Flora spent hours reading the texts that Erick had given her. He had also left a stack of papers, a pen, and even ink to refill the pen with. She assumed it was for taking notes, which she tried to do. She really tried. Unfortunately for her, she found this task difficult when so much of the text was important to remember. Even Spot had passed out on the floor beside her, the wrinkles of his face moving with his snores.
From the origins of magic and the gifts from the gods to everyday uses, Flora was nearly overwhelmed by just how much she was expected to remember. She decided to tackle the work in chunks after finding it difficult as a whole, opening up several books at once but on the same topic. She had started with Spring Magic, opening up the books first to the history and origin of it. She tossed out her stack of notes that had essentially been rewritten passages and focused on the necessities, those being the god or goddess of the magic, the many tiers of that magic, and the functions of it. She still had a lot to write, but it was considerably less.
When the sun started to dip lower in the horizon, she began to worry. She reminded herself that he was the king, that he was busy, and that he hadn't forgotten or lied to her. He wouldn't do that. She told herself, knowing deep down that he genuinely cared for her.
She waited for as long as she could, trying and failing to continue her reading. Flora eventually shut every single book, looking up to find that the sun had reached the earth and painted the world in red. It was hard to ignore not only her growing worry but now her empty stomach, which had only increased in volume.
With a sigh, Flora got up and left the living room for the kitchen. She began rummaging through the cupboards for the food Erick had brought. He had put it all away without telling her where, and now she had to search for it. It might not be a kitchen as large as the one in the castle, but there was still a considerable amount of space for food to be stored in.
As she was rummaging, Flora heard the distinct sound of a horse trotting up to the house. That must be him. Flora thought with some relief, a bubble of excitement passing through her. The thought of spending time alone with him had only recently begun to sink in. She imagined it would be like their time in the cabin, and the thought put a smile on her face as she continued to grab food for dinner. She became lost in thought as she started to prepare something to eat. While the food was canned, that didn't mean she couldn't cook the fish and rice.
"You know what they say," came Erick's voice from behind her, startling her from her work. She spun around to find him strolling into the kitchen, his arms full with a couple of sacks. "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." He said with a smirk, setting the bags down on the counter. Despite his teasing, Flora saw a hint of tension in his face and shoulders.
He had come back in clothes far more casual than what she had grown accustomed to seeing from him. Gone was the tailored suit and jacket, as well as any of his finer garments that would have been underneath. Instead he wore a casual button-up, and though his pants were still nice she had not expected to see the suspenders that held them up, something she had come to associate with the working class.
"I believe I've already done that then." Flora laughed, returning to the food in the frying pan. Erick laughed as he began taking the contents out of the bags, though it seemed empty, his laugh holding a hollow ring to it. Worry began to nag at the edges of her being, but she refused to give in to it. She couldn't help but note the way they rolled over his muscles, only heightening their appearance.
"Don't worry," Erick started as he rolled up his sleeves. "I brought over some real food." He told her, reaching over her to put food in the cupboard. His large form towered over her, and she blushed remembering exactly how that form felt against her.
"What are we cooking tonight?" Erick asked, trailing a gentle hand down her back. The intimacy sent a shiver down her spine. It was so familiar, so casual, and yet it had her body wishing for more. Am I so love starved that this is what has me losing it? Flora thought bitterly.
"Frying some fish and rice?" Erick asked as he leaned over her shoulder, placing a hand on the small of her back.
"Yeah," Flora started, stirring the food in the pan. "With the heaps of rice you brought, I figured I'd make something different than the normal boiled rice." She told him with a huff. "I'm sure we've both had plenty of that." She said, recalling their trip for the Spring Inspection.
"It's hard to get tired of rice when there's so much you can do with it." Erick said with a grin, one that Flora was able to believe despite his slightly off demeanor. "It's a staple food in dragon culture after all." He informed her, pulling away to continue his work with the food arrangement.
"Really?" Flora asked, continuing to stir the food as the rice slowly browned in the pan. It was true that she had heard the dragons brought rice with them when the King and Queen brought the two clans together, but she hadn't realized it was such a big part of their culture to be considered a staple food.
"Oh yes," Erick said as he finished taking items out of the bags. "Mother always had plenty of rice, and plenty of ways to use it." He told her with a light smile. Flora could see his eyes flick through the memories as he put away the last of the food. Flora felt a pit of worry fill up in the bottom of her stomach.
