I- Dinner & Meeting
She stood at the window, looking out at the dropping sun, it hit just over the hilltop, shadowing everything around it in the orange and yellow rays. A sigh left her lips without her notice, how she would love to be out there rather than be stuck here inside with all these people. "Dreaming again?" a soft voice whispered alongside her and she turned to look at the owner. "No...merely reflecting on my day" she replied with a soft smile at her neighbor.
"Oh come on Rinki, we all know you don't want to be here, what did Prem say to you to make you not run off this time?" Meera asked with a smirk, gently rubbing her stomach. She watched as her nanand laughed softly and turned to look back at the sky.
"Really bhabhi, what sane girl would want to be here in the first place?" she rolled her eyes saying this, knowing the answer to that. "An-nd! Prem bhaiya did not say anything to me. I'm staying on my own will'" she trailed off as Meera stared at her with her eyebrow raised. "Okay fine, he said he would give me chocolate if I didn't run away". Meera laughed as she whispered the reason, as if wanting no one else to overhear.
"Ladies, the dinner is about to begin" a servant said before leaving through the doors to the kitchen. Meera looked at her sister-in-law and smiled as they walked towards the grand table that was filling up with people. The king, Suresh, sat at the head with Prem to his right side and Rinki to his left. Meera sat next to her husband and smiled as she felt his hand grab hers under the table.
"You look absolutely wonderful today" Prem whispered to Meera, keeping his eyes on his father who stood up to give a speech while the table was being filled with food. He turned slightly and winked at her with a soft smile. Pink hue stole at her cheeks as she glanced down at the table. She was dressed in a pale blue gown that complimented her figure. He smiled as he gently rubbed the bump that was her stomach at the moment.
They had been together for 2 years, and married for 1 yet she still blushed at the softest compliments he showered her with and the lingering gazes he sent her way made her shudder even to this day. "You don't look bad yourself" she replied, gazing at him in his white shirt and black slacks. He had folded his sleeves till his elbows and she shook her head at this, he had made this a habit and was unable to let go of it. Every shirt he wore had to have the sleeves folded; it was some sort of Prem code.
Prem sat up straight when he felt a kick and glanced across the table at his sister who was playing with her bracelet. She glanced at him and winked before nodding her head at their father who was lightly clearing his throat to get everyone's attention. He inclined his head lightly as thanks and smiled as he watched her shift in her seat. She was dressed in a forest green dress and her hair pulled up in a fancy twisted bun with some strands falling around her face. She hated formal clothing and styles.
"Ladies and Gentleman, if I can please have your attention" everyone turned to look at him, silence echoed through the room suddenly and Rinki still found herself getting surprised at the respect her father received from everyone. "Today is my daughter's birthday dinner party; she will be turning 20 tomorrow. As you all know that is the age of fairies coming in power to rule. My son and daughter-in-law rule here while my daughter shall rule in Orion, our other home" he motioned towards Rinki, who sat there staring at him with shocked eyes.
Everyone cheered and applauded as she turned her eyes to her brother's face, he only stared back with a soft smile and an encouraging nod. Her father continued, "tomorrow at her official birthday party, she will be crowned, so I ask you all to come and watch that...now let us eat and enjoy this dinner party" he sat down as applause ran one last time through the hall. Turning his eyes on his daughter while everyone else began to eat and talk amongst themselves, he was slightly surprised to find her staring at her plate without any emotion.
"What's the matter dear?" he asked her softly, attracting the attention of Prem and Meera. The three watched as she sighed and looked at them with sad eyes, "you're sending me away papa and didn't even tell me before hand?" Suresh was shocked to the say the least. "What? Of course not Rubina. Have you gone crazy? I would never send you away, my child. But Orion needs a strong leader, and I can see that in you. Besides you're only going to be a portal away" he assured her, patting her hand softly.
She only nodded slowly as music began to play in the background. They began to eat and watch as others began to dance and enjoy themselves. After finishing his dinner, Suresh decided to go and talk with other kings in his study, leaving the kids in charge. Prem led Meera to dance while Rinki decided to go to her room and get ready to leave for her spot. Saying one last goodbye to her brother and sister-in-law, she turned and left the room, smiling and waving at those men that tried to stop her with flirty gestures.
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She exited her bathroom, wrapped in her black robe with wet hair clinging to her face and neck. She walked over to her dresser and began to brush her hair when suddenly noises fell on her ears. Turning to the window and pushing it open, she leaned her head out of the frame and saw some soldiers with her brother running around, yelling to one another, with weapons in their hands. Prem glanced up and motioned for her to close the window, his face screwed in an angry expression, she followed his orders and pulled the curtains over the window.
A knock sounded on the door and Meera's voice came through "Rinki, I'm coming in" before it was pushed open and she entered. Still dressed as she was during the dinner, she moved across the room and hugged the confused girl. "Bhabhi! What's going on?" Rinki asked her eyes narrowed as she watched Meera sit down on the bed, wringing her hands nervously.
"There was another body found" Meera whispered through the silent room, as if fearing who might hear them. She watched quietly as Rinki's eyes widened and she gasped softly, her hand covering her mouth as she staggered back slightly. "Wh-who?" she asked, not wanting to know but knowing it was needed to be known.
"Mary-Ann, the Wither's daughter" Meera answered, closing her eyes softly. She knew that Rinki had been slightly close to the girl, they had been friends as little girls, though that friendship had died as they grew up, it still hurt to know that the girl you spent hours with was now gone. "How?" came a soft voice, cracking slightly before regaining the usual strength.
"Same as always--a bite wound on the shoulder, claw marks on the arms and neck broken'" Meera replied quietly, her eyes on the other girl whose face lost its color rapidly.
