"And what? Pretend we are a happy couple? Pretend we love each other? Xerxes that role is long gone. Our story is fake, the people know our marriage is an arranged one, forced by duty. "
He scans her eyes, hate, loneliness, pain, hurt all behind them. Those eyes that used tk smile at him are gone. That doesn't matter she is his "Fake or not you are mine, you belong to me" whispers begin to erupt around them.
"I have never been yours and will never be yours " she whispers
"I see. " he lets go of her, she doesn't bother looking back at him instead she makes her way through the crowd who whisper her name, her head held high despite the tears stinging her eyes. The whispers follow her as she moves through the crowd - some shocked, some sympathetic, others cruel and judgmental.
She ignores them all, focusing only on putting one foot in front of the other. She needs to get out of here, away from the prying eyes and gossiping tongues.
Rather then going back to the Estate she goes to the training grounds to unleash all the build up anger. The sound of wood hitting wood echoes, the moon casting down on her providing the perfect light. Her once perfect hair has come undone, but she doesn't care.
From the shadows Xerxes appears holding a wooden sword "If you are angry then take it out on me. The mannequin has no fault " Esmeray pauses mid-swing, her chest heaving as she catches her breath. She turns to face Xerxes, her eyes narrowed and her grip tightening on the hilt of her sword.
"You," she spits out, the word dripping with venom. "You have some nerve showing your face here after what have done."
Xerxes steps forward, his own wooden sword held loosely at his side. "I came to apologize," he says quietly. "And to give you a chance to work out your anger on something that deserves it."
He gestures to his own sword with a tilt of his head. "Hit me," he challenges softly. "Hit me until you can't anymore."
Esmeray stares at him for a long moment, indecision warring in her eyes. Part of her wants to refuse, to walk away and never look back. But another part - the part fueled by rage and hurt - wants nothing more than to take him up on his offer.
Slowly, she raises her sword, pointing it directly at Xerxes' chest. "If I hit you, its to kill you" she threatens as she removes her heels,and ribs the ends of her dress providing more freedom. Instead of picking up the wooden sword she picks up a spear, the ends sharp enough to cut the air around them.
Without hesitation she lounges at him, he is caught by her strength. Xerxes barely manages to block Esmeray's first strike, the force of it sending a jolt up his arm. He stumbles back, his eyes widening in surprise at her sudden ferocity.
"You're serious," he breathes, raising his own sword to deflect her next blow. "You actually want to kill me."
Esmeray doesn't respond, too focused on attacking. Her movements are wild and uncontrolled, driven by a desperate need to hurt him as he's hurt her.
Their swords clash again and again, the sound echoing through the empty training grounds. Xerxes is forced onto the defensive, struggling to keep up with Esmeray's relentless assault.
Despite the danger, a part of him can't help but admire her skill - the way she moves, the power behind each strike.
It's a side of her he's never seen before, and it both thrills and terrifies him.
"You are the cause of my bad reputation. You are the cause of my pain. I had a perfect life until you decided to change it. Now I have lost the person I love more" she screams her movements becoming increasingly faster and precise to kill. Xerxes' heart clenches at Esmeray's words, the pain and anger in her voice piercing through his defenses. He realizes with a start that she's not just trying to hurt him - she's trying to end him.
"Esmeray, stop!" he shouts, desperation creeping into his tone. "Please, just listen to me!"
But she doesn't stop. She picks up a sword next, swinging with full force. Pain still in her, in the middle of the night when he used to get up where would he go? Would he go to her ?
Was she not satisfaction enough? She understands their relationship is one thats been going on before she arrived, but for him to ask her to stop seeing Zaiden only for him to continue doing it. That is what pains her.
Xerxes is forced to use every ounce of his skill and training to keep her blade at bay.
"You don't understand," he gasps out between blocks and parries. "I never meant for any of this to happen. I love you!"
The words slip out before he can stop them, hanging heavy in the air between them. For a moment, Esmeray hesitates, her sword poised just inches from his throat.