Chapter Fifteen: A Broken Love

Aaron returns to his room, even though dinner has just finished downstairs. Not wanting to eat, he sits on the bed staring at his feet. He has not spoken to anyone since the meeting with his father. Everyone respected and gave him space.

It was a while when a knock on the door is heard. As Aaron remains quiet until Iolenes voice is heard. He needed to speak to her... He went too far. His heart beating fast as sweat begins to form on his forehead. His mind thinking of the meadow, he wanted to kiss her, ravage her... Mild panic sets inside his mind. His father... Iolene... Father... Iolene, father, Iolene, father... He closes his eyes tightly looking into his mind's eye. Feeling as if he standing on a precipice. One centimetre and he will fall... Fall down to where? He could not imagine, it was dark and cold as he shivered. All alone in the nothingness except the precipice in front of him.

"Aaron?" She asks again from behind the door. As Aaron felt a soft warmth in his heart. Making Aaron open his eyes. He replies as she is allowed inside.

"How did it go?" She asks straight to the point.

"How do you think it went?" Aaron does not even look at her. Shame and abandonment have now occupied his mind fully. Tempted to fall into the precipice. He leans forward as he covers his face with his hands.

"Aaron..." She sits next to him as Aaron breaks down crying. She leans on Aaron's shoulder as she let him cry. There was nothing to say... Trying her hardest to try and connect with his emotions. Aaron's father is dying and he still showed no remorse for what he did. Iolene's parents are dead, but thanks to Stein she knew they loved her. Aaron has no family apart from his mother, who has long passed...

It was a long moment until Aaron collects himself and wipes his tears. Iolene offers her a handkerchief and he accepts. Iolene still holding his hand as she kisses his cheek. Aaron felt it. His hand held onto hers tighter. He wanted to turn and kiss her on the lips. But instead...

"I had a moment of weakness... We should not have gone that far." Aaron blurts out.

Iolene is taken aback as she shakes off Aaron's hand. Iolene sighs with annoyance it made Aaron feel so much worse. Iolene then stands up and leans on the window sill looking up to the starry sky. Not attempting to look at him.

"Where could our relationship go?" Aaron asks breaking the silence.

"Anywhere." Iolene sharply replies as she gazed up to the sky. "When I am Empress of Loan I can do whatever I want. It is up to no one else." But in her heart, she knew there could be a scenario of a potential arranged marriage. The Turquoise Empire was a failure and the Red Empire still needs to be visited. And who knows what they will ask of her... "You do not have to push me away you know..." She says stubbornly, folding her arms.

"I'm not... I just..." Aaron groans as he rubs his eyes and temples. "It's complicated... You are an Empress and I am a slave."

"Complicated, slave? Aaron, I am here. You are not there... Mali has given you freedom. But you still act as if you are still there!" Iolene sounded as if she is pleading with him. Placing her hands on his face with tears in her eyes.

"There is something else... About me being a slave, that you should know about." Aaron admits, gently removing her hands from his face.

Iolene is confused.

"Phylacteries," Aaron says as Iolene repeats the word.

"What is that?" She asks.

"It's not just tattoos that define you as a slave. It is an easier visual yes... But there is more to it." Aaron admits. "I don't think even Mali knows, I thought he did. Considering he is a priest and knows things. It's not really a conversion that is usually had between slave and master."

"Aaron, what are you talking about?"

"The phylactery... Is a small orange draconium vial that contains blood. Kept in the enslaved archive vault in Dominus Sahara. When I was first taken to Ramel, they took me and cut my arm. My blood leaked into an empty vial. They then carved my numbers which were 50,201 at the time onto that vial. My real chains, they said..."

"What does it do? This vial?"

"It is oddly magical. I tried to save a boy once while training... I was ordered to kill him. Instead, I attacked the guard dragons and the boy managed to escape. Or I thought he did... It was how I got my barbed mouth mask. They did find him... They must have used the phylactery to find him."

Iolene covers her mouth. "Poor little boy..." She murmurs.

As Aaron thinks back on that day, he wished he did kill the boy. It would have been quick and painless. Instead, Aaron's attempt of mercy made it worse as he saw he was flayed and skinned. His little body hanging underneath the desert sun. Aaron shakes his head to try and forget. But that moment like many, is burned into his memory.

"Can they spy? On us?" Iolene had a hint of fear in her voice.

"Not really, they cannot see from my eyes or hear me... There is a method involved. But they can communicate with me if they desire. They can order me around still... They can even demand for me to return to Dominus Sahara if they wished. Mali owns me by paperwork. But in reality, I am still the property of the Orange Empire."

"Wait, so they can just tell you to go back?" Iolene says shocked.

"Yes... And not just that. I know another Iqosha soldier 59, who returned from his new owner. They didn't pay Master Isil the full amount and that dragon loves his gold. So Master Isil used 59's phylactery to order him home and he did. I spoke to him and 59 explained it was like a voice echoing in your head... It was a massive urge to return... Like a feeling of desperation to go back home. No matter the cost, 59 killed his new master in the process."

Iolene paces around the room without saying a word.

"Queen Avery... If I got her side of the bargain of freeing me. The Queen can authorise the destruction of the phylactery. I was counting on it..." Aaron wanted to cry as he thought of it again. He was so close... Pure freedom.

Iolene's mind reeled as she thought to herself. Imagine... If they caught word of a sought-after Gold Empress with an orange slave. They will take advantage of it... Iolene sits on the bed as she quietly thought to herself. Aaron was right... She has been a fool. As long as Aaron's phylactery remains she cannot be with him.

"What happens in the meadow, stays in the meadow?" Iolene tried her hardest not to break down crying. Aaron nods in agreement.

Iolene stands up to open the door as she needed time to think. Opening it ajar as she paused for a moment.

"No matter who I court or marry. It will always be you... I love you..." Iolene then abruptly leaves as Aaron is now alone in his room.

"I love you too, I love you so much..." He whispers, even though she will not hear it.