A Choice is Made

Kayla ran blindly through the rain. Away from the pain. Away from him. The traitor, how could he? He had confessed to her. He had told her he loved her more than life itself. He had proven it so many times. How? How could he have kissed another the same way he had kissed her.

Her foot snagged on something, and she went sprawling in the street. No one was near. She wept, her heart breaking with each tear. Agony coursed through her. She hated him. She despised him. She remained face down, allowing the rain to drench her.

Then, the rain was blocked from her. She raised her head and looked up. A large wing was spread above her, curving to allow the water to run off, keeping the rain from her. Her gaze shifted to the one to whom the wing belonged. Her heart began to beat again.

"You..." she murmured. Strong hands lifted her off the ground. "But I told you to leave..."

"And I told you that I would always be there. So I did as you asked. I left the light and lurked in the shadows." he answered. "I promised to love you always, remember?"

More tears coursed down her cheeks and she buried her face in his shoulder as he carried her through the rain.

"Flamian..." she murmured.

His wings wrapped around her, shielding her. "Hush now. It's in the past."

"It...hurts..." she cried.

"I know." he replied. "I know."

"I should have listened. You tried to tell me so many times..." she whispered.

Flamian stopped before a door. His tail rapped against the door. It opened and he entered.
A man in formal clothing rushed forward. "Kayla!!" he shouted. A woman came running out of the sitting room to the left. The man glared at Flame. "You! What have you done?"

"I have done nothing. Why don't you go ask the cretin you have her pledged to?" Flame snapped.
The man recoiled. "What do you mean?"

"Did you know that he already had a lover? Did you know that all his promises were empty?" Flamian demanded.

"Th-that can't be!!" Kayla's father exclaimed. "This....this...."

"Marial, let's get her upstairs and changed out of these clothes." her mother said. The servant who had answered the door took her from Flamian and walked up the stairs, followed by the girl's mother and the maid.

Her father began to pace. "This does not bode well. It is a disgrace!! Why, our family is some of the noblest of blood throughout this kingdom!!"

"I'm going to kill him." Flame said, eyes burning and fists clenched.

"No, Flamian, it is not as simple as that. There is nothing we can do." the father sighed.

"There is something we can do." came the reply.

The father looked up. "And what would that be?"

"We could challenge his claim." Flame answered.

The father gave out a bitter laugh. "You? Challenge a drax? Don't be foolish boy! As much as you love my daughter, there is no possible way you would win against Cardin."

"Then I shall die trying." Flame turned and left, back out into the rain.