Chapter 19: Chapter 19

KAMORA

Kamora glanced at Lord Maroke, startled to discover he possessed the gift of flight. That explained a lot—like how he moved so silently.

Only someone familiar with gliding along the air could drift so lightly.

As she stared at him, he turned his gaze on her.

“Do you share the same views as Jarosh?” he asked.

Kamora quickly shook her head. “I am but a common human, my lord. I will always be in awe of the powers the Fae possess. I think it’s beautiful.”

Lord Maroke studied her, his expression unreadable but intense. Under his stare, heat crept up her cheeks, and her heart began to flutter wildly.

She resisted the urge to avert her gaze, not wanting to appear rude. Instead, she slowly bowed.

Thankfully, Lord Maroke looked away and cleared his throat.

After a brief pause, he turned to his son. “What powers do you wish to have then?”

“Glamour,” Jarosh replied without hesitation.

A flicker of something passed over Lord Maroke’s face—an emotion too quick to catch—but Kamora thought she saw the corners of his mouth tighten. “Why is that?”

“Imagine it,” Jarosh said, grinning. “I can become anyone. That way, Kamora can’t bite my ears off if I decide to take another round of food.”

Kamora sighed, though the look she gave him was fond. “I am not surprised that you’re thinking of food at a time like this. I’m afraid, my lord, even if you do gain such powers, I’ll find you. Your obsession with snacks will give you away.”

“I doubt it,” Jarosh said, chomping into a biscuit.

As he noticed the bag nearly empty, Kamora leaned in. “Would you like me to get more snacks for you?”

“Will you?” he asked, eyes brightening.

“Yes, but I’m spoiling you only for today.” She cast a glance toward Lord Maroke, silently asking for permission.

“You may go.”

“Do you need me to bring anything for you, my lord?”

“Don’t worry. I’m okay,” he said.

She bowed, smiled, and stepped away from the row of seats, weaving through the crowd in search of food.

The Goddess’s grove, transformed into a vibrant place for recreation, buzzed with life. Though unfamiliar with the area, she figured she’d find a stall or vendor nearby.

Still, another reason spurred her to leave: to give father and son some space. Since their arrival, every conversation had somehow included her.

But for them to truly bond, they needed time alone.

She wandered deeper, scanning for signs of food.

Just as her eyes landed on a cart in the distance, something rough and swift lashed around her body. Her breath caught.

She looked down—vines. They coiled around her limbs with unrelenting strength.

Before she could scream, she was yanked off her feet and dragged into a shaded, hidden nook of the grove.

Her body hit a mossy stone wall with a dull thud. She gasped, mouth open to scream—but a hand clamped over her lips.

“Shh. It’s me,” a soft voice whispered.

Kamora blinked in confusion. Slowly, she looked up—and froze.

The woman from before. The one who had claimed to be her sister.

“You?” Kamora hissed, voice low. “What are you doing here?”

Gwen frowned, genuinely puzzled. “What do you mean? Didn’t you come here to see me?”

“And this is how you greet me, if that’s the case?” Kamora shot back, though her voice remained hushed.

Gwen had the grace to look sheepish. The vines slackened, retreating like obedient pets.

“I’m sorry,” Gwen murmured. “I was just so happy, I couldn’t control myself. The moment I saw you, I reacted without thinking.” She smiled. “But I am happy. At least you came to see me.”

“I apologize, but that’s not the case,” Kamora said curtly, rubbing her reddened arms where the vines had gripped too tight. “I’m here as an escort to my lord and his young son.”

Gwen’s brow furrowed. “Young son?” She paused, and her confusion deepened into something darker. “You mean to say—the young man you were with—isn’t your son?”

Kamora shook her head. “No, he isn’t. He’s my lord’s son. I’m his personal maid. That’s why I’m here.”

“Kamora…” Gwen’s voice dropped, and her eyes filled with pity.

Kamora stiffened. “What is it? Why are you looking at me that way?”

“You really don’t remember anything, do you?” Gwen whispered. “This is all my fault. It’s all my fault.”

Kamora watched, stunned, as Gwen’s face crumpled. She clutched her chest and let out a choked sob.

The vines on her arms slithered slightly, as if sensing her grief and trying to soothe her.

“What are you talking about?” Kamora asked, unease crawling up her spine. “What is your fault?”

“I should have stopped you,” Gwen burst out, lifting her tear-streaked face. “When that man came, I should’ve stopped you. But you were so happy… I couldn’t—I couldn’t bring myself to do it.” Her voice broke. “I should have stopped you.”

Kamora felt like the air had been punched from her lungs. A deep, cold dread settled in her stomach, though she didn’t understand why.

Something about Gwen’s anguish felt…real. Still, her guard remained up.

“How can I believe you?” Kamora asked suddenly, her voice sharper than she intended. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, or what you’re trying to achieve. The only reason I’m even listening is to see what you’ll do next.”

Gwen looked up, eyes steady. “I know you, Kamora—more than you think. I raised you.”

Kamora scoffed. “That can’t be. You don’t look much older than me.”

“That’s because I’m Fae.”

“And that’s exactly the problem!” Kamora hissed. “I’m human. You’re Fae. We can’t be related.”

“No, Kamora,” Gwen said firmly. “I’m Fae. You are Fae. We’re both also human. We’re halflings.”

Kamora stared at her, speechless.

