time when we were still searching for the red star holder? You’ve lied to me before,” he said loudly. “And you tried to hide the truth about the necklace from me. You weren’t an honourable opponent yourself. I know better than to trust you again!”
It was a flimsy excuse. Chairon stomped off straight away, partly because of his anger, but partly also to prevent Zaelem from having the chance to fire a comeback line.
Both of them were just as stubborn and unwilling to apologize.
I must make her mine. Fast.
June 7th
Zaelem
He could remember the last time he came to Joe’s quirky bar: almost three months ago when Mejaine screamed that he didn’t meet her expectations again. Even before that was after a fight four and a half months ago. He saw her entering his colleague’s house in the dead of the night.
Well, who cares? All he knew was that he hadn’t come back here since he met Kismette. The last time he went to Mejaine’s room was exactly one week before Kismette rolled down that damn hill and crashed into him.
How do I approach her now, now that she’s already his? Now that he’s buzzing around her all the time like a pesky fly?
He motioned “one” with his index finger to Joe and the bartender replied with a thumbs-up right away. He never changed his choice of drink or the way he drank it. He knew he was boring but he liked being boring. It was comforting to be boring.
“Haven’t seen you in a bit, Master Dragonoir. A little troubled today?” Joe smiled. He held the glass bottle neck in one hand, pressed the teeth of its crown cap against the counter edge and struck the cap with the side of his other hand, making the metal cap jump. He handed the bottle to Zaelem who, unappreciative of the show, simply placed the bottle mouth to his and tilted his head back.
His eyebrows settled into a heavy knit on his forehead. Why is Chairon the one she fell in love with? Any other guy and he would have found it tolerable.
Okay, maybe that was a lie, but… it couldn’t be that Chairon was serious about a girl this time round, could it? Of all the girls he could have liked. Cupid must have misfired.
Zaelem emptied the bottle in one long drag, knowing it would make him drunk faster. Hoping it would make him drunk faster.
He thought he had known heartache.
He was wrong.
Mejaine
“Zel!” Mejaine wailed the moment he opened the door. Tears streamed down her face like an opened tap.
She didn’t want to go to him, but she didn’t have a choice. Being a dancetress required a relatively huge capital, but banks only gave out loans on the borrowers’ good reputation or on a credible guarantor. As a village girl who just arrived in town, she had neither. No one knew much about her, especially since she refused to give her family name or talk about her background; no one spoke up for her.
Zaelem let her in immediately and closed the door behind her. “What is it? What happened?” he asked worriedly, his arms readied to catch her.
“I… I can’t take it anymore. I owe too many people too much money, but I still need to pay more to get into shows.”
“… What?”
Silence ensued. Mejaine wiped her face dry and turned away when he reached forward to hug her, ashamed. “You thought I was popular, didn’t you? I had so many places to go, so many appointments to keep.” Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.
Zaelem nodded slowly. “That was why I signed on after my basic course. I joined the army to get my age-pausing spell only because I thought you were staying for good. But it’s okay, we can still run away.” A smile cracked his face as he grew excited. “I don’t care about the army at all. Let’s run away, Jane. They will never find us back at home.”
“No! I am staying for good, Zel. This is my dream. I’ll regret it for the rest of my life if I leave. I’ll become an empty shell,” she cried. “I just need one breakthrough. Just one and I’ll be able to stand on my own. Please,” her eyes glistened again, “help me.”
Zaelem went to his drawer immediately and retrieved a flat, plastic case. “Here,” he handed the case to her readily.
Mejaine opened the container and counted the cash. Her bottom lip trembled for a while. “I’m extremely thankful for this, but… it still isn't enough. I have to pay for my dress, my accessories, and then food. I’m not considered a court’s dancetress yet, so I’m not allowed into the palace for meals.”
Zaelem’s face fell. “Pay at least part of your debt then. Show them that you do have money and maybe they’ll let you pay a bit every month. My salary is more than enough for paying the rent and my meals are all provided for in the army. I promise I’ll give you all that’s left every month.”
“Oh, Zel…” Tears erupted from her eyes again. Why do you love me so much?
“It’s alright,” he rocked her in his arms gently, keeping her safe and warm. “You silly girl,” he chuckled, “everything’s gonna be alright. You can always lean on me, my little Jane. I won’t let you worry again.”
