The king's eyes
The curse

The night was mild. I am reassured to know Samael is a little more at peace with himself.

I hope I can spend some time with him today. We’ve come a long way since day one. He has already changed a lot. I should be able to reach it... Evil spell.

Samael is able to let me, now.

I walk in the gardens, like every day. And I watch the window of his room. I would like him to accept a meeting tonight.

"Iris."

"Oh!... Samael, damn it... It’s your new hobby, admit it"

He starts laughing, and it suits him so well.

"It’s a little game that I enjoy, indeed. And surprising an elf is good exercise, isn’t it? You encourage me to use my powers."

He told me, enthusiastically.

"It’s true... And it would be too easy with a human being. Come on, stop your childishness and come walk with me. The weather is nice and the air is very energizing." I proposed.

"As long as you don’t ask me to take my shoes off." He said, jokingly.

"Ah, I was tempted! But you took me by surprise, I leave you alone with the shoes, for today.” I said, teasing him.

We walk a few minutes in the gardens, then we head without talking to each other, towards the forest.

“My Lord... Let me ask you, where is your mother?"

He frows a few second, and say: "At the point where we are, you can stop asking me if you can afford it. We know that’s not your type."

"Oh yes? And what's my type, dear?" I asked.

I push him a little.

"You don’t like beating around the bush, you want to go straight to the point without putting on gloves. It’s okay with me. I prefer that in the end. No unnecessary hypocrisy.

My mother left with the children during the confrontation with the opponents.

I made them leave to protect them from Shezaar...

And I made them stay away from the castle to protect them... From me." He said, suddenly thoughtful.

"Aren’t you a little hard on yourself? It’s about your family... You need them as they need you." I intervened.

Good job Iris, the atmosphere is so sad right now...

He explain himself: " I wasn’t myself anymore. And I was losing my mind little by little. To tell the truth, before you arrived I thought I was doomed like my father. I had uncontrollable outbursts like him. It was out of the question for me to expose my children to a father like mine, and my mother suffered enough with him.

I write to them often, and they answer me.

My children are in boarding school, their identities are secret. My mother lives near them and sees them every weekend. I want to bring them back now. I think I have overcome what was eating me up. Thanks to you. It gives me a boost of enthusiasm. A new life is beginning and I wish I could have them with me.

But... they grew up without me, Iris. I am a stranger to them today."

I need to comfort him, I want to."I forbid you to think that. Samael... You are their father, their only parent in the world. I’m sure they love you unconditionally. They are old enough today to understand what led you to this decision. And when you get the chance, talk to them. Just explain to them.

My father was not very present, I only saw him three or four days a year. But every day was fantastic for me, and as he explained things to me in a completely transparent way, I understood and accepted them very well, even at my young age.”

We continued to chat for a while. Samael asked me about my life, my mother’s death, and my years in exile.

He talks to me as a friend... It warms my heart. He fascinates me, makes me laugh, and I feel close to him. It must have been so long since he had anyone to really talk to. I am very happy to have this privilege.

He has accepted a session this evening, I hope to be able to move on further. He’s come a long way since day one, he’s very open to me today, should I be able to reach the curse?

Later in the evening, I get ready after my bath. I put on a light-flowing dress, with my hair down. I want to look like who I am when I project myself into his dreams.

I go to his apartment, then knock on the door.

"Come in, and close the door behind you." He asked.

"Are you feeling well, My Lord? I wouldn’t want to overwork you." I said, hesitant.

"It will be fine, go ahead. And then if I postpone again, you will come and haunt me at night." He answered, laughing.

"Haunt! Oh, what an affront... So I look like a scary ghost? Damn, after so many years without having seen a face, it’s very unfortunate for you!" I said, laughing too.

"Oh come on Iris, you made a pretty little ghost. Your face is exactly as I imagined it... It’s crazy by the way...Oh, of course...

I understand why now.

Alright, so how are you going to torture me tonight?" He asked, smiling.

That beautiful smile... so addictive.

I answer:

"That's the point. Stop torturing for now. Time for a little relaxation, for a change.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but every day I exercise one of your senses, My Lord. The taste with the orange, the smell with the roses, the hearing with the elven song, and not having the sight yet, it is time to exploit... The touch.

Don’t make that face, I’ll only ask for your hand." I said, teasing him.

He’s laughing but confused.

He finally holds out his hand to me, palm up. He’s sitting on his bed bench, and I’m on my knees, facing him.

The contact is not nothing, for him. Touch is never insignificant, moreover. So I take his hand gently with both mine, and I begin to slowly massage the hollow of the palm. Try to transmit all the good vibes I can.

He is so open to me and my touch... I feel what it brings him, I know that it instantly relaxes him, that he lets well-being invade him, and relieve him.

He closes his eyes. I don’t need to influence his aura. He takes everything I give him.

I turn his hand over to massage the back of the hand and the fingers, then I take his other hand and repeat the exercise.

It’s a special, intimate moment. I am happy to see him give himself and accept to receive.

In the rush of the moment’s emotion, I gently kiss the back of his hand.

“What is that?"

He asked me, confused.

"Forgive me... I got a little carried away... Thank you for playing the game, Samael." I said, embarrassed.

"No, Iris, sorry I didn’t want to stop you. Please go on...

Don’t go yet..." He told me.

I take a moment to understand what he is really telling me.

Then I take his hand again and put it gently on my face, I bring his fingers to cross an eyebrow, my nose, my mouth...

Then I cradle my face in his big hand, he caresses my cheek with his fingers, and back to my lower lip with his thumb.

I want to touch his beautiful face too.

I put my hand on his cheek, my fingers caressing his eyelid and his forehead.

I feel he wants to bring my face to his.

I straighten up to place my two hands on the sides of his face, and give him a kiss on the forehead, then on the scar on his cheek... And finally,

I kiss his delicate lips.

He returns my kiss, and we continue to kiss, lulled by the magic of the moment.

He hugs me against him and I sit on his lap.

Our embrace is intense and moving...

I would never want to leave his arms, I would like this moment to last forever.

My mind plunges into his in this need for fusion between us, I go through his being, I am bathed in light...

But suddenly... I see a small dark and red spot, moving, I approach and I take the extent of its magnitude...

I feel... Evil...

The bad spell!

I have the opportunity to do something to remove this curse that has affected him for so long,

I concentrate all my strength and use our shared emotional intensity, I begin to direct it towards the task, to pull it away...

When I feel Samael freeze, withdraw from my grip, then scream in pain... I’m suddenly thrown back, and lying on the ground.

Samael continues to scream holding his head...

The guards come with a bang and grab me to get away from the king.

Samael, no, what did I do?...