This profile I created for Fictober 2019. I write mostly original fiction and Fictober 2019 is the first time I'm posting my work on a public domain, so I'm kinda nervous.
By the time you read this, I’ll be on my way back to New York. I don’t really know how to start this, so I’m just going to say it. I can’t do this anymore. I thought I could learn to fit into your world, play the part, smile when I’m supposed to. But I’ve been pretending so hard that I forgot who I am.
You once said love could fix anything. I wanted that to be true. But love doesn’t make the whispers stop, or the way people look at me like I’m some kind of mistake. I know you’d fight for me, you already have, but I can’t be the reason you keep fighting a battle you were never meant to win.
This isn’t about not loving you. God, I still love you. I’ll probably always love you. But that love’s starting to hurt more than it helps. And I need to be somewhere I can breathe again, somewhere that feels like me.
Please don’t hate me for leaving. Just… remember me when you need to. And if our paths ever cross again, I hope we’ll both be okay by then.
In just one morning, with the loss of a friend, the way Eveline understood her world had altered— the prince, a sorceress and a curse, unlike the one that was placed on her. Now she stands in front of the Son of Malveon. A person she had previously thought wanted her dead but continually treated her like the person she claims to be: a princess. If he was truly who he said he was, if what he told her was the truth, then he knows almost everything about her, and she knows nothing about him. She was almost too scared to go home; afraid she might have incited a war between the kingdoms.
Ryland startled her as he approached from behind. “I won’t hurt you,” he said. “If I wanted to, I would have done it before today; it would have been easier.”
“What’s stopping me from k you now?” she mumbled to herself, though she knew he could hear her. She couldn’t answer that question herself.
He sat down on the ground next to her, letting his legs dangle over the edge. “Maybe a part of you hopes I’m not the evil prince you were led to believe. After living with you these past few months,” he said, quieter, “I can assure you I’m not.”
Eveline said nothing, keeping her gaze ahead of her. She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t know what to believe.
“My opinion of you and your kingdom has changed,” Ryland continued. After a short pause, he said the words he’s been dying to say for weeks. “I can convince my father to end this war.” Eveline looked at him for the first time in what felt like hours. “If you can convince your mother to do the same.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small flower, pink petals with violet tips—Eveline’s favorite. He held it out to her. “Do you trust me?”
The words echoed in her mind. /trust./ Why should she trust him? Why should he trust her? Her mind flooded with memories and emotion. In the end, she could only utter one word. “Okay.”
Only Eddie sat at his desk; the rest of the office was eerily empty, and I didn’t like it. “Is it just us?”
“Yes,” Eddie said, leaning back in his chair. “The rest of the software developers quit.”
“And you decided to stay?” I said as I sat down.
“Honestly, I thought about looking for a new job, and I did put out my resume to some places,” he paused and smiled. “Then I told my dad about what happened and, well, he didn’t care. I don’t either. My parents moved to the US and worked super hard for me and my sister to get an education. Who cares if the CEO’s father did some questionable things? He didn’t, and as far as I’m concerned, he started with a clean slate.” He shrugged. “Besides, I like it here, and I’m making more money than I thought I would ever make.”
“Can’t argue with that...” I said. From the lobby, I saw Maya eyeing me through the glass doors.
I joined her as she shivered at the sight of the barren office. “Where did they go?” she said in hushed tones, unlike her usual loud self.
“Where did who go?” I asked, almost jokingly.
“Everyone! The engineering building is almost empty. Only four of us showed up today.”
“People are upset after finding out about Mr. Carrero’s past.” I crossed my arms in disappointment. “I knew people would resign, but I didn’t think it would be this many.”
“Oh good. You’re here.” Athena came pacing through the entrance. “There’s no one at the lab, and I thought they dismantled the department, or worse.”
“Well, of course I’m here,” said Maya. “Why would I quit? I get paid way too much.”
“What did your family say about all this?” I asked Athena. I was curious about everyone who decided to stay.
