Ch 8: There are no secret amongst demons
Her lips trembled as she watched that beautiful mead, with its amber waves spill past Obi's lips, she bit back a whine oh how she wished she could partake of such finery but alas her threshold for alcohol was so low even a half a cup had her mumbling like an incoherent child. She sighed, she was by no means addicted to the substance but imposing a sober night upon herself while being completely aware of a secret to pass her lips to such a deceiver! She would rather drown in mead and reap the rewards, despite the fiasco of this morning but alas she made an oath to abstine. Naoki sipped idly at her water watching as Obi indulged upon another glass, her coin purse was already thinning and soon she would have to open a tab at the pace the wolf with golden eyes was going. A wolf was a perfect description in her opinion, he was imposing and graceful, swift and beautiful in his attack; the thunk of his glass slamming against the wooden table with a satisfied murmur on his lips drew her from her reverie, as she met those said golden eyes.
"Only water tonight? And here I was looking forward to carrying you back to your room." He gave her a sly look that made a deep maroon blush coat her cheeks, he snickered at her angry huff and defiant act of chugging the whole of her water in a single gulp. She reached to refill her cup with the pitcher only to have those mahony eyes of hers wander to his cup with lust, He ran a fingertip along the sides and brim of his cup in a luxurious fashion mindful of how her eyes tracked the movement. With a smug look he picked up the mug and ever so slowly brought it to his lips, all the while trying to hold in the laughter that kept bubbling up. As the bitter brew coated his tongue, he watched as her pink tongue swept her full bottom lip, he took a large gulp and released a sighed as though it was ambrosia. She growled at his taunt and with jerky motions finally accomplished her task of filling her glass to the brim with water.
" You are a demon." She muttered and took small sips as she prepared herself to confide a secret, she had many but only a few of worth and those she held onto with a white knuckled grip determined to keep them buried.
Obi gave her a cheeky grin, he began a rhythm with the blunt of his fingertips as he tapped watching as her chocolate eyes melted into a mixture of emotions each one darkening and lightening the brown hues of her eyes. She was lost in thought and that gave Obi a chance to examine her closely, why did his breath still in his lungs this morning? It was worrisome to him. She was delicate in features long lashes and pink pouty lips but even that didn't make his heartbeat stutter nor her big eyes that were that soulful brown, his brow creased in thought nothing about her stood out. Miss Kiki was stunning with gold spun hair and a penetrating gaze, Shirayuki, her wiles and so much more made her glow but in terms of beauty her hair of red and eyes of the forest were unmatched. The women before him seemed like a pale imitation to the wild fairy he glimpsed in the morning rain, his tapping increased in volume till he felt a small hand with a strength the took him by surprised stilled his movement with a harsh slap.
"That incessant tapping is reminding me of my headache!" she growled at him as her eyes flashed.
Obi held up both hands and plastered on his most coy smile. "Why I'm sorry miss, please continue with your thoughts."
She gave another grunt of displeasure before staring intently at him, Obi raised a brow before returning to his drink. Her gaze never faltered as her brow creased in intense thought.
"Why Miss Naoki, you will make me blush if you keep staring at me like that!"
She blinked those molten chocolate eyes before looking away, embarrassment staining her cheeks. "I'm sorry." She sighed as she fidgeted, combing her fingers through the spiky crop of her mauve hair. "I just can't figure what boon of a secret to give you tonight."
His golden eyes took on a serious edge as he looked the women over, she was lethal and graced with a innocence but seemed hunted like prey by her own thoughts. As though they were corporal chasing her with bloodlust, he witnessed a darkened expression roll through those eyes at small mentions of her past. Even now he could see that same expression pulsing along those eyes waiting for a trigger to spring forth and engulf her. So many questions, too many secrets to request, thoughts that scattered through his mind like the gulls upon the sinking horizon, with a sigh he took a long sip mulling over what to say to coax even an earnest revelation from her.
"You are not on trial, nor will you be prosecuted Miss Naoki." He looked at her with intense golden eyes. "Bare whatever sins you wish to."
