Flower Petals

You were a whore, a dirty filthy woman that had sex with any man on the face of the earth. Or at least that's what the man you were forced to sleep with told you every time you were in his presence. He was a man and a very powerful one at that. He was a king and you were his mistress or paramour as he liked to call you when he was in a really good mood. He was married to a woman, her name was Adelina and she was beautiful, much more beautiful than yourself if you must say. But the king constantly requested your presence even though you were a maid. It might've been because when his father died you quickly comforted him, or maybe when he told you he was to be wed to Adelina and you asked him about how he felt about his arranged marriage. You knew that you were possibly one of the many girls in the kings' harem of women, but you couldn't bring yourself to say no to him in fear of your life. That's why you were here now, your stomach round and before the king, the very person who you'd been trying to avoid for the longest time had to request that you were brought to him.

"Please leave us." The king said to everyone in the room as you held your head low in shame.

"Whore, look at me when you're requested to be in my presence." He said sternly once everyone had left the room. You obeyed afraid that if you didn't you'd be killed immediately.

"Y-yes my lord?" You said locking eyes with him for a second before looking at his hands to avoid his gaze.

"I've gotten word that you're carrying a child, is that true?" He asked narrowing his eyes slightly.

"Y-yes my lord." You said as you nodded your head.

"Whose child is it that you're bearing?" He asked crossing his legs and glaring at you with is read eyes.

"Y-y-yours, my lord." You said as you let your head drop once more in shame.

The king's eyes went wide, he was expecting you to say it was that stable boy, what was his name, Charles.

"You're lying!" He roared causing you to tremble.

"N-no sir, I-i-I'm afraid I'm n-n-not." You said as you tried to steady yourself.

"I wish for it to be killed, I shall not have anything to ruin my life as a child that was born outside of my marriage." He said as he reached for his sword.

"My lord, please have mercy on an unborn child. If you felt them kicking inside of you you'd love them just as much as I do." You said as you locked eyes with the king again and this time holding eye contact.

"And what would you do to ensure that the child isn't found and brought back to the kingdom to ruin my life?" He asked as he looked at you with eyes filled with curiosity.

"I'll move away from here far out away from this kingdom and live the life of a widow with a child." You said looking at him with hope in your eyes. "I only ask two things of you, if I ever get into trouble and bring the child back here let them in and leave me. And that you give me some funds as some money to get a piece of land."

The king was taken aback, you had asked him for money. You a lowly maid had the nerve to ask him for money.

"No." He said looking at you with cold eyes.

You hung your head low and walked out of the room to gather your few belongings. Meanwhile, in the throne room, Adelina entered and clasped her husband's hand in hers and squeezed it.

"My dear Azrail, what might be wrong?" Adelina asked looking at her husband's face that softened at the feeling of her hands.

"A maid has gotten pregnant." He said gritting his teeth at the thought of the child.

"Oh, that's great news! Where is she?" Adelina asked excitedly.

"She's leaving," Azrail said still gritting his teeth again.

"Why?" Adelina asked innocently.

"That's none of our concern. Why did you want to see me, dear?" Azrail asked looking at his wife with his eyes softened.

"I have great news dear, I'm with child," Adelina said tightening her grip on her husband's hand slightly.

"Honey, I-I don't know what to say," Azrail said as his eyes widened.

"Well, you always wanted a son to take rule over the land," Adelina said walking around to the front of Azrail and sitting on his lap causing the cruel king to blush.

"Dear, I have an idea. We shall go off to a city far from here, there we can spend a week and live in complete bliss." Azrail said giving his wife a tiny squeeze.

"Yes, that sounds exciting," Adelina said wrapping her hands around her husband's neck and planting a kiss on his lips. He enjoyed it when his wife was near him, he always has. But for some odd reason, he didn't feel like being around her at this moment. Maybe because he just found out that he was the father of two children.

"Have a maid pack our bags, Adelina. I'll go find my brother so he can take over when we leave." Azrail said placing Adelina on the floor so she could get the maid to pack the cases.

On her way to the servant's chambers, Adelina saw you in the hallway holding your small sack.

"Maid!" She called out, causing you to quickly dry your eyes and smile at her.

"I'm sorry queen, I don't work here anymore. I'm sure his highness already told you." You said tightening your hands on your sack and walking off.

"Oh." She said before picking up the skirt of her dress and running up to you. "Can you find me a maid miss?"

"Queen, I don't mean to sound mean, but did you not hear a word I just said?" You asked turning to look at her.

"I am still your queen, you have to obey every word I say," Adelina said looking at you with annoyance and anger filling her eyes.

