Demons Heart

Chapter 5

I get the suitors to meet outside as today will be quite different to yesterday, especially since they will plan this one out. "Why are we standing in the cold?" Aiden asks while grumbling about what the next game will be.

"If you've taken a look around, you'll see thirteen tents behind you." "Each of you will choose a tent and plan a date with me." "You'll each have someone to style, get food and prepare a date with me to your choosing."

They start to scatter, running to their tent as I give them an hour to set it up. Vornan is the only one who leisurely walks to a tent. He enters and I watch him kick out the person meant to help him.

The rules is that I don't interfere, so I watch as he complains and tells Vornan that he can help. I even crack a smile as I see Vornan's hand come out, pushing the man away from the tent.

I suppose he can do this himself. The man walks over to me as I tell him to go home. I then sit down, faced away from the tents as each date should be a surprise.

My patience in running thin until Dina says time is up. I observe the first man who's outside of his tent. It just so happens to be Aiden as he's wearing a suit.

He's dressed very nicely, yet his smirk is lack luster. He smiles as I walk over to him, dressed in my red gown, to impress them all, though my curves may not be as desirable in this dress.

"This way." Aiden says as he lifts the drape door. I step inside and see a candlelight dinner. Everything inside is white and red as I look to both of us as we match.

It's elegant but it's the kind of date I could have inside the castle. I had expected something different, more elaborate or to my taste. I'd honestly cut him from the competition now but Benjamin is in my thoughts as well as Aiden's threat.

"I did pick out the finest Cabernet." He gestures to the wine on ice. He then calls for the cook as a man comes in, placing trays in front of us. He lofts the lid and I see the smallest portion of food on a plate.

I remember meals like this with my family. It always had to be kosher and fancy. I'm not that kind of person and it seems Aiden fails to realize this. I none the less eat it as one more dish is brought in, dessert.

I finish it quickly as Aiden drones on about his achievements, his assets and how beneficial our marriage could be. His neighboring nation and mine could become one. I can see the benefit but like my mother promised, I'll only marry for love.

I leave the tent, going on to Renade. My shoulders relax as I feel calm. He's smiling at me as we enter the tent and I see a musician, with a mic. There's lights hanging from the walls as the woman starts to sing beautifully.

"Celtic music." He whispers behind me as he comes to face me. Her voice is both beautiful and haunting as he takes me in his arms, swaying me to the music.

"I may appear to be all fun and games but I want you to know I'm serious about you and this competition." I hear the sincerity in his voice as the singers music captivates us in this moment.

It's only when I hear the bell chime that I move on to the next date. The next tents I go to is Carlon's and next Alon's. There really isn't a distinction between the two as they both planned simple dinners.

I didn't hate the meals as they were both filled with comfort food, yet both of them could only talk about each other. I could sense what was going on as I finally moved onto Trinit.

He's nervous as I enter his tent and see arcade games. It's the first interactive date as we enjoy the games, not talking about the crown, the competition on anything else. It feels like a real date, free from the pressure of the competition.

Darmen is next as he sees me laughing as I come out of Trinit's tent. He seems slightly angry as he frowns, yet pulls up the drape and lets me in. He tells me to close my eyes, I do so as I hear something turn on.

"Open them." I do so as the roof of the tent disappears and in it's place is a fire, with chocolate, marshmallows and a buffet of food. This makes me think of the movies I've seen where people go camping and roast marshmallows. It's something I've always wanted to experience.

We dig into the food as I excitedly start putting together a smore. "You think this is better than Trinit's?" "Competitive are we?" "Of course." He smiles as he takes my stick, putting another marshmallow on it.

I tell him about how I've never been camping or roasted a marshmallow and he tells me about how his family made sure to include mundane activities, to grow as a real family. He appreciates it more then anything as I envy the kind of family he has. It's something I'll never get to experience.

I leave and see Wren as he's in a tidy suit, with a small smile on his face. He bows his head slightly before we enter the tent and I see an array of dishes and a pot of broth.

"Hot pot?" I ask him as he nods his head. I've seen it in dramas and considered making it myself but it looked like a meal better enjoyed with another." "I do hope you enjoy it." He playfully selects a few different vegetables to go into a lettuce wrap, before cooking the meat and adding it.

He feeds it to me as my eyes widen at the taste. It's delicious as I make him one and watch him nod, to tell me I too gave him a good wrap. We then get some rice as we serve ourselves to the different meats, noodles and vegetables we add.

It's a pleasant date as I see him more relaxed and not as proper and well mannered as he usually is. I do feel like I spoke too soon as he bows again to me as I leave. I had thought he warmed up to me a bit and even half expected him to give me a hug or a kiss on the cheek.

I do have to remember the way he was raised and our culture differences, yet I do wonder if he'd ever warm up to me. Will he be passionate and love me or is this competition just a sense of duty for him?

Slain isn't as welcoming as he frowns towards the tent. "I couldn't get it all done." He tells me before we enter, yet as we do, I see dart board, pool table and other games to enjoy.

