Sinister Bonds

Chapter # 3

It’s been a few months since Amber and Zaar’s friendship started, she liked his company a lot. He treated her gallantly, luring her in his charm and arousing a beautiful bond between them she couldn’t resist. 

“You know… you are so pretty, Amber.” Zaar said, breaking a berry and giving it to her. “I know.” She smirked, taking it and eating it. “That’s why you approached me.” She giggled. “Ah, Don’t embarrass me.” He chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his neck. “No, I found it cute. You were so adorable, using stealing as an excuse to get to know me.” She grinned, pinching his cheeks as they walked in the woods. 

“So.. when did you first see me?” Amber asked, walking with her, he smiled sweetly while saying the answer without looking up at her, “The moment I came here.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” She asked, stopping in her tracks, baffled by his reply, “Meaning. After losing my father… I was wandering aimlessly from one place to another..” He also stopped, raising his endearing orbs,  “But then I saw you.” Turning to her, noticing the blush adorning her face. “And I found my reason to stay and live.” He took her hand in his, intertwining his fingers with hers to complete his heartbeat, “So..” Leaning close to increase the crimson shade, Zaar grinned widely, “Thank you, Amber Everette.” He whispered, staring intensely at her, creating a beautiful rhythm between them.

Amber was lost for a second but gasping a little, she looked away, mumbling nervously, “Uh.. Y-You’re.. W-welcome, I guess.”

With a low chuckle, Zaar confessed, “I liked you the moment I saw you, Amber.” 

Her breath tightened around her neck, taking a step back with strange emotions fluttering her bones, “Uh.. Zaar.” 

“It’s okay if you don’t feel the same for me.” He grinned, moving back, holding his arms at his back and turning his back on her. “No! That’s not it… It’s that Zaar.. I..” She shouted, eyes widening, shaking her head in denial.

“What is it, Amber?” He turned to her again, asking softly. 

Biting her lips timidly, she began to say as well, “Zaar, I am not going to lie, I had many boyfriends, I never took the matter of love seriously. That’s why none of them lasted long but..” She paused, looking up at him with a dismayed face,

“But?”

“But you give me strange feelings. An attraction I have never felt before. Your presence makes me believe in love, to start a serious bond. A feeling I have never felt.” She whispered, twirling her fingers around her dress, unsure about his reaction. 

“You too.” Zaar whispered back, standing too close to her, increasing her heart rate. “I am afraid if we start a real relationship, not just some time will pass and I fall for you truly and end up losing you. Because if I ever started a relationship with you, I will love you truly and If you won’t be here by my side, It would hurt me. Zaar. I don’t-” To her hurried rambling, Zaar grabbed the side of her face tenderly and pressed his lips upon hers tenderly, taking her in a sweet yet brief kiss of in-depth emotion, conveyed through his action, leaving her flabbergasted.

She blinked, not knowing how to react as her heart skipped a beat when he pulled away,  “Did it make sense?” He asked in a low tempting tone to which she nodded in response. “That’s what I felt when I saw you.” He whispered and moved back but she held his hand, “Zaar…” Her lips curled upwards, passing him a wide smile, indicating their start. He also smiled widely, wrapping his arms around her shoulder, pulling her closer as he asked, “So.. are we officially dating now?” 

She chuckled and replied, “Hmm. For it, you have to ask my parents to make it official.” Out of all her boyfriends, none of them made an official introduction. 

“So, are we dating unofficially then?” He asked.

“Umm. Let me think.” She said teasingly, holding her chin and gave him a bright smile, “Yes.”

“Oh my God, Yes!” His face lit up glee, making a fist and cheering as she laughed, “Sorry. I just got too excited.” He said tentatively, scratching the back of his head. “I can see. Come let’s go back.” She tittered, grabbing his arm and dragging him with her.

They were coming back as Zaar asked, “Will your parents like me?”

“I think so. Papa asks about you a lot, you sure have earned points before him, huh.” She smirked as by his gentleman demeanour he surely gained Adrian’s recognition. “Gotta do something to impress him.” He smirked back, “Yeah, Yeah.” She waved her hand as they went back to the shop where Adrian was waiting for them.

Amber smiled widely when she saw him and ran to his side, “Oh, hey Papa.” Zaar also came after her and greeted him.

“Hey kids. How’s your survey going, Zaar?” Adrian asked, setting up things, splashing water on the vegetables to keep them fresh while asking about Zaar’s observation of the area.

“Amazing, Sir. People here are truly kind.” He replied politely. 

“I told ya.” Adrian said, putting the water bucket aside, “Yes.” Zaar starts working for Adrian to earn some money.

“Well, I am thinking of opening up a shop as well, Sir.” Zaar said, wanting to ask for his opinion about it. “Hmm. Nice idea, the market here runs good.” Adrian hummed in response and turned to him, “But, it depends upon what you are selling. Gold and Silver are meaningless in this area since people can’t afford it.” Adrian counseled as he nodded. “How about furniture?” Zaar suggested. “Furniture?”

“Yes. I can make tables, chairs, and decorations with wood easily.” He asked expectantly. “Sounds great. You can give it a try.” Adrian returned a nod of approval at his idea,  “We also need new chairs.” He chuckled, patting Amber’s head who was elated to see them talking happily. 