“They don’t know yet,” Athena replied. “I didn’t tell them. But they’ll likely find out when the papers hit the stands, and the articles make rounds around social media.” She sighed. “They’ll be upset, but I’m not leaving. This company is changing lives. I don’t care where the money comes from.”
We all paused when Ethan walked by while on the phone. His voice was calm, but I could hear vague tremors of frustration. He clenched and unclenched his fist as if restraining anger. I watched as he walked into my manager... former manager’s office and took a seat at the desk. I thought about it for a few seconds, and I really shouldn’t, but...
I looked at my friends and said, “I’m gonna go talk to him.”
Prompt number: 28 - I'm not Lost!
Original fiction: False Front
Rating: G
Warnings: n/a
Tommie and Danny watched Jordan and Joelle, who were in a serious discussion. Joelle pointed to the large page Jordan held, then looked up and pointed ahead. Jordan flipped the massive page around as if he had held it upside down.
Tommie leaned closer to Danny and whispered, “Have you ever used a paper map before?”
Danny answered without taking his eyes off Joelle. “I didn’t even know they still made paper maps. Satellite GPSs have existed for, like, a century.”
“Maybe that map is just... old.”
“But if it’s old, is it accurate?”
The two watch Joelle bickering with Jordan over the map for a few more minutes. Tommie whispered to Danny again. “We’re not near any major roads. We’re not near any roads at all. How do you read a map with no roads?”
“You use... landmarks?” Danny said. He pulled out his phone and sighed. “Still no service.”
“Shouldn’t the government provide us with more powerful GPS equipment?”
“Mmm, probably not for training exercises.” Danny turned and called out to Jordan. “You’re lost, aren’t you?”
Jordan flipped his map over. “I’m not lost! I’m just...” He never finished the sentence.
Tommie let out a long, dramatic sigh. “We’re lost.”
Prompt number: 27 - Why would they do this?
Original fiction: Inner Demons
Rating: G
Warnings: n/a
Liam read the email aloud again. He squeezed his phone with so much anger Jace almost believed he would crack it with his strength. Concerned, he took it from Liam to read the email himself. “What do we tell the rest of The Squad?”
Liam scratched the back of his head, not knowing what to do, or even what to say. The rest of the squad would likely protest, but Rei will be upset the most.
As if on cue, Rei walked into the room with Nathan following behind her. Nathan glanced at Liam and Jace. “Why do you two look like your mom is about to discipline you?”
Jace handed Nathan the phone, showing him the email. Silently, he read it once, twice, and then one more time. “We’re being forced to forfeit the tournament?” he asked, though it sounded more like a statement.
“What?” Rei said, frustration laced in her voice. She grabbed the phone from Nathan. “Why would they do this?”
“Because the other teams don’t like the fact that we have a girl on our team,” said Jace.
“The other /team/ you mean,” Rei replied, stressing the last word as singular. “This is all Beck’s fault.”
“That’s a serious accusation, Rei,” Liam said, taking his phone back.
“Beck got super pressed that I’m playing better than he is and his daddy is head of the board. It’s no coincidence this is coming out right before playoffs.”
“Either way, you can’t throw allegations haphazardly.”
Jace attempted to defuse the situation. “Nathan, you’re a lawyer. Can’t you say something, like last time?”
“I’m a paralegal in law school, and no, I can’t do anything. Not since they changed the bylaws.”
The distant voices of the rest of the squad drew nearer. “We have two options, and I think it’s clear what we need to do.” Liam said. He looked at Nathan, then at Jace. “We forfeit.”
“I’m resigning,” Rei said at the same time.
“Rei, no.” He spoke as calmly as possible. “You quit, and Beck gets what he wants.”
“No, we forfeit, and he gets exactly what he wants: a straight shot to the championship. We all know how easy it would be for them, and we’re the only team that can stop them, even without me.”
“Rei...”
“My decision is final!” She stepped up to him to be face to face, looking up at the few inches taller he stood. “I want you to destroy Beck and his team and wipe that smug grin off his face.”
Liam had never felt prouder and more attracted to Rei than at this moment, and as much as he felt safe with her in defense, the prospect of watching Beck cry after beating his team in the championship game excited him to no end.
