The Pure-Hearted Princess and the Kiss of Darkness

- KATALEYA ~

I swallow slowly, needing a moment to gather my opinion. I want to be fair, and I won't compromise my beliefs, but at the same time I feel like I understand all of their points of views.

I place my spoon down, tugging my bathrobe a little tighter around me, although there's not much fabric to cover my boobs properly. I sigh softly as I look at everyone in this room. "May I speak until I've said everything I need to? With no interruptions?" I ask.

Before anyone can reply, Enrique speaks. "I'd like to see who f*****g denies you that. You're in charge, Mi Amor, remember that."

I blush, feeling all eyes on me as Mama smiles.

My Papi is so sweet. I glance up at him, our eyes meeting and I try not to hide my face, instead let my hair curtain my face for a second before I stand up.

"I'm going to start at the beginning, so be patient with me. We have been struggling for answers. The fear of not knowing what might happen to Enrique has made not only me worried, but all those who love me. We would get one answer, but it'll be accompanied by another three questions. How do we keep up?"

I look at Raihana before turning to my uncle. "I love you both dearly. I can't ever pick one over the other." I smile at them before I go over to Uncle Liam and take his hand in mine. This book has many missing chapters and scenes if you're not reading it on [J] obn I b. c,[o] m ."Uncle, from all our family, I often feel like you and I are very similar. The way we think, our opinions, they are often identical." 1

Uncle gives me a small smile as he tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear. "I sense that 'but' coming," he whispers, kissing my forehead.

I smile up at him and shake my head. "I'm not finished." I look around at everyone and smile at Skyla, who is in Royce's arms, as he holds her from behind.

Light and Dark.

"Uncle's fear here isn't his ideals though, because some of us have darkness within us, some of our essence contains darkness. It's how you use it that defines you. Dad has darkness within him, Sky, Del, Enrique..." I look at him and smile.

"It is the basis of their being, but that does not make them evil. That darkness has been used for good, just as Dad and Sky fight that rage and darkness that is everlasting within them. Delsanra has dark magic from her roots, but she is one of the purest, selfless people I have ever met. Despite everything she's been through, where she could have turned to the dark side and destroyed all who hurt her, she didn't, because she is not evil."

I smile gently at Delsanra before continuing. "That darkness won't go away. Ever. But they control it, use their strength and abilities to protect others." I take a deep breath and look down at my hands.

There is no rule book on right and wrong. What I am saying is what I truly feel.

"Uncle was once cursed by a god, the very same god that has blessed Royce." I smile at both men. "Yet when Mama first told me that story about Uncle's curse, I felt... as if many were too harsh on him for the actions influenced by a curse. I feel..." I take a shaky breath and look at Sky and Enrique. "You have both been influenced by darkness at some point, but everyone understands that. Dad, he committed many wrongs, but he's forgiven and understood."

I lick my lips before continuing. "I personally feel because Uncle's trial - his curse involved other loved one's surrounding him. And because of that, he was treated harsher than Dad, Sky, or Enrique ever will. We become blind when it comes to our loved ones. But although he was treated harsher than others who have wronged, I feel it's what has made him the person he is. A person who is steadfast in his beliefs. I believe that is why he is so worried for Raihana."

I look at Uncle, whose face is emotionless, but even as he fights to keep his heartbeat regular, the twitch in his jaw is enough to tell me, I have the right gist. No- I am right.

I can feel it.

I once again take his hand and give it a gentle squeeze, wanting to take away his pain. Unlike everyone else, he never voiced how other people's treatment hurt him too, blaming himself for a curse in the hands of a god. And because he didn't, he just kept it inside and smiled. My heart aches as Uncle looks into my eyes, a glimmer of emotion in them before he smiles.

Once again, trying to act as if nothing is wrong.

"When it comes to loved ones, we can often be blinded, and Ri is our queen. She is the first Rossi daughter, who has gone through so much that I do believe no one wants to upset her."

I glance at Raihana, who frowns slightly, but she remains quiet. I then look up at Uncle. "I know Raihana may have acted impulsively, but when it comes to our loved ones, we all tend to. Any of us would die for one another without thinking twice. What she did may have been dangerous and reckless, but her intentions were good. There was no malice or selfishness in her heart. I want you to know that," I whisper.

Uncle sighs. "Yeah, I know that. I know Ri," he says quietly. "And... darkness grows. I just don't want it to become a habit. It's easy to give in to it, but this was not a life-and-death situation. I just felt it was too risky and wasn't necessary."

"And leaving without telling you probably only added to that concern. Right?" I push gently.

Uncle nods and I look over at Mama, who gives me a small smile.

"You know... Dad told me that the best tracker we have until this date is Rayhan. No one can beat him, and no one comes close to his abilities. Dad also told me that he and Mama Red work really well together. He also told me that Uncle Liam and Ri work really well together and it's why he often puts them on missions together. You are both different, yet you both create a balance together."

I now walk over to Raihana and hug her tightly. But before I can speak, I suddenly feel an overwhelming sense of pain. Her pain, it's eating up at her deep inside, bottled away tightly.

My heart races as I realise I can feel it. Feel every ounce of her anguish and pain. It hurts, the emotions surge and I simply want to protect her.

Somehow, I'm sensing their deepest pain.

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She hugs me back and I caress her back, wanting to open that bottle of poison and take away some of it from her. To take away the hurt, the rage, the fear, the grief.

She suddenly pulls away, looking at me sharply. I smile gently at her, pretending I didn't somehow look into her soul. Because I'm sure I did.

"Ri, what you and Del did was for me. And I love that Del has your back no matter what. I know for a fact, Zu and Sky would do the same for me." I smile, glancing at Delsanra who stands a few feet away. "A friendship like that is rare and beautiful. I appreciate what you did for me, Ri."

I cup her face. "I truly do, but would it be all right not to share what you learned? I'd feel it would be selfish and wrong. I do appreciate what you did, but I want to refuse that information because I believe we should avoid using something that is forbidden. "If you don't want to know, I won't repeat it," she says quietly.

I smile at her and hug her once more, feeling all eyes on me as I move to Delsanra.

"There are reasons why necromancy is forbidden, isn't there? Ri?" I ask, looking over at my cousin, who seems to be discreetly wiping a tear.

"Yes, because it's unethical. It defies the very laws of life and death. Something only a god should have the power to do. When we perform necromancy, we are disturbing those who have passed..." she trails off as she exchanges looks with Delsanra. "And often casting their souls into the land of the unknown. No longer able to return to the afterlife, or in some cases leave them delving here on earth. There's a lot of... risks, many unknown," she mutters, looking down. 1

I nod, but before I can continue, Ahren speaks. "May I?"

"Yes, of course," I answer, looking at the young man who looks serious as he stares right back at me...