Mejaine looked at the man who always gave her everything he had so unconditionally. For a moment, she wished they were back at home. His land was good and productive. He was just unlucky. Natural disasters were out of his control.
But she took in a deep breath. She could only choose his heart or her own; one of theirs had to break.
***
A waitress pointed her in the right direction. Mejaine scanned the room for her target and walked towards him in wide, purposeful strides. It wasn’t about clinching another customer tonight. It was about setting things right. This came at a wrong time.
“It’s almost a week already. Why have I not received it yet? Did you ask them to cut it off?” she crossed her arms demandingly. While it was not enough to support her spending habits, she had always depended on it to settle half of her credit card bills. The other half usually came from the men she accompanied, but she hadn’t found another sponsor since pushing that old and tiresome Master Tigerstripe away. Income would be low this month.
Zaelem stirred a little and began recovering his upright position. She paused for a while, realising with a start that there was something distinctly different about him. He had styled his hair away from his face, no longer hiding his eyes behind it; his clothes had acquired a touch of edginess to them, no longer in dull colours; even the vibes he was sending out to her were cool and hostile now.
Mejaine took half a step back, angered but apprehensive. Zaelem wasn’t drunk. He had simply ignored her. He rapped his knuckles on the countertop for the barman’s attention and signalled for another bottle.
She reached out to hold his arm, but he moved out of her clutches before she even came close. “Well, at least I have your attention now,” she smirked. “Did you forget to transfer my money? I had thought it was automatic,” she smiled, her confidence building up with each word she said. Her half-lidded eyes peeked at him from under their alluring lashes while her glossy lips pursed slightly. “All these years… I didn’t know you faithfully went to the bank every month to transfer the money to me.”
His tone couldn’t have sounded more nonchalant. “It was automatic. I didn’t want to risk having you biting my head off if I was ever late with the transfer. But hey,” he softened his voice and leaned a little closer, as though taking her bait, “there’s no such thing as a free lunch.”
Mejaine allowed her confusion to flicker on her face for only a split second. If he wanted to play, she would gladly abide by it. If this was a game, she was the game master.
Her fingers traced their way from his shoulder to his back, massaging his muscles as they travelled. They headed south, but he stood up to leave before they could move anywhere else.
Caught by surprise, her hand slid off his back and slapped against her thigh. Zaelem disregarded her completely. Instead, he said to the bartender, who came forward with his new drink, “You can have it, Joe. On me.”
Joe’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh… kay. Does your lady friend want it?”
Zaelem snorted. “She’s neither a lady nor a friend,” he replied, leaving the money for both bottles on the counter.
“Oy,” Mejaine huffed, offended. “What was that all about?”
“Just getting a taste of what I could have gotten if I paid you with upfront cash like all the other men did, Mistress Mejaine,” he shrugged. “How stupid I was then-just by not helping you, you would have had no choice but to go back with me a long time ago.”
He made for the exit, but paused for a while as another thought came to his mind and he almost smiled. “But you know what?” he began.
“Zaelem… don’t do this to us, please…”
“Thank you very much for making me stay.”
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Part 2
Have you read Part 1 already? :)
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Still 7th June :P
Zaelem
Both of them were equally stunned to see each other, but Kismette recovered first. "Why is your hair standing up?"
"Why are you so... so colourful?"
"I..." her hand shot up as embarrassment tightened her throat. She had forgotten about all the powder on her face the moment the doorbell rang. "I was… playing," she whispered sheepishly. "Uh, why don't you come inside first? Eat anything you want. I’ll go wash my face. And get some pants on.”
Zaelem choked on his saliva as he entered.
Kismette
"I thought you sat on a roller coaster upside-down," Kismette laughed, plopping herself down on the floor beside Zaelem.
“Har har. At least I don’t humiliate myself. Can you imagine if I was just a delivery man? ‘Oh my goodness, Mistress Larazest is a freak.’” He gestured to the toys on her floor. “What are they doing anyway?”
Kismette stuck her tongue out at his impersonation of the imaginary delivery man. “We’re having a tea party. I hereby give you permission to sit on my cushion. Look, I even got a cupcake,” she grinned. “That’s Pinkie-Brown and Frog,” she pointed to her favourite bear and the newest addition to her collection.
