STARBORN: FORTY-FIVE—THE WOUNDS OF THE TRUTH
2013 • L O N D O N
CRYSTAL BLUE EYES WATCHED AS ALORA STARK DISAPPEARED THROUGH THE PORTAL, HER SCREAM CUTTING OFF ABRUPTLY, SUCCUMBING KALUM'S EARS INTO A DEAFENING SILENCE.
A boyish smile tugged at the corner of his lips, his mind picturing her horrified look as she continuously fell through the portal, he chuckled to himself finding it amusing. He double taps the railing with the heel of his left palm before swiveling on his feet and climbing down the stairs, as he jogged down the stairs Kalum couldn't help but listen to the intrusive thoughts that screamed and echoed through the walls of his brain. Lately, Kalum has noticed something strange within himself, something that hadn't been there for several years.
His heart has grown heavy over the years, the thin and bony fingers of nostalgia and melancholy wrapped around his heart, releasing poisonous feelings through his whole body. Kalum Tiberius was losing his spark and all because he longed to feel at home, a home that kicked him out and never even bothered to check up on him, not even once. Not even to know if he was still alive. He yearns to see his father one more time, to be in his mother's embrace and apologize for breaking her heart, fix things with his brothers, and meet Kashif, his little brother.
The years had taken a toll on him. Kalum stopped seeing life as an adventure for a while now, everywhere he looks he sees parents walking around with their kids, buying them presents just to see their excited smile. And most of the time he finds himself wondering if he'll ever get the chance to start a family of his own, following closely that thought was always the one regarding his family, will he be able to reunite with them before it's too late?
Kalum stepped into the open room, he glanced at an old truck that was simply abandoned there before his eyes focused on the exit. "Leaving so soon?"
He freezes, a shiver runs down his spine at the sound of her voice, Kalum exhales loudly as he turns around slowly. "You..."
Ma'at stands by the hallway that leads to the stairs, she gives him a lopsided smile as she walks toward him. "Me."
Kalum frowns, not understanding what she was doing here, he meets her halfway through the open room. "I thought I'll never see you again." The prince brings her in for a hug, Ma'at embraces him with equal force, hearts bleeding with emotion. "Why haven't you visited? It's been years."
Ma'at glanced at the roof, staring at the rusty ceiling, the momentary happiness she felt vanished and concern took its place. She gave him a last squeeze before pulling away from the hug first, she took a step back, swallowing hard before offering him a timid smile. "A lot has happened. Many things. I wish I could tell you all, but I've come on limited time."
"I see... I think I know why you stopped coming." Kalum nodded to himself, his eyes flared up with anger and resentment, Ma'at felt uneasy. "It's because of fathe—I don't even know why I keep calling him that—it's because of Horus, isn't it? He forbade you to visit me."
"No." Ma'at spoke, her voice strong and firm, despite the thunderous beating of her heartbeat. "That's not the reason why." She glanced down, almost ashamed.
Kalum scoffed, clearly not believing her. "Stop doing this." He glances at her sternly, he took a step closer to her. "Stop lying for him. I know he wants nothing to do with me, he's made it very clear. If he's changed his attitude towards you, just remember he wanted to punish you instead—."
"—I know how the story goes Karim!" She sharply glanced at him, face annoyed. "I have not forgotten about that day and I have to live with the fact that you threw away your life for me, which makes what I'm about to tell you unbearably hard."
He frowns, brows knitted together and crystal blue eyes softening. "Hun, what's going on?"
Ma'at sucked in a deep breath, trying hard not to let emotions overwhelm her. "I'm burdened with bad news. Which one would you like to hear, the bad news or the brutal news?"
Kalum grimace. "It's hard to choose when you put it like that." He chuckled nervously but Ma'at remained serious and composed, Kalum hadn't noticed it right away but now he realizes how much her behavior towards him had changed, it was more friendly. He found himself frowning, Kalum wasn't dumb, he could be slow but he was far from dumb. "Let's go with the worse one. The Brutal one."
The Goddess of Justice had hoped he didn't choose that one first, she glanced to her feet as she thought of how she was going to tell him. She met his eyes; her brown ones were glassy but no tear fell.
"What I'm about to tell you won't be easy, even more when it happened less than a century ago." Kalum felt his heartbeat pound stronger, dread tug at his heartstrings tauntingly. "Karim... King Horus and Queen Hathor, passed away long ago." Kalum remained still, he felt his heart drop to the pit of his stomach, that was the only reaction he had. "I'm so sorry it took this long."
He nodded, his face remained blank as his brain took its time to process the news. "And the bad one?"
"Are you sure you don't need a minute?" He nodded confidently, his face was scarily indifferent and Ma'at failed to decipher if he was suppressing his emotions or he really didn't feel anything.
As Ma'at opened her mouth to tell him the truth she had been dreading to say, she was interrupted by him. "Just tell me one thing, before you carry on, it's in regards to my exile." Ma'at inhale deeply. "Did my father have a say on anything regarding it? Am I pardoned—No, don't answer it, he's been gone for less than a century now. If I were to be pardoned I would've been home at this point. Just-Just get on with it."