“Then it’s decided.” Zaar grinned. “Thank you very much for your guidance, Sir.” He bowed a little as a gesture of respect at Adrian. “Ah, it’s nothing.” Adrian laughed a little, “You guys stay here and take care of things, I will be back.” Adrian said after sensing a familiar presence hovering in their shop.

Went back to the shop, an attack came from above, he ducked and moved back, looking up to see a certain purple and raven haired woman smirking at him, “What the f**k, Lylia!?” Adrian yelled. 

“Oh, so your weak bones are still flexible, Adrian?” Lylia teased, getting from the top and offering him her hand to get up. “Shut the hell up. What if Amber saw?” He hissed, taking her hand and getting up. “Who the hell told you to dodge them?” She shrugged, not returning a dark smirk as usual. “Okay, okay, what do you want?” He asked, brushing dust from his clothes.

“You know what I want.”

“I have no interest in helping you.” Ignoring her, he went back inside the shop, earning a frown. 

“Oh, Aunt Lylia.” Amber smiled, waving at her, “Oh, hey, Amber. Found a new boyfriend?” She asked, looking at Zaar.

“Ah, No. He is just a friend.” She chuckled nervously. “Amber, Zaar, could you two make these deliveries?” Adrian asked. 

“Sure.” She nodded and left, taking Zaar with him. 

After the kids left, Adrian turned to Lylia with a grimace, “Now, speak up.” 

“His Majesty sent me on a quest to work on the case-” She was about to speak but he cut her off, “Of people going missing in Vronti, isn’t it?” 

“Yup.” She nodded, leaning back, taking an apple and eating it, “You have to pay for it.” Adrian. “Stingy.” She clicked her tongue. “So, why did you come here?” Adrian asked, taking a bag and putting some vegetables in it,

“You are acting as if you know nothing about it?” She hummed, “Why would I even want to know.”

“Come on, Adrian. It’s human life we are talking about. Tell me.” Whining, Lylia pat his back, hoping he would help out but he only gave her the bag of vegetables, “I have packed your groceries, there you go.” handing it over, he took money from her and pushed her out, “Thanks, I knew you would help me.” She grinned and left, “Bye.”

After coming back to the forest, she gave the bag to her pupil Bella and took out the note, “Did you get the information, Master?”

“Yes.” Lylia nodded, “The exact list of people who died, where and how... All of them were burned.” she sighed, “But, why?”

“We don’t know yet. But they are collecting the ashes of the bodies.” 

“Ashes?” Bella asked, not apprehending why. “Yeah, It must be for some atrocious spell. We must find out before it’s too late. Let’s go.” She replied and left with Bella to find out about sudden deaths.

Away from there, Amber and Zaar were making deliveries. “I wonder why Sir sent us away.” Zaar asked.

“Oh, because Aunt Lylia came. She talks about cults to him.” She replied nonchalantly, looking at the address, “Oh..”

“You sure are casual with them, calling her Aunt.” He said. “She is.” 

“Seems like you are too close with the cults.” 

“Yes. Back then when I was an only child, I was the apple of everyone’s eyes.” She replied in a jovial tone. “Amazing, you truly are a stunning girl.” He almost shouted, influenced by the impact she left on him. 

“Thanks. Come now, let’s go.” But her reply came monotonously as it’s no big deal for her. 

***

A few months later, Zaar and Amber continued to date without telling everyone but Amber was desperately waiting for Zaar to mentally prepare himself and enunciate their tale of love. 

Zaar finally opened his shop and found himself in the position to keep giving a life of exhilaration, where the sound of the laughs shall echo in their home. 

And for this purpose, to make the moment mesmerizing, Zaar called Amber to meet him in the forest where he wanted to confess his undying love. 

Amber came, unsure about his intentions as they were staring near the like shining by the crepuscular sight, enhancing the harmony dispersing in the sky, “Thanks for coming, Amber.” He said sweetly, taking her hand. “You’re welcome.” 

“So.. why did you call me here?” She asked, looking at the captivating lake and then at him, “To confess my love properly.” he whispered, tracing his fingers on the lines of her palm, “Huh?”

“Amber, I fell for you the moment I saw you. Blinded in your charm, I have begun to follow its path as my guidance. I don’t want anything else in my life, just you watch, I am going find myself a pretty home and earn enough money so we could live together happily ever after. Would you stay with me till then? To hold my hand and never let it go because I have offered my everything to you. I came to you after losing everything, that’s why I love you more than myself, Amber. Will you allow me to come to your place and meet your parents?” He asked in a low charming tone, hoping to impede any obstacle between them by the strength his words are managing to produce and gain her recognition. 

Tears dwell in her eyes as she hugged him quickly. “Oh Zaar. I love you too. Yes, I will be with you in all conditions, stay with me, I don’t want anything else.” She whispered, holding him near her to connect  their heartbeats and be unbreakable. 

“I love you, Amber.” Taking her face in his hands, he pressed his forehead lovingly over hers. Curling her lips upward, she closed her eyes to lose herself in the moment entirely, whispering, “I love you too, Zaar.”