I was surrounded by darkness, a heavy blanket draped over my body. It was hot and uncomfortable being under all this pressure. I kicked it off as gracefully as I could before sitting up in the bed. Heat radiated off my body in waves, it made me feel clammy and sticky as I tossed my legs over the bed. I practically shrieked in surprise as the cool floor hit my burning feet. It was so cold it practically numbed my senses. There was a flickering light that bounced off the walls. I rubbed my eyes as I pulled my body off the bed and walked over to the table that sat across the room.       "Aria, you are awake." I heard the surprise in Drake's voice. Even he sounded exhausted. I dropped my hands from my eyes and took him in. I sighed when I found him bent over the table, feather quill in hand, looking over documents. He had deep bags under his eyes, and the look of a very fatigued man. I planted my hands on my hips, getting ready to

Having talked to Sebastion even a little was a great stress relief. Although we never did get to talk about the giant elephant in the room. The giant elephant being our heritage. Something about the way he tip toed around the subject, always avoiding my gaze or changing topics told me he wasn't comfortable about talking yet. So for now I would let him be.       It wasnt normal for Sebastion to be so distant with me, and it was honestly frightening. We spent most of our lives close together, sharing the same space, sharing our thoughts, and now it seemed like he was so far away. His eyes, even though suffered, where once filled with light. Despite the hardships he was put through, he was normally full of light. But he was dimming, and as much as I wanted to lift his spirits I couldn't. Just like me, some battles he hd to fight alone.       I gave a long pitiful sigh, once again staring longingly down at the sea o

   The tension in the room swelled as we sat in silence. Both of their eyes locked on to each other, but not in a menacing way. It seemed both where waiting for lashings that neither was ready to give nor receive. It was uncomfortable waiting in the dense silence. It wasn't until Sebastion cleared his throat to excuse himself that the tension broke. He hugged me once, than Aunt Amina, then left us to our silence. He promised he would keep an eye out for our assassins in case they showed up while I was gone.         "I should start of saying I am sorry Drake. Over the years you have done us a great many services. Silvus's out rage was inexcusable. Pease punish her how it seems fit." Uncle Harold's grim expression never left his lips as he stared wearily at his friend. Drake gave a deep sigh, taking a chance to peak at me. With a small smile he gestured for me to come to him.         "You shoul

    I stood before Drake like a statue. His anger was a quiet roar compared to yesterday. His eyes where still that dark raging blue and his lips where set in a pressed thin line. Black disheveled hair gave away the stress that emanated off his being. Nicklos warned me before entering that his mood was touchy and sensitive. The room that we shared, once filled with love, was now filled with intense anger. I could feel his rage blowing through me like a high wind.       "A bit of advice Aria, his Majesty is not everything he makes himself out to be. There is a more darker twist that he doesn't show you because he loves and respects you. So I would advise you not to push his buttons while you still have his favor." I wondered what he meant by 'his Majesty is not everything he makes himself out to be'. But I couldn't bring myself to pity his mood either. After our conversation earlier, I was still rather upset with him. Not to mention that

      "Come, why don't we grab that table over their. Less chances of us being over heard." Jaden directed our attention towards a table in the corner of the tavern. It was far away from the rising conversation. With more people filtering in, it was becoming increasingly difficult to talk over one another, which provided us with a perfect cover for conversation. I nodded my head once before downing the rest of my beer and leaving it empty on the counter.     Despite being buzzed, I stood tall and walked over without the slightest difficulty. But with how warm my face felt on top of my fuzz filled brain, I knew that my sobriety would not last very long. So we needed to start this meeting and end it as fast as we could. Jaden, the gentleman that he tried to be sometimes, pulled out a chair for me and I accepted it graciously.  Sebastion pulled out a chair next to me, and pulled Maya down on top of his lap. Shamelessly she giggled at h