"Well, not for long. If you want the truth, I'm carrying your husband's child he wants it dead but I said that I would leave so the child would be spared. Your husband has a harem of girls that he has sex with when he's bored with you, and I just so happened to be one of them. Now if you don't mind, I have a long walk from this town to the next." You said as you walked off leaving Adelina in shock.

It was a two-day walk but you managed to get tp the next town. You were happy when you saw the people there greeting you with open arms, it might've been because you were with child and looked like you needed help, or they might've just wanted to help you. Either way, you didn't complain. You enjoyed staying there, you truly did. But that was until he came there. Azrail said he was going on vacation, and he was spending it in that town, with his wife. You knew that you had to get out of there and quick, but you also knew that you were flat broke. So one night while the whole town was asleep, you snuck into Azrail's cabin where you stole a small amount of money. You also stole one of the townspeople's horses and led it out of there. You then rode off into the night on the horse.

When Azrail awoke he looked at his wife, who was asleep snugly on their soft mattress. He sat on the edge of the bed where he began to stretch.

"Is it true?" Adelina asked looking at the wall.

"Is what true?" Azrail asked turning his head to face his wife.

"That she is pregnant with your child?" Adelina asked still staring at the wall with tears brimming in her eyes.

"Who is this 'she' that we're talking about?" Azrail asked knowing that he was about to be hurt beyond words.

"The maid that left, she left because she was pregnant with your child," Adelina said finally looking at her husband.

"It's true, my dear. But I had no idea she was pregnant until last week. Will you forgive me?" He asked looking at her will eyes filled with fake love.

"No. Never! I wish to not have anything to do with you. I shall return to my parents where I shall be happy." Adelina said turning away from Azrail.

"A-And what about our baby, dear? What shall we do about the next ruler of our kingdom?"

"I lied. I wanted your attention, and that was the only way I could get it." Adelina said burying her face into the sheets.

"You what?" Azrail asked looking at Adelina with accusing eyes.

"Lied, you heard right. You lied to me about those meetings that you had at night, and now I see it's fair." Adelina said, tossing the covers off of her and stormed out of the cabin.

Meanwhile, you galloped into a town, there the townspeople said that they needed great help. The mayor was very sick and looked as if he could die any second. He had no sons but one daughter and hey didn't wish for her to be given the position of mayor. You walked up to the mayor's house and asked to be let in, this took many tries as you were a female and the men there didn't want to let you in. But after refusing for so long and the mayor's health getting worse they finally let you in.

"What might a woman like you have a reason to come into the mayor's house?" One of the men asked as you slid past him to be met with the mayor's daughter.

"Oh miss, please leave I must make preparations for my father's funeral." She said burying her face back into the skirt of her dress.

"Oh, my lady please don't cry. Your father will be just fine." You said placing a hand on her shoulder.

"How? My father is almost dead, without a special flower that could save his life. And that flower could take years to find. He's going to die, and I can't save him." She cried.

"Or maybe a healer?" You asked as she looked at you with tears still streaming out of her eyes.

"Yes, but they've been killed off. The last one was a little girl and she was said to be killed." She said looking at you sadly.

"Maybe she wasn't." You said as your palms started to glow.

"You can't be her. She was said to be a goddess daughter, you look nothing like what they said she'd look like." The daughter said in disbelief.

"Where's your father?" You asked as she led you to her father's room, where he lay on the bed a deathly pale color.

"Father, this lady here is going to help you." She said as you stood and looked at the man with concern written over your face.

"I-I don't wish to *cough* have any more "remedies." He said as he looked at you. His daughter pushed you forward a little to let you know to do your thing. You had to concentrate, completely and so you did and your hands started to glow a bright green, you healed him.

"Father!" The girl screamed as she saw her father's' face turn back to its natural color.

"Anne," The mayor said as he started to try and hobble his way to his daughter.

"Miss, you've done it. You saved my father. Please stay here in our town, we shalt let you have a piece of land so you and your child can live happily." Anne said happily looking at you.

"I shall stay." You said thinking about the bright future for your child.

~Time skip to eight years later~

Adelina had left him as she promised. She left him without an heir to the throne and his only thoughts were about what he was going to do. He sure as hell wasn't going back to you, at least that's what he thought. It just so happened that the deadly king had been injured in a fight against a peasant, the peasant lost of course. But he just so happened to be near your town, looking for a doctor or some medic. You just so happened to see him about to wander into your town in the dead of night and stopped him not knowing that this was the man who you hated with so much passion.

"Sir! What might you be doing out here in the middle of the night?" You asked looking at the man on the horse.

