Chapter 77

Mihai carries me all the way to a small cabin, it’s made out of wood, just as you would think it was, and it had a bundle of firewood lined up the entire left side. It was pretty, but it was simple and it reminded me of my life before I came here. Things were much simpler back then, when all I had to worry about was pleasing my father and keeping the council off my back. It wasn’t hard, I did a good job of it. But I knew deep down it had to end sooner or later, and in a way, I’m glad it ended with Mihai, because I don’t know where I would be without him.
Maybe I would be dead in a ditch somewhere no one would find me until the animals had eaten away at my carcass.
At least then I wouldn’t have had to kill my own brother or find out that the man who raised me was a raging psychopath who got my mother killed. Simpler doesn’t always mean better however, and I wasn’t happy, I had nothing.
I had no one who truly cared for me, all of it was a lie, my entire life was fake. At least now, what I have with Mihai is real. It’s raw and sometimes hard, but it is real.
Yeah, he isn’t perfect. Far from it actually. But I am not perfect either, and I never want to see myself that way.
I never want to give in to my own pride and arrogance the way that Nathanial has. He is the true monster in my story. He is the one who destroyed my chances of a happy life.
I could have been raised with my real father, someone who wanted me, but didn’t know how to find me. I have other brothers. I have a sister. Why couldn’t I have had that life?
I sigh in Mihai’s arms as he carries me to the door, kicking it open with his foot, “Don’t dwell on things you had no control over, it’ll only drive you crazier.” He says, as though reading my mind.
I decide that he’s right and I turn my attention to the inside of the cabin instead, it’s nice, as simple as the outside, but it has a more homely feel to it than the mansion does.
It is like he has put his own personal taste into this place, nothing fancy, nothing that cost a whole lot of money. Just simple and useful. Everything has a use, right down to the fireplace that is already lit.
“I like it.” I say softly, peeling myself from his arms and walking around the small space.
There are hundreds of books lining one wall, and just as many films, most of them action. The ones I recognise anyway. There’s a to and an old looking dvd player.
It’s the perfect place to hide out, why didn’t I know about it sooner?
Mihai watches me explore, a smile gracing his lips, “I’m glad you like it.” He chuckles, “I thought we could stay here for a few days. Just the two of us.”
“But aren’t I supposed to be meeting my brother today?” I ask, frowning as I turn to face him. “Can that be put off again?”
“Of course it can.” Mihai snaps, “you can’t live your life by everyone else’s rules, love, sooner or later you gotta start living the way that you want.”
I heave a sigh, “let’s not talk about that.” I say. “Why don’t we watch a movie?” I turn to the many dvds and smile, “I haven’t watched a good action film in longer than I can remember.”
It’s mihai’s turn to smile, and he walks towards me, searching the shelf. “It has to be something simple, right?”
I nod my head, “right!”
This man gets me, even when I think he doesn’t. He does.
He understands me in a way that no one else ever has, and I will be eternally grateful for that part of him.
He picks something that I have already forgotten the name of and we sit down together on the worn brown sofa, cuddled up under a blanket and the fire rages to the side of us.
It’s nice. Peaceful.
It’s a change from the stressful weeks we have had, and it’s nicely away from all of the fighting and scheming.
I know that we need to defeat the council sooner or later, but that is never going to happen until I get stronger, and building strength takes time. Especially as a newborn Nati. I can’t just jump into the fight of my life and expect to win with no training whatsoever. That’s just plain stupid.
And I have never seen myself as an overly stupid person, I have my moments of course, just like anyone else. But I do have brains in my head. When I decide to use them.
Mihai stands as soon as the movie is over, gently wrapping the blanket around me as it slowly begins to get colder as the night draws on.
The sun set a while ago, and whilst my stomach has been screaming at me for hours, I didn’t want to break the nice thing we have going.
“Hey.” I say as he flips on the kettle,’”is there anything to eat out here?”
He shakes his head, “there isn’t, but I can get one of the servants o bring something from the house?”
I make a sound that is somewhere between a hum and a groan. “You are sure there is nothing?” I ask.
He laughs, pulling out his phone, typing away at the screen before he puts it back into his pocket. “There, love, I have ordered something from the house. They’ll bring it out to us as soon as it is ready.”
I lick my lips, considering my next words carefully, “will there be blood too?” I whisper, as though someone else might here me, “I’m only asking before the burning in my throat is back.”
He pulls out his phone again, typing away, putting it back. “They’ll bring you some blood too.” He says with a smile.
I laugh, “thanks Chef.”
He walks back towards me, leaning down close to my face, “I’ll be anything you want me to be love, as long as you promise to always be mine.”
My heart melts, right into the floor, it’s a puddle, I’m a mess.
Why does he have to go and say thinks like that? He’s making me fall for him, and I don’t even think he is trying.
I know that he feels the same, we have both fallen from the tree and landed together, but sometimes, I wish it were simpler. Just like the cabin.
I wish there weren’t so many obstacles in the way of our happiness.