"I hope I didn't do too bad." Flora gave a wry laugh as she finished stirring the food, taking the pan off the stove. She quickly turned off the gas, stopping the fire before she could forget.
"I'm sure you did fine with what you had," Erick said in a gentle tone, laying a comforting hand on her back. Flora flashed him a smile before taking out a couple of bowls and serving them each a portion. Erick gratefully took his before informing her that he would be eating in the upstairs office, having work left undone for the day.
"I really am sorry," Erick said, his eyes swimming with a pained blue. "I have a lot of work that really needs to be done tonight." Erick told her, giving her a firm yet gentle squeeze on the hand before leaving the kitchen.
"I understand." Flora said quietly to his fleeting form, an ache filling her heart as he left. But he only just got here. She thought, unable to stop it and the pain that came with it. He killed your father. A dark voice reminded her, shocking her back into the moment.
Flora shook her head to clear her thoughts, taking her food and leaving for the dining room. Spot happily trotted behind her, hot on her heels in hope of having a scrap of her food.
"Not now, Spot." She waved the dog away, who pouted but left the dining room without complaint. With a sigh she sat down at the table, alone, and ate.
Flora spent longer than she had hoped to eat. She poked at her food more than ate it, but eventually the plate was clean and she found herself wandering through the house that was now hers. It was almost dizzying as the reality set in. She imagined it would take adjusting, and that perhaps she was better off thinking of it as a temporary stay.
She eventually wandered upstairs, looking through the rooms that were up there, when she found Erick in the office. It was a cozy room, a hearth on one side with a clock on top and bookshelves on the other side. There was a large window at the back with the curtains open, showing the night sky with its dazzling stars. In the very middle was the large work desk in which Erick sat. He looked up when she came in, a tired smile on his face.
"I was just about to finish up." He told her. She returned his smile.
"I was just wandering, exploring the house and all that." Flora gestured vaguely to the building around her. Erick's features seemed to relax when she spoke to him.
"What do you think of it?" He asked, tipping his head back to his stack of papers.
"It's very nice." She told him, walking up to see what he was working on. She hadn't meant to, but her curiosity took over as she glanced down at his papers. He smiled as he continued to work.
"I have just a few things to finish up for the Summer Hunt." He told her, quickly writing a few things down on the paper before storing his pen away. "You're coming to that, right?" He asked, looking up at her from where he sat. Flora recalled the letter she had received about it, but had at the time declined as it was so close to the time she was meant to spend taking the animals from her father's farm. The thought put an ache in her heart, but she quickly stuffed it down as she replied to her King.
"I suppose I could, now that I'm here." She said quietly, looking away from Erick. She could almost hear the frown on his face, but when she looked back he had quickly composed himself.
"I would like you to join me," he started. "But you don't have to." He quickly added before Flora could reply. She thought about it for a moment. Maybe this is something that could help, the thing I need to move on. Flora thought, hoping that going back into the rhythm of work would help her stabilize herself.
"I would like that." She replied, trying not to blush as the genuine smile he gave her. Seeing him so kind and gentle was almost intoxicating, especially when she recalled that he was only like that for her. Before the two could say anything more, they were interrupted by loud barking.
Spot was making a racket downstairs, and Erick quickly swung his head in the direction of the nose. A frown creased his face before he got up to inspect what the commotion was about.
"Don't worry," he said as he left the room, Flora right behind him. "I'm sure it's just a coyote or something." Erick informed her. Flora expected him to grab a gun or something if that were the case, as was often the case with her father, but he did no such thing as he marched down the stairs two at a time.
Spot had not stopped barking, in fact he had begun growling in between barks. He stood at the doorway, his hackles raised as he continued his noise making. Erick's face turned from mild concern to focused intent, and it was something fierce to behold as his body turned rigid.
"Grab the dog, and stay away from the windows." Erick directed, his voice having gone stone cold. Flora didn't dare argue as she quickly whisked over to grab Spot by the collar, pulling him back from the door as Erick went to open it.