"Ah, miss I'm wounded, could you point me in the direction of the nearest medic?: He asked looking at you barely able to stand the pain in his side. You pointed to yourself, which caused him to be shocked.

"Surely you're kidding, a woman is only meant to bear children not work." He said as he chuckled at the thought of a female being a doctor.

"Well, you don't need my help then." You said walking back into your house but before you could shut the door you heard:

"Wait!"

"Yes?" You asked as you looked at the male as he dismounted and started to limp over to you, his eyes looked as if they were red but you couldn't tell since it was still dark.

"I need help, I really need help. Even if you are a woman, I need you to help me." He said as his cloak cover his eyes when he dropped his head.

"Come in." You said helping him into the house.

"Mama." A little girl's voice sounded from the chair.

"Yes, dear?" You asked your daughter, Anne.

"Who's that?" She asked as her (e/c) eyes bore holes into the man's cloak.

"Oh, he's a patient." You said as you smiled at your daughter.

"Do you need help mama?" She asked excitedly.

"You want to help me today with your powers?" You asked your daughter as she shook her head quickly causing her (h/t) black hair to bounce up and down.

"Okay, you can help." You said as she ran ahead to pull out the table you used.

"Witches." The man said looking at you and your daughter.

"Not witches, sir. But mages." You corrected as your daughter pulled herself over to you.

You uncovered the part he was gripping and started to instruct your daughter. "Now hover your hands above his wound." You said and she followed your instructions.

"Focus all that is in you to heal, think about the wound being the bruised flower you brought in last week." You said as your daughter closed her eyes and smiled. Soon a green light formed around her hands as she healed the man's wound.

"Mama, I did it!" She cheered as she wrapped her arms around your leg.

"For that, you deserve all of the gold in my kingdom. Maybe even becoming my wife." The man said as he stood up.

"Kingdom?" You questioned.

"Yes, I am the king after all." He said triumphantly.

"Please my lord, l-leave us." You said as you hid Anne behind you and walked towards the door to open it.

"Miss, who are you?" He asked suddenly.

"I'm a healer, nothing more. And I do believe that your wife is waiting for you back home." You said opening the door to let him walk out.

"What wife? She left me all because of a girl who was pregnant with my child." He said as he stormed over to you and looked you dead in the eye.

"You look so familiar, that (s/c) skin. Those (e/c) eyes, and that (h/c) hair. You're so beautiful." He said as he brought his hand to your face. That's when you had enough, you slapped his hand away from your face.

"I'm sorry my lord, but you have to leave." You said as Anne cowered behind you gripping your leg tightly.

"How dare you raise a hand to me! You- you whore!" He screamed causing Anne to shake greatly.

"LEAVE US!" You screamed at him whilst pushing him out and shutting the door, making sure to lock it and barricade all openings.

While your daughter slept in the bed you shared you heard profanities from outside your house. You wished you had let him wander around aimlessly and eventually bleed to death. But no, you invited the one person you hated with everything in your soul into your house and healed him.

"Mmmm, mama?"

"Yes, darling?"

"Who is that man?" Anne asked politely.

"He's the king of this land, but he's also your father." You said as you glanced at the window for a second.

"He's such a rude man, how did you ever marry him?" Anne asked looking at you with curiosity in her eyes.

"Well, I wasn't married to him, and you definitely weren't planned for. But I am glad that I had you." You said as you hugged Anne lightly.

Even though he yelled all throughout the night, you still managed to sleep. The next morning you woke up, dressed Anne and yourself, and grabbed a basket for the market. You walked out the door with Anne holding your hand. You passed by Azrail who looked at you as soon as you set a foot outside.

"You, where are you going with that basket?" He asked unsheathing his sword and pointing it at your throat.

"To the market, then to the forest. And to let you know, your "threats" don't scare me." You said as you walked towards your town.

After you and Anne walked back to your house that evening, you saw Azrail sitting by your door like a stray puppy. You thought about letting him in for dinner, just acting like he didn't threaten to kill Anne when she was just a fetus. But he thought otherwise.

"Miss, you shouldn't make a king wait on you." He said as you fiddled with the basket and your keys trying to enter the house.

"Mama, why is he bothering you?" Anne asked.

"Ignore him, my child." You said cooly as your daughter looked Azrail up and down.

"But he's my father, I have to wonder about him," Anne said looking at you with seriousness in her eyes. Then a gasp left bother yours and Azrail's mouth, you thought your daughter would keep her mouth shut about what you had told her. Azrail looked amazed at the fact that your child looked so beautiful, not that he didn't expect it to look hideous, he was just surprised to see his child for the first time honestly.

