âHello, Sera~â
My strides became frozen as the all-too-familiar voice that had come from my foyer. I swallowed what felt like a brick as I rested my hand on my stomach. Despite my internal screaming, calmly, I spoke his name. âIdris-.â
âYou have a nice place here. Is this how the other half lives?â I could see the glass he was holding in his right hand swirling around the contents before disappearing and reappearing empty on the table. âIâve been missing you, Sera. Youâve been challenging to locate."Â
Slowly, I make my way over to him and take a position by his side, where I could see him so clearly, him and his perfectly disheveled mess.
"We donât usually go tracking people who call things off. For those like us, space and time are crucial.â I rested my hands on the armrest, habit, I suppose. âWhat brings you here?"Â
The slow turn upward in his neck to look at me. His eyes were empty of color, though his face had filled out more since last I saw him; perhaps he finally took care of himself, though I doubt it. His gaze soon fell to my hands as he placed his callused ones over mine, thumb grazing over my delicate bracelets. âWe have a problem, Sera, and I think, you know what I mean.â
In truth, I had an idea of what he meant, though I acted against it. âI donât know what you mean, Idris. We have not been involved for about a year now, so I find it hard to see a problem.â I could tell he knew I was lying, the way his breathing shifted, his thumb no longer grazing over my wrist but gripping it. It wasnât uncomfortable or harmful but a grip to show control. He smiled. The same smile that pulled me in some years ago when I saved his life.
âI bet you have everyone here fooled, donât you. Howâs the double life treating in amongst the nobles? I know you, Sera. I groomed you. I know this is not the life you want. You feel trapped; I know it, I see it. Granted, I canât feel it right now for some odd reason, which is the reason I think you know. So, who is it then? Who has my doe-eyed babe longing?â
I feigned a smile and drew my hand away as I moved to pour myself a drink. "Youâve always been envious, Idris, but donât worry, there isnât anyone. After all, no one comes close to being able to deliver the kind of life Iâm looking for; you made sure that didnât happen,â I said from the rim of the glass. âPretty faces and pretty words donât always translate into lovely souls. Thatâs what you said to me when you were afraid Iâd romanticize this life, even though you forget Iâve always been this way. You were just the first to explore it.â
I only drank about half the glass before swallowing hard and setting the glass back down. âHe only comes in my dreams, and we are mad for each other. Like blazes of a thousand fires, and we burn together as the entire world watches because we are only safe and ourselves subconsciously.â This elicited a chuckle from Idris, followed by a laugh that became nasty. As he rose from the chair, he towered over me; his laughter hadnât stopped till it did. He simply shut off like a switch.Â
âSera. Sera, Sera. You humor me still, such a dreamer too.â His hand tucked a strand of my hair back into place, and I wanted to puke all over him, âI think I will stay within the Everlight for a bit. You know, just to watch over you. Make sure you behave like a good girl because I know you donât want these letters going to your cousin; Arius was his name, yes? Explaining why you came home.â As he spoke, he pulled two letters from his leather coat, and my heart sank. I could feel my eyes swell with tears. âAwe, Sera. Donât fret. I wouldnât do that to you so long as you stay good.â He grinned, placing a kiss on my forehead. âHave fun at that ball tomorrow night, yeah?â He said, pulling away, and as quick as I blinked, he was gone. Bastard. I reached for the glass again, downing the rest of the contents. Moving to grab my cloak and head out the door. I needed to walk.