"Stay away from the door and windows." Erick said over his shoulder, his stormy blue eyes threatening violence. She knew it wasn't directed towards her, but couldn't stop herself as she quailed beneath his gaze. She quickly pulled the dog away and tucked herself in the corner between the wall and hutch, able to peek around and watch as Erick opened the front door to the house. The whole time Spot would not stop his barking, forcing Flora to hold on to him tight as she put her back against the hutch.
As soon as Erick opened the door, Flora heard the distinct shot of a gun. Her world tilted as Erick grunted, his tall form jerking in a quick movement as his body took the impact. Flora keeled over, clutching her dog now more than ever as pain shot through her and her vision blurred.
Erick refused to budge, even knowing that if there was one gunman in the shadows, there were likely more. Instead he used his magic to spread out and probe through the dark night for the hidden would-be assassins.
He focused a small portion of his magic on himself, staunching the blood that had been pouring out of his chest, just below his shoulder. Pretty damn close. Erick gritted his teeth, forcing his magic forward.
It wasn't hard to find the first killer, Erick's shadows lashing out and grabbing the first warm body it could find. A man yelped, firing his gun again though with a wild aim as it flew past Erick's head and landed in the wood of the house. Erick pulled the man out of hiding, the shadows tugging on his ankle and pulling him through the dirt. He attempted to aim and shoot again, but Erick quickly flicked it away, the magic of his shadows appearing darker than the night itself as his growing rage channeled into a quiet fury.
Erick slowly and methodically stepped down the stairs of the house, meeting the now unarmed man at the foot of the stairs. Holding his head high, Erick glowered down at the man, restrained by the power of his magic. Shadows danced across the ground around him, the black so deep it seemed to absorb even the tiniest fraction of light around it.
Erick said nothing as he prowled over the man, the lights from the house casting his shadow over the assassin. The man glared at him, sneered even, as Erick loomed over him. Break his bones. A dark voice whispered, goading Erick. He didn't listen, not right away anyway.
Erick crouched down beside the man, looking him in the eyes before speaking. "Who sent you?" He asked. His voice was colder than ice, the look in his eyes promising death to any and all who crossed him. Blood trickled down his shirt, escaping his magic that held onto the wound.
"Fuck you!" The man cursed, spitting in Erick's face. Erick didn't so much as flinch, he simply wiped the mucus away like it was a mild smear of food and not someone's bodily fluid. The man didn't balk at this, he continued to stare down the King as the shadows gripped him tighter.
Erick was vaguely aware of his magic snaring a few others, a frantic gunshot going off in the background. His attention was on the man before him as he considered his course of action.
In the darkness, the man appeared to be no older than his early to mid thirties, hardly a few years older than Erick. Erick briefly considered what would have caused the man to join the rebel cause, before realizing it was not much different than any other - the feeling of oppression. It was hard not to feel that way, Erick supposed, when magic was quickly becoming a rare trait among the larger populace. A larger populace that did not often hold any sort of ruling class.
Erick took a deep breath before trying once again. "You can tell me who sent you," he started slowly. "Or I can find out." He said in a dark voice, the magic of his shadows pulling tighter as Erick tried to push his way into the man's mind.
Erick grunted in surprise as he was met with a hard wall or resistance. The man laughed at Erick's struggle before cursing him again. Fine then, the hard way it is. Erick gritted his teeth as he not only pushed but ripped, pulling at and tearing apart any resemblance of resistance he could find as he dug through the man's memories.
The man screamed and writhed, railing against the restraints of Erick's magic as he dug through the man's memories with no mercy. Erick had no time to be kind or gentle as he ripped from one memory to the next, looking for the information he needed. Despite his best attempts, key information seemed to be locked away, as if forgotten or magicked away. It's very likely they've found a way to prevent exactly this. Erick realized with grim finality. It had proven very similar to when he went through Harold's memories, which had parts that had been blurred or even completely missing.
Deeming the endeavour useless, Erick cut off the man's cries with a quick flick of his magic as he stood up. Bone snapped as the man's neck broke, killing him quickly and efficiently. A dark part of him found it deeply satisfying.
Erick felt the weight of eyes on him, and turned to find Flora standing in the hallway, her expression one of shock and pure terror. Her hand covered her mouth and her eyes bulged, her body rigid even as she held on to her dog. Even Spot stood stock still, his hackles still raised but he made no sound.
