Friday night, Maelyn and Dristan were off to see their dad, and Raena was on her way to Light’s Hope Chapel for a special class on the Light. It would be a quiet weekend; Sandoralin was also gone, back to Azeroth to visit his mother, and the rest of the staff were gone as well, except for her personal guards, which would be patrolling the grounds of Starfallen Estate on the edge of Shattrath city.
Cam had not felt so alone in such a long time. It seemed like forever since she’d heard from Ryland, he was off doing whatever it is that he does when he’s not out to sea, and Leo had also been quite distant and more reclusive than usual lately. Thaenicus was still completely incommunicado, so she tried to message a few friends, most of which either didn’t respond at all, or responded very shortly.
So she was left alone with her feelings and her thoughts, both of which were very dark and brooding. She poured herself a drink and thought about going out to the hot tub, but a storm was brewing, and she didn’t want to be caught out in it if there was lightning.
Storms on Outland were far different than storms on Azeroth; the skies turned a sickly green, the lightning was often vibrant pinks or purples, and the winds howled with rage. Thankfully, most of her flowers and plants would be spared the worst of it since they were in glass greenhouses. Her trees might not be so lucky, so she would have to walk the grounds tomorrow to see if there was any damage.
Having finished her first drink, she poured another, and decided to make it a double, before heading out to her sun room to watch the storm. She sometimes envied Shamans their ability to command the elements, especially at times like this when she would have liked to conjure a storm for herself. The dark, roiling clouds and forks of wicked lightning seemed to mirror the turmoil she was feeling inside.
She had brought the bottle of bourbon with her, so after she finished the second drink, she just started drinking from the bottle. Who cared if she got roaring drunk, all by her lonesome? She was an adult, she could do whatever she damn well pleased.
Her nerves were still a bit raw from the guild fair in Stormwind earlier. Kon had asked about her beaus, and she hadn’t really known how to answer since she hadn’t talked to either man since the tournament. Habit had her using her usual excuse; that they were busy with things, and she was sure they were fine. She hated lying to her friends and fellow performers, but she didn’t really want anyone to know just how raw and lonely she felt, so she deflected as best as she could.
The bourbon was starting to kick in, and she began to feel that familiar warmth spread throughout her veins, making her skin flushed and pink, as if Ryland were actually there, whispering naughty things in her ear. She pulled off her sweater and tossed it on the floor, then took another long drink from the bottle.
Outside, the storm was raging; the wind was indeed howling, whipping trees and bushes around as it screamed out its fury with lashing rain, licks of lightning, and peels of thunder loud enough to shake the house.
Drunk and undaunted by the storm, Cam stepped out into the night and the fury of nature, almost instantly soaked from the rain. Her top cling to her body, her red curls plastered to her face as her makeup smeared and ran. She watched quietly for a few moments, and then sank to her knees, still clutching the bottle of bourbon, and she screamed along with the wind and thunder, letting all the built up anger, loneliness, and pain flood out of her and into the night.
When her throat became raw from her screams, she simply dissolved into tears; deep, wracking sobs rocking her body. She used to ask the gods why she could never find someone that would stay for her, but she had given up asking long ago. She knew she was destined for a life of only brief happiness with someone else, and then it would be right back to being just her and the kids again.
Yet, each time she felt the familiar tugging on her heart, she hoped with everything inside of her that this would be the last time she also felt the sting of rejection and loneliness when they inevitably left.
But it hasn’t happened yet.
@rosecrownreserve @rylandfalkov @konietzko-sylvoran for mentions.
