You Will Die

It had not taken long for Ezmia to find the ring in my pocket. I guess I made it sort of obvious, with the hints I dropped here and there, but I never really knew what to do when she found out.

She gave me that face she always gave me, the one that told me I was stupid. Then all she did was pull me into a hug. "Y-you're engaged?"

Tears filled my eyes, not daring to fall down yet. They were just waiting to leave my soul, but for whatever reason, they didn't.

She pulled away from me and slapped my hand affectionately. "Why didn't you tell me?" She asked. I shrugged. "Had to find the right time to really say anything." I looked down at my feet.

She didn't reply. I looked up and was shocked to see her face darken. "Kandice, this ring... it's doesn't look right."

I grinned, but behind it all I was worried that she was going to find out. "Ezmia, I think you're tired. You're taking this too much to the head."

"No, there's something about the ring." I couldn't stop her. She turneed the ring around, running her finger down words that started to appear.

You will die.

I looked down at the ring. "What is this?" I asked, my eyes widening.

She scowled. "I don't know, you tell me."

I could tell she wasn't very happy. Neither was Dad when he was going to see this.

"Dad won't be happy when he sees this," she said. Typical Ezmia. Reading my thoughts.

I rolled my eyes. "Can you not baby me for once? I know what I'm doing."

"You knew."

I felt like screeching in her ear. Of course I knew my fiancé was a demon!

My eyes knew to tear away at that very moment. It worked on her, because she started to hold back tears herself.

"Why did you do it?" She asked. She already knew the answer.

"You were dying. What do you think I would have done?" I asked her, holding a tinge of fury in my voice.

Silence.

"The demon was the only one who would help me. No one knew how to treat your disease."

She breathes in a heap of air, as if she's grateful for it. She should be.

"You didn't have to marry him," she whispered, as if someone would listen. Really, if everyone were around, they'd be close to dying. No one enters this desert unless they're an outlaw.

"I had to," I said. I waited for her to question me. She shook her head, like none of this was real. In our village, the only reason someone had to be married hadn't happened in thirty years. And to think that it was a demon...

"I'm pregnant. He's the father."