"Anne, hush. You know not of the words you speak. This man is not your father." You said sternly trying to cover up what your daughter said.

"But mama! You told me last night that he was." Anne whined.

"Shi-(Y/N)? (Y/N) (L/N)?" He asked as you immediately looked up at him from hearing your name being called.

"I am her, but I wish to have nothing to do with you." You said as you finally opened the door and began leading Anne into the house.

"You're the reason why my wife left me you whore." He said as his eyes seemed to be set ablaze.

"Is it just me? Or is it you? I didn't want to get pregnant, but it happened. And honestly, Anne is the best thing that has ever happened to me you incubus." You said shooting back at him with the same venom.

"You hit me!"

"Yell you hit me first, and abused me." You fired back.

"You should be beheaded, you witch," Azrail said looking at you angrily.

"You should be burned to death, you man whore. It's not my fault that your own father didn't love you, and tried to kill you." You said as Azrail got even angrier.

"You've seemed to forget that I have the upper hand." He said as a bunch of guards came storming around your house surrounding you and Anne.

"Fine, I give up. But I hope my death will be clean and simple." You said as you walked out with Anne clinging to your side.

"Death? Who said you'd get death? Ha, you'll marry me." He said making your eyes widen to the size of dinner plates.

"B-But, I thought you were going to kill me." You stuttered out.

"No darling, you see, I've thought about you since you took those coins and diamonds from my cabin, yes I knew you took them I just didn't say anything. The way you disobeyed mine and Adelina's words when you wanted to was groundbreaking. And how you told me that you were my only option sealed my love for you. You may not believe this, but I've loved you for as long as I can remember, ever since we were little. I watched your eyes tear up when you watched your mother die, and I comforted you. I watched how you loved the garden and your eyes would light up when you would heal a broken tree. I knew I wanted you to be my queen." He said as your eyes teared up, upset from the news that you were to marry this monster. "But, my father was mad at me for loving you and left me to fend for myself for the most part. He arranged a marriage between me and Adelina thinking that would stop me from loving you. Did you ever realize that I gave you so much attention? More than anyone else?"

You cried as he tied your hands with rope and saddled you onto the horse. He droned on about how much he loved you, and his whole life story and gave "reasons" as to why he loved you. As soon as you were at the castle he tore Anne, who rode on the horse of a guard, from you which made her cry and you cry harder. You cried all the way up the front steps, and even when you reached the stairwell leading to the tower you were still crying. When he threw you onto the bed and you landed onto the soft silk sheets you gripped the tightly trying to steady your breathing.

"Oi, shut your crying up you little wimp," Azrail said making you shake. He opened the closet and rummaged through it for a while.

"Ah." He said making you look up at him and nearly start crying.

"What are you bawling about?" He asked in a softer tone after sitting next to you.

"I-I just w-want to go back h-h-home with my daughter." You pleaded looking into his eyes for a second.

"Oh, my love you know that I can't let that happen. You know that if I let you go you'd get hurt." He said as he placed a hand on your cheek.

"MAMA!" You heard the voice of your daughter scream outside your door.

"ANNE!" You screamed back.

"MAMA, LET ME IN PLEASE!" Anne screamed as she pounded her fist on the door.

"I'll try baby." You said as you tried to rush over to the door but was blocked by Azrail.

"You're getting married if you want to see your daughter again," Azrail said as he tossed you onto the bed and began stripping you of your clothes.

You tried to fight him off, fearing for the worst. But he only put on a white dress that had a long flowing train (rBVaVl3E3waACb5pAAHfRw0L47Y215) and propped you up so he could do your hair. You sat there, not moving at all you had cried out all of your tears and your face was still. You didn't feel like talking, you didn't feel like doing anything at that point in life. But he told you to stand up and so you obeyed and stood up. Then he led you out of the room and into the built-in chapel so you could have your wedding. When he left you outside of the door and walked in the pastor looked at Anne who was tied to the front pew chair crying and realized that he was about to make you suffer but not purposely. He asked God for forgiveness before the organ sounded playing The Wedding March. You walked down the aisle you didn't smile, you gripped the bouquet of black and white roses tightly as to not launch at Azrail and try to kill him.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man, and this woman in holy matrimony." The pastor said as you looked around the room for an opening or exit of some sort.

"Do you Azrail of Aradain, take (Y/N) to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do."

"Do you (Your full name), take Azrail to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do." You sighed out defeatedly.

"Then I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride." Immediately Azrail tried to kiss you, but you backed away so he couldn't.

"Babe, kiss me." He said threateningly and so you did.

The end