“Somehow the Fae genes in me are dominant, while yours are recessive, which makes you seem human,” Gwen said, placing both hands on Kamora’s shoulders. “But you are not, far from it.”

“I don’t believe you,” Kamora said, moving away from Gwen’s hold.

Gwen sighed.

“You have a dark spot behind your left ear, and you don’t like placing your feet in water because it tickles you. So to wash your leg, you have to make use of a sponge. Haven’t you also ever wondered about the scar that lines your thigh? The long thick one that is just right at the middle of your right thigh?”

Kamora gasped, her breath catching in her throat. A sharp ringing filled her ears, and her fingers clenched into tight fists as she sent a desperate prayer skyward: ~Please don’t let me faint~.

“I am your sister, Kamora,” Gwen said softly, her voice like a balm over raw nerves. “I know almost everything about you. That scar you have? I was the one who healed it. You might have ended up disabled had I not been there.”

Kamora swallowed hard. “What do you mean?”

“You were cut with a poisoned knife. Had I not come right on time, you might have lost your leg—or worse, your life.”

Kamora’s heart slammed against her chest. Gwen—no, her sister’s—revelation struck her like a sudden blow.

Everything she’d said… It fit. The scar. The timing. The knowledge only someone deeply entwined in her life could possess.

Even Petal, for all their shared time at the Maroke manor, didn’t know such things.

“You really are my sister?” Kamora whispered, her voice trembling.

“I am,” Gwen said, a slow, tender smile spreading across her face.

“What happened?” Kamora asked, her body tense with unease. She felt as if she were perched on the edge of a cliff, one misstep from falling into the unknown.

“What happened to me? Why did I lose all my memories?”

“I wish to know too!” Gwen exclaimed. “All these years, I thought you were dead. For eight years, Kamora. I have been looking for you for eight years. When I found you in that market, I truly didn’t know what to do, what to say. I still can’t deal with the fact that you don’t even remember me.”

“You searched for me for eight years? Didn’t you know where I had been before then?”

“I did,” Gwen confessed. Then she glanced away. “But we had an altercation a few weeks before you went missing. So by the time I heard the news, it was too late to track you down.”

Kamora frowned. “We…fought? Why?”

Gwen smiled sadly. “There is no use bringing up that topic. Not when you do not even remember it. Still, I am glad to find you. You need to return. Come back with me.” Gwen held on to Kamora’s hand.

“To where?”

“Home,” Gwen answered. “Our family, they are waiting for you.”

The air stilled.

“I—I can’t.” Kamora gently pulled her hand from Gwen’s hold.

Gwen frowned. “Why not?”

“You have to understand, I need time to process all this.” Truly, she did. The news was already so overwhelming for her, and she was beginning to have a headache.

“Father and Mother would love to see you. They have been devastated ever since you went missing.”

“You can tell them that I am around, that you have seen me. But I will not be going to them. Not now.”

“When then?”

“When I have fully regained my memories and understand why I had to go through all this.”

Gwen remained silent.

“Think about it. Whoever hurt me would definitely have an eye on my family. Perhaps even on you. If they catch hold of me, my life as I know it might truly come to an end—literally.”

“Why do you think so?”

“I was found barely alive in a deep forest by some hunters. I am grateful that they managed to take care of me until I regained my strength.”

“All these years I have led a quiet, peaceful life, not wanting to bring attention to myself. There might be people out there who still recognize me. If they find out that I am alive, perhaps the one who hurt me might come after me again.”

“I wouldn’t let that happen,” Gwen said, determined. Kamora smiled.

“I don’t want to bother you. I have to do this on my own. Thank you, still.”

“How can I reach you? If I ever wish to contact you, how should I do that?”

“How often do you visit the Goddess’s grove?”

“I am here almost every day. It’s kind of a place for me to wind down.”

Kamora smiled. “Okay then. I’ll visit you once every month.”

“Once per month? Can’t you just come here every day?”

“I can’t. I have a job.”

Gwen seemed lost in thought. Then she asked, “You are a maid? You mentioned before that you are here to escort the child of your Lord.”

“Yes,” Kamora said, smiling. “I am a personal maid.”

“Are they here with you?”

“Yes,” Kamora said, nodding. “In fact, I was just heading out to get some snacks when you suddenly dragged me.”

“Apologies,” Gwen said, abashed. “Since you are going to get some snacks, let me follow you. There is a place around here that sells the absolute best.”

Kamora grinned. “Thank you then.”

Together they went to a stall at the far end of the Goddess’s grove, close to the entrance. Kamora bought another bag of cookies for Jarosh along with some sweets.

When she was done, Gwen insisted on escorting her back.

Their walk was filled with silence. Kamora was lost in her thoughts, and Gwen gave her time to mull over everything.

Finally, they arrived, and Kamora faced her sister with a forced smile. “I’ll stop here. We will see each other next time. Thank you, for today.”

Gwen’s eyes weren’t focused on her. Kamora, curious, followed her gaze—only to find herself staring at Lord Maroke, who appeared deep in conversation with his son.

The sight stirred something warm in her chest, and this time, a genuine smile tugged at her lips.

“Kamora,” Gwen said, her voice suddenly taut. “Please do not tell me that you are with him.”

Kamora turned to her sister, her brow creasing. “Why? Is something wrong?”

“For Heaven’s sake, Kamora!” Gwen burst out, her features contorting with fury. “He is the cause of all this! He is the reason you lost your memories. Just how did you end up with him?”