“Oh, of course its name is Frog,” Zaelem said dryly, scooting to her cushion. He eyed the green stuffed creature smiling on a lily pad. For some reason, he decided to give it a pat on the head and grimaced when it resulted in a squeak from the toy. “What is this, some kind of delayed childhood syndrome?”
Kismette rolled to lie on her stomach, propping her head up with an arm. “You insolent fool. The Queen Cat-which is me-extended such a warm invitation to you even when you so rudely interrupted my tea party. We shan’t share our cupcake with you,” she grumbled, looking at Pinkie-Brown and Frog for agreement. “Why are you here anyway?”
The insolent fool shrugged. “To spot check on you?”
She swallowed. Automatically, her hand came up to her collarbones. They felt naked, just like the other day on the bus. Why is there guilt?
“So,” he gestured casually, “have you lost it?”
“No…” her voice softened into a mumble. She breathed in deeply before expelling all the air out in a whoosh. “Chairon didn’t want me to wear it.”
Zaelem exhaled impatiently. A frown set in. “Really? What did he say?”
“I can’t remember. Something like his mother wouldn’t like it. I took it off when I went over for dinner and… well, I go over quite often, so it’s convenient to just leave it in my drawer.”
The frown deepened. “You go to his house very often?”
“Quite. I said ‘quite often’. Sheesh, what’s with that angry face? You do the angry face all the time, did you know? I go over just for dinner anyway,” she added for good measure. She didn’t know why she felt the need to defend herself at all. Chairon is my boyfriend, she reminded herself. “Anyway, why do stars blink?”
“Huh? Uhm… you mean ‘why do stars and dusts twinkle’?” His words came out slowly and his eyes widened slightly, as though trying to look into her brain. “That is so… random. Did your brain short-circuit?”
“I don’t know,” she mumbled and sat upright with interest, ignoring his smart remark. “It just popped into my head and I’ve been thinking about it for a while now. Is it because...” she tapped her chin with her knuckles as she chose from her collection of trial answers, “... they are too weak and the light switches on and off to save energy? And... after their energy is used up, they turn into a black hole?”
Zaelem laughed for the first time in weeks. “Geez, no. Stellar scintillation-the twinkling-happens because of the earth’s atmosphere.” He paused when she made a face. “You know, the air around the earth.”
Kismette shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“Hmm… Get me some paper and pen. I’ll draw it for you.”
“Yay!” Kismette jumped up from the floor and hurried to her desk.
June 10th
Kismette
Kismette picked up the beautiful envelope she opened yesterday. It was an invitation to the second hundredth anniversary party of James and Annie.
She practised her smile in the mirror, still a little apprehensive about meeting Annie again. She was invited at last minute as Chairon said that he didn’t want to hide their relationship anymore. She never understood why they had to hide in the first place-how bad could it be?-but now that he had finally agreed to reveal, she was having second thoughts.
Chairon had prearranged for their private chauffer to fetch her to the party venue. It was an old ballroom built by the Vikens to commemorate their historic victory against the GoldCrests during the civil war. Almost every major Viken event was held at this place with its romantic sea view. Even the palace ballroom was rumoured to have copied some design ideas from it.
Upon reaching the destination, Iko opened the door for her to step into the ballroom in style. Kismette gulped. Already, eyes were staring at her, mostly in displeasure; they didn’t think a Wingsian for personal assistant was enough to propel her into upper-class. So what if she was the healer? Was she even invited?
Chairon came forward to greet her amidst surprised glances from his relatives. Where was his rumoured girlfriend, they whispered to one another. Did he change another one again?
“You look absolutely stunning tonight. Did you actually choose that dress yourself?” he teased.
Kismette punched his shoulders. “I chose it… on Iko’s advice,” she ended up giggling.
“You’re such a kid, Babe. Pray tell, when are you stepping into adulthood? If you ever will?”
“Gee, I don’t know. End of this year, maybe? The matron doesn’t know our exact birthdates. Is Jeremy coming?” she grinned hopefully.
“He… er… nope, not coming,” Chairon sighed, the words coming out reluctantly. “He’s not really on good terms with my mother. They usually just avoid each other though. I’ve never seen them quarrel before.”
Kismette considered the new piece of information and merely nodded as they walked along the perimeter of the room towards the protagonists of the night.
He looked at her in anticipation. “Why aren’t you shocked?”
