STOLEN HEART

Emerald Gift

Aphmau (P.O.V)
Beatrice face is now plastered with a frown "Natural causes, that's when Zane's father and Zane himself started to well... Become different people and not for the better. Garroth left for guard training soon after his mother's death." A small amount of pity for Zane enters my mind, even if he is a tyrant, losing his mother and in away his father and Garroth would most definitely not be easy.
"Why do you think Zane became..the way he is?" I ask, stepping out of line just a bit.
"Well when Zane was a young boy he was the happiest person in the world but once his family fell apart something snapped inside of him. I'll never know why he went as far as war or turned power hungry, you would have to ask him, but I don't think he will ever open up about it."
I don't want to talk to him, I want absolutely nothing to do with him but it will be hard to avoid him when we..Somehow I forgot about my deal with the devil himself, how could I have. My knees become weak and give way leaving me on the floor with my head in my hands tears now flowing down both cheeks. I sob ugily with heavy uneven breathing. Beatrice joins me on the floor and pulling my moist hands away from my face holds my hands in hers and says calmly, "What's wrong Miss," she smiles gently, "Was it something I said?" I look up at her,
"No, it's just that it's finally come into my head that I have to marry Zane, What have I sold myself too?". Beatrice wraps an arm around my back bring me into her embrace and I transfer tears onto her dress sleeve.
"I promise you m'lady that whatever happens you always have me to speak to." I murmur a thank you and nothing but my crying can be heard in the room.

Zane (P.O.V)
I get out of bed well rested from the long journey yesterday, put my clothes on and head down to the hall for breakfast. I sit down in the chair at the head of the table, there are four places each side and another chair at the other end of the table. I circle my finger around the rim of my glass slouching in my chair, it makes a high pitch sound that echoes through the room. The completely empty room. I look at the other end of the table, the empty chair where I plan Aphmau to sit at some point. She won't want to join me I know, but I've already given her the privilege of having breakfast and lunch in her room, I don't think dinner will be asking for much. I drop a mountain of sugar into my porridge and watch it sink until I begin to stir it.
Once I've finished my food I ring for a servant who swiftly clears the table of once covered in all different types of breakfast to covered in nothing but a table cloth. I pace down the hall with servants bowing when they see me, I keep walking until my feet stop at the bottom of the south stairs. I don't want to go up there but before I know it my feet are moving up the floors one by one. Once I'd reached Aphmau's door I raised my hand ready to knock on the door but I heard crying leaking out from a small gap in the door. I lower my hand down and place my ear against the door instead, Beatrice must be inside because I hear another voice in there.
"I'll never see any of my friends again," The weeping voice says, "and the last thing they saw of me was getting beaten unconscious. What kind of Lord allows that to happen. What about Garroth, Laurence, the last I saw of them was Laurence getting knocked out by..." She pauses, "..It was Brian, Brian was the spy! Zane... How did Zane even get Brian to..!"
I burst in with a flame of anger newly ignited inside me. Aphmau's eyes widen as she pushes her way backwards until she is pinned against her bed frame.
"Beatrice," I snap, "wait outside!" My gaze is fixed on Aphmau as Beatrice slips out beside me and as I close the door slowly. Aphmau wipes her moist cheeks with a shaking hand and says quietly and surprisingly gently.
"What do you want Zane? You have everything of mine already." She looks up at me with shinning eyes. I reach into my pocket to pull out a maroon velvet box no wider or longer than my thumb. Opening it up towards me I take out the silver ring with emerald gems entwined  into it. "I don't need a ring Zane, but thank you." Her sarcastic tone ends with a spitful smile that leaves her face almost as quickly as it appeared. I snigger slightly and join her on the floor making sure I'm close to her and I reach out for her hand, she turns her head away from me. I keep my hand out and say,
"It was made for you, think of it what you will: an engagement ring, a welcoming gift I don't care but it's yours". She says again,
"I don't want it.."