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Chapter Three: Not So Complicated
Dahlia sighed as her body was engulfed in boiling water. It gave her a blissful sensation in ways she shouldn't be feeling. Her head rested in relaxation against the curved edge of the bath tub, eyes staring at the wooden ceiling. A tint of pink invaded her cheeks as she recalled Yunan finding her in such an embarrassing state... yet again. The woman bit her bottom lip, hopelessness took over.
She had been in the Magi's care for the past 16 years and wouldn't have changed one bit of it. Not only did Yunan raise her and Delmar, he provided and guided them into all the right directions. Well... the drinking was all her but everything else was totally Yunan. The woman's thoughts drowned in the image of him, it was getting worse. Her feelings for him. Eyes softened as she allowed her body to sink deeper into the hot water.
He could never know, never. As fickle as Dahlia may seem, it was all to cover up the fact she was in love with Yunan. At first she thought it was just the case of his rescuing them and all. But, as the years went by and she went through all sorts of other hardships. The Magi was always there to help mend the wounds, every time. However, above all she feared rejection. At the same time, she wanted more than what was already given. Selfishness is dangerous.
But how could she not love someone like Yunan? Especially through everything, who wouldn't? Yellow eyes softened in self loathing.
'You shouldn't dwell on it too much Princess', spoke a deep voice in her head.
She sighed aloud, 'I know Nyx but it's getting harder to hide my feelings... I'm worried one day I'll expose myself', The woman answered back mentally.
Another voice snickered at her words, 'Yeah that ship has sailed, the magi probably figured you out by now!' commented the male voice, stating a possible truth to the matter.
Dahlia groaned, 'No one asked for your opinion Sitri'.
The second djin named Sitri hummed, 'That's too bad since I've already said it'. She rolled her eyes at the smug response, not feeling the desire to deal with it.
'I don't think having yourself exposed is much of a deal' voiced Nyx in hopes to not provoke his master's discouragement further.
Dahlia mentally sighed 'but... things... this daily life we have wouldn't be the same'.
'that's not what I'm referring to Princess' said Nyx in a completely calm tone, opposite of Sitri's loud and obnoxious one.
The woman's brows wrinkled at the mental tag-team against her, not understanding why they all would rather have her feelings known than not. Or maybe she did know and just wanted to remain ignorant to the anxiety driven outcome of her being too obvious.
'Yeah idiot, the feelings could be mutual!' shouted a frustrated Sitri at how his master's love life was being made more complicated. 'You really think a man could live with a woman he didn't like?' stated the annoyingly right djin, bring up a good point.
Dahila blinked with widened eyes at her own stupidity, 'Oh... Well... That's definitely possible, I would have been kicked out already... right?'.
'Yes!' Both djins yelled in mental agreement, finally getting the woman to connect the dots. To their surprise, her cheeks lit in a feverish tint. Guessing it was from the fact of her unrequired love interested becoming required. Or the boiling hot warm starting to get to her head.
"Dahila" called a soft voice that followed a light knock on the wooden door. The interruption caused her to gasped silently, knowing whom it was that disturbed her mental conversation with the djins.
"Y-Yes Yunan?" she answered back in a stutter.
The magi could hear the splashing sounds of the bath water as the woman shifted in the tub. "You should come out before the tea gets cold" he suggested kindly.
Dahila was glad for the wall between them to hide her blushing expression, she could die a happy woman from the princess like treatment. "Okay! Be right there". Her heart fluttered when she noticed how Yunan lingered in front the door a moment longer before returning. Chest rose in sickly anxiety as she climbed out of the tub.
'You could have that magi in the bag if you weren't such a child' Sitri smugly commented on the slight parental relationship the two adults have. Dahila groaned at her djin in a low voice, 'I'm starting to regret going into your dungeon'.
He snickered 'That makes two of us huh?'.
Yunan sighed ever so softly. Blue eyes stared into the cup of warm liquid in his hands, not believing how the years could have passed him so quickly. A sense of nostalgia consumed the man, reminiscing over the very day he had taken in Dahila and Delmar as children. Now, both have grown in the direction he hoped for. Well, aside from her small vices of indulgence, the young girl turned into such a wonderful woman. He couldn't be any more proud of Dahila.
It made him feel guilty, desiring to keep her close and away from the temptations of the world. And a little of something more... passionate. More than he could like to admit to himself, or her.
The pitter patter sounds of footsteps directed his attention a now properly dressed Dahila.
She inhaled the sweet aromas that filled the room, feeling better already "It smells so nice in here"
Blue eyes causally scanned the woman, seeing how the hangover started to work its way from the woman's system. Relief allowed Yunan to breath without unrest as he took a sip out of his cup "You're planning on going back to Reim?" he asked, noting her clothing.
Dahila shrugged, "Probably not... I don't really feel up to it right now" she said with a hoarse voice, blowing on the heated tea.
The magi smiled gently at her words "Then why don't we spend the day together?" offered Yunan and his soothing voice, almost making the woman choke. Her breath paused, lips parted just an inch from the rim of her cup. Yellow eyes glanced up to the other, trying her best to retain a calm demeter and not explode with happiness.
'Well well' commented Sitri smugly in her head.
"Sounds good to me" Dahila said in acceptance with a bright smile, taking a small sip of the herbal tea.
Yunan hummed to himself, glad his offer wasn't rejected "Delmar can come along, he's in need of some air".
"If that's the case we should stock up on supplies" she mumbled aloud, yellow eyes glancing up at the dirt like ceiling in thinking of what they needed in the house. As Dahila creates her mental list, Yunan takes the opportunity to study the woman. Noticing how her purple hair grown longer and showing no signs of the black locks she once had when he first took her in. Was it so long since the last time they sat together like this? A mark on her neck caught his attention, reddish with a slight purple tint could only mean one thing.
Blue eyes shifted downward, staring into the green mixture he called tea. A sad feel crept in him but the magi quickly pushed it aside, wanting to savor the treasured quality time with Dahila. A faint smile appears on his delicate lips "I already have a list made so feel free to add anything you might need".
The woman nodded softly, she bit her lips "Before we go... There's something I wanted to ask you" Dahila said in a overly soft tone, golden eyes avoiding looking directly into blue ones.
Yunan blinked in surprise at her, not knowing where or what she might be thinking. "What is it?" he simply asked, encouraging her to go on.
The Tanith's heart raced, he could hear the nervousness. Her lips parted in reluctance "Well..." Dahila began, gently placing her cup of now finished tea down on the wooden table. "I know I'm twenty three already and all... and if it's okay with you..." she paused, fearing his answer.
'All will be fine Princess' assured Nyx's voice in her head, calming the woman down ever so slightly.
"I'd like to stay here" Dahila ended, golden eyes finally meeting with his blue ones. Yunan could sense the immense amount of hope in her, along with something that for reasons unknown he couldn't fully describe.
The magi tilted his head slightly, expression unchanged "That's a silly question, of course you can stay. This is your home Dahila, that fact won't change" Yunan stated clearly without any sign of hesitation in his voice.
Dahila had to fight the urges inside her, both the innocent and tainted ones. To her dismay, the innocent one took over as cheeks lit with red in fearful blushing. Yunan's eyes widened in surprise of the woman's reaction to his response "Are you alright Dahila?" he asked naively, fully knowing what it was. Perhaps he just felt like teasing her a little.
"Oh um yeah! I'm totally fine" she said in a flustered manner, clumsily getting up from the floor in an attempt to escape any more embarrassment. "I'm going to check on Delmar!" Dahila shouted before exiting the room, Yunan couldn't help but let out a small chuckle to himself.
He sighed tiredly "What am I going to do about that girl..." the magi wondered aloud.
'Well if you weren't obvious before, you sure are now' nagged Sitri in Dahila's head.
The woman groaned '...Fuck...Off...'
Sitri chuckled in sick thrill of her dismay, 'You better pray he doesn't find out about your dirty little deeds Princess' he warned in a harsh reminder at Dahila's situation, making her feel worse.
Guilt and regret began to eat away at her, blaming the weakness of wanting attention. Although, it wasn't something unfamiliar to Dahila. She always seemed to find herself in the arms of absolutely terrible men in hopes be replace the need to be in the magi's. This was her downfall, one that made Dahila convince herself how unworthy she was. How she would never be able to have the one thing, the one person, the only person that truly mattered.
She ruined that chance a long time ago. There is nothing left of her to save in her eyes, not his.