Onyx

Chapter 15: Troubles

Grumbling, he walked to her door and knocked loudly. She opened the door and he was surprised to find her dressed nicely.

She wore a white short sleeved shirt with white bottoms that contrasted beautifully with her dark skin. Her waist was adorned with a gold v-shaped belt accentuating it more, and she wore gold heels. Connected to the neck of the shirt was a white cape. She was garnered with gold jewelry, and her hair was freshly braided with curly strands sticking out. She looked wonderful, he thought.

He cleared his throat. "Ready for dinner?"

She nodded, her demeanor completely changed from earlier. She seemed composed, and cold. Different.

The walk to the dining pavilion was silent and awkward. I should have let Cato walk her instead.

Once they entered, he saw her immediately go to Ludo and sit with him. He was glad she wouldn't pester him the whole meal, but he was weary of Ludo. He was new, so he was being monitored carefully. He hasn't done anything bad, but he hasn't been super beneficial either. He's just there, and that worries Keanu. Usually those who try to blend in, do so for a reason.

Cato walked up behind him and clapped his back, pulling Keanu from his thoughts. "Thanks for taking her for me. The silence on the way here was like music to my ears."

Keanu laughed. "She was surprisingly quiet this time."

Cato winked at him. "I think it's because she was with you eh?"

Keanu shook his head with disgust. "Absolutely not."

Cato laughed and gestured to a seat at the table. Keanu shrugged and sat with him.

"So Keanu, how go your plans with the thybrid?"

Keanu looked amused. "Thybrid?"

"That's what they're calling her, since she's no hybrid."

Keanu laughed. "Suits her I think."

"Aye."

"The plans are undeveloped as of right now. I need to work on them tonight."

"Ahh, okay."

They sat in silence for a minute until Keanu remembered what he wanted to say to him earlier. "You told her about only working in the mornings?"

"Why yes I did. You should've told her."

Keanu groaned. "I was purposely holding off on that. Now she wants me to spend my free time with her."

Cato laughed. "Will you?"

"I suppose I have to now. The council expects me to fully train her in 3 months. There's no way I'll be able to do that without having to train her afternoons as well."

Cato raised his brows. "I think this is the one time I don't envy you."

Keanu laughed. "You shouldn't envy me anyways.
"

Cato just shrugged his shoulders. "I think everyone has at one point or another."

Keanu shook his head. If only they knew.

The food came out and it was delicious as usual. They had steak with mashed potatoes and gravy, along with multiple other side dishes including Keanus favorite which was sweet potato pie.

***

After dinner was finished, Keanu silently walked Onyx back to her room. She closed the door without a word. He didn't complain.

He walked to his room lost in his thoughts. There was so many moving parts to this and he felt overwhelmed. He wasn't even sure Onyx was the right person for the task. It was a lot of responsibility and he didn't think she could handle it. She had a whole meltdown for not getting enough attention from him, and is now acting childish about him being logical. Imagine what would happen to her when she carries the burdens of war on her shoulders. She would break.

He reached his room and heavily sat down at his desk. It was a medium sized room with a nice bed and a large oak desk. It was a bit bland, but he did keep old items from his childhood out. He wasn't sure why. It wasn't his happiest memories.

He turned towards all the preparation papers previous to Onyx's arrival scattered on his desk, and trashed them. Those plans were useless now. He started the long arduous task of starting from scratch, this time with it centered around Onyx. How irritating.

He was working for a good hour before he heard his door open to his room. He turned and saw Flavia standing at the door. She shut it behind her. Flavia.

Keanu felt the familiar swelling of longing in his chest. He wasn't sure why, but he didn't feel like suppressing it. Maybe it was the mead at dinner, or maybe it was the stress from the day, but all he wanted was to lay in her arms.

She sensed it on his face and moved towards him. He stood up and they met in the middle and enveloped in a warm embrace. She stroked his face and looked into his eyes.

"I've missed you Kea."

He didn't even try to stop himself. "Me too." As much as he wanted to deny it, he's been missing her. She was his best friend. Was.

She held his hand and walked him over to the bed. His head was screaming this was a bad idea, but his heart didn't care at that moment. He was so stressed with everything that's been happening, that he felt like he needed some sort of relief, whichever way that was.

He lay entangled in her arms, smelling that familiar scent of coconut, memories flooding back into his mind, back when he was certain she was the one he would bond with. He felt her playing with his locks, removing the rings one by one. He just let her.

They lay caressing one another smiling, reliving past memories for an hour before the door swung open. Mandel was standing in the doorway looking frayed.

"Sorry if I'm interrupting sir, but there has been an emergency."

Keanu quickly sat up suddenly alert. "What happened?"

Mandel's eyes widened. "Elves."