Disclaimer: All the characters and places belong to Libba Bray. I only own the plot!
This is just a one-shot. Kartik is in the realms and being shown around by Gemma. They reach the Cave of Sighs (no comment!) and look at the paintings…and find something that shocks them both…
Each engrossed with the paintings, there was silence. I was studying curiously the images of the Order and their spellwork, Kartik viewing with awe the evidence that the Rakshana did have an obvious role in the realms-images showing them bargaining with mythical creatures and fighting by the Order.
Then the silence was shattered by a shocked yelp.
Kartik beckoned me speechlessly over to him, pointing unbelievingly at the smooth, stone wall. I frowned at him bewildered at what could have caused such a reaction from normally impassive Kartik. I regarded the wall. On it's cold motionless face engraved was a slogan. 'Amar and Mary Dowd forever.'
My breath left me with a whoosh. Kartik took a deep breath and released it in a long, hoarse sigh.
"You mean…" I couldn't continue.
"Do you think…?" He couldn't manage to say it either.
So we both stood together, in utter shock, staring at the words, willing them to change. Not my mother I wept to myself not my mother, she loved my dad! My selfish thoughts continued, until I noticed that Kartik had slipped his arms around my waist and was almost hugging me.
"Gemma, are you alright?"
Yes, fine, fine, now go away and let me think on my own! I shouted in my thoughts, even though I knew if he left I would mourn the absence of him. He pulled me fully into his arms, comforting, protecting. I could resist no longer and I sobbed freely into his chest until I was spent, vaguely surprised he wasn't offended. But he seemed to understand, or at least, for my sake, he was pretending to. Or even possibly just for his own, as I could easily leave him in the realms if he made a wrong move. That thought both cheered me up, and depressed me, that he could have an ulterior motive for holding me like this.
But it didn't seem forced. One of his hands were gently wiping away my tears, smoothing my tear-stained cheeks, and his head was slowly lowering…
Whether he understood my sorrow and intended to comfort, or whether he reckoned that he should continue this tradition that his family seemed to have with mine, I couldn't tell. But for once in my life, I didn't care. If my mother could betray society, I most certainly could too, and who better to do it with, but mystifying, mysterious, absolutely wonderful Kartik.
A/N. Sorry if it's a bit out of character!! And please, please, PLEASE review!!! I just found this in an old notebook of mine, and I thought I'd share it with you-so you share your thoughts on it, with me!!!!!!!