A wave of guilt and terror washed over Erick but he quickly shut it out. There was no room for dawdling kindness, not when there were killers in their midst. He returned to his task at hand, using his magic to pull the second of the three killers hiding around the farmhouse.
It was an older man this time, one who let loose a string of curses as Erick's shadows pulled him through the dirt. He was quickly disarmed and forced to kneel before Erick, though he fought harder than the last man.
"How did you get here?" Erick asked, quick and straight to the point.
"You won't get anything from me." The older man growled, teeth flashing against his dark beard. Erick only sighed in frustration. I suppose it's never that easy. He thought with some disappointment.
He repeated his steps from earlier, first probing then delving into the older man's memories, his thoughts and mind warded just like the last. The old man grunted, heaving against the shadows that held him down as he tried and failed to slip from Erick's grip. His grunts turned into sounds of pain, until he too was screaming and thrashing against Erick's magic. It was a terrible thing to have your mind so thoroughly ripped apart, shredded to bits in the wake of Erick's ruthless interrogation.
Erick tucked away any information that might be even remotely useful, finding that yet again the man's mind had been magically wiped, similarly to the last. Erick ground his teeth in frustration, unable to stop the growl that escaped from deep within his chest.
With a quick flick of the wrist he killed the second man, leaving the body next to the first as he pulled up the third and final assassin. This time, it was a woman. She couldn't have been much older than Flora, Erick realized with a start as the woman came into view.
Expecting similar behaviour to the last two, Erick used his shadows to gag her, preventing any more useless talk and going straight for her mind. He was surprised to find little to no restraint, pulling back in his efforts to dig in, but it was already too late.
Erick flinched when he felt an unfamiliar presence pushing into his mind, the feeling like a needle slowly sliding under the skin. The woman gave him a wicked grin as she slipped past his lowered defenses, forcing her way into his thoughts.
Erick recognized her magic as Day Magic, which could be quickly detrimental to his health if she was well trained. He felt her slipping through his mind, too quick to get a hold on as she swam through his memories.
Erick growled as they waged their silent battle. He was not going to let her go easily, not as she trailed through the intimate and private moments of his life. It wasn't until she lingered on one moment in particular that he finally caught her, forcing her out of his mind even as he dug into hers. Erick was briefly caught in the memory, his mind going dark as an image of his parents' cabin stood before him. For a moment it was as if he was there again, on the trail with Flora, his feelings for her not yet known. He refused to be pulled in, forcing the woman out of his memories with a rough shake. The woman made a noise of surprise before her face contorted in anguish.
Erick was not sly, he did not slip in and out unnoticed. He tore through her mind just as he had all the others, pulling back the layers as he desperately tried to find those missing pieces of her memory. She writhed in agony beneath him, making more than one attempt to regain a foothold in his mind but found it futile under the crushing weight of Erick's strength.
Erick thought he was imagining things when he heard a woman screaming, lost in the deep pits of the woman's memories. Perhaps he was only imagining what she would sound like had he not muzzled her with his shadows. Only he did hear screaming, and it was coming from the house.
Flora didn't know what else to do as a man came up from behind her, yanking on her shirt collar and dragging her to the floor. She released her grip on Spot's collar, and the dog immediately jumped for the strange man.
Spot grabbed a hold of the man's leg and began shaking wildly, his teeth digging in as the man tried to pull away. With a sharp curse and a jerk the stranger used the butt of his gun to hit Spot, throwing the dog off him. That was when Flora started screaming. She reached for her dog but was thrown back with a hard kick to the ribs.
Flora hit the floor with a hard knock to the head, her vision swimming with stars as she tried to roll over. She barely managed that, curling in herself as she heard the cocking of a gun. The pain from Erick's wound and the kick was all she could feel as time slowed down. I survived, only to die like this. She thought bitterly.
But the shot never came. Instead, Flora heard a loud thump and the sound of a man moaning in pain as a warm, comforting feeling spread over her. She opened her eyes to find herself shielded in darkness, the sound of boots climbing up the stairs behind her. Through the pain Flora turned her head over her shoulder to find Erick stalking through the doorway of the house, his eyes promising death as he stared down the strange man.
Flora looked back at the man to find him also on the floor, writhing in a soundless agony as Erick shadows pulled on and compressed him. That in of itself did not look necessarily painful, or so Flora thought. No, whatever he had done to the others he was doing so much more to this man.