Prompt number: 26 - It's been a while, hasn't it.
Original fiction: Upon her Cable
Rating: G
Warnings: n/a
The island hadn’t changed much. Whitewashed walls gleamed under the Caribbean sun, and the scent of salt and flowers still drifted on the breeze. Jacques walked through the familiar streets carefully, every step stirring memories he hadn’t touched in years. Children laughed on the docks, unaware of the shadows that had once, and still haunted this place.
He saw her at the edge of the marketplace, looking over a stall of mangoes with quiet grace. Time had softened her features, giving her a maturity that hadn’t been there when he last saw her, but there was no mistaking those sharp perceptive eyes; the ones that had once found him in moments when he wanted to hide.
It had been years. Too many, and yet it felt like no time at all.
He lingered, careful not to draw attention. She glanced up briefly, catching his silhouette against the sunlit street. For a heartbeat, recognition flashed across her face. A small, startled smile curved her lips before she bowed slightly to the shopkeeper.
He felt the old ache in his chest, the weight of the past pressing against him. He had hoped for a private reunion, a place away from eyes and whispers, but the world refused to pause for them.
Later, when the day was waning, and the market emptied, they slipped away toward their old spot, a hidden cove along the rocky shore where they used to meet in secret. She would teach him how to read and write, and he would tell her stories about the village in Africa he grew up in.
The sea stretched endlessly before them, its waves lapping softly at the sand, carrying away the noise of the town.
They didn’t speak at first. The wind played through her dark hair and tugged at the edges of his coat. She watched him, quiet but steady, as if trying to read the man he had become. He let her take in the pirate he had turned into—scarred, hardened, and yet still holding pieces of the boy she once knew.
Finally, he broke the silence. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it,” he said, his voice low, roughened by years at sea.
She nodded, lips pressed together. “It has.” She touched the lapel of his coat. “The time has been good to you.” The coat was stolen, of course, but Jacques will never tell her.
He lifted her left hand and held it up, the diamond glinting in the setting sun. “As it has to you,” he said. “The commodore, I presume?”
“The governor’s son,” she replied. She chuckled as he let go of her hand. “Your French has improved.”
He smiled, proud of himself. “I speak English also,” he said in English.
A moment stretched between them, weighted with everything they hadn’t said. He could feel the distance time had carved, and yet, here in this cove, it shrank just a little.
“Your life… it’s changed,” he murmured.
“Yes,” she admitted softly. “And yours, I imagine, is far from simple.”
Far from simple, indeed.
He allowed a small, rueful smile. “Nothing simple about it. But…” He hesitated, watching the waves. “…seeing you here, it reminds me there are things I haven’t lost. Things worth holding onto.”
Her eyes softened, glinting with a mixture of sorrow and understanding. They stood together on the edge of the sea, two people shaped by the past, holding a fragile, unspoken connection that neither time nor circumstance could completely erase.
Prompt number: 25 - We've done this before
Original fiction: Disappear
Rating: G
Warnings: n/a
Rowen twirled the pendant between her fingers. Eliel had given it to her exactly two years ago, right after his graduation—right before he disappeared. For two years, Rowen has been searching for him, searching for any signs of him, and after not showing up for her own graduation, Rowen has given up the search. He’s gone, she thought as a tear rolled down her cheek.
She stayed in bed for nearly an hour past the alarm. It was a knock on the door that forced her to get up and start the day. She wiped the tears from her face before opening the door. Outside stood Malina and Mireli, Rowen’s classmates and two of the smartest students to ever attend the university.
“Oh, you’re not ready,” Malina said, noticing Rowen still in her pajamas.
“Sorry,” she replied. “Late morning.” She let the twins in. “Give me half an hour to get ready.”
Mireli pointed to the pendant in Rowen’s hand. “That was Eliel’s, wasn’t it?”
Rowen hadn’t realized she was still holding it. “Oh, yeah...” she held it up in front of her. “I meant to put it away with the rest of his stuff.”
She started for her room but paused when the twins simultaneously said, “Wait!” Malina glanced at Mireli. “We’ve been practicing something, and I think it might help us find out what happened to Eliel.” Malina and Mireli are seers, but they are proficient in seeing into the future. Rowen never thought they could learn the ability to look into someone’s past. “We just need something of his to tap into.”
Rowen fiddled with the pendant again. She had already accepted that her brother was gone—she would never see him again. She was ready to move on.
But at the same time, if they can do what they claim they can, her curiosity will be glued to her for the rest of her life. “Are you sure you know what you are doing?” she asked. Even just a little reassurance will make her feel better.
“We’ve done this before,” said Mireli, “but only once.”
“But it was amazing!” said Malina. “We saw so much.”
After a minute of pondering, Rowen obliged and handed Mireli the pendant.
The three of them sat down on the floor, legs crossed, with the pendant in the middle of them. Rowen was not a seer, so she didn’t know what she could contribute, but she joined them anyway, holding their hands. “Ostende nobis praeteritum tuum,” the twins repeated about ten times , growing quieter and quieter each time until it looked like they were only mouthing the words.
Minutes passed in silence. Rowen neither saw nor felt anything, and she wondered if the twins did either. She was ready to give up when Malina and Mireli simultaneously took a deep breath and opened their eyes. “Did you see anything?” she said, trying not to sound desperate.
Prompt number: 24 - There's not enough time
Original fiction: Skies of Defiance
Rating: G
Warnings: n/a
The door of the cell creaked when it opened, startling Jovian. He looked up at the guard and stood up. It’s been three days since Elara told him of his fate. It wasn’t much time to reflect on it, but eventually, he accepted it, knowing he couldn’t fight for his innocence.
The guard handcuffed him and started towards the exit. Jovian kept his head down and made a brief prayer, making his peace with God. The guard handed him over to the transporter. As the transporter walked him to the shuttle, a familiar scent wafted over him: peach blossom and citrus. He looked at his transporter with wide eyes. She wore a pilot’s helmet and a mask that covered most of her face, but he knew who it was. “Princess?”
“Shhh,” Elara shushed him. “Keep your voice down.” She kept her gaze ahead of her.
“What are you doing?” he whispered.
“Rescuing you, obviously.”
“How?”
“There’s not enough time to explain.” She said, “Soon, security is going to notice someone’s missing, and we have to get to the shuttle before—” Right then, the security alarms went off, and the doors to the loading zone started closing. “Too late! Run!”
Prompt number: 23 - I believe in us
Original fiction: Inner Demons
Rating: G
Warnings: n/a
The locker room buzzed with the sharp hiss of tape and the thud of cleats on tile. No one spoke until the captain stood, his voice cutting through the noise like a steady heartbeat. His gaze swept over the team, and for a moment, the world outside the door didn’t exist.
“This is it; the championship game. Everything that’s happened — the injuries, the long nights, the doubts — we’ve been through a lot to get here. Nobody believed in us, and that’s fine. Because we didn’t need them. We believed in ourselves. We believed in each other. We earned this. So, when we step out there, we don’t play like we’re trying to prove something. We play like we already do. Because I believe in us. The way we fight, the way we trust, the way we never quit. So, whatever happens out there… we do it together. As one team: The Squad.
“No matter what happens out there, win or lose, we’ve already proven who we are. Every tackle, every bruise, every damn drop of sweat got us here. I’m proud of that. I’m proud of us. So, let’s go out there, play our hearts out, and make them remember who we are.”
Prompt number: 22 - And how did that work out?
Original fiction: Cello
Rating: PG
Warnings: n/a
Marleah storms into the den. “Stupid, greasy-haired, chauvinistic TWAT!” she growls as she throws her jacket onto the table.
“Whoa,” Moose says from across the room, startling Marleah. “I’ve never seen you this angry before.”
Marleah takes in a breath, and combs her fingers through her hair, composing herself. “Sorry. I didn’t see you there.”
Moose nods at her apology. “So... what did Brooks do this time?”
Marleah sighs, knowing what she’s about to get into. “I told Brooks his lyrics lacked depth, and so I gave him... suggestions.”
“Oh, Marleah...” Moose puts his head in his hands.
“I know, I know. It’s Brooks, and he doesn’t handle criticism very well...”
“He doesn’t handle criticism at all.”
“But,” Marleah continues, “I tried to handle it gently; stroke his ego a little.”
Moose leans back on the couch. “Mhm... and how did that work out?”
Marleah clenches her jaw. “He went on a rant about how this is his band and that he doesn’t need someone like me telling him what to do.”
“Harsh...”
Marleah plops down on the couch next to him. “How do you put up with him?”
“We put up with him because he’s our best friend. We grew up together, and he’s the reason this band got together”.
Marleah huffs and crosses her arms. “Well, I don’t like the way he treats you guys.”
“Well, you’re not technically a permanent member of the band, and,” Moose wrings his fingers. “If Brooks is bothering you that much, you can always quit.” Marleah opens her mouth, but he quickly adds, “But we do appreciate you being with us. At least, Me and Jax do.”
Prompt number: 12 - Just be honest
Original fiction: ONE
Rating: G
Warnings: n/a
Duul poured some rum into the mango juice and set the cup down in front of Collen. The inn has been relatively empty for the past few days. It only had Duul to take care of it, and he had neither the cooking skills of San nor the charm of Unah. Those two kept the customers coming.
Collen took a sip of the mango rum. “It’s not bad…”
“But Unah would make it better,” Duul finished.
Collen sighed and put down his cup. “When will she be back?”
Duul sighed and leaned onto the bar. She’s not coming back anytime soon, and neither is San. “I don’t know...”
“Where did she go?” Collen’s impatience was apparent, understandably. As Unah’s best friend, he will always be worried about her, almost as much as Duul.
“She went... across the sea,” Duul answered.
“Across the sea?”
“To Elvior.”
Collen swirled the juice in his cup and shook his head. “For over two decades, Unah has not once thought about leaving this city, and suddenly this past week she and San are eager to visit the capital and go to a foreign land? It’s not like them.”
“They have to do it. And I should be with them.” Duul felt the guilt the moment he returned home, but he would have felt it even if he had stayed with his siblings.
“What do you mean by that?” Collen’s voice changed from curiosity to demanding.
Duul thought about everything that had happened the past month: the attack, the princess, the darkness. He wanted to tell his friend everything, but he didn’t want to get him, or anyone else, involved. “The world may be in danger...”
Collen slowly stood up and looked into his friend’s eyes. “What do you mean ‘in danger’? " He didn’t let Duul answer. “You left her out there knowing she might be in danger?”
“Unah will be fine, and you should know that. You are the one who taught her how to fight, after all.” He watched as Collen slowly sat back down, his face reddening like a boy who had just got caught lying. “I know you’ve been secretly training her.” He still resented Collen for going behind his back, but at the same time he is grateful, relieved that his sister knows how to protect herself. “But you’re right,” he said. “I should be with them.”
“So why aren’t you?”
“My wife is pregnant, Collen. In a few weeks, I will be a father. I can’t just go on some grand adventure and leave Mira to fend for herself.”
“I understand,” said Collen, “but if what you say is true, you risk a dangerous world for your future child.” He took another sip of his mango rum. “I know Mira. She’s just as tough as Unah. She’s also the chief’s daughter, so you know she’ll be well protected.
Collen, as always, is right. Duul came back home to avoid his part, and now he’s putting the city, and the world in danger. “But what will I tell Mira?”
“Tell her the truth. Just be honest. She’ll understand.”
Prompt number: 20 - There's not enough time
Original fiction: Beneath the Suit
Rating: G
Warnings: n/a
I bit my nails as I paced the office. I wanted to find the culprit, but if my suspicions are correct, Maria was framed, and the monster that embezzled money from this company was a person I hired. Everything that happened will be blamed on me.
Ethan’s firm hand gently grabbed my arm as I walked by him. “Your pacing is making me nervous.” My body trembled, and I knew he could feel my anxiety. He slid over on his desk, making some space for me. He patted the empty space. “Sit. Relax.” There was no relaxing, not when my costly mistake was about to be exposed. I sat next to him on his desk and went back to biting my nails.
