The Forbidden Fruit

by S. K Munt

  ‘Your life mustn’t be worth much to you to gamble it on such a weak hand,’ I whispered, lying down and staring at the fire and wondering why I couldn’t feel any heat from it at all.

  ‘Without you it would be meaningless, so yes, I’m all in.’

  I lifted my face to his and glared at him, even though he had just made my heart skip a tiny little faded and dulled beat. ‘You’re a fool,’ I whispered. ‘I will stay here forever because I want to keep him safe. But as for me loving you goes…’ I shook my head. ‘You should just throw me out into the Wildwoods now and save yourself the expense and effort of winning me back.’

  But Kohén smiled sadly. ‘That would have crushed me- had you not said it with a sweeter, lighter shade of purple in your eyes.’ He lifted one shoulder as though the situation were out of his control. ‘You came undone, Larkin, because your body knows as well as mine, that we are meant to be.’

  I buried my face into my arms and cried, hoping that he was wrong- praying that I would be able to hold onto my hatred because without it, I would truly be nothing and no one- just a shell that had once housed potential.

  *

  Once my room was as tidy as he could make it, Kohén opened the door to the pink-haired healer, Cherry, who took one look at me and blanched.

  Oh, this is mortifying! Thank goodness the swim across the pool and rain has at least washed me clean!

  ‘Your highness…’ she hesitated at my door. ‘I am a healer, not a Shepherd. If something sinful has happened here, then I do not have the power to heal-’

  ‘She is merely hungover, exhausted, suffering sunstroke and sore from being broken in for the first time, Cherry- not suffering the aftermath of a forceful molestation against her will, so please, do your job,’ Kohén said, looking annoyed. ‘And rest assured that you will be able to meet my eyes and leave here with a clear conscience after.’

  I pulled my throw to myself when she looked at me sceptically, and nodded a small nod. ‘He was a perfect gentleman, and I insatiable- apparently,’ I said through bruised lips. ‘In fact, you might want to check him out for damage because at one point I rode him until he cried like a big girl and begged for mercy-’

  ‘I’m fine Larkin,’ Kohén said, chuckling as Cherry snickered and knelt beside me. ‘But thank you. I’m going to go fetch us some hair of the dog to enjoy in the spa. You like peach champagne the best, don’t you?’

  ‘Yes, your highness,’ I said even though I didn’t, cringing as Cherry reached under the throw and parted my thighs with warm fingers. Looking guilty despite his claims to the contrary, Kohén made a face when I whimpered and left the room.

  ‘Are you sure you’re okay?’ Cherry whispered, lifting her magenta eyes to mine. ‘Excuse me for saying so, but this whole situation is scandalizing a lot of people… and you seem rather frazzled. In fact, I can tell that you’re in shock.’

  ‘That’s possible,’ I said softly, whimpering again when I felt a gentle warmth seep into me.

  ‘He had your consent, didn’t he?’

  ‘I wasn’t aware that he needed it,’ I said dryly.

  ‘Maybe not but… you’re an important girl now Larkin, and if word needs to be spread that the young prince has abused-’

  ‘I was important,’ I said softly, touched that she’d give a thought to my feelings at all. And… people were scandalized? Well, apparently there wasn’t enough free champagne in the world to cover even an angelically horrific series of events. ‘But my love for him has rendered me worthless now so don’t worry- nothing has been taken from me today that I did not foolishly throw away.’

  Cherry pouted softly. ‘I’m sorry. But I must admit that I’m rather disappointed. I was counting on you becoming Calliel’s first queen…’

  I snorted and lay back when she removed her hand from my legs and stroked it across my head, instantly erasing my headache. ‘Kohén was never going to last long enough to make me a queen,’ I scoffed.

  ‘I wasn’t talking about Kohén.’

  My heart skipped a beat and I sat up. ‘Where is Kohl? Have you seen him? Is he okay? What do people think is going on?’

  She lowered her eyes. ‘Young Prince Barachiel took off on a horse a few hours ago and has only just returned- his mother summoned me the moment he walked inside to repair a large laceration down his right shoulder which he apparently earned himself while attempting to go through the Wildwoods.’ I gasped and she cringed and went on. ‘He is in a lot of trouble for having caused a jealous scene apparently, when he saw Kohén skirt you away, and because he was still in a state of flux when he rode in, he has been sedated into a deep sleep by the eldest Prince Barachiel, to prevent him from causing another scene or injuring another animal.’

  ‘The horse got hurt? I croaked, and she nodded.

  ‘I’m afraid it might have to be put down. I know Miss, it’s incredibly sad but it’s also sort of a blessing- Kohl’s concern for the animal is what motivated him to return. So had they not stumbled together, I fear that maybe Kohl wouldn’t have come back to Eden until he was the one in need of euthanizing.’

  I looked up at the ceiling, letting the tears run down my temples. Poor Kohl! Poor horse! And it was all my fault!

  Cherry sighed. ‘You should probably know that the crowned prince is also in a hideous mood, seeing as how his younger brother stole his glory before the sun could set upon it.’

  My heart skipped a beat. ‘Oh my God: the wish! He’s not going to change it and retract everybody else’s freedom because I didn’t take advantage of my own freedom, is he?’

  ‘That is unlikely, miss- robbing fourteen exceptional people of their right to be treated as diamonds because one decided that she would prefer to remain in the rough would negate his entire speech, wouldn’t it?’ She slid her hand down my neck, hopefully removing the love bites. ‘But he is upset. In fact, he could use a bit of sedation too- but he would not allow me to touch his brow.’ She glanced at me again. ‘However, he did ask that I pass the message along: You are to come to him at the first chance you get.’

  My belly flipped over, but I frowned at her as though confused, not instantly fearful. ‘Why doesn’t he just come himself?’

  Cherry smiled sadly. ‘He released his Companions earlier this afternoon, on Ora Camden’s request.’ My mouth dropped open, but she went on. ‘Those are glad tidings for both of us, I am sure, but now only Kohén and Elijah have cause to access the harem.’

  I raised an eyebrow. ‘How does that work? Barring the crowned prince from an entire wing of the castle?’

  ‘It used to be an honour system- no one came in and out unless they were an occupant or entitled to, and there was almost always a guard nearby, keeping an eye on things to be safe.’ She paused. ‘But Kohén has had a guard stationed by the door now, miss, under the king’s command. That guard cannot let anyone in without permission of the harem’s dependents- Elijah and Kohén. Karol’s key would still work in that main door, but it never worked in yours-’

  ‘Wait!’ I exploded. ‘Those winged rings are different?’

  ‘Well, Elijah’s is a skeleton one but yes, every feather is carved to suit some locks and not others, so the locks differ to match them. So when you turn your lock from the inside, no one outside can get in. But when he turns his key in your lock from the inside- not even you can get out.’ She smiled sadly at me and I wondered how many doors Kohl’s opened- probably not many! ‘So even if someone aside from Kohén could get past the guard, as Kohén has allowed access for me and one or two others for the sake of tending to and waiting on Resonah and Rosina, he’d only be able to access the rooms that he used to access before and now, they’re empty.’

  I felt claustrophobic knowing that only Elijah could get me out of there by unlocking a door that Kohén had locked. ‘And the secret entrance?’

  She quirked her lips in a sign of discontent. ‘It has been sealed shut, which is precisely why I feared that Kohén had taken advantage of you...’

 
I didn’t know what to think. I was trapped yes, but I was safe from Karol and I needed to stay that way, especially now that he was jumping hoops to please Ora- he must really like her!

  ‘Then report to Karol that I am well and too wrapped up in Kohén to have any time free for him,’ I sank bank, shocked over all I had learned, but relieved to realise that Karol was good and pissed off and very aware that now that Kohén had played his hand, I’d been forced to fold my own and would not be coming to him anytime soon in the foreseeable future. ‘And tell him that I am ecstatic to learn of his submission to the lovely Ora’s demands.’ I smirked. ‘Tell him: “That’s one,” and if he asks what, say: ‘One white feather he has earned in my eyes.’

  Cherry looked confused, but she sighed and nodded. ‘I will pass it along verbatim, if that’s what you wish. But still-’ the door opened and Kohén walked back in and she stopped talking. I rolled over onto my side, thanked her, and then closed my eyes.

