Here in the garden, while normally these decadent blooms and lush foliage give my heart solace, I have not been able to move on from the thorns. Nor the blood meal they have been feasting upon. Speaking of feasts, Malencia has invited me here for tea. I tread down the manicured stone path to meet her, clutching a document satchel fastened from my hip for support.
If not for what I have to do, I would never have had the strength to meet here. Beauty does not bloom from this soil.
As I approach, she is seated at a black lace covered table, smiling at me. She wears a silken halter gown of deep red, flaunting both her powerful muscles and soft curves. Those beautiful ringlet curls of hers, unbound like wild vines cascading down a mighty tree. A whole set of tea for two, with savory cakes and smoked fish. The romantic aromas: of the atmosphere, of her perfume, the spread, is certainly enticing. Too enticing.
"Kori, exquisite husband, thank you for joining me. Please, have a seat."
Silently my head bows to hers. This display is confusing, half my life with her, and she has never arranged for anything like this. Unfastening my document satchel, placing it carefully beside my seat. Regally folding my waist-robes as I sit across from her.
"Thank you, Mali. You wanted to speak with me?"
Peculiar, the tea is already served? Looking up, I catch her gaze. Malencia is furious. Her eyes glow with a destructive blaze. This will be another dangerous dance. I pray diplomacy does not fail me.
"Yes, my moonflower, but first let's savor this." She takes a sip of her tea, she motions me to do the same.
I fear there is something in it. "What kind of tea is this?"
"Oh this? I picked it up during my last hunting trip. It's from one of the universes with Planet Earth in it. It is a blend of herbs and flowers I foraged to create a new tea blend. I think the notes between bitter and floral remind me of us."
"Flora from Earth? Mali, if this is another one of your hexes, then I politely refuse."
She breaks into a furious giggle "A hex? Oh Kori, I'm done with trying to use love spells on you. They don't last. There really are no shortcuts to your heart. I was hoping food would be one. I suppose not."
"You have been using lust and manipulation spells on me, not love spells." Quickly shifting my disgust into the disguise of a smile before she retaliates. "No shortcuts to my heart? I thought you enjoyed your hunts? I thought you savored challenges."
She takes one of the smoked fish regally in her talons, locking her eyes on me. "Ah yes, I do savor the hunt. I am patient. Nothing beats the taste of fresh meat, especially when it is sentient enough to beg you for concepts like mercy and freedom." Her nectar voice shines through for a moment.
Yet her leer sends a chill down my spine. She then places the fish delicately between her lips. "Really wets my appetite.”
Her eyes hone into mine, she swallows the fish without a smudge to her lip paint. “But you don't like that, Kori. You don't hunt. Not for sport, not even for food."
My leg shakes, repositioning to sit on it, my hips and shoulders tighten. "The darkness is all I truly need. Maybe a little wine to get through the pain. How can I be so consuming when I bear the weight of The Black Lotus?"
"I bear that weight equally with you."
My smile is still soft, "I do appreciate your military service, High General. Malencia the War-Raven, I have heard others call you. Your tactics and prowess on the frontlines are unfaltering. None can deny these."
Starting to sweeten my tea. "However, I question your training methods. Also, sometimes your paperwork goes missing; that is not something I appreciate, nor will it be tolerated. Your war crimes have also been a disaster to clean up. I want peace conferences with King Haelius. I am tired, the people are tired.”
"Wow look at you Kori! Actually speaking like a real emperor instead of just crying. I'm impressed!"
The way she takes her sip of tea, I might have gotten out of line in her eyes. That made it worse. She makes a scowl under her smile and voice.
"You? Impressed by me? Now that is remarkable." Taking a sip of tea to continue the illusion of composure.
I do not taste any of her magic on it.
"Delicious words. I do not remember the last time I impressed you." Sipping once more, just to be sure. Holy Gadzin that is good! "Almost as delicious as this tea. Earth you said? Please, show me which one sometime."
"Some time indeed. Kori." She sighs, her tone dries. "I thought I could pretend, but I'm afraid I can't anymore."
"What is wrong Mali?" My own tone shifts, soft and gentle. Feeling the heat of her anger burning in her eyes, ablaze like a wildfire.
"It's why I called you here, Koriath. Those childlings of yours have gotten out of control. They told their tutor and class about the incident."
