C8 Birthdays

Kaltain Kingdom

Leiya

The past three days had been recovery days for me. It made me wonder what kind of dark magic was used to create a shield, because just one slam into it was taking me days to be able to stand up without needing assistance. If I needed to get out of this place alive, I needed to practice Helion’s type of magic.

As I wondered how I was going to convince him into teaching me, his figure appeared.

“How do you feel today?"

He asked as he made his way to the chair a few metres away from my bed and beside the window. That was his spot.

“Tired of doing nothing.”

I mumbled with a sigh. I was getting bored out of my mind doing the same thing everyday. Sleep, eat, take medicine and repeat.

“Well, I took you out but you tried to run away.”

He said with a smirk. I rolled my eyes, I didn't need to be reminded that I got myself in this situation.

“Well you didn't let me go back for my sister.”

I saw him sigh like he was frustrated.

“When would you get it Leiya?"

His tone had changed, almost as if he was controlling an outburst of anger.

“I don't care that you have a sister in the hands of the most evil man in the world. If she dies, so be it."

My heart sank into my stomach at the end of his statement. How could he say that? What sort of heartless person would utter such words to a girl who's lost almost everything to live for? I felt tears welling up in my eyes, tears from anger boiling in the depths of my stomach.

“Get out."

I growled. His eyes widened and he shot me an amused look.

“Excuse me?"

He began to chuckle lightly but it was only making me even more furious.

“You're not deaf, I said get, out."

His smile vanished and his eyes became bright red. For a second I was scared that he would hurt me, throw me across the room like he did before, but I didn't care. If he was going to kill me, I would welcome death with open arms.

“He stood up from his chair. I looked at him fearlessly, holding his fiery eye gaze. Soon enough, he wasn't in my room anymore. I let out a loud sigh of relief.

Helion

My initial instinct was to tear my entire bed chamber down, but instead I paced back and forth, breathing loudly in a show of rage. My fists were tightened and so were my balls of fire on top of them.

With one wave of my hand, I would have ended her. Obliterated her from the face of the earth without a single trace. The guts to disrespect me and for what? Her sister who is possibly even dead.

“Calin!"

I called out when I was calm enough.

“Yes, your majesty?”

He appeared less than a minute later.

“Do not take food to our prisoner until I tell you when to. She seems to be getting too comfortable with me.”

My anger had now disappeared and was replaced with indifference. If she was going to die of starvation, so be it.

“Yes, your majesty.”

When he was gone, a sudden itch to taste fear in someone came over me. Seconds later I was walking down the hall of my underground dungeon, trying to decide who's turn it was to be tortured today.

Valinor

Nayla

We had been on the road for the past two days, occasionally stopping at towns to get food and water. Valinor was so far away and Xerian mentioned we still had a long way to go. Our carriage was at least a comfortable one, and it was a closed carriage for just him and I. We could talk about just anything without fear.

“I didn't ask how old you were, Nayla.”

His voice pulled me out of my thoughts and my eyes away from the snowy trail. When his question sunk in, I immediately remembered what the day was . I let out a small chuckle and he shot me a perplexed look.

“If it helps to know, I'm sixteen and if you're still not comfortable telling me, that's really okay.”

He scrambled to say. I found it cute he was okay with me knowing his age and I didn't need to say mine if I wasn't comfortable. It was a very thoughtful gesture, but I didn't chuckle because I was uncomfortable.

“I'm not uncomfortable at all,” I said with a friendly shake of my head.

"I'm actually thirteen today." I mumbled shyly.

I watched as his eyes widened and I let out an unconscious giggle. He looked even more handsome with raised eyebrows and bulging eyes.

“If you're thirteen today, it means that today is your birthday?"

He asked in an almost yell. It made me giggle even harder.

“Yup"

I mumbled sheepishly. Just then he moved from the other side of the carriage, where he had been sitting across from me the whole time, to sit beside me.

“Tell me what you want as a birthday gift,"

He said excitedly, grinning from ear to ear. I tried to stop myself from blushing even harder as he sat so close to me.

“Anything you want and I'll make sure my father gets it for you."

He added, causing me to giggle again. Could he get any sweeter?

I gave it a moment of thought. At the top of my head, I wanted my parents to be alive. I wanted to be reunited with my sister and go back to living peacefully in my kingdom. I wanted Degar dead and his kingdom in ruins, but I couldn't say all these things. I let out a small sigh as I looked at his expectant eyes.

“I want us to be best friends.”

I said instead and watched as his eyes softened. I knew I couldn't get all those things I desperately wanted, but if I was going to spend the rest of my life with this stranger, I needed him to always have my back. I needed to not feel scared around him and comfortable enough to share my past with. He and I were just married, we could as well just be best friends.

My eyes widened when I felt unexpected skin contact. I looked down to realize he had placed his hand on mine.

“I think I'd like that too,"

He whispered with a smile. With our eyes locked to each other, I started to feel a strange type of way. It was almost as if there were living, small creatures flying around in my stomach.

“Happy birthday Nayla.”