Erick passed by her without so much as a blink in her direction, his attention totally focused on the man who almost killed her. Light dimmed around him, and it was as if shadows cloaked him, hugging his form and making his usually warm skin darkened by it. Flora shivered at the sight of him as he loomed over the man.
It was hard to tell with shadows around the man's face, but it appeared to Flora that he was crying, a tear falling down his face. Erick looked on impassively, a darkness clouding his eyes in a way that Flora had never seen before. The sight shook her to her core. This is why they're afraid of magic. Flora realized, now seeing that the truth had not been exaggerated.
Erick bristled with a rage Flora had not even known he was capable of, standing there as the blood from his wound dripped down his arm to his clenched fist. She wasn't sure what he was doing but the stranger's struggling grew more panicked, his movements sharp as he jerked against the strength of Erick's shadows.
Before she could even feel bad for the man, it was all over. With a sickening snap his bones were broken, his body now still and contorted. The stranger's eyes were open, an expression of fear and pain now frozen on his face. Flora's heart stopped as the image of her father came crashing in, replacing the body of the strange man on the floor.
She couldn't breath, she couldn't think, her mind and body frozen in terror. Her eyes locked on to the body before her, looking but not seeing as her world started to fade to black. Then there were hands on her, shaking her back to reality.
"Flora!" Erick's panicked voice was too far and too loud all at the same time as she gulped for air, her body finally catching up with her. As it did so, a wave of nausea hit her and Flora had to quickly pull out of Erick's grip as her body retched. She leaned over on the hardwood floor on her hands and knees, vomiting on the polished wood.
She was hardly aware of Erick's presence, though she knew he was there. He crouched beside her, one hand rubbing soft circles on her back as he made comforting sounds beside her. Flora shook as her body continued to evict her dinner. Her body was shaking violently by the time she was done, all of her energy spent.
She made no complaint when Erick helped her up, carrying her to the bathroom. The very back of her mind made a note that the hall had been cleaned, the body was gone, and the front door had been closed. It was quiet, even Spot didn't make a noise.
Erick quietly closed the door behind him before setting Flora down on a chair in the bathroom. She didn't know when she started crying, only that tears flowed down her face once more. A part of her felt ashamed of it, but the rest of her had no energy left to care.
She watched as Erick quickly and efficiently filled up the bathtub for the second time today, seeming to ignore his injury as blood soaked his white work shirt, leaving a large stain just above his heart. She said nothing when he came over to her again, his body heavy with an invisible weight.
"Would you like some help?" He asked quietly, so much so that Flora thought she had imagined it at first. That was when she realized the bath was not for him, but for her. She looked between the tub and him before shaking her head no. A sadness filled his eyes but he relented, nodding in her direction before leaving the bathroom.
Flora had no words for him, or for herself. There was no way to console herself from this one, this terrible truth. She did the next best thing and quietly undressed, stepping into the tub and allowing her body to soak in the warmth of the water as it rinsed away her sweat and tears.
Flora had remained in the tub for a few hours, only coming out when she realized just how late in the night it was. When she stepped out to dry off, she heard male voices coming from down the hallway. Her body froze, the towel barely wrapped around her as she strained to listen to what was being said. There were two voices, both were quiet. She noted that Spot was also quiet, a small comfort.
Flora cautiously continued to dry herself off, keeping an ear open to listen to the conversation down the hall. It was difficult to make out what they were saying, but it sounded as if one of the voices belonged to Erick. He did not sound happy.
Flora noted there was still an ache in her chest, which likely meant that Erick had not been healed yet. Not magically anyway. She was careful with the area as she finished drying off and putting on some clothes, unsure if the motion would cause him any distress. She was still unsure of how the whole thing worked, and was scared to find out at this particular moment.
When she was done, Flora quietly exited the bathroom, finding Spot had been waiting by the door for her. He looked up with a smile, his tail thumping on the floor behind him.
"Shhh!" Flora hushed the dog, hoping he didn't distract the men - or males - in their conversation. Spot got the hint and swiftly stopped, getting up to stand beside her. "Much better." She whispered before turning her attention to the room down the hall.