She shrugged. “I sort of felt that Jeremy didn’t really like your parents, or maybe just one of them. I don’t know. He ate dinner with us only for the first time and… he didn’t seem like himself. I’ve never seen him with such a black face before.”
Chairon licked his lips. “I… I know you’re on Jeremy’s side, but… my mum really isn’t a bad person either. She has no idea why Jeremy is being difficult with her too.”
“I’ll try to stay as objective as I can,” Kismette promised.
“Okay… I guess. Anyway, remember to congratulate my parents on their second hundredth anniversary and compliment my mother for her lovely dress,” Chairon grinned. “Oh, and remember to say that you hope to celebrate this day with me in future too,” he wriggled his eyebrows mischievously at her.
Kismette blushed and elbowed him in his ribs. “What if I don’t?” she countered.
Chairon scrunched his face up into a sad puppy look, eliciting a hearty laughter from her. “Okay, no more playing,” he said. “We’re close now.”
Indeed, both James and Annie were dressed luxuriously. Kismette curtsied and greeted them courteously. “Congratulations on your second hundredth anniversary,” she shook both their hands. “You both look wonderful tonight,” she smiled daintily, careful not to reveal her gum. Chairon proceeded to look at her expectantly, wriggling his eyebrows a little.
“I…” she breathed deeply to stop herself from bursting into laughter again, “I hope to celebrate this day with Chairon in future.”
In slow motion, Chairon pulled out a jewellery box from his suit pocket and went down on one knee. The whole room fell silent as fairy dust settled on them and time slowed down.
“I’d love to fulfil your wish for you,” Chairon grinned at her. “It is my wish, too, to celebrate wedding anniversaries with you.” He raised the lid of the velvet box to reveal a huge diamond ring resting in satin cloth. Everybody sighed in contentment, as though watching a romantic movie ending. “Will you marry me?”
Kismette hesitated, stunned. She could only cover her mouth with her hands and stare at him with widened eyes. She thought it was just a joke. She never thought he would want to marry her. Yes, he took very good care of her, but they had not discussed about their future before. They had certainly never discussed about marriage before.
Chairon’s dazzling grin was beginning to fade a little. Kismette clutched her fingers and glanced around quickly. Every single pair of eyes was fixed on her. Smiles were beginning to slide off some of the faces. She took a quick glance in Annie’s direction and immediately wished she didn’t. The air grew heavier, weighing down on her shoulders. Am I supposed to make this life-changing decision on the spot with so many people waiting for my answer? Without thinking it through?
She turned her attention back to the man kneeling in front of her and pulled her lips into a wavering smile. How can I embarrass his family in front of their relatives? How would I dare to?
“Y- y- yes… yes, I will,” she stammered, letting her breath out soundlessly. “Oh, Chairon…” Her throat constricted and she could say no more.
His shoulders loosened as he stood up to fit the ring in her finger and reached forward to hug her. Everyone clapped and all the smiles came back. She even heard Annie heave a sigh a relief. “We can hold our wedding at the end of this year when you turn twenty one, Babe,” he whispered in her ear. “Roughly half a year more to go; just enough time to prepare.”
His relatives began stepping forward to congratulate them. “We should run a search for Mistress Larazest’s birth parents in case they are still alive,” somebody quipped.
“Oh, yes, how lovely that would be,” someone else said. “You could invite all your relatives to the wedding.”
“You’ll be like a princess, Mistress Larazest!”
How does regret taste like?
Ning: So, this is my excuse for being so inactive the past few days. Freakin’ 80 pictures for just one chapter! I never did more than 50 before! O_O
I don’t think I’ll be touching on the Honour Code in future (at least my current plans won’t include it again), so I’ll just explain it here: The Honour Code is a code of conduct which all warriors are expected to obey. It is just an honorary system which is not enforced by law. However, breaking it risks your reputation and credibility in future missions. Most people get away with the minor things though. Fighting is such a common sight, especially in camps. :P
Also, I want to say THANKS! to those who posted questions at the spotlight entry! They definitely make my interview more interesting. ;)
There will, of course, be a picspam (How can I not have a picspam when somebody had a major makeover? :P), but I don’t have the eyeballs to edit them anymore, so they won’t be up until I finish writing the interview. The easter egg of this chapter will be revealed during the picspam too, so you have a couple of days to find it, haha.
Pip pip cheerio! (LOL)
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Next: Chapter 40