"Their hearts and minds are valiant for not keeping silent." My tone also changes tempo to somber. So that is what was consuming her.
"It is against the law." Her cup clanks impatiently as she sets it down upon the table, yet poised enough to not cause a drop to spill nor splash.
"It is against a ruling that you self-imposed. That so-called law spits at the strength of truth and justice."
Lowering my head for a moment of silence, then slowly lifting my head, searching those radiating black holes disguised as gemstone eyes. "How many more will you murder in the name of your own perversion of it?"
"A sentence is not a murder. That was not one I took pleasure in either."
Breathing meditatively silent as my mind prepares to suffer a verbal onslaught.
"From what was confessed, Phantisma was the one who encouraged Kurai to talk. Kurai was trying to hold back. She was terrified. She understands my gravity. Phantisma does not. I want you, Koriath, to show your daughter that standing up to me has consequences."
My nerves strike my heart, trying not to choke on terror. "What are you asking of me?"
"I am not asking you. I am commanding you. Take her to the monastery you were raised in, or I will send her to a convent of my priestesses. You can get her back home in a few ages."
Clenching my eyes shut to keep tears from forming in front of her while my talons silently start to clear the table.
"What are you doing? Did you hear me?" She snaps.
"I heard you loud and clear, Malencia." Taking a partially bare ethereal form, just enough to expose her spell on my soul. “Now it is your turn to hear me. Unchain my soul from you. You have broken your oath.”
She laughs wickedly “Oh my sweet, naive little moonflower, I said I could agree to that, not that I would. You just assumed I would keep my word. No, you sold yourself to me without ritually binding me to you. Your soul is mine to keep.”
I return back to my flesh form with a weary heart. “Love celebrates freedom. Forcing you to me is not love. Yet, such horrifying manipulation seems to be your favorite weapon.”
Reaching for the satchel. “Now, if I were naive as you say, I would not be able to see that. Nor did I naively believe you would just cut me free because you were so kindly asked to; so I brought this.”
Pulling it up and removing the documents from it. My talons display them before her. "Since you refuse my soul’s freedom out of love for me; then out of my love for my childlings, I am granting the three of us legal and physical freedom from you. Malencia, I have filed for our annulment. The reasons are childling abuse, spouse abuse, and soul assault. You will not be in my home any longer."
Her crimson spinel eyes widen. "What? Koriath?"
"You will be alright, Malencia. While you will no longer be The Empress of Darkness, you will still be the Dimperial High General. Despite this being an annulment, I am allowing it to play out as a divorce. Except, without the chance to ever marry me again.”
Her expression is filled with worry as she frantically scours the words in furious silence.
Continuing calmly. “I have crafted special clauses just for you Mali. You get to keep the monetary promise that marrying into royalty grants you; as well as any of your properties. You may also keep any gifts given by me. I will also be paying you separation support for five ages out of my own personal salary. You will not have any custody or visitation rights over Kurai and Phantisma. You will also not be brought to trial for your crimes.”
Pausing to take another sip of tea to honor her manipulative efforts. “I am simply stating the charges as to why our marriage is to be null and void. Merciful, no?”
“Merciful! Koriath! I-we have a reputation to uphold!” She clutches one of the pages tightly in her talon.
“You can tell the public whatever you want. Tell them I am the worst, say whatever you want. I do not care. Just get out of my palace and stay far away from me and my childlings."
Never have I seen her like this.
Her lips tremble as she speaks, her voice sounds like it is shaking. Yet her eyes still emit their ferocious, glowing haunt. "Kori my lovebird, I want to be by your side."
"Why would I want you beside me any longer?" Remaining calm despite the weight in my heart and soul.
"Kori please, delicate moonflower-" She gently takes her talon in mine, caressing it.
She has not held my talon like this for ages.
"You just have not been watered right. I've neglected you. Come with me. Let's go somewhere more private."
I am more safe in public than I am alone with her… But her touch… Stupid eyes, stop crying. Talon, do not hold hers! Damn it Koriath! Say something!
"Stop." I whisper as I manage to carefully pull my talons back and hide them under the table. What is wrong with me? No, what is wrong with her? She could have held on. She chose not to. She chose to release me.
"Kori, sweetest night, I was only asking to send her away for a few ages. I could have easily killed her. You did not bind me, however I am trying to uphold my promise to you. You are my husband and favorite devoted one. Please, let's talk this out in our room."