"You should get some rest bhabhi," Rinki said, leading Meera to the door and hugging her good night. Meera looked at her carefully, she seemed angry and sad, but not desperately that she would have to worry about her doing something idiotic. With a soft goodbye, Meera left for her and Prem's room. Closing the door and leaning her head against it, Rinki sighed sadly. This was the 5th body in just 8 weeks. It was getting almost frightening to go out without soldiers guarding people.
A few minutes went by, the curtains shuffled against the nightly wind and she turned around, her eyes on the ground. Trailing up, she focused on the window, the curtains were pulled open. She cocked her head to the side and wondered out loud, "I closed these, then why are they open again? If Prem bhaiya sees them, he's going to start screaming at me" she huffed as she moved away from the door.
Movement behind the curtains caused her to pause and glare slightly, "who's there!? I have a knife and I am not afraid to use it" she said, looking at the knife from her table where it lay in a plate with apples. The curtain was pushed to the side and a man stepped out from the dark into the light, his black hair tousled. His dark brown eyes stared into hers with curiosity, they ran over her body and a smirk came upon his lips as he tilted his head lightly to the side.
She stared at him with wide eyes, wondering where he came from, as his eyes trailed down her body, she realized she was only wearing her robe, her hair was still wet and trailing on her neck. She crossed her arms and glared at him with her lips stretched in a frown. "Who the hell are you and what are you doing in my room?" she asked, huffing as his eyes stayed on her lips rather than her eyes. "Hey! My eyes are up here genius, now answer me before I scream and call the guards!" she growled lightly as he finally turned his eyes to hers.
He didn't speak though, a wince came across his face before disappearing in a flash, making her wonder if it was just her eyes playing a game on her or he had really winced. Her eyes trailed over to his shoulder where the shirt was cut and blood stained the edges. Forgetting about everything, she wandered over to him and pulled him by the hand to the bed, pushing him down to sit. He blinked and stared at her back as she ran into the bathroom and came with a small bowl filled with water and some towels, she placed the items on the bed next to him before going through her cabinet for the first aid kit.
"Take your shirt off" she commanded him, standing in front of him with her bangs falling across her cheek. He raised his eyebrow while she placed her hands on her hips and nodded her head at his shoulder. "Take it off or else I will" she stated raising her brow back at him.
He shook his head and stood up, she stepped back to give him room as he placed his hands on the bottom of his shirt and pulled it over his head. She gulped lightly as his chiseled body came in view; smooth skin laid over muscles that stretched with his every move stared back at her. Looking up, she noticed him smirking down at her with amusement in his eyes. She barely reached his shoulder standing so she lightly placed her hand on his chest and pushed him back, he didn't move and kept smirking at her.
She rolled her eyes at him and said, "Sit down already, I don't have all day for you". He sat down while watching her with wondering eyes as she leaned closer and began to wipe the blood from the cut. Her bottom lip was being bit on while a crease came between her brows as she concentrated on her work. Soon she had bandaged his shoulder and began to put the supplies away; when she came back he was standing up and pulling the shirt over his head.
"Listen, get that checked over by a doctor...I'm not that good at bandaging people" she told him softly as he inclined his head to the side, still watching her with his intense eyes. Noises came from outside her door; she turned her head away and looked at the door which was shoved open harshly. There in the doorway stood Prem with some guards. "Bhaiya! What is the matter with you?" she asked him, glaring with her arms crossed at his disturbing entrance.
"I'm sorry Rinki. But did a man come in here?" Prem asked her, walking inside the room, relaxing slightly. She turned her head to the side and noticed that the man she had just bandaged was gone. "Erm, no. Why? Should someone have?" she asked turning her eyes over the room carefully, wondering where the man had gone and so silently too.
"Well I hope not. It's a man that we're trying to capture; we believe he is the killer. If you hear or see anything out of the usual on the grounds, find me quickly" Prem told her, softly patting her head before turning to leave the room. "'the killer?" she whispered, a flash of fear entering her. Prem turned back to look at her with confused eyes before they widened. "Don't worry, we'll catch him" he assured her before closing the door behind him.
She stood in a silent room, her eyes still wide with wonder, had she really just bandaged a killer? The killer that had taken lives of so many young women? A rustle alerted her and she looked to the side, where the man came out from behind her bed. His eyes were now angry and filled with something raw, something that scared her but also...also making her want to know more about him. She stared at him with accusing eyes, opening her mouth to scream when he crossed the room with long steps and placed a hand over her mouth.
They stared into one another's eyes, hers accusing while his were angry. Time seemed to stop around them as they became lost in another world. His hand slowly moved away from her lips, caressing them lightly without intention. She shivered slightly, not breaking her eye contact with him. What was this? Why wasn't she yelling for help? She asked herself mentally, her fear seemed to have left her.
He stared at the girl; Rinki that man had called her, why had she lied to her brother about him. She had protected him even if it was without knowing that he was the one who was the killer of those girls. But he could see the anger, mostly at herself for not realizing who he could've been, pain and fear in her eyes as he stepped away from her. Would she scream now? Let him get caught and possibly hanged for his crimes? No, he couldn't allow her to do that. But he can't hurt her, she had saved his life. He owed it to her now.
Walking backwards slowly, his heart ached as he took those steps away from her to the window. Not knowing the reason behind it, he frowned softly, wondering what could have caused this ache in his heart. She watched him as he turned and swiftly jumped from the window and ran to the window sill to watch him race away from the castle, the guards not noticing. His last words rang through her ears and she sighed softly.
"We will meet again...Rinki"
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Hey guys, sorry for the long wait. Was writing bit by bit for everything and finally got around to finishing this part. Hope you enjoyed.
Comment or press the like button, please.
- Rinki
Edited by ~Rinki~ - 16 years ago
