Chapter 10: Chapter 10

It’s been two days since that weird pit incidence. Two days since I have been down but according to Arius who spent the entire time with me, I was recovering faster than any commander he has ever seen.

He makes it so hard to hate him, who could hate someone who ignored his supposed mistress to take care of a woman who was always tempted to poison him, a woman who would do anything than to be in his company.

He was being the perfect husband and I hated it because it could not be real. I was not strong enough to complain about it two days ago but I was certainly strong enough now.

While lying on my bed, watching him as he goes about mixing the herbal drink which was created to make an individual gain his strength back, I grew more incensed at his actions.

“Stop it.” I tell him.

He glanced at me with question. “You do not want it, it is the best way for you to gain your strength, was it too bitter the last time I made it?” He asked worriedly while I rolled my eyes at him.

Was he being serious right now?

“When I mean stop it, I mean trying to act like something which you clearly are not, are you not tired of pretending because heavens knows that I am tired of seeing you act like something which you are not.” I spat out, his hands stopped moving on the drink he was making as he looked at me then leaned back.

“And why do you think I am pretending?” He asked with his voice soft like he was in the beginning of going angry.

If he does, I was going to ignore the advice I was given to take things slowly and get into a screaming match with him, nobody gets to confuse me. If he wanted something, he should go right ahead and ask for it.

“Because you do not have a caring bone in you, it is either you need something from me or you want to be sure that I will get out of your hair a lot quicker. Those are the only two options why someone like you will be here and trying to nurse me back to health.” I explained.

“You see me as some kind of monster, don’t you?” Arius asked softly as he looked into my eyes straight as if he was hoping he could intimidate me into saying no or something like that.

“If the crown fits.” I returned as he shook his head.

“I am not your enemy Gwenn.” Arius started.

“Neither are you my friend. Look if you want me to get out of your hair sooner, it would be better if I don’t see your face. Believe me when I say I want to leave this place just as much as you want me gone, even more than you want me to. I would like to return home okay and be among my own people.”

“You haven’t discovered it yet. You are among your people Gwenn, There is no two ways about it. You are more of us now than the Dariths.” Arius said as he took hold of my hand. Under my gaze, I watched as something in me reacted to his hold and my hand turned fuzzy before disappearing leaving a black mist in its place.

“Arius…” I called, my voice going into panic mode but Arius let go of my hand and before my very own eyes, and the hand went back to normal like it was not a black cloud of vapor a few minutes ago.

“Don’t panic. Sorens, your second in command will be the one to teach you all the new things you can do. Don’t think so much on it…” Arius tries to comfort me but I shook my head at him.

“You turned me into a monster.” I whispered.

Arius cleared his throat. “Gwenn, now you need…”

“You turned me into one of you, something which I could never tell the outside world. You just made me homeless.”

“You will always have a home here.” Arius started.

“You mean among your vipers called sisters, No thank you. This is not a home. This is a warzone, one which I am surrounded by enemies and my only supposed ally is the one giving the enemy ammunition against me.” I sneered at Arius, reverting back to my safe zone of projecting all my fears towards someone else in form of anger.

“When you are going to be less bitchy let me know. I just realized that being your husband, we will never find a middle ground and if we do, it certainly would not happen while I am listening to you as you insult my sisters.” Arius growled as he stood up.

“Ever thought that they created this impression on me?” I asked him, with my hands folded across my chest. “Or no, they are perfect little princesses who can do no wrong in the eyes of their big brother.”

“At least they didn’t sleep with their older brother.” Arius said as my cheeks went red. He had no right to throw that in my face.

I don’t even know how he knew of the fact that I slept with Orel once upon a time but it was a mistake.

“You have no right…” I started.

“I have every right.” Arius yelled back at me. “You think you are Mrs. perfect who can do no wrong but everything about you is wrong, down to your past actions and your life in totality. Everything about you is damn wrong.”

He had no right to open my wounds that way. “Get out.”

“Excuse me?” He asked me blinking as if he did not here my word the first time.

“I wish to be alone, get out of my room.”

“The whole Palace is mine.’ He pointed out.

“Are you going to remind me that I am in a house which will never be my home? Don’t bother, I don’t think I will forget as long as I live. Now get out.”

Arius looked like he wanted to say something extra but he closed his mouth and turned his face away with a sigh before he started to leave the room.

“Arius.” I called out impulsively.

He paused, his hand on the door, he didn’t turn to look at him, and he just provided me with his side profile. To show he was listening and at the same time, he didn’t want to be close to me any more than he has to.

“I regretted my mistake and I have atoned for it, you cannot use my past action to punish me, you are the one sleeping with someone else after saying yes to me and me alone. Yes I slept with my honorary brother but what excuse do your sisters have for hating me. You should look at yourself and your family before pointing out a flaw in mine.”

“I don’t need to point it out. It is visible for all to see. I regret choosing you Gwenn, you were not what I expected or wanted.” Arius said and with that last stake driven in my heart, he opened the door and walked out, slamming it behind him.

I struggled out of the bed and to the door and just as I opened it, hoping to see Arius and try to apologize. Key word being try in that statement. I open the door to see Arius with his arms wrapped around Faye. In front of me, he bent his head and kissed her.

I watched my husband kiss another woman as I made up my mind, I was leaving tomorrow, even if I had to crawl away.

I was no longer a Darith but being an outsider in Dar was better than being the queen of Northshore.