She nodded. "This one is relatively less bad, it depends on how you perceive it. I just want you to know I never stopped caring for you, me being here today proves it to you." Kalum clenched his jaw, having a feeling of what her next words might be. "Once Horus and Hathor passed on to the afterlife, the realm needed a new leader, your return isn't until a prophecy is fulfilled. It's been 71 years, our people just couldn't wait for you, so they petition for Faisal to be the King of the Eternal Temple and I—."
"—His Queen." Kalum finished her sentence, he looked furious and Ma'at feared the worst. "How could they do this to you, did they force you to do this? I swear if they—."
"—They didn't." Ma'at confessed, she hugged her arms in an effort to give herself comfort. "I married Faisal because I've fallen in love with him, not just for the sake of our people."
Kalum staggered back, he stared back at her with such hurt and betrayal that it made her heart writhe with guilt and shame. He felt like his whole world just crumbled before his eyes, tears rolled down his cheek, his brain finally registering what was happening to him. He was alone. He belonged to no one. Kalum was a wanderer and just a wanderer, he had no home and no one was expecting him to return. Ma'at was his last hope, but seemingly like everything in his life, it escaped from his grasp.
Until when, he would wonder to himself, until when will I stop pursuing happiness?
"Karim?" Ma'at took a cautious step forward, but Kalum felt so betrayed by her that he flinched aggressively.
"Don't you dare come near me." He snapped, Ma'at looked at him with hurt. "Just..." He struggles to find the words, tears were running down his cheeks, drops fell on his dark coat leaving noticeable stains. He ran a hand over his face, wiping the tears off, he took in a deep breath reminding himself that what they had was long gone ever since he was exiled. "I know it's selfish of me to hope you never fall in love with someone else, and even more to think that you would wait for me."
He met her eyes with a broken gaze, Ma'at's face contorted as she tried hard not to burst into tears, but it was all in vain.
She broke down, her feet carried her to him, eyes begging for forgiveness. "I'm sorry." She cried, Kalum stared at her for a moment before his good heart gave in and he found himself hugging her.
He held her, his chin rested on top of her head. "I know." Ma'at tightened her hold around his torso. "Me too."
"I swear to you; my last intention was to hurt you." She cried. "You were my first love... and I had hopes that you would've been my last. But—But t-then I had to open my big mouth. I ruined us. I—I ruined your l-life."
Kalum bit his lower lip hard, he needed to get out of there. "Listen." He took in a deep breath and forced himself to be tough, he pulled away from the hug but his hands remained on her arms as he looked into her eyes. "I'm here by choice. I wasn't just a kid who wanted to form a diplomatic allegiance with the Norse, I was a man, I knew what I was doing and the potential consequences. I just chose to ignore them. And you, you had nothing to do with it, being my supporter doesn't make you guilty. It showed me that you believed in me, and I will always appreciate that."
"It's not fair." She whispered, a tear rolling down her sun kissed cheeks, head shaking slightly.
Kalum attempted to smile for her. "It is fair." He nodded. "It's fair because you get to be happy and that brings me happiness." Ma'at let out a shaky sigh. "Faisal is a great man, a huge pain in the ass and a big showoff, but a man that will love you and treat you fairly. That's all I ever wanted for you, love and happiness."
"Thank you." Ma'at smiled, her eyes expressed all the gratefulness her lips failed to say. "Will you be okay?"
"Always." Kalum sniffed, he let go of her arms and straightened up. "Phew, that's enough crying for today. Now I really feel like trying that Belgian beer. Heard it's good." He started to back away, his façade wouldn't last any longer. "Please send my love to Faisal, tell him not to start another war with the Norse, they're nice people once you get past all their boisterous behavior."
Ma'at sigh, she nodded and smiled for his sake. "I will. Just please be careful."
"Pfft, where's the fun in that?" Kalum shrugged, laughing loudly, he gave Ma'at a last wink before turning around and stepping out of the abandoned warehouse. Rain poured down his broken and aching body, once he was sure he was out of her eyesight, Kalum urged his wings out, ripping through the fabric of his expensive clothes before jumping off the ground and soaring through the air.
Once he passed the grey clouds and flew above them where the sun and calmness was hiding, Kalum released a throat wrenching scream charged with all the emotions he had been suppressing for God knows how long. Below him thunder resonated, flashes of lightning would often appear, a storm was brewing around him and within him.
Why me? He screamed at the sun, eyes bloodshot and puffy. The big star shone brightly and annoyingly optimistic, he used to be a ray of sunshine but lately he was feeling so alone, so lost. He loved Alora, but he wishes he had a life of his own, he has tried so many things trying to trick his brain that he isn't only here because of her. But it's been 71 years, and all those years had been devoted to her.
And now there was no reason for him to go back, Horus is dead and he is still on earth, perhaps he should start making peace with the fact that this realm is his new home.
His life now.
Why do I keep hurting
My favorite bean, I
Have no clue.
I think I have problems.
HAHAHA 🙃
Stay safe my loves 💕