"I may want to make a difference in this world but I also want to make a difference to your heart." I feel myself blush at this. "You have a way with words." I say to him as we go to the pool table. We take our turns and I'm surprisingly good at this as I get most of the balls in, yet Slain beats me in the end.

We then settle on darts as I hit near the bulls-eye almost every time. It feels a lot like archery and I had enjoyed the classes I took with Hollon. I excelled at it as do I when I beat Slain and stick my tongue out at him.

I cover my mouth after ad I know it isn't proper or lady like. "Don't hide it." "I want you to feel comfortable around me." "Just be yourself." He's very warm as a person as we talk about the differences we want to make to Cleyan.

I'm soon leaving and going to Brent's tent. He's already blushing as he lifts the drape, letting me go inside. What I see is quite a surprise as he's set up a tea party. A fancy tea party fir the both of us.

"Tea?" I ask him as the sun will soon be going down. "Yeah..." He drags out as he sounds unsure of himself. "Do you... do you like it?" "I do." I take a biscuit off the tray and bite into it as I sit down. He seems slightly less tense, as he sits.

His hands shake as he pours the tea. I then place my hand on his, steadying his hand as he looks at me. "It's okay." I assure him as he finally seems to be at ease, yet won't look me in the eye. We then sip on the tea as I talk to him about my life. I don't get personal with being locked up most of my life, away from the public eye, yet I tell him about my loneliness, that I had to do everything on my own.

He seems to admire this as he tells me how his family was always very protective. That he never felt strong or in control in his whole life. I can understand this as there were moments when I felt just as meek and belittled by the people around me.

"You can be strong." "Just always remember to say no when you don't want something." I say this as we finish our tea and stand up to leave, only I don't this time. I turn around as Brent bumps into me. "Sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"Brent." I say to him as I lift his face with my hand. "You've been the most sincere tonight." "I'd like to give you something no one else will ever have." He looks between my eyes, searching for what I plan to do.

"May I kiss you?" I ask him as his eyes widen. "You..." "Yes or no?" I ask as his cheeks are bright red. "Yes." He whispers and I can sense this will be his first as well.

I lean in as I see him shut his eyes, ready for me to kiss him, when I turn to the right side of his face a plant a kiss on his cheek. His eyes open as he seems disappointed.

"This kiss is my vow to you that you won't be leaving tonight." He nods his head, touching his cheek with his hand before I leave. I like playing with him. I think to myself as I see Porter opening his tent.

I walk in and am greeted with kittens. I smile broadly as I start to pick them up. He put blankets, houses and everything inside that a kitten could want. "You do like them." Porter breaths out as he takes a seat with me, picking up a kitten as well.

"I asked a few of the staff and they said you've always wanted a kitten." "I have." I tell him as we play with all of them. He has an array of toys as they start jumping on top of each other trying to get it. I giggle at this as Porter asks me about what kind of lifestyle I'd want in a marriage.

Do I want relaxed and mundane or classy and elegant? I tell him honestly that I want mundane. I want to feel like any other married couple that just so happen to run a nation. He seems pleased with this.

He tells me about how he dreams of doing the regular things like going to the park, being in public and being any other person. He doesn't want to hide away from the public's eyes like his own family did. I agree with him on this as I'm saddened once I have to leave the kittens and him behind.

I move onto Karden and am not surprised by him as he winks at me. I enter his tent and see none other then a bed. "This isn't what it looks like." "It better not be." I warn him as he moves past me, jumping on the bed. "It's to know the way we'd cuddle together." "It's good to know this in a marriage, is it not?"

I laugh, yet comply by getting on the bed on the other side as he quickly wraps his arms around me. "This would be the big spoon and little spoon." "Would you like sleeping this way?" "I'm not sure." I turn around to face him.

"Close your eyes and lay back." He does as I say as I gently wrap my arm around his waist, laying my head on his chest. "I'd want to lay like this." I look up and see his cheeks are red as he then brings his arm up, wrapping it around me.

We lay there as we talk about how he'd want to help me run Cleyan. That he can do more then just fill my lust filled desires. I see a side to him that I haven't seen before. I remember it as I move on to Quinn's tent.

He seems nervous as I enter and see that he has a map, marked in multiple places. "I know you see me as someone who only cares about his own nation, yet here I've marked all of Cleyans weak spots, where you should approve your defense."

"I want to show you I'm serious about the position as king and that I can be a great asset to Cleyan." "If I'm to become king I'll dedicate myself to this nation." "I'll become a ruler and one of the people."

I observe the map as I agree with his consensus. We could use better defenses. We then sit as he talks strategies against our potential enemies. It gives me a lot of insight, yet by the end of the date, I realize that it felt more like I was talking to a potential knight, not a man who'd be my husband.

The final date now awaits as I exit Quinn's tent, yet I don't see Vornan waiting as I walk towards his. I get to the entrance and lift the drape myself as I see an array of colors. The tent is filled with flowers, candy and everything I love.

