Ribbons of sunlight snuck through the windows of Vaela's suite as she got ready for the day.
She felt shockingly normal. No hangover, no aching body, no throbbing desires or lingering regrets. Just a warm sun, a salty breeze and a strange sense of purpose.
She slipped into a modest one-piece swimsuit covered in a strawberry motif, an oversized sun hat, sandals, and a shawl that shimmered under the sunlight. She felt fresh, fierce and ready to find answers.
Not a man! Just answers.
Her mind was firmly set. She would head down to the beach, enjoy some cocktails under the sun and hear what the locals had to say about Prince Kai.
It's just gathering intel. Just appeasing her curiosity. Nothingmore, she promises herself.
The beach bar was situated in a half sunken ship held together with rusty nails and enchanted twine, wedged between a small cliff and the white sands. It held a sleepy charm and was brimming with half-naked bodies. They all watch her approach, some staring at awe, others glaring with envy.
She slid onto a stool in a corner, hat hung low, sunglasses pressed against her face like a suspicious wife disguised and trailing her cheating husband.
A bartendered slowly strolled toward her, rubbing clean a glass in his massive green hands. An ogre, or at least half one.
"What… never seen a sexy ogre pour a damn good martini before?" he snorted.
"Nah… just impressed with how nimble you are with those big hands." Vaela smirked. "Bet those fingers can work some real magic."
The ogre scoffs, blushing, and offers her his special Pineapple Pulse Popper. On the house.
She accepts with a smile and slides him a massive tip, before beckoning him closer with a flicking finger and a sly grin.
"I'm looking for someone. Sexy as sin and as smug as only a royal could be."
The bartender chuckles as she describes Kai.
"Long black hair, green broody eyes… and speaks like he belongs in a soap opera."
"Young, restless, royal and a massive waste of talent. Gotta be our Prince Kai."
"So he's really royalty."
"The real deal." the bartender smiles. "His dad sends a bunch of people to drag home every few months, but he's a slippery one."
Vaela wrinkles her nose and turns back to her fizzing drink.
The bartender notices her disappointed disdain.
"Love the guy. Everybody around here does. He's a bit of a local legend."
Vaela's ear perks up, she lowers her sunglasses to the tip of her nose and tilts back her hat.
"Do tell." she whispers, sipping on her drink.
What followed was a long parade of twisting tales and salted opinions, all delivered with the laid-back laziness you could only find on a tropical island.
Vaela learns that Kai was indeed royalty. Exiled for some mysterious reason under rumours of forbidden love, broken promises and imperial politics. Born a crown prince, he now spent his days wandering the islands and flirting mercilessly with tourists and locals.
"He's got the charm of the devil, that one." An old woman sneered across the bar. "But the soul of a saint."
"How so?" Vaela asks, shifting closer to the crone.
She regaled Vaela with even more tales of Kai. Painting a mosaic of man with a heart of gold and insatiable loins. Saving sea turtles, cleaning reefs, protecting people. The stories were endless, and probably a bit embellished. But it was clear Kai's actions were admired as much as his life choices were lamented.
More people joined the conversion, adding their compliments and complaints about the rebellious royal.
"Such a waste! He should be a king."
"He deserves better. He's done so much."
"He's evil! He defiled my daughters! All three of them!"
"He's a good man." the bartender added. "Just a little lost. In need of a guiding hand… a good woman."
He shoots Vaela a knowing smirk.
She scoffs, downs her drink and slides off her stool.
"He sounds like a headache." she snorts, whipping her handbag over her shoulder.
"A beautiful headache." the bartender chuckles.
"I've had enough of beautiful headaches!" Vaela replies, greeting him with a wink before sauntering off down the beach, shimmering like a mirage.
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Settled into the warm sand, a trio of empty cocktail glasses at her side, and half way through her raunchy read, she stops and takes a deep breath, letting the sounds of crashing waves and distant birdsong wash over her.
She was at peace.
She sips a cocktail, flips a page and wiggles herself deeper into the sand. Warm, glowing and content.
And then… shadows. Three of them. Stretching across the sand as they move toward her.
Vaela groans, rolls around and turns away her head as the shadows begin looming over her.
"Not interested." she sneers, flipping another page.
"Lady Moonblood. May I please have a word?"
The voice was firm, regal and commanding, yet, felt like gentle waves rolling over soft sand.
Vaela turns toward the voice, tilts back her head and drops her sunglasses.
She looks up to three gleaming figures blocking the sun.
Two mountains of men, gilded in blue-gold armour and wet bodies that look like sea-stone.
Between them stood a young woman with skin that seemed to shimmer like pearls. Her long, raven hair billowed in the breeze with an almost unnatural elegance. Like it was floating in water, even in the dry, salty air. Her eyes like orbs of silver and sapphire. She was exquisite, poised and glowing with a natural regality.
"Apologies for this intrusion. My name Nerina, Princess of Aquesteria. I come seeking your aid."