  Sleep soundly and deeply Kohl, and awake to a new day where your future is brighter than mine ever was!

  While Kohén and Cherry exchanged useless pleasantries, I tried to tune them out and prayed for Kohl, and did not realise that I’d begun to doze off until Kohén scooped me up in his arms and roused me from near-sleep.

  ‘What’s going on…?’ I muttered.

  ‘I am loving you,’ he whispered, closing the bathroom door. ‘And looking after you. And all you have to do, is allow it.’

  I muttered to myself, and he submerged us both in the deep and bubbly water, which first made me feel more alert, but then the water worked its way into my tight muscles and I began to sag and feel heavy again. Candlelight tossed shadows against the walls and he hummed on as he bathed me, and it might have been romantic if not for the frangipani oil that he’d used to scent the water with. My lungs practically folded against the memories that that scent evoked within me, and instead of drawing up the ones of Kohl and the blooms, all I could remember was Kohén and I picnicking- Kohén and I flirting on the beach… Kohén and I screaming at each other in the security room in the plantation house.

  We’ve done so much damage to one another! How is this going to end, and when? What will be left of either of us when it does?

  My misery overwhelmed me and so when he began to wash my hair so tenderly that it made me ache, I used the rinse process to let my tears escape. I’d loved him so much and I thought he’d loved me, but I did not feel like half of a romance, but like a doll that he was play-acting with. How long would I have to suffer this charade before he lost interest me? Or worse, what if he never did and I was trapped here forever? What would happen when he took a spouse? Why couldn’t I muster up the will to pray that he would get married? I sobbed and he turned my face to his, looking concerned and asked what was wrong, but I couldn’t answer so he sighed and went back to washing me with even more tenderness and as he did, he sang softly:

  ‘Pretty little silver bird/ perched high upon her bough/ she whistles through my window/ but my returning song, the Lark won’t allow….’

  A tremble wobbled my lower lip.

  Oh, hell…!

  Kohén sang on, his voice a rumble against my lower back. ‘She sings of her love for my golden heart/ so I open my hand and beg her to stay/ but she cries: ‘Hark! Gold cannot love silver’/ and promptly flies away.

  My tummy contracted. ‘Wh… what is that song?’

  Kohén nuzzled my ear. ‘It is mine.’

  ‘And you said you weren’t a writer…’ I drawled, trying not to weep like the sentimental fool I was.

  ‘It’s just a simple little tune, hardly impressive…’ He ran the soft sponge down my back. ‘I’ve been turning to music when I am not training, trying to keep myself distracted from my pain over losing you but… but you possess me even then.’ He sighed and rested his head against the back of my neck, breathing heavily. ‘I am so lost in you. I cannot believe you doubted my love for you enough to have allowed this void to develop between us!’

  I rubbed my face with my hands. ‘Perhaps you should have handed me my contract and those lyrics at once a year ago,’ I whispered. ‘And I would have jumped to your side of the void.’

  But Kohl only shook his head. ‘I handed you the statue of Liberty,’ he pointed out. ‘That ought to have spoken loudly enough.’

  ‘Which you have now taken back,’ I pointed out, thinking of the locks.

  ‘What? It’s still there.’

  ‘Physically, yes she is,’ I gripped the edge of the tub and rose to my weak legs. ‘Spiritually however, she is devoid and now, so am I. So whistle whatever tune you wish to, Kohén Barachiel,’ I wrapped a towel around myself, determined to get some fresh air and distance however I could- needing to be with him in real light without a mist of lust swirling around us so that I could guard the ashes of my heart from him before I allowed myself to be entranced by his song as well as everything else. ‘I was never silver or white gold, only shining steel polished by this place, and now that you have collared me, my heart has begun to rust and never again will it shine for you.’

  I heard the water splash behind me. ‘He made you promises that I couldn’t, after having fallen in love with you only after you’d become a swan!’ Kohén croaked. ‘But I loved you when you were just a little girl with a fistful of cards, a mouthful of barbs and a heart full of fear! And I have NEVER stopped loving you! Why do you think Karol tried to talk me out of making that deal with you, Lark? I’d already told him that YOU were the girl that I was going to marry!’