We sat for a few minutes, watching Leandra stare at the letters, numbers and symbols flashing on the dark screen in front of her. Every once in a while, she’d write something down on her notepad and then go right back to staring at the screen. It’s been an hour, and she hasn’t said a word. “How long does this usually take?” Ethan leaned in to whisper to me.
At first, I was caught off guard by the scent of his cologne, the one by Calvin Klein. The one I told him I loved so much. I shook my head, getting out of my daze, and answered him. “Could be a couple of hours, or a couple of days.” With the size of this company, and the technical prowess of my department, this could easily take her days or even weeks.
A few minutes passed before any of us spoke. Ethan leaned in close again and whispered, “What if it doesn’t work? What if she doesn’t find anything?”
“Trust me, this will work.” Leandra’s voice shocked both me and Ethan, both of us jumped. Ethan chuckled. “Maybe we should give her some peace and quiet,” he whispered to me.
“I like that idea,” said Leandra, still not taking her eyes off the screen.
Ethan stood up, looked at me and smiled. He offered me a hand, and after a moment of hesitation, I took it. “Let’s give her some space.”
Prompt number: 19 - Yes, I missed this
Original fiction: Forte
Rating: G
Warnings: n/a
Melodie walks into the kitchen, half expecting it to be trashed and Brittany’s awful rock music on full blast. To her surprise, the kitchen is relatively clean, and Brittany quietly sits at the table, drinking orange juice, though she drinks straight from the carton using Melodie’s sheet music as a coaster. Brittany gasps, putting down the carton. “Are you still packing?”
Melodie rolls her eyes. “Yes.” She lifts the orange juice carton and holds up the wet sheet music in front of her. “And I missed this.” She grimaces at the ruined paper. “Ugh, I blame myself for being so careless.”
“Do you really have to practice while on your break?”
“Until I’m the best, I have to practice every single day. And even then I can’t stop.”
Brittany senses Melodie’s distress. “Are… Are you okay? Did something happen?”
Melodie sighs and sits at the table. “I ended things with Caleb.”
Brittany’s eyes widened in surprise. “But you two have been together since… forever. Is it because of Jaydon?” She leans in closer to Melodie and speaks as if she is about to say something scandalous. “Did you break up with him because you cheated on him with Jaydon?”
Melodie twists her face, disgusted at the assumption. “No, I did not. Besides, Jaydon is a filthy liar.” She grabs her music and starts for her room. “All men are filthy liars.”
Brittany chuckles, which quickly turns into a resounding laugh. “Of course they are. That’s why I stopped dating men and stuck to women exclusively.”
“You know, something tells me you never liked men…” Melodie replies from inside her room.
“Of course I did,” says Brittany. “There was Max from kindergarten.”
Melodie sticks her head out the door. “Okay, I know there’s a juicy story there, and I’m dying to hear it.”
Brittany smiles. “I’ll tell you when you come back from vacation.”
Prompt number: 18 - I think I see it
Original fiction: Upon her Cable
Rating: G
Warnings: n/a
William reached one arm over Aurelie, helping her hold the spyglass properly, with the other hand resting on her shoulder. He positioned her to face the village they had just left. “Do you see the pier?” His voice was soft so that he could be close.
“I think I see it,” said Aurelie. “This is amazing! I can see the port, and the people at the fish market.” She turned slightly to the south. “The ocean goes so far; it’s endless!” William chuckled at her amusement while she continued. “I see...” She turned more southward and paused, “sails.”
“Sails?” William furrowed his brow and took the spyglass from her. There was a scowl on his face when he looked in the direction Aurelie had mentioned the sails.
“It’s another ship, is it not?” she asked him.
“Go back to your room and lock the door. Do not open it for anyone, do you understand?” William marched back to the helm. “Go! Now!” Aurelie stumbled backwards and almost fell onto the steps to the quarterdeck. “Wait down there,” he said. There was a hint of guilt in his voice. “Wait for me and only me.” Any hint of kindness from the captain was gone, and the tender moment had sadly ended.
