The King's finger stilled on the rim of his cup. His head was turned from the human and towards the wall, which though he could not see, his beast allowed the shape of it to form inward.
He could hear her eating— the hungry scraping of cutlery on utensils, the closed-mouth chewing, her swallowing.
He fancied reaching for her neck, splaying his hands around the delicate width of her throat and feeling the peristalsis movement of food.
She was hungry.
She ate as though a famine had struck the world and this would be her final meal. It was no surprise however, every time they met she always happened to be hungry.
The King mulled over her answer; nothing, when she burped.
A sudden startling sound that disrupted his thoughts, and he smelled the brief waft of food from her direction. A brow lifted in her direction.
"Disgusting."
She spluttered– he heard that, and shifted– her foot knocking his clumsily as she tried and failed to find her dignity.
"Excuse me." She said after a long moment.
The servant returned and collected the remaining dishes then exited. He had nto yet dismissed her so she remained sitting by his side, shifting every now and then. He could feel her curious eyes on him, nervously darting everywhere then back at him before settling.
"How did you lose your eyesight?"
The King smiled vaguely. He considered touching the scars that ran over either eyes but reached for the cup of wine instead and took a slow sip.
"My father."
The answer was simple enough but he knew he had snagged her interest. The silence was forlorn, drawn out as she tried to process the idea of a father taking his vision– or so he thought.
"I've seen fathers do that." It was a thoughtful whisper.
The King's cup hovered by his lips long enough for him to realize that she had caught his attention. She sensed it and quickly began to backtrack.
"... I didn't mean it in that way. But there are fathers which have taken their children's eyesights, sold them, beaten them… you know…" a rush of air in his direction. She was waving her hand about.
"But there's also good fathers. I think. I hope. I'm sure there are, you know, I have seen…" a pause, "anyway I'm sorry about that. Why did he take your eyesight?"
"Punishment."
"What did you do?"
Images of claws came, unbidden, to his memory. Long talons that curled out of nail beds ripping down the length of his face. In the blink of an eye everything before him was snuffed out and since then darkness prevailed.
It was the only memory that remained.
Everything else, like his eyesight, had dimmed to a blackness with no discernible end.
"How about you, little human?"
"Me?"
He hummed. "Where is your darling father?"
… careful…
"I don't– I don't–" she blabbered a string of incoherent words before sighing. He almost– almost— could see how her form looked like sinking into the upholstery like a setting sun.
"... he died." She concluded.
"How did he die?"
"He owed a lot to the king, he wasn't the best at managing his funds. The king came for him one night and tossed him out of the walls for the wolves to eat. I was a child then so it didn't really matter to me. I didn't know him anyway."
The latter was added in a rush as if to ward off any pitiful comments he might have.
He offered none.
"How did you end up with your uncle?"
"I had nowhere else to go. My father rarely talked about his brother but I knew he existed so I figured I could find him… and I did." A pause, she inhaled a shaky breath, "... he wasn't necessarily happy about my existence but he couldn't deny me so to speak… I guess his wife spoke to him about it because I moved in on condition that I pay for my boarding and food."
"Interesting."
He heard gentle movement– her hand rubbing at her forearm nervously. "They were kind enough to me. Not many would allow a stranger into their home."
"Yet he gave you up as a sacrifice."
"That was different."
Dull amusement glinted off his pale eyes. "Was it?"
"He had debts to pay. And I was slacking off with my bills, I was behind. He had threatened me many times that he would kick me out but I kind of relied on lady luck to keep me long enough just until I found another place…"
"... he had debts to pay off." She finally concluded pitifully. An attempt to mollify the situation and place a bandaid over her uncle's actions.
The King had not moved as she reminisced about her past and the events that led her to this moment. He catalogued each word of hers and carefully tucked it into his mind for later contemplation.
Simple.
That was the word which could describe his little human.
She was as simple and mundane as life could be.
Which was ironic considering all the centuries he had spent on this earth; killing, seeking, devouring, burning kingdoms to the ground and fulfilling prophecies… only to be led to this single moment that would defy all odds.
The creeping sense of doubt niggled at his mind but something else rose within him.
His vision turned inwards and he could see it. The mass shape lying on its belly with its head resting on its paws, red eyes glinting at him with conviction.
… do not doubt ...
And just like that, doubt guttered out.
"You may return to your room." It was a curt dismissal that brooked any discussion. The chair scraped back as she rose.
She lingered briefly, he could feel her stillness, before pivoting and making her way out of the room.
The King remained seated while staring at nothing but his beast that idled on the floor.
They watched each other as a silent agreement passed between.
And then he rose, cloak fluttering behind as he quietly made his way through the room and out of the palace. The guards stood at attention yet none followed him nor turned their faces in the direction he walked.
He crossed the lawn drenched with dew and headed for the woods that stood tall and looming before him. Their lengths seemed to reach for the heavens and spread wide, blotting out the moonlight from above.
His fluid steps grew haggard and heavy as he stepped into the forest, his straight spine bending as the muscles in his back swelled and stretched tearing at the seams of fine-tailored clothing.
His mind was closing in on a darkness that came with the beast, a submission to the creature that took precedence.
The darkness closed in when a thought drifted through his mind; tentative and soft like a strand of smoke.
… do not doubt…