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Chapter 3

That day it had been raining, over cast and dark with a slight chill in the air. I waited in a grove of trees a ways off from the fields Kore had told me about, a place where I could leave a black rose for her to find. I was certain that this oddity would be a clear signal that it was meant for her as a gift from me. I heard the snapping of twigs, and glanced over to see that she was approaching. My heart became a steam hammer in my chest, I felt as though it would explode as she drew even closer.

Long skirts trailed behind her as she walked, her dress was silk the color of jade held up by thin straps crossing over slender her shoulders. She had a tan leather cord tied around her waist and white cypress flowers in her hair. I couldn't believe I had already forgotten just how paralyzing her beauty was to me, being here in this moment with her felt surreal; somehow impossible.

She ran her finger tips over the ebony rose petals, hypnotized. She seemed startled as I stepped out from the shadows, but then a smile spread over her sweet lips.

"Do you like it?" I asked.

"I've never seen anything like it before…" she plucked the blossom, holding it delicately as if it were priceless, "You changed your mind then, about coming to see me?"

"I am here am I not?"

"That you are." She stepped in closer, "I am glad."

"Why did you want to see me anyway?" I asked, hesitant to get too close just yet. Her eyes flashed fire into me then, entrancing me with just a glance; as she held out her hand to me,

"Will you walk with me?" She requested and could not refuse her. I entwine my fingers with hers, and then she began to lead the way deeper into the forest. As we strolled through the woodland she seemed to be reflecting, staring up into the branches of the tree's above. "You aren't like the others, of our kind." she noted, "Many chase me relentlessly, where as I had to ask you to come here."

I tried not to laugh, picturing countless suitors coming to meet her and being turned away, they could not resist a beauty like her; I knew that no one could. They would never understand her, I thought to myself in that moment, I wasn't exactly sure why.

"What is that they do to chase you?" I asked her, curious mostly for the sake of amusement.

"One came darting up to me as I was tending flowers, he grabbed my hand and said something just so absolutely ridiculous I nearly collapsed laughing. Then there are the really irritating ones, those who follow after me professing adoration, or the ones who speak in obstinacy to make a sexual advance, it gets pretty disturbing."

"Remind me to get you a stick," I joked, well I was only half joking, "So that you might keep them away with it." I summoned my staff, letting it materialize in my hand from the swirling shadows, "Perhaps I could have one forged for you like this…"

"It's impressive that for certain, I may one day take you up on that offer." She giggled. Such a sweet and musical sound, however soon her expression changed. She sighed, glancing at the ground, "The thing about you though is that you haven't tried to chase me at all, rather, you attempted to push me away."

"Please understand I never meant to hurt your feelings." I interjected.

"No, its fine, it shows me one thing."

"What's that?"

"You aren't greedy." She points out. I think for a moment before I venture to ask her,

"If I may your father should be protecting you from these unstable would be suitor, might I ask, where is he?" she glances toward the heavens where clouds block the rays of the sun,

"Helios, he lives separately from my mother, they aren't married. My mother said things just didn't work out long term, which happens I guess." She shrugged it off like it didn't bother her, but I could tell that it did, quite a lot. "You don't seem like you get along well with him." She remarked.

"What makes you think that?" I can't help but smirk, it must have been obvious to her my dislike for sunlight, Helios' presence takes a toll on me because I cannot tolerate the heat and light of the sun's rays.

"You're so pale." She pointed out. I just shrugged, used to it. She goes on, "That's another thing that makes you different from the others." She mulled over it a bit more, noting "Also, unlike your brothers, you have black hair, long and strait. Then there is the armor you wear, ebony colored metal and durable leather; it is impressively put together I might add."

"Are you trying to flatter me? I don't respond to such things you should know."

"I only point out what I see." She continued, "Black hair, fair skin, and dark clothing, one day they should have a name for this I think."

"Mocking me are you now?"

"No, it appeals to me."

We came to a hill side, overlooking the sloping valleys, and rugged ridges of land, the glittering grey sea off in the distance. The light from the sun was fading already, dim behind the clouds which had begun to grow even thicker.

"What do you think?" she asked me.

"The view is lovely here, so far removed from everything, it's wild and untamed." She sank down onto the grass, folding her legs beneath her and I came to join her.

"You know, I don't think I have seen another with eyes such as yours."

"Is that so?"

"Yes," she confirmed, "They are like ice, pure blue, but then there is grey, and black in them too. They remind me of something…they make me think of…"She trailed off.

"What do they make you think of?"

"The winter."

The wind began to kick up, sweeping dead leaves into the air around us. It had become dreadfully cold all of a sudden; Kore clasped her arms around herself to fight it off but to no avail. I said nothing, just removed my cloak and draped it around her shoulders.

"Thank you." She said. Looking upon her, a smirk pulled at my lips, I couldn't help it. "What?" she asked.

"Seeing you like this, wrapped up in my heavy black cloak, holding the rose I've given you, I realize I am such a fool. You appear as if you could me mine in this moment, but I know I can never have you, not for always, not forever."

"You mustn't say such things."

"I adore you Kore, but you aren't mine, there is no hope for someone such as myself, to bring happiness to someone like you. I can never reside in the light with you, only draw you down into the darkness below, you don't deserve that." Something strange began to happen in that moment, her eyes changed, the air around her even, as she smiled at me, asking,

"What makes you believe, that there is no dark side to me?"