Darkness
nineteen years old

The collision was a surprise. Sofia had spent most of the waking hours recently nose down in a book, desperate for distractions. She was usually better at not bumping into things, at least stationary things. From the way her body tried to bounce down and backwards, Cedric must have been moving with quick purpose when they collided. He dropped the bottle in his hand as he reached out to Sofia, sure hands gripping her arms and pulling her towards him instead of the floor. Their eyes met for the briefest of moments before the bottle hit the floor, smashing into a thousand pieces and filling the hallway with a fog of darkness.

"Damnit," the sorcerer cursed under his breath as Sofia gasped. She dropped her book and she instinctively clung to Cedric, her hands clamoring up to his forearms.

"What - "

"A new darkness powder your father requested." His voice was emotionless as he relayed the facts. "The person in control of it retains their vision. But seeing as how it was dropped, neither of us will be able to see and this hallway will be unpassable for some time."

"How much time?"

"Ten minutes, perhaps."

"Good."

"Good?" Emotion trickled back into his tone as he sounded affronted.

"You can tell me why you've been avoiding me."

Cedric scoffed and tried to cross his arms but Sofia tightened her grip. He was her anchor in this darkness, just as he had been her anchor in so many things. She couldn't let him go. He gave up his efforts quickly and let his arms fall to his sides. It was all Sofia could do not to let her hands slide down his forearms and into his hands.

"You're betrothed, Sofia. I should think avoiding you would be the obvious course of action for me. Isn't that why you've been squirreled away in the library at every opportunity?"

"I - you - "

"You're surprised that I'm being so upfront?"

"Well, y-yes," Sofia sputtered out. "You've never been - getting the truth out of you, finding out how you felt about me. It took years! Years and now you're just, you're just -" Her breath was coming more and more quickly as she realized how upset she was, further exaggerated by how calm he seemed to be. "You wasted so much time and now - now you choose to be direct?!"

Cedric's arms lifted and wrapped around her, pulling her form flush with his. She could feel the heat of his breath alighting her ear as he pressed his cheek against hers. Her hands flew up to find familiar homes running into his hair and pressed against his back. He pressed his lips against her cheek. She could feel him trembling slightly. Or was that her?

"It's not enough…" Sofia choked out, shutting her eyes tightly against the tears starting to form.

His mouth took hers and she surrendered to him, giving herself over to the passion of the moment and to the dream of the life she wanted.

"I'll speak to your father," he said, drawing back and speaking with conviction. Sofia pulled his head back down to hers and kissed him again.

"Let's run away," she begged in her next breath. "He'll never agree. He only sees treaties and alliances and trade routes when he looks at me, Cedric. He'll never - I'm trapped by - I...let's just run away."

"Oh dearheart," she felt calloused fingertips trace the outline of her cheek. "We'll make him see love."

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A/N: Well hey there. Anybody else feel their creative juices go kaput during the holidays? Next chapter of Riches really should be up this month. If not, then early February. And the chapter after that is already basically written, so that should help things move quickly along. I SWEAR TO YOU I WILL NOT ABANDON RICHES! I just might not post as often as you/I want to.

I might abandon Caveat Emptor. I have a full outline/notes written, as well as one steamy scene. I'll post all of that if I decide not to follow it through.

Cause, see - things are gonna get real busy for me come June. We've got a second baby girl due to arrive on June 7. Woo! Everything is going well and she is gigantic and moves aaaall the time. Huzzah!