"You call throwing Kurai out of a window and paralyzing Phantisma, Devadas, and Adumbra holding back? You have broken my heart for the last time. Consider yourself lucky that I am only presenting you with this annulment."
“What a terrible thing to say Koriath, I waited until you were on the grounds. I was just trying to ruffle your feathers; no harm was meant. This violence was playful.”
“This playful violence of yours, you are supposed to save for me and me alone. I warned you not to lay a talon on my daughters!”
“Yet here you are praying to your imaginary gods. I am supposed to be your Goddess. I protect our soldiers on the battlefield. I protect this realm from light! Your true goddess is here in the flesh before you.”
She starts pointing her fingers in my face. “Your end of the bargain was to worship me alone. If anyone has broken any hearts or covenants, you are the guilty party Koriath, not I.”
“Then we have both broken our promise. Let us finally just end this in peace. Give me my soul back, sign this, pick up your things, and then get out of my presence. You will be free to enjoy all your comforts and pleasures without me.” Speaking gently to her.
“My comforts and pleasures lie with you.” Her eyes soften as her accusatory fingers metamorphosize into the romantic display of an open talon. “Come. You're tired, you thirst for love. I see it in your garnet eyes, shimmering with those delightfully sorrowful tears of yours.”
"I do thirst for love, but only from the Malencia I married.” Sighing heavily. “What happened to her? What happened to us? You were not always so cruel to me as you are now. You honestly were once my goddess of war and love. Why did our love become a war?"
"I will answer you, if you follow me first."
"Then I do not need your answer. I only need you to sign these." My wings open, silently plucking one of my own pinion feathers from my wing. The essence drips from it as I cup my other hand. Using my magic, shaping it into ink instead. Presenting both of my talons to her. Pen and ink.
She pounces up from the table toward me. I quickly drop the ink and pen, pushing myself out of the way. She grabs me, wrapping her arms around me. Being almost as tall as I am, she bends slightly to lay her head on my chest.
Her hold on me, to my surprise, is not an attack- it's a hug.
"Oh, Kori no! We're going to be ok. We can do this together. Let's work this out."
Desperately fighting silence and stillness to demand her to let go of me, but I cannot. My mouth will not form the words.
"Give me another chance. Koriath I need you! Please!" She holds me tighter.
Never have I heard her beg. Is she being genuine?
She straightens up, releases me from the hug. Taking my talon in one hand, bringing it up to her lips, she kisses it. "Come, let your goddess set it right. You just need our bliss."
My weeping erupts. She needs me? …I need bliss- no, I need love. No, I have love… My friends, my family. … My princesses need me to protect them from her.
She passionately scoops up my body into her arms with her uncanny strength. “We have been through thick and thin, rough and smooth waters together for almost twenty ages. Our anniversary only nights away. Are we not beautiful together? Your soft caress to chaos compliments my iron grasp over life.”
Unsure if her arms will be a fortress or a dungeon. Her energy is a dangerous, frightfully delightful passion my heart and mind have long forgotten. My words are meek, yet still fighting for liberation from this nightmare that she is.
"Malencia, we are over. Let go of me. This marriage has died.”
“No. I am not giving up on us. We are going to relax and express ourselves together in our roost.” She holds me tighter. “You know my love is painful, bloody, and intense. This time, we can start slowly as we talk.”
“In that case, I can walk." As soon as she puts me down, I am going to fly to the girls. I have to get them out of the empire for Hokulani to help us… Though Malencia will chase furiously… like last time.
"You're too tired to walk with your burdens. Let me show our empire that I can still hold and protect you Koriath. Let me display you safely in my arms." Her mighty wings eclipse the chaos-moon in the night.
Protect me? Safe? Is she serious? I am disarmed. Paralyzed in confusion.
As she readies to fly us out of the garden, she leans in and kisses me.
Were my instincts right about the tea? Am I paralyzed in confusion? No- she paralyzes me with the magic in her touch. It must be. I cannot return her kiss nor turn away, only cry silently.
This garden grows only death and failure.
“Do not heal yourself. I want to see you wearing the proof of my love all over you. We can have our marriage back. We can have a happy family. I will not lay a talon on our childlings. But if you threaten me, or try to leave me again, I will make you regret that your daughters did not die as infants. This I vow to you Koriath.”