Prompt number: 17 - You're not alone
Original fiction: ONE
Rating: G
Warnings: n/a
Unah brushed her fingers over the pinkish-purple flower. She’s never seen one like this before. “It’s called a starblossom.” Tessera said, as if reading her mind. “They probably don’t grow much on the southern coast.”
“No,” Unah responded, “It’s mostly palm trees and orchids.” She admired the courtyard, feeling overwhelmed not just by the beauty, but by how expensive everything was. “What’s it like? Being a princess?”
Tessera plucked the starblossom and twisted it between her fingers. “It’s lonely,” she said. “Father—” she hesitated, “the king doesn’t let me go out much. I didn’t have any friends or companions growing up.” A gust of wind blew the flower up and out of the courtyard. “Do you think I would have liked them? Your… our parents?”
Unah and Duul knew their parents for only six years. San was three when they died. But from the few years they did remember, she knew they were wonderful people. She smiled. “You would’ve loved them… and you’ll love Duul and San. You have us. You’re not alone anymore.”
Tessera turned to face away from Unah. “Do you want to see the throne room?” she asked. Before Unah had a chance to answer, Tessera walked through the gate into the corridor.
Prompt number: 16 - I will never forget this
Original fiction: Fate and soul
Rating: G
Warnings: n/a
Mara and Rodan could’ve spent hours more dancing with each other, but it was getting late, and she and her friends planned on leaving early the next morning. The prince insisted on walking her to the inn, and could have refused, but she didn’t. Normally, she would despise the attention she would get from the crowd, whispering and pointing at the prince and his new friend, but if it meant spending even a few more minutes with Rodan, she could endure it.
“Did you enjoy the ball?” The prince asked.
“It was the best night of my life,” she answered.
“Even better than the night you won the tournament?”
Mara thought for a second before answering. “The second-best night of my life,” she said with a smile, “but I will never forget this night.”
The two approached the inn, where Mara’s friends stood outside. Alina waved them over while Tobyn inspected the prize sword. “Will I ever see you again?” Rodan asked Mara.
Mara avoided his gaze when answering him. “I would like to come back…”
“But not anytime soon.” He continued for her.
She wrung her hands, the feeling of regret creeping up on her, but she refused to let it take control. “We both know I don’t belong here.” Palaces, balls, and big cities are not what she wanted, and she had a life beyond the city’s gates. But she admitted to herself that Rodan made the night here one of the best, and she would come back year and year again if it meant spending time with him. “I promise I will come back one day.” She said, reassuring him.
“Well, if…” he paused and smiled, “when that day comes, you will have a place in the palace, Lady Mara.”
Prompt number: 15 - It's rather complicated
Original fiction: The Prince Next Door
Rating: PG
Warnings: n/a
After a long eventful day, all I needed was to go to sleep, but a soft knock on the door kept me from getting ready for bed. I assumed one of the maids brought up some fresh linen, or maybe a nighttime tea, though I never asked for any, but my heart skipped a beat when I opened the door and saw Theo standing there. I surprised him at the ball, but unfortunately we didn’t spend any time with each other, as much as I wanted to; as much as both of us wanted to.
No words were said. We looked at each other for one second before he grabbed my face and gave me an intense kiss, like we hadn’t seen each other in three months; which technically, we hadn’t. “What are you doing here?” He said after pulling away. He didn’t give me a chance to answer before kissing me again. He pulled away again. “How long have you been here?”
“I—”
He kissed me again, not allowing me to finish my sentence. “When did you get here?”
He leaned in for another kiss, but I dodged it, wanting to at least get a word in. “Are you going to let me answer?” I giggled.
He chuckled in response, laying his head on my shoulder. “I miss you so much.” After a moment, he looked at me and again asked, “What are you doing in Mavoria?”
“It’s a rather complicated story,” I said, “but it was Xander’s idea.”
“That son of a bitch. I’m going to have to own him so much.” He kissed me again. “But whatever the story is, I’m glad he did it.”