Mitsuhide was growing worried as he propped his hip against the cool Ivory banister, hues of dawn mingled with the stormy sky threading its twilight hue within in the puffy grey clouds that swallowed the dismal light leaking from its cracks, he drummed his fingers along his forearms as his frown began to rival the thunder clouds. The crackle of lightning sent creepy crawly shivers down his spine and the thunderous boom had his shoulders tensing and jaw clenching with a tremendous effort. 'Where is she!?' His mind was frantic as a million scenarios where Kiki was laying on the cold forest floor shafts of moonlight highlighting her prone form as the bears maw encompassed the golden crown of her head. Mitsuhide's face paled as panic gripped his already taxed heart into overdrive. 'Why did I send her to investigate Naoki, why oh why now she's bear food!' He scrubbed his fingers into his cropped hair, brushing the teal strands into haphazard peaks, he looked frantic and felt it 'I sent her yesterday!' It was a simple mission to retrieve the roaster for the gambit posed to attain the guard for Shirayuki, the lack of pertinent details as to who truely the victor was, didn't set right with him; only a slim piece of paper to proclaim their victory in the bout? He was suspicious. After Prince Izana's declaration to meet with Zen it gave the loyal servant pause. His suspicions were coming to a head and with the First prince making an appearance in such a short time after Miss Naoki's, it all but confirmed them.
"Kiki.." He mumbled as a wolf joined the imagery, taking her stilled foot between its teeth like a bone to bury, that was it! he needed to find her now! He pushed himself off the banister and moved to turn.
"Yes?"
A womanly shriek burst through his lips as he bounded back in complete horror, his hip connecting with the polished white stone sparking pain to lace up his spine. Lightning crashed illuminating those familiar pale blue eyes and washing her golden hair in white. 'Her spirit has come to haunt me for letting her be eaten by bears and wolves!'
Her hand grabbed his forearm in a firm grip as she gave him a bland look and shook her head in complete wonder at how this male survives. "Mitsuhide, I have the information you wanted me to look into."
His breathe bounced in his chest as he heaved and released a sigh of relief, he relaxed holding back a need to wrap his arms around her and bury that beautiful face in his chest 'I'm so glad you weren't eaten by wolves and bears Kiki!' he thought happily as he coughed into his hand composing himself like a man of his rank should.
"Thank you Kiki, I take it you made it in before the storm became too violent?" He groped the wrapped parchments that she offered, she ran nimble fingers over the clasp of her satchel closing it as she leaned against the door frame watching as Mitsuhide thumbed through the papers. She enjoyed watching how his face in relaxed company reflected every thought, fluidly melting from one emotion to another giving her a simple enjoyment, she was an audience to those play of emotions that told stories of what this man felt and thought. Her mind produced that look of fear that clouded his handsome face just moments ago, it made her melt for him more, this simple man that she one day will claim cared for her well being and it made her heart sing. She was thankful her stoic expression concealed those tender feeling that pulsed within her, only her warm gaze would ever betray these gentle emotions she tucked beneath a cold appraisal .
" Yes, though the gales and thunder gave me some difficulty." She watched him nod as his eyes skimmed the pages looking for evidence of what he suspected. She knew when he found the same sentence that stuck her like a blow, his eyes widen, a look of shock marring his features, she even felt the same sting of clarity gnaw at her as realization sucked the oxygen out of their lungs.
With gentle fingers he soothed the tangles of red along her crown, small murmurs whispered from her lips at his soft touch. Zen watched as Shirayuki slumbered upon her bed, he had carried the exhausted women to her room and laid her down with tender care, that was of course after he basked in their comfortable embrace, prolonging their time together. Zen frowned at the cumbersome thoughts that tugged him away from the serenity that is his Shirayuki, his brow pinched together as that disturbing feeling of unease rose to his chest squeezing his lungs with a heavy hand. He reminded himself of how Mitsuhide had found the slumbering couple and gave the foreboding news of meeting with his elder brother to him in hushed tones, allowing the princess to travel her dreams unperturbed. It was a quick exchange of words that left a tension thrumming through Zen, regardless of the call for his attention he gave into the leisure of enjoying a rare moment of peace with his bride to be. With a wordless exchange between him and his cherished friend, Mitsuhide left anon, allowing the couple a most earned moment of solitude. Zen chose to put off that ominous meeting till the evening and did not regret making his brother wait as he enjoyed the sweet sounds Shirayuki made in her sleep or how he allowed himself to relish the feel of her soft skin as he cupped her jaw his large hand swallowing up the delicate curve, he swept his thumb along her cheek and gently brushed her full lower lip, he remembered how his blood raced to feel that soft petal against the rough callous that blanketed the flesh of his fingers. Or how desire bloomed in his chest and a wish to envelope those plump lips with his own beckoned him. That heated memory revived the same cherry red flushed that enveloped him to his neck, his pulse quickened as he repeated the same motion from earlier, jerking his face away from her in an awkward motion, even now he thanked the gods and goddesses of his land for her being dead asleep.
