COMMENTS!!

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The moon still shone brightly across the dark sky. Aisha wished that the moon would allow her to sleep but her eyes would not shut. She felt restless. Her mind was clouded by so many thoughts and she shifted uneasily in her bed. Finally, she sat up and sighed, knowing that sleep would be impossible to achieve this night. There were only a few candles that burned, the rest of them had died down and only a bit of leftover smoke rose out of the wax puddles. Everyone was probably resting, exhausted by the night's tiresome feast.

The sheets in the bed were not disturbed even though Aisha had tossed and turned a few times. She put her face in between her hands and sighed once more. It was then that she sensed something strange about. A strange energy seemed to be in Iraz, something she had sensed before. The wretched moon was driving her mad! Aisha shook her head, trying to drive the absurd thoughts away from her mind. A strange presence filled her room. She turned her head around to look at the golden door at the back of the room and knew that someone stood at the other end of it. She doubted that it would be Sahaid. He was resting, she was sure of it for she could sense that he was not awake. Yet, someone was there but they said nothing.

"Whom do you wish to speak to?" Aisha asked to the stranger at the other end meanwhile she stood with a sharp dagger in hand. She did not want any nasty surprises.

"Aisha?" Aubrey's voice spoke from the other side and Aisha rushed to the large golden door instantly, fussing with the heavy golden latch and then finally opening it. He stood there before her magnificently as a wide smile spread over his handsome face at the sight of her. She knew at once that it was his presence and of Jessica that had created that strange new energy in Iraz. They had not left.

Aisha ushered Aubrey in quickly and the closed the door shut, her back facing him for a moment while she rested her forehead at the door. She could feel the cold of the golden door pressing against her forehead and she sighed tiredly once more. Finally, she turned to face him and met his black eyes as he ran his pale and icy hand down her left cheek. She turned her face away.

"Are you afraid?" he asked her. She only shook her head and managed a small humorless smile.

"This is Sahaid's home and I will disrespect him more than I have already done this night." She kept her voice controlled, trying not to let im see the effect he had on her.

Aubrey only laughed softly and walked away from her and toward the large window that was now partially covered by veil curtains. He leaned a shoulder casually against the wall as he faced the large top view of Ardid where everyone now rested. A few guards were guarding the temple but none looked up to see him standing there, looking down on them. The curtains blew softly by the slight breeze that graced the night.

"He is no different from Aurelius, Aisha. The only advantage he has is that he controls this land and actually has power. I will take you away from here and show you the world that you have been kept from all these years."

Aisha only shook her head even more. He spoke as if he was determined and nothing would stop him. She had spent centuries in Ardid, with Sahaid, and to survive and live in the outer world was something that still frightened her. The outer world changed constantly but Ardid always remained the same, reminding her of Suniria and always safe.

"Aubrey, I do not want to leave Ardid. If there are any problems with Sahaid I can take care of them. I will not run. I killed once, I am not going to kill again." Aisha paused and noticed that she still held the dagger in her hands. She threw it onto her bed as if it burned her. "Sahaid has not given me a reason to deserve death."

Aubrey laughed at this. He walked over to Aisha and placed his hands on her shoulders gently. He leaned his head over to the left side of her face and buried his face in her hair that lay loose and untouched by gems."I am not asking for you to kill anyone." He whispered gently against her hair. His hands traveled down to her waist and he held her in a strong embrace. "I am asking for you to just leave and come with me."

He makes it sound so easy, Aisha thought. She lingered in his arms and found comfort there though his body was cold. She felt stronger with him though she did not know if she was ready to leave Ardid. Centuries had been spent at Sahaid's side and she did not know if she could leave him so suddenly. There were rules in Ardid that bound her to him, some were still not clear but she knew that to break some of them deserved the death penalty. Aisha pulled away from Aubrey, no longer finding comfort in his arms, wishing for things to be as easy as he made them sound. Devotion held her to Sahaid and fear of the outer world. She paced lightly back and forth, feeling Aubrey's follow her movements.

Jessica

She had forgotten about her. Jessica's was Aubrey's new companion, mate, his lover.

Would he leave Jessica at Aisha's command? She dared not interfere in their relationship; she would let him choose for himself.

"What of Jessica? Is she not important?" Aisha maintained a calm tone but she knew that Aubrey's answer matter much.

Aubrey's face turned somber for a moment, as if battling with which answer he should respond with. His voice came a little uncertain at first but soon he appeared to have gained confidence.

"Jessica matters to me but things have changed . . . It all happened too soon . . . "

"The same with!" Aisha cut in. "We too had an affair at such a quick time. In fact, it was forbidden! Is it that you like what is forbidden as do many other men? The thrill of it? I was mean to belong to another man and not to be touched . . . and then I was married." Aisha's voice became softer, remembering the dreadful marriage to Aurelius. The painful and unsuccessful child bearings. "The same goes for Jessica. She was meant to be killed. She was of Siete's blood . . . "

"I WAS NOT GOING TO LET JESSICA BE KILLED! After all that power?" Aubrey's spat out. His black eyes flashed with anger but when they met Aisha's emerald eyes, his gaze softened. "And I do not regret what happened between you and me since the beginning."

Aisha pulled her gaze away from his, remembering Suniria, remembering Nuuruk. Her voice was soft and pain that had been there for centuries filled her words.

"Regret... Do you regret falling into the arms of my sister Karicia? Do you regret Julia." She closed her eyes and opened them again, Siete's painful words from the past filling her mind as they always did. "Do you regret killing my father?"

The last accusation made Aubrey flinch and he opened his mouth as if to explain yet closed it at loss of words. She spoke the truth.

Aisha walked towards her vanity mirror and sat on the cushioned chair, feeling heavy with the memories yet glad to be confronting him. She had so much to say. It felt as if she was taking away a heavy burden though it was still hurting her.

Aubrey stood where he was, cursing himself but eager to let his side of the story be heard. He took a deep breath, thinking of ways to start and he figured that the best way was from the beginning.

"Listen to my full account of things and then feel free to judge me later. Please..." he walked over to her and sat at the top of her vanity's desk hoping that she would understand. He began his story.