It was very late at night when Leila woke from her slumber, about midnight and her mother Daphne was already asleep beside her.
She quietly woke up, changed into more comfortable and thicker clothes, wrapping a thick cloth around her as she quietly stepped outside into the chill of the night.
It was so quiet and the only sounds being heard were the crickets singing and the the slight rustle of leaves by the wind.
She didn't have any source of light but she didn't need any as she knew the palace like that back of her hand. She made her way to her favourite garden, it wasn't like she could fall back asleep so she could only come and admire the flowers and maybe play with her powers a bit, maybe she could learn a new thing.
After admiring the beautiful plants for a bit she squatted in front of a patch of delicate white crynsanthem flowers, she raised her fingers and softly touched the petals before preparing her mind and taking a deep breath. She stood up and stepped back before raising an arm towards the flowers, as if her fingers were one with the wind, she manipulated the flowers to move and sway from side to side, she then made the ones yet to bloom to bloom. She did the same with some other plants, her heart full, her mind contented but still curious and her face beaming.
She jumped in shock when she heard a familiar voice behind her.
"Nice work, why don't you teach me".
Ciaran said after watching her the whole time.
"I...I...I..." She stuttered, obviously startled by the shocking presence of the last person she wanted to catch her using her powers.
"Now there's no denying it, although I must say, you're pretty good at lying" Ciaran still had that cold look on his face, but his eyes were twinkling tonight and that drew her in as he spoke.
"Where are you from?" He asked again, getting a bit annoyed by her silence, but hiding it.
Leila got her self back and composed herself, still trying to calm her racing heart. He was a guest which identity she didn't know, so she had to be careful and respectful.
"I hail from Varre my lord" she answered with a respectful bow.
Knowing that she was obviously lying ticked him off a little but he still maintained his cold facade. "Don't you dare lie to me" he said in a chilling voice.
"I dare not my lord, I've been in this place ever since I was a kid, I was raised here".
"That doesn't mean you hail from here, you look different, not even a child would believe you"
"I don't remember anything from when I was a baby, I was picked up by my mother, and what does my looks have to do with anything, I know I am ugly my lord, no need to state the obvious". Now she was getting annoyed by all his probing, what was his business with her and her origins, he should just leave her to go in peace.
But she knew it wasn't possible, not with him catching her red handed using her powers, and he didn't even seemed surprised by it, which meant he already knew.
She wasn't stupid, she knew there was something up with him, and ever since their first meeting, she felt a dark aura and energy radiating from him, he might be someone special like her.
"You know you're anything from ugly, and that's why you're covering your looks isn't it?
Who exactly are you?"
His question pulled her back from her thoughts, he was intrigued by her annoyance, did she really believe she was ugly?.
"I am Leila Mark, a lowly servant of the lower grounds in the palace of the Kingdom of Varre" she answered while staring straight into his eyes this time, her annoyance growing, it skipped her mind that she wasn't in disguise tonight.
"Interesting..." He replied, the glint in his eyes coming back.
"Well..." he started while coming closer, "I believe you, how about I help you find your origins" when he saw the hesitation and wariness in her eyes, he thought she was like a cat whose curiosity will get her killed.
But since he made the offer, he wasn't letting that happen. It's not everyday you get to see something interesting when coming to this kingdom full of hypocrites.
"And how will you help me?" She had to be careful because she knew nothing about the man standing before her, but something told her he would do exactly as he says.
"That is left for me to worry about , I know you won't refuse because you're too curious about who you really are, I've said enough so why don't you start by telling me how much you can do".
Before she could come up with a response they heard the rustle of leaves at the corner of one of the buildings. It was almost imperceptible but of course it wouldn't go unnoticed by Ciaran, and even Leila noticed it.
"That's strange, the wind doesn't come from that direction" she said more to herself, she was quite sure it was something else, but she didn't want to overthink it. Maybe she was just being paranoid.
But Ciaran smiled, "so he has started making his move"
"Who?" Leila asked,this confirmed her suspicions that it was actually a person.
"Don't worry, the rats will reveal themselves in due time, but I guess what attracted them was a big treat, which is you"
Leila was confused and had a lot to ask but before she could say anything Ciaran turned and walked towards the darkness, leaving her to process everything herself.