Chapter 17: Breaking Apart

[Dove]

"We need to talk, Cole."

Slick hair glossed to the back, moist bronze skin, damp shirt - I could tell that Cole had gone to the waterfall.

My eyes were drinking in the gorgeous sight of him until he said in a curt tone, "Stop staring."

I glanced away from his muscled chest and then focused on his eyes instead, but the intense stare was as distracting.

"So what is it?" He asked impatiently.

The old tone was back. My shoulders heaved with a dreaded thought: maybe what happened between us so far was just a lie.

Visions of smiling and caring Cole flooded into my mind. I inhaled sharply. I didn't want us to be strangers again.

"I thought we should have dinner together. We haven't eaten together since the feast," I said in a cheery tone.

He folded his arms, narrowed his gaze and said, "I have been busy."

"I understand," I quickly nodded and said, "but you promised to have at least one meal a day together."

He scoffed and let out a cold chuckle. I swallowed the bitter taste in my mouth and maintained my smile.

"Sure," he said and walked past me without another word.


******

"Jude clearly cares but he's not saying anything," I said while moving the food aimlessly around my plate.

Cole continued chewing.

Since we sat, Cole had not said a word. I made jokes and shared some gossip to lighten the mood. But the atmosphere seemed to grow denser with each passing moment and I was running out of things to say.

Suffocating from his sudden cold behaviour, I decided to make him talk.

"What do you think, Cole?"

Cole paused and swallowed his food. He looked at me, leaned forward and said in a strangely calm voice, "I think it's time to tell me about your secret trips to the forbidden cave."

I held my breath.


******


[Cole]
Cole studied his wife carefully as she rattled on about her day. She rattles whenever she feels uneasy.

His silence must have made her uncomfortable, Cole thought. A tiny bit of him wanted to chat and laugh with her. But he ignored it.

This is a good chance for him to keep her away. Cole couldn't miss it.

He dropped the question and watched the color drained from Dove's cheeks.

She opened and closed her mouth. Her eyes closed briefly and opened again. In an almost steady voice, she said, "You followed me?"

"Of course," he growled, "I need to know when someone's been sneaking and snooping around."

"Look, Cole, I didn't mean to," she paused at his wry chuckle and then raised her chin to continue, "to snoop around. I was just trying to find out."

"What?" Cole snapped. He stood, towering over her, and snarled, "What do you want to find out? I've told you all you need to know."

He exhaled heavily and continued, "I forgave you the first time because you didn't know better."

"I know," Dove muttered, her eyes reddening.

Cole slammed a fist on the table and thundered, "Then what the hell, Dove? Why? You even promised never to talk about that Goddess shit again."

Dove hastily said, "I’m sorry, Cole. I just thought--."

"You are just like Her!" Cole pointed at the dark sky outside the window.

"No, don’t! Please, Cole, listen. I really thought--."

"What? Did you actually think that I'd be happy to know that it wasn't Her who killed my parents?" Cole laughed coldly.

Dove grabbed the edge of the table till her knuckles whitened.

"I know She didn’t,” Cole stepped towards her with a threatening stare and said, “But my parents prayed to Her. We all prayed to her. Even before the battle. And we were wiped out in seconds. She could have let some of us live but no one survived."

His blue eyes glinted angrily as he said with a cold menace "What kind of a protection is that?"

Dove said, "There could be a misunderstanding, Cole, if you could just listen. I'll tell you all that I've found. There was --."

"I don't want to hear any of it," Cole snapped and shot an open palm in her face. With a dismissal wave of his hand, he said, "I'm done with this Goddess bullshit.”

He stooped down to level his icy stare with her apologetic eyes and said, “And I'm done with you and your empty promises."

Dove held her chin up but her eyes had moistened, her nose was red and her lips were trembling.

He turned from her so he could finish what he started.

"You can stay if you want to. Don’t worry. I will make sure you are properly fed and clothed. But don't expect anything more than that. If you stay, play your Luna role well," he squeezed his eyes tight to drain every drop of his fake cruelty and left.



******


[Dove]
I sat in the darkness.

A string of moonlight streamed in, offering warmth and comfort. I walked towards it and let my hand swim through the glittery flow. My heart felt slightly better.

Cole’s words rang in my ears after he left, even now. His distant voice had turned me into a stranger. I was no one to him again. I sniffed. A tear crystallized on my wrist. Then, another one. And another one.

My shaking palms covered my face and everything poured out - anger and regret. I should’ve told Cole when he asked. He trusted me and I blew it. You have hurt him, Dove, I scolded silently. More tears rolled down my cheeks.

The stream of glowing warmth shifted to my bowed back and comforting heat spread throughout my body. An encouraging breeze brushed my head like a mother’s hand. I looked up in awe at the graceful moon. Another wave of fresh air swept over me.

I widened my gaze in realization and sent a thankful smile at the wispy clouds sailing by.

Cole didn’t send me away. All is not lost.