  What?!

  The idea that he had loved me back when I’d been that pale-eyed, scrawny, plucked-looking duckling made my heart cramp with an infusion of black blood. What was the good of knowing this now, when it was too late for it to be proven? Unaware that he was killing me more, Kohén went on:

  ‘... And if I hadn’t been able to get the rules changed, I would have left this place with you and made you my everything! But you never even allowed yourself to HOPE for such things from me! You were too busy running to his arms to hear my promises, but I made them all!’ He sobbed. ‘You have forced my hand here with your distrust, Larkin, so vilify me as much as you will- it won’t change the fact that I am hurting as much as you are, if not more!’

  It felt like being hit in the stomach, but I opened the door and glowered back at him, glancing down at the lock and noting happily that it was the push button kind with no key access at all. It wasn’t much, but it did offer me a foxhole of sorts. ‘And what were YOU doing, while I was in his arms, Kohén? What MADE me run to Kohl? To Karol?! What EARNED my distrust? Your royal duty, right? Trying to find a way to have it all; the sex, the true love and the crown!’ I scowled at his pinched expression and curtsied a clumsy version of the courtesan bow. ‘Well, congratulations sire- now that you have me trapped in here, you’ll apparently have all three on a golden platter! Just don’t come off all hurt and pouting when I break out in HIVES thanks to my enforced proximity to the spoils of your greedy ambition!’

  ‘You are my SOUL MATE, which means that you will find happiness at my side!’

  ‘A soul mate would have been enough for you!’ I screamed at him. ‘You don’t get a prostitute and a true love, so don’t expect a soul mate when there are FOUR prostitutes involved, or I really will think you’re a fucking idiot on top of being a hateful, manipulative, spoiled BRAT!’ I closed the door between us, then leaned against the door and sobbed. I heard Kohén splash heavily back into the bath, and I sagged in relief. But then he began to sing again, and my heart crackled like paper being balled up in a fist.

  ‘My darling little silver bird/ curses the weight of my golden crown/ but rain fell before I could take flight with her…’ I heard Kohén sob. ‘Now in my golden hand she drowns…’

  I clutched at my heart and ran for the door, needing to be away from his mournful melody before he trapped me within another ambedo. But when I tried the handle, it did not even budge- he was locking me in even when I was willingly
inside with him! I went to the window and lifted the sash so that an icy cold draft swirled through the frame, but when I tried to turn the handles on the shutters to throw them open, I sobbed to see that something had been done to them to lock them firmly in place. I smacked the timber in despair and though the vines twisting through the slats shivered, the timber held.

  You bastard!

  Knowing that he’d barred me from spying Liberty to prevent me from attaining it was awful, but the claustrophobia didn’t hit me full force until I stumbled back and discovered that the room had been cleaned while we’d been in the bathroom, and that now there were dozens of fresh white roses stuffed into vases on every available surface. The sight of them was horrifying, but the stench of them was enough to drown me in my own breath.

  Oh God! I’m going to die here, but the girl they bury won’t be me-it’ll be that witch from the mirror- my father’s evil spawn and the source of all of Arcadia’s suffering, but it won’t be me! I died tonight, in Kohén’s arms, and now, I’m going to have to haunt these halls forever, because he won’t let me go!

  I fell to the floor and wept, feeling broken in every way that a person could be broken- until I remembered the expression on Kohl’s face after I’d callously dismissed him, and suddenly, I found several new parts of me that had yet to rupture or fracture- but did, and swiftly. My face was wet with tears, as was my hand and parts of the tile beneath me, but I would have stayed there and cried on, had Kohén not called out to me then.

  ‘Larkin… baby?’ I heard a splash as he stood. ‘Are you still crying? I can get Cherry again if you’d like- or maybe another drink?’

  Another drink? Another interaction with the helpful but helpless healer? I lifted my face and croaked out: ‘No, I’m…’ and then my voice caught in my throat when I saw that the back of my hand was covered in blood.

  Oh… sweet… Satan… what is THIS?!