The Last Mareta

I could almost feel his eyes fixed on me. In the midst of all the chaotic beautifully adorned people, he managed to still single me out. The very thought of him made me blush madly, one would think I was already used to the fierce nature of my mad lover, but here I am, still blushing from only the thought of our night together and the various ways he had loved me. Still feeling with every step, strings of pleasure still tingling between my thighs from where he had known me. Oh! How I love him! My wonderful lover, only a few reaches away from me, dancing circles around me, while, I danced in the arms of another. My body betrothed to another. ‘My heart, only to my lover!’ *** I had never noticed how beautifully the water felt against my skin. I’m not surprised at that fact though. It had nothing to do with the fault in my memories but rather one memory I could never forget even if I tried and I tried. It was always him. The only man that could make me totally oblivious to my surroundings, the man I owed my heart to… my life. His callous hands always felt ever so delicate and mesmerizing against my pale skin, his beautiful sea-green gaze holding me en-fixed in a trance. He held the keys to my heart. Tears well up in my eyes as the memories flood my mind and the pain finds its way to my heart, a feeling I am a little too well accustomed to. I knew I had lost all that I had ever loved. I knew it would come to this in the end, but now, I lie wondering what it would be like if I never took the dive? *** Once, there was a great kingdom. The kingdom of Vertica. She was powerful, but her kings and generals were gravely corrupt, hence she was poisoned from within. She didn’t have much time before her legend died along with her people, as her rulers lived only for themselves. She was doomed to destruction. Not until she found favor in the eyes of the gods through a little girl. Drea, a soul born through the most beautiful and purest of love, in a falling kingdom, had found favor in the eyes of the gods of their kings and was blessed. She was the key to Vertica’s redemption. She was called the Mareta. Sadly, the gods aren’t so generous, and every gift comes at a price. Being the Mareta, she would possess the strength of armies and attain immortality throughout her lifetime, but will never live beyond 80 years. As prophesied, she brought nothing but glory to her people, and they knew not defeat at war. Vertica had finally found its savior! But as every good story comes to an end, so did the story of the first Mareta. Drea was met with death the very time she was born, the night of her 80th birthday. The whole kingdom was taken aback with fear now that their savior was no more, but the gods had promised that in the absence of one Mareta, another would be appointed. She shall come in the form of a girl that is newly of age. No Mareta shall refuse her position, for her only calling was to serve her kingdom until her final breath. Some saw this as a blessing, but for others, it was the worst kind of curse. Centuries went by and Vertica was stronger than ever. Under their new protection, they were not only safe but possessed the power to conquer kingdoms and overthrow kings. With time, Vertica grew in size and status and no one was willing to wage war against them. From Drea, to Na’ale, to Tarrah, to Stephanie, to Elizabeth. Elizabeth was the Mareta before me and the most beautiful one at that. Elizabeth’s reign brought countless victories and fame to the land of Vertica. Kingdoms feared Vertica just as much as they feared death. She was the dream of every man with her flawless features. She ruled over Vertica like a self-appointed queen and gained herself the resent of the King. Elizabeth’s reign was short-lived as she grew greedier and unsatisfied with her position. She wanted to have it all, every corner of the earth under her feet. She sought complete immortality, one without death conditions. Her greed brought her to an early grave as she was killed mysteriously in battle at only 70. This brought fear into the hearts of the people of Vertica, who began questioning the possibility of the existence of beings greater than their gods. It was a mystery that no one seemed to have answers to. Since the Mareta had died ten years before, Vertica was without its protector and spies and barbarians were starting to grow bolder and what was once a peaceful kingdom was starting to be a center of crisis and out roars. When the king saw this, he declared that the new Mareta would be found. Though she would be 10 years younger, her presence would welcome stability throughout the land and among the people. Therefore, all the 8-year-old girls throughout the land were summoned before the king and his chief priest, who was the mouth of the gods. It was on that day the Gods chose to frown upon me and chose me to be the Mareta. Little did I know that I would be the last Mareta to ever live. *** “Catherine, what shall you wear to the princesses' coming of age ball”, Melina complained, rampaging through my out-of-fashion ball dresses that I never found the time to update. She continued, “I will call a tailor to have you fixed up in something that looks good with that hair of yours”. “I choose not to be offended by your words”, I added, knowing fully well that she was right and, if anything, I wasn’t going to remember the intended insult. Growing up in the castle is just as grand and as lavish as you could ever imagine. For royalty, that is. For me, it was tolerable, juggling, trying to fit in, to please the Princess, Danna and her mother, Queen Susan, who were purely and solely materialistic and at being tough enough to break human bones at the king’s command, taking lives and not feeling a thing. My only friend was my personal maid, Melina, who was a tall Egyptian with the deepest green orbs and hair as dark as coal and occasionally Gareth, the physician's only son, who, due to the nature of my training, I met when his dad had to cater for my injuries and I got a lot of those. I always had a soft spot for Gareth but couldn’t figure out how to let it show through my tough demeanor and even tougher skin. Tomorrow night, he will be there. It felt like every time I met him was my first, and I was so taken by his presence and I hoped he felt just the same. As much as I hated to admit it, I hoped Melina would be able to make me look lady-like at the ball.