Chapter 3: Chapter 3- Serrina
In a dark room, with only a candlelight to guide her if she wanted to take any steps, Serrina Black sat with a small box on her lap. The box did not look anything strange; it was simple and wrapped in cobalt blue silk, held with a silver thread of ribbon. It was small, no larger than an average fist. But somehow, as Serrina was on her bed with the box on her skirts, she felt as if it was as huge as a mansion and as heavy as tons of gold.
Because Serrina Black did not want to even guess what was inside that box.
Azriel and her had seemed to come to a silent but clear agreement in the years they’d known each other. When they gave each other gifts, it was either expensive and grand but meaningless; or it was simple, yet meaningful. In the past years he’d given her dozens of gowns, horses, crowns and crazily expensive jewellery, but never something meaningful. Serrina on the other hand, had always gifted him small handmade figures or sometimes long letters; even at times she’d taken him to the wild, riding their horses with wind touching their skin. She’d always been the one who gave meaning to whatever their relationship was, and he’d been the one who gave it colour.
But now, it seemed that their roles were to change.
Because inside her bones, she wanted to hope that underneath the silk laid a ring. That maybe, just maybe, he’d give her the best gift of all, his love. She’d cherish it, she’d accept it with great honour and extreme happiness, but as much as she hoped for it, she also knew how impossible it was.
In the tavern, after he’d whispered in her ear, he’d asked her to dance. And she had accepted. They’d both been in simple clothing, her in a simple black and white dress and him in leather pants and white shirt. That meant that unlike the castle balls, there was no need for them to be graceful, to be careful of where they put their feet or else their attire might be ruined. And unlike in the castle, no one was watching them hoping to find a mistake worth of gossip.
She’d been free, and she’d been invisible to everyone but him.
That had to mean something, that and the box on her lap. But it was late at night, so she tried to forget the long time she had spent staring at nothing alongside her excitement and her fear. Instead, she picked up the gift, put it on the small table beside her bed and laid on the soft mattress; hoping to drift off into her land of dreams.
Tomorrow, she’d think of the gift and what it could mean tomorrow.
……………………………………………………………………..
Serrina Black awoke to the sound of a knock on her door. “Who is it?” she shouted, or at least tried to with her husky morning voice. “Me.” A man said from behind the closed doors. Serrina immediately recognized his voice. “Come in Logan.” She said and then looked at the nearest window. Sunlight had found its way to her rooms even though her curtains had been closed, from the shade of the light glowing on her floor she could tell that it was early in the morning, possibly not so long after sunrise. It was probably only a bit after the third bell. She wondered why Logan had come to visit her this early.
Slowly – probably after being questioned by her personal guards about why he was even here – Logan opened the huge wooden doors and slid his head to look inside the room, a smirk on his face. “Good morning princess” she ignored his playful tone and did not answer him. In a matter of seconds, he was on the nearest couch right beside her bed.
“I was wondering why you did not grant us the honour of your visit last night. Your dad threw the grandest of parties in your name, and yet you were not there.” He said, the perky tone of his voice hadn't diminished, even after she’d ignored him. “I was occupied elsewhere.” She stated flatly as she rose from her position.
She sat, becoming fully aware of what she was wearing. Last night when she’d fallen asleep, she had still been in that black and white dress, but now she was in a revealing dark blue robe. It must have been Alina or some other maid who had changed her attire. Her eyes turned to Logan and saw that he had found other things in her room to look at. A rush of heat rose from her stomach and almost reached her cheeks before she broke into a laugh. This time, Logan turned his head up to look at her, “what?” he asked.
“I’m quite flattered that you of all people do not look at me right now.”
“You are in a robe Serrina.”
“And you prefer the company of men.” She laughed one more time as he smirked. “Well, I never said that directly so how can you know for sure?” he replied, and she simply gave him a smile.
Of course she knew, and he was no stranger to her knowledge. They had been the closest of friends since birth and all these years she saw how he had looked at boys they both found attractive. For gods’ sake she had seen him with a boy in his bed. Logan had never admitted his preferences in words, but his actions were enough.
“You have ignored my question. Where did you go last night?” suddenly she was extremely mindful of the box beside her bed. She had not dared to open it last night and thought maybe she’d have the courage today. But now she knew, she did not. “And now, you are acting as if I don’t exist!” Logan stated in frustration, his eyes then followed the trail of her gaze, landing on the box. His mouth shaped into an “O” and he grinned.
Serrina could tell that Logan wanted to pressure he more, that he would not stop asking until he got an answer, and to her advantage, right after Logan pressed his lips together and opened his mouth to ask more questions, another knock sounded on her door.
“My lady, Prince Azriel is here to see you.”
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone