I Choose You

Seven

Cal

Shade and Kilorn walk in front of me, I have no clue where we are going, I know we are in the Stilts, but that's all, I really should have paid more attention to maps.  Kilorn and Shade are talking, exchanging some words, but I don't interfere.  Stilts.  Where I met Mare.  I hope she's okay, safe, not being murdered.  

"Cal?" Shade turns his head, facing me, seeing if I'm still there.

"Yes? Where are we going?"  I ask, finally being part of the conversation. 

"Our place, I know Mother and Father will accept you now, I did,"

"Thank you, Shade,"

Back to silence, I've been to Mare's place, but it'll be different without Mare being there herself.  I hope she's okay with Maven.  I still can't believe what he did, the hate I feel is different, I want him dead.  Taking Mare, trying to make her his puppy, his Queen.

I want her to be my Queen, and I will have that happen, I will clear my name and Mare's, and Maven's crown will be mine again, it never was his to begin with. 

Mare

I am being taken to my own room, it's private, surprisingly.  Maven giving me my own space and everything.  Trying to woo me over.  I need to remember that, he is just being nice so I can be a part of whatever he's planning.  

"Thank you for my own room," I say, breaking the awkward silence.  Talking to him hurts, but it's a test, to see if Maven is really the Maven I want, the Maven I will choose. 

"Anytime, Mare, whatever you want, as long as it isn't to silly is yours,"

"Are you open to requests?"  I ask

"Yes, I always am,"  He said before I could finish my sentence, he really is trying.

"Could you give Farley extra care? I know she can't be released until the end of the month, but while she's here, can you make that happen?"

"Yes I can, why?"

I hesitate to tell him, is being honest with him the right choice?

Yes, it is, I need to be honest with him, so he can be honest with me.

"She's pregnant, Maven,"

He stops in his tracks, shocked.  I stop as well, waiting for his response.  He stays quiet for a moment.  "It's Shade's,"

"I can see why you care so much," he pauses, "I can see that being arranged, her unborn child is your family,"

He cares that Farley is family to me, to Shade.  It shocks me really, that he cares.  I know why he does, he cares for me, so he puts my needs and requests to heart, but it's hard to say yes to staying here, being a part of his life, possibly being his Queen.  But it's hard to say no as well, being on the run, possibly being killed.  But I can't be up in the air forever, no matter what feeling I feel towards Maven, I can't do that to him. 

***

We are in my quarters, he stands there in the doorway for a moment, as if he wanted to say something to me, I stood there, looking at him, leaning against the doorway.  He was searching for his words.  "Mare?"  His words were shaky, unsure.

"Yes Maven?" I meet his eyes, his light blue eyes still draw me close, as much as I don't want to admit it, they do. 

"I know part of you doesn't want to be here, but I don't want to kill you, my mother did, she's gone, so is my hate for you, but when you make your choice, whenever that is, I will respect it," he says that, he isn't lying, he says it with emotion, real emotion, he is being truthful, I can tell.

"Thank you, Maven," is all I can say, other words won't come out. 

"Your welcome Mare, hope you sleep well,"

He shuts the door, leaving me alone, he is giving me space.  I can hear the rumble of thunder outside, ringing in the castle walls, shaking the objects in the room.  The flash of lighting lights up the room.  The weather reflects my emotions, angry.  I am angry that I am here, that I have to choose from being on the run or living a life I don't know that I want.

I open a door to my balcony, standing outside, high up from the ground, far away from reality.  The lighting brightens up the sky, and the thunder shakes the kingdom, shakes away the lies.  I can't hold in the tears anymore, they stream down my pale cheeks, the lightning that is a part of me shines around me, the gold lightning of the sky meeting with my purple, I scream.  Not letting anything hold me back.  Maven is making me fall again, he wants me to drown into his act, I'm drowning fast, no one to catch me.  All I want is help, help from someone.  Anyone.

Help

Hey! I know, so many updates with no reads so far, great, hoping for reads soon!  

Hannah