67 Light and Dark (1/2)

Bianca

Looking over the kingdom of Ebonhart from a guest suite balcony in the castle, Bianca thought back to the times she had thought of the whole continent as a curse. She had such hatred towards Crystallia and her people for taking Will away from her.

Even looking back to the moment when she walked through the portal back to her world was a painful reminder of how selfish she was. She had turned her back to an entire civilization just because her boyfriend wouldn't go home with her.

”You look pensive.” A voice said from behind Bianca followed by two bare arms circling her waist. ”Anything eventful going on in there?” Roy brushed her hair from her neck and planted a kiss.

”I was just thinking that you should take it easy with that arm.” Bianca said with a smile as she turned to face Roy, taking care to stay within his hold. ”The outside might be healed now, but try not to move it around too much or you'll tear the muscle open.” She traced her finger over the bullet wound just below his shoulder.

”I know you've been worried about more than just this small wound.” Roy said with a playful smile, it didn't fool Bianca. His smile was warm and kind, yet his eyes were full of concern.

”I'm fine, Roy.” She said as she ducked under his arms. ”It's been a long week, I'm just tired.” She wasn't exactly lying. Within a week, she had saved Roy from bleeding out in the streets of New York and regained an aura that was completely different from the one she had before. She had returned to a civilization that she had abandoned and had her ex boyfriend channel power that wasn't exactly his through her to defeat his brother-not brother.

”All that is over now,” Roy said confidently. ”We can relax a little now, maybe I can show you the kingdom.” He scratched his head nervously, obviously remembering when she had left the first time. ”It's not all that bad when you get used to it.”

”Is it?” Bianca looked into Roy's eyes.

”Is it what?”

”Over?” She looked skeptically at him. ”How can you be sure there isn't more to follow?”

”I can't be sure.” Roy said simply. ”But I'm not going to live every moment waiting to be proved wrong.” He grabbed one of Bianca's delicate hands in his and massaged it lightly. ”I have good company,” he took his gaze from her eyes and set it out at the kingdom. ”There's good food down there, and I've got a decent amount of gold from my patrols in New York. I'd like to treat you to some fine food from the city.”

Bianca rolled her eyes. ”It was the patrol that got you shot in the first place.” She said as she re-traced the bullet hole under her fingers. ”How could Michael have set up your little group without telling you the dangers of our world?” Obviously annoyed at Will's uncle for his lack of caution.

”We are still new to your world, but we are learning every time we go for our patrols.” He said as if the bullet hole in his arm wasn't a big deal. ”Now I know what a gun is,” he smirked. ”And that I don't want to get shot again, that's progress right?”

Dumbfounded, Bianca didn't know whether to laugh or slap the innocence off Roy's face. Though, she couldn't deny that his boyish charm had grown on her.

”The reward outweighs the risk, Bianca.” Roy's childlike smile faded as he stared out at the city. ”I have a purpose beyond farming now, and I feel like part of a family.” She could tell he was thinking about the life he had left behind when Will and Maya blew into town. ”I have a gift that I can use to protect people.” He allowed his aura to form a crimson flame within the palm of his hand. ”Every day has been like a dream. I have a great purpose, I get paid to do something I've wanted to do my whole life.”

Bianca stared at the flame for a moment. The crimson aura was not unlike the one she had when she had first gained her power. That flame was filled with resentment and obsession when she wielded it, yet the night she stumbled upon Roy, he had been using it to protect a random stranger.

The moment he was shot trying to get a purse back to a random stranger, she knew how wrong she had been about Crystallia. Roy had done the exact opposite of what she would have done in his position, she had more than proved it by walking out on the entire kingdom of Ebonhart knowing full well that hundreds if not thousands would die just because she felt that Will was only meant to be a part of her life. She was willing to sacrifice thousands just to have a normal life.

When Roy took a bullet to the shoulder, he collapsed. She had every opportunity to turn away and walk to the airport, yet she stayed and did everything she could to save his life. That contradiction to her own personality was enough to reignite the flames deep within her soul, yet not the same as before. Her intense desire to help Roy, who was native to the lands of Crystallia gave way to raw emotion. She had to save him, regardless of the cost.

When the waves of white light radiated from her touch in the alleyway, it was all she could do to keep her hands on his wound. The shock of having any gift from the land she had forsaken was enough to bring tears to her eyes.

The moment Roy's wound healed, Bianca's view of Crystallia had changed. She had gotten a whole new appreciation for the land and people. Since then, she and Roy had gotten close. Just as she mended the hole in his shoulder, he had mended the hole in her heart.

”Bianca?” Roy's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

”Hmm?” She looked up into his concerned eyes. She could only guess how long she had been standing on the balcony looking at the scar the bullet had left.

”Are you okay?” he asked as he caressed her cheek with his hand.

”Yeah, just a lot going on up here.” She tapped her temple and giggled slightly.

Taking his hand from her cheek, Roy observed a single wet spot on his finger where he caught a tear from her eye. ”Are you sure?”

Bianca took his hand in hers as she smiled. ”It's refreshing sometimes, you know.” She hugged his hand to her chest. ”It's been a long time since someone has shown me as much thought as you have.”