"Is this to your taste?" Vornan asks as I sit down at the table and see two potted plants. "We're going to plant and grow a special kind of flower today."

He sits down as I looks him over. He's wearing black robes as I've now assumed his favorite color is black. He then hands me a seed. "Dig the dirt and plant it like any other flower."

I use my hand, digging a hole before putting the seed in it as he then hands me a small watering can. I sprinkle the water over the soil as Vornan then grabs my hands, placing them around the small black pot.

"Now look at me and keep looking, while holding the pot." I do as he says as I see his hands holding his pot as well. His eyes are pools of black with flecks of emotion swirling in them. I could stare into his eyes for hours, yet the strangest thing starts to happen as I see something sprouting from his pot.

It appears to be black, with flecks of red. It grows and grows until I see a mixed black and red rose. My eyes look down to my own as I see a bright red rose. "That's the difference between our hearts and capacity to love."

He tells me as I look between our plants. "What do you mean?" "This is a rare breed of flower, known to capture ones heart in a single bloom." "It was harder to find than the last flower I got you as this one is called Heartly."

"You say it captures our heart?" "It does." "Does this mean yours is filled

with darkness?" "It does." I decide not to pry further as I stand up and look at the candy he has in here.

He seems to have all my favorites, especially the colored chocolates. I take the pink one and bite into it as I taste strawberries. I always enjoyed these chocolates for how the color will tell you the flavors inside.

I then take a blue one, turning around to see Vornan right behind me. "Taste this." He hesitantly opens his mouth as I put the chocolate in his mouth. "Blueberry?" "Right indeed."

I turn back around, reaching for the red one as I know it to be raspberry. "Close your eyes." He doesn't do so as I frown slightly. He then does as he seems confused as he stands stoic as a statue. "Lean down and open your mouth." He does so as I place the chocolate in his mouth.

"Tell me what tastes sweeter." I lean forward, placing my lips on his. I see his eyes squint in confusion, yet I close my eyes and press a little harder, moving them slightly as I feel his own lips move. I feel a warmth inside my heart and that's when I pull away, grabbing a pot, quickly planting a seed and placing it in his hands.

He doesn't seem to realize it's in his hands as he opens his eyes and looks down at me. I on the other hand observe the tinge of black and the surrounding red as it grows brighter. "Your heart can be captured after all."

I leave his tent, with a smile on my face as I see Dina in the distance. "Have you decided who's going home?" "I have." I smile and Dina gives me a look since I'm about to send another suitor home.

"This was fun." I tell her as we head back into the castle as all the suitors have gathered in the living room. They seem to be bragging about each of their dates. I must admit all were fun in their own way.

"The results are in." I tell them all as Vornan walks past Dina and I. He stands near a wall as I go on to tell them how I enjoyed every date.

"I should tell you that there was a few dates I enjoyed quite a lot, that would be Vornan's, Brent's and Renade." I hear a few cheers, while most are complaining about how they didn't get picked.

"That isn't to say all my other dates weren't great, because they were and I hope those who are still here will continue to strive to win." "I am included in the package." I laugh with them as I can relax now that I've gotten to know everyone a little better.

"I do sadly have to send a suitor home and today may be a shock as it will be two." "The two I'm sending home are wonderful, yet I can see they aren't here for me." "I do hope they find what they're looking for, both Carlon and Alon."

Everyone seems shocked as they're sitting together on the couch as they look from each other, back to me. "I'll show you out." I say as I walk towards the door as they follow.

"I do hope you don't take this personally." "I know I've eliminated you both but it was for love." I raise my hands at the two of them as they seem confused. "What do you mean?" Alon asks as Carlon seems confused as well as he scratches his head.

"You both couldn't stop talking about the other during our dates." "I didn't mind really, not when I realized that you both found love but you shouldn't be in a competition to win my heart." "You should go on a date with each other."

They look at one another as they seem to finally realize I'm right. "Have a safe trip home." I tell them as they get into their cars and leave.

I head back inside and see Benjamin on the steps, watching as he usually does. "I heard you received Aiden's threat yesterday." "I have." I tell him as I start to walk away. "He's serious you know."

"I won't let you make a king out of one of the other men." "They don't deserve it." "Why, because they won't do your bidding?" "They won't listen to your complaints and how Cleyan should be run?"

"You know I'll make sure it never happen." "Don't worry, your toy isn't going anywhere." "Yet." I whisper under my breath as I see everyone has gone to bed, except for Vornan, once again.

"You shouldn't have done that." He says as I smile. "Kiss you?" I ask as his eyes narrow. "You're in a competition to be king, yet you must first win my heart."

He shakes his head as I see fog cloud my vision for a moment before I see the red and black flower. "It'll never be red." He drops the potted flower before walking away. I look at the flower he left as I pick it up, cutting my fingers in the process as I clean up the glass and take the flower to my garden.

I place it next to my own as I look at them together. The roots and stems start to form together. It's as if they have found their long lost love.