The voices continued speaking, and Flora could clearly make out the sound of Erick's voice as well as two others. Who is he speaking to? She thought, her curiosity taking over. She knew deep down that the moment she saw him she would be reminded of all that he had done, but she couldn't resist the pull to discover what was going on.
Flora tiptoed down the hall, making sure to step as quietly as she could so as not to be heard eavesdropping. Spot, unsure of what to make of her slow progress, stood where she found him and tilted his head in confusion. In any other case Flora would find it cute, but right now she was too distracted by the conversation in the other room.
"-too risky." A voice said, one that Flora did not recognize. It sounded like an older male, though Flora couldn't be sure if he was a male or a man quite yet. The thought of shifters being so different biologically still unsettled her.
"No one could have known that-" A voice, Dante's Flora realized, was quick to answer but was swiftly cut off.
"You did Captain, you told us yourself and yet you failed to make the necessary arrangements." The older male said angrily, his voice rising with his temper.
"What are you implying Bertram?" Dante growled, his voice low.
"Nothing, I simply-" The older male, Bertram, was cut off.
"It doesn't matter." Erick said in a dark voice. Both males were quiet, and Flora could only assume that Erick was staring them down with that intense gaze of his. "They had already slipped in, it was too late." Erick informed them, his voice quiet. There was a sound like shuffling before any one of them spoke again.
"My Lord, I really think-" The old male broke the silence with his anxiety riddled voice.
"No Bertram." Erick said with a heavy sigh. "I trust Captain Anderson, this won't happen again." Erick said with a finality that had Flora standing a little straighter.
The older male, Bertram, made several apologies and excuses in a mumbled tone. Erick soon dismissed him and the man all but rushed to leave the room. On his way out, Flora made eye contact with him. He was much older than Erick, and clearly a unicorn by the star on his forehead.
Bertram made an ugly face at her before turning to leave, whisking out the door and firmly shutting it behind him. She wasn't particularly offended, not even knowing who he was. She was worried as to what earned her such a reaction though.
Flora heard the sound of hooves quickly after, and couldn't help but imagine what he looked like as a unicorn. Despite having been at the castle for so long, she had seen very few shifters in their animal form.
Dante and Erick were slow to follow, the two coming out of the room only after the sound of Bertram leaving couldn't be heard. Dante looked exhausted, dark bruises under his eyes and his body stiff and slow. Erick didn't look much better, though he had put on a clean shirt since she last saw him. He rubbed his face with both hands aggressively, as if it would do anything, before noticing her.
"Flora." Erick said, almost sounding startled. His eyebrows had gone up, his eyes wider than usual. It was clear he had not expected her, and neither had Dante, who mirrored Erick's expression.
Erick walked over to her, moving as if he were going to hug her but stopped just short of doing so. For a moment, he didn't say anything. His eyes quickly moved back and forth, as if making sure everything was as it should be. He swallowed before speaking, the column of his throat jerking with the movement.
"Are you… Okay?" He asked tentatively, Worry clouded his gaze, marked every line of his face, and held the tension in his body. This was something deeper than a normal worry or even anxiety Flora realized. It was tinged with fear, though she wasn't certain if it was for her or because of her.
Eventually Flora nodded. "I'm fine." She replied quietly. The tension in Erick's shoulders eased up almost imperceptibly, though his gaze was still clouded.
Dante coughed uncomfortably from behind them. "I should get going." He said before making a quick and curt bow. Without another word he turned around and left, the sound of his footsteps pounding quickly down the stairs before becoming muted by the gravel outside.
"It's getting late." Erick said in a hushed tone, turning to face Flora. "Why don't we go to bed?" He asked, gesturing to the staircase. Just a glance at his hand reminded her of what he had done, what he had looked like.
Flora forcefully swallowed back the panic that had been rising in her throat. How could she be so afraid of him and yet care so much for him at the same time? He did what he had to. She told herself. They would have killed us. He saved you, again. He only did it for you.
Flora nodded her response, and followed Erick as he moved down the hallway. She took his hand in hers then, lightly closing her small hand around a few of his fingers. He gave her a sad smile before closing his hand around hers, the size of it dwarfing her own.
The two quietly made their way upstairs and down the hall. Flora's heart was a confused mess by the time they made it to the bedroom, the beat erratic. And yet her desire to keep him from leaving had not changed since this morning. Whatever happened, she wanted him by her side.