I found Ethan outside, at the same spot we sat together, talking about my life. He had his back to me when I stepped out of the door. This time, I was prepared for the cold. I grabbed a coat on my way out and wore stockings to protect my feet from the chill. Geared up, I walked over to him and sat down…he didn't look my way, and didn't act like someone was next to him.
We remained that way for a long time, each of us lost in our thoughts. It was peaceful. I never knew silence could be that way. While Athan always had little conversations, Ethan didn't seem to share the same trait. It seemed that what he only knew how to do was threaten me.
"Beautiful night, isn't it?" I asked, breaking the silence between us as I turned to look at him. His eyelids twitched, but he didn't say a word. If I didn't notice the movement, I would have thought he was frozen.
"Though it's not as beautiful as the sky back in the village, always dotted with stars. Most times, we get lucky enough to see the moon. It's a lovely sight," I continued, despite getting the cold shoulder from him.
"There was one time my uncle made a bonfire during the full moon. We even had a barbecue that night." I let out a sigh, thinking of those good old days. "There were also firecrackers. I don't know if you know what they are, but —"
"Why are you so noisy?" He grumbled under his breath, turning now to look at me. He looked annoyed, and his tone conveyed it, just as his face did.
I couldn't help the smile that broke out. He has finally spoken. Even though he didn't sound that pleased, it was something. I had finally gotten him to speak.
"I can't help it." I grinned. "Staying alone in this large mansion can make one crave the company of just anyone." My voice went lower. "Even that of the devil," I uttered.
If he heard it, he said nothing about it. "Didn't you spend the day with Athan?" He furrowed his brows at me. "That one enjoys talking. Of course, you won't get bored speaking with him."
"That's if he's not annoyed with me," I muttered, averting my gaze.
"Huh? Athan? Angry? Now, that's a first." He sounded amused. "Little wonder I felt the residue, but I thought it was just my feelings, which were lingering from last night."
"You felt it?" I frowned, picking up on just that one. "How?"
He lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "I just did." He looked up at the sky, giving me the feeling that he was hiding something.
"Where do you go every morning?" I asked after another lengthy moment of silence between us.
He glanced at me. "Huh?"
"Since you always show up at night and I haven't seen you once in the day, I keep wondering where you retire to, and where Athan hides out until dawn."
"To sleep."
"Sleep? You sleep throughout the day?" Now that was something I wasn't expecting. I figured he would tell me he had a nap before leaving for a walk around the village. Not this.
"Yeah." He nodded before averting his gaze once more. "Athan is sleeping right now. He will wake up when I retire."
"Can't he wake before that?" I couldn't help my curiosity. Now that I had gotten someone willing to tell me more about them, I wasn't about to let that opportunity slip through my fingers.
"Are you asking if we can both be awake at the same time?" He furrowed his brows, frowning when I nodded. "It's possible. We can… Merge."
My eyes widened. "Merge? How?"
He let out a sigh, running his fingers through his hair. "That's enough questions for the night."
"But —"
"You can ask Athan when you see him. I'm tired of talking." And he looked at that part. This was the longest he had spoken to me without threatening me or anything, and he sounded like he might faint if he continued speaking.
"Athan won't tell me anything," I grumbled.
It was no use asking the other king. Unlike Ethan, who was willing to tell me a bit about themselves, Athan always grew cold whenever I asked about Ethan. He had made it no secret how much he hated his brother, and that was puzzling. Why hate your brother to the point of denying your relationship with him?
Ethan looked at me and let out another sigh. When he opened his mouth to speak, I figured he would start the conversation from where we stopped, but he didn't. Instead, he asked, "What did you do to make Athan like you?"
I blinked, not expecting that question. "Pardon?"
"We have been alone for a long time, and he hadn't bonded with anyone during those times, not even with the most beautiful of the brides the villagers brought to us. Why now? Why you? What did you do to make him change his mind?"
Now that was a question I wasn't expecting, and one I didn't have any response to. I couldn't even think of any special thing I did when I met Athan for the first time aside from my…
"Could it be my determination to die?" I blurted out before I could stop my mouth from running.
"That might be it." He nodded, deep in thought. "You are the only one who has so fearlessly asked to die. The others only wailed, pleading to be given a chance to live. I just —"
"Where are they now?" I couldn't help but ask.
He shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't give you a response to that."
"Are they dead?" I pressed.
He peered down at me but didn't give a nod or shake of his head at the question. Instead, he got up from the ground and reached a hand to me. "Let's take a walk," he said when I got to my feet, letting me go. While he walked to the door, I glanced down at my hand, the one he had touched, gulping. His grip felt so warm, just like Athan's…