Aveline's heart pounded in her chest. She knew that it was wrong trying to help him, especially a man like Kael. If anyone finds out that he had been with her,not only would they cast him out she'd also be punished for being an accomplice in aiding his escape. All the teaching being instilled in her from a tender age was mostly about remaining pure. She could hear the high priestess' raspy voice whispering in her ear: being pure is your weapon Aveline. And if you dare taint it,Syris would burn you to flames. It was weird because she was also taught love and kindness in the temple but their teachings were contradicting.
If it was any other person she'd have refused. But Kael wasn't any other person. Kael was the boy she has had a crush on since they were children. Her Kael was the boy who had climbed a tall tree just because she liked the bird nesting on it. She didn't understand what those feelings were then but now she was older she understood and those feelings were still there.
They heard heavy footsteps thudding towards the temple,the unmistakable clank of armor echoing as they got closer. They were the guards. Aveline stomach churned. "They're coming" She whispered,her eyes darting between Kael and the doorway. Kael no longer had a smile on his face, his hand fumbling for his belt trying to retrieve the dagger strapped to his waist but he was already losing too much blood.
"This hurts. Don't let them see me, Aveline" He said in a quiet and urgent voice. "I'm not ready to be caught. I still have places I'd like to explore...with you. Let's meet up at midnight,by the old wall" He managed to say,a plea wrapped in his stormy gray gaze and her chest twisted sharply but sweetly too.
The guard's footsteps were already getting louder and they needed to act fast. She could hear their sharp, commanding voice roaring in the air. "I think I saw him here. Search the sanctum! There's no way he must have gone far" Aveline stared at Kael with wide eyes. She was worried that she'd get caught. She didn't have much time to decide. Her eyes flickered to Kael and then to the altar. The marble floor was already stained with blood and his face was getting paler and paler with each passing seconds. He pinned her down with his eyes as if he could see beneath all the title and he was staring at her soul.
"I'm so sorry, mother Syris. Please forgive me." She murmured under her breath before reaching for his hand. It wasn't easy for her to hurl up considering that he was almost twice her size. He let out a small grunt, leaning heavily against her causing her light frame to tremble. With great difficulty she was able to drag him towards the shadowed alcove sitting right behind the altar. This was where the priest stored incense and relics. It wasn't wide enough to hide someone on her side, let alone Kael. She shoved him inside,his back pressing against the wall and she held a finger to her lips signalling him to be quiet.
"You need to remain as quiet as possible" She hissed,her voice laced with fear and something else—maybe it was exhilaration. She grabbed a tapestry hanging from the wall,a woven depiction of the first flame of Syris, and placed it over the alcove, hiding him from view. She was already stained with his blood and it felt so sticky and warm and she tried to wipe them from her robes but it only further smeared the red across the white. Her pulse pounded loudly in her ears that she was worried that the guards might hear it.
In the next second,the sanctum door burst open causing her to take a step back towards the altar as she turned her expression into one of serene and calm. Four guards barged in, their armor glistening in the candlelight, their swords drawn. Their leader, who was a broad shouldered man with grizzled beards and beady eyes, scanned the room before his gaze settled on her.
"Lady Aveline," He shouted in a clipped tone. "There's a fugitive on the loose and we seriously need to find him. Did you see anyone here? He's wounded"
Aveline hid her blood hand in the long sleeves of her robe tilting her head innocently with practiced grace. "No captain. I'm sure no one has entered the sanctum except you four" She said, surprised that her voice didn't crack from the storm inside her. "I've been all alone attending to the flames"
His eyes narrowed on the blood on the floor which was hard not to notice on the white marble. "And that?" He asked, pointing with his sword.
Aveline didn't falter. "Don't mind me. I was just clumsy with the ritual oil" She lied smoothly,her mind racing. "I accidentally spilled some on the floor but don't worry I'll clean it up"
The captain looked like he didn't believe her but he had always known Aveline for keeping to her morals and there was no reason for her to lie. The other guards spread out searching every corner of the room but they didn't go to the alcove because only people who were pure could go near to it. If they found Kael,she was sure that they'll burn her to the ground for breaking her vow of purity.
"Let's check the ground around" The captain said finally, sheathing his sword. "He's not in here so he must have escaped through the south gate" And with that they retreated, their boots echoing into the night and they shut the door behind them with a loud thud.
Aveline exhaled, falling to her knees. For a second,she had thought that they'd find him. She crawled to the alcove and pulled the tapestry aside. Kael slumped forward, stopping himself before he'd crash into her. She knew that it was wrong and forbidden to be this close to a man but it felt so right.
"Do you realize how crazy you are?" She whispered,her voice shaking with relief. "What were you even thinking?"
His face lit up in a grin, even though it was weaker now. "You can't even welcome me probably. I missed you princess" He murmured,his breath warm against her cheek. "Am I not allowed to miss you? Let's meet at midnight behind the old wall. Just me and you. Like we used to, remember?"
Before she could answer, Kael stood up with agility, winking at her before he crawled out of the sanctum through the windows.
Aveline tried to convince herself that she wasn't going to meet him but she knew she was lying to herself.