Her soft puffs of breath calmed him calling him back to the present state of affairs, as a turbulent gale of dark emotions whipped through him, he leaned forward a blush still coating the apples of his cheeks as he offered gentle whispers of dreams and words of love to caress the shell of her ear, he straightened and rose to his full height, pulling his shoulders back with a feeling of renewed determination to confront his elder brother.
"I find grapes to be disturbing!" She whispered in hushed tones, Obi looked at her to weigh how serious her statement was, when her expression never wavered a hearty laugh burst from his chest, curious glances slid their way as Naoki's ire rose with each wave of laughter.
"I'm serious, the skin makes a gross pop when you bite down!" She all but whined at him.
It did not help to quell his laughter infact it increased it tenfold, her darkening expression sobered Obi briefly before he allowed another fit of giggles to roll over him.
"Not the secret I was expecting to hear." He mumbled, a handsome grin splitting his face "I'll let that one count for tonight only, but tomorrow I better hear a very compelling one." He raised his glass in a salute before pressing it to his lips. She gave a snort and felt her ears perk as a newcomer entered the quaint little bar, the melodious tinkle of the bell weaved through the lively chatter as something like cold fingertips tracing her spine compelled her to look upon the entrance. She felt all the blood drain from her face as a small hunched back old women with a cane waddled in with a few taps, those innocent droopy eyes opened and locked with Naoki's across the expanse of the bar, a sinister feeling choked her as those cold lifeless eyes gazed upon her, a smile that folded across the weathered face was feral. The distance seemed shallow as if she could feel that petride creatures foul breath blanket her face. Naoki felt her heart ricochet within her ribs, pumping wildly as a lightheaded feeling washed over her, the edges of her vision became fuzzy as that cruel contorted face focused on her like a predator stalking it's prey. Cold dread covered her and sunk deep in her bones as a single name bounced in her skull 'Grandma Zubani.'
Izana looked up as his younger brother walked to his desk, his expression was set in polite determination. Izana motioned with a handful of papers for the second prince to take a seat.
"I know you are curious as to why I called you here." He began as Zen obediently took a plush velvet chair positioned at the fore of the massive desk whilst the first prince laid his fist of papers down upon the dark oak that have veins of black weaved through its surface of the handsome desk With clipped motions he smoothed any creases that dared to mar the paperwork.
"What does it concern?" Zen asked getting straight to the point, his fingers already white knuckling the arms of the chair.
Izana sighed, though his investigation proved a malicious truth regardless it brought him no pleasure to reveal it to his dear brother, one that he cherished in his own way, by pushing the second prince of Clarines to be worthy of his title and to blaze his own path that a ruler of their grand kingdom would take pride in. His fingers pressed into the pages that spilled many secrets, but he chose carefully of which to reveal to his young brother today, it was not easy to hold back that war was ready to breakout like a caged beast upon their fair lands. The secret he wished to unleash upon the second prince was more pressing. Izana used silence as his answer as he pushed the dossier, the document that gave the first prince pause, in front of Zen.
Wordlessly Zen perused the sleek script once, twice until the impact of what each word implicated hit him with a force that had him desperately rereading the page, the meaning of the dossier chilled him to the bone and as the words melded together a singular emotion rose forth and gave birth to a red haze that filled his vision, Izana watched as realization dawned upon the young prince, his face convulsing with dark emotions that become more turbulent with each sweep of the script, his fingers crushed the parchment, brows knitting together in rage.
"How can this be?" Zen hissed
" The title Naoki is passed down to every bastard daughter of the royal family of Oroboria, trained dogs, their own personal assassins." Izana sneered a look of distaste wrinkling his nose "You have yourself a deadly princess, a smile on her face while she plants a dagger in your back for her kingdom."