Trsitian-
Ayan was standing next to me and I couldn't help that my eyes drifted to her. There was just something about her that made me want to look. She was so....interesting. I didn't mind that she thought I was weird for staring at her. At least she thought about me.
I had no idea why I was feeling this way, it was like something was pulling me toward her and I couldn't resist it.
The cold was starting to really hit and I lifted my hood on my head. John was explaining how the six teens had stood here weeks and just up and vanished out of nowhere. To be honest I wasn't really listening the guy was just way to chirpy for me.
I looked down at Ayana, she didn't seem to be listening either staring out at the forest. She had her hood down but seemed to be fine while trying hard not to be bothered by the coldness.
I lowered to her close to her ear.
"You're not cold?"
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Ayana-
I turned my head surprised at the voice next to my ear. I was looking at Tristan who was unbelievably close to me. I took a step back shaking my head.
"The cold doesn't bother me," I finally replied. He nodded with an amused expression.
He came a little closer to me but this time I didn't move away. "So what do you think happened here?"
I kicked at the thick snow with my boot thinking. "I think.....anythings possible right now." He nodded agreeing with me. As he did I watched the hairs on his head moved with him making his curls bounce a little.
I had a sudden urge to run my hands through his hair yo test if it really was soft as it looked. What the hell? I shook my head getting rid of the crazy thought. What was wrong with me?
I backed away from him toward Lily who was looking at the frozen leaves on the ground.
"Hey", I said. She looked up at me smiling. She was pretty with brown long wavy hair and blue eyes, her match Alex had dark black hair with dark blue; they actually looked good together.
Lily got up dusting her hands off in her coat. "Hi." I don't know why I approached I just wanted to get away from Tristan.
John called for our attention calling us back to the trucks. "Come on guys we have to get going."
"Where are going," Sarah asked with an eyebrow raised.
"To the White Realm," he replied.
My eyes widened as we got back in the trucks. The where?
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It took us 15 minutes to reach the border of the White Realm. It was a line of trees and behind them you could see white house's lined up in a small village.
The White Palace was farther in, in books I read that it sparkled white day and night. We got out the trucks taking in the view.
"Let's go," John said walking past the trees. We followed behind him with wary expressions.
When we were at the beginning of the village John turned around, "From here we will split up in groups of two. While I stay here, your job is to go in the village and found out any info of the missing six without raising suspicion or giving any information away. You will come back in an hour with something to report back. Now go."
We all looked stunned, but began walking past John into the white. Sarah went with Taylor, Lily with Alex, and I was stuck with Tristan. We all went our separate ways.
After walking a few minutes in science I could feel Tristan's eyes on me. This again.
I sighed looking up at him, "Yes?" He shook his head looking out into the distance. I stopped walking standing in front of him. I was not having this.
I started rambling, "Look if you have something to say just say it. You can't just stare at a girl all day without having something to say to them. So..come one say it alr--."
"Move!"
I turned looking at a young boy riding a motorcycle. He was out of control and was only a few seconds away from me.
5!
4!
3!
2!
1-- I was suddenly pulled away and pushed against a brick wall. The young boy crashed into his bike into a fruit vendor selling various white fruits. He seemed fine just shaken up.
I felt weight on me and realized I was wrapped in strong arms. I looked meeting the brown eyes of Tristan. He was looking at me searching if I was okay. His arms were around me, holding me up.
I pushed him away out of his arms embarrassed. "Um...thanks."
He reached a hand out touching my shoulder, "Are you okay?" I nod not meeting his eyes. He had just saved my life.
"I-i'm good, let's just keep walking." He nodded and we continued and stopped at a small shop at the end of a street. We went and saw all sorts of antiques and things. In the back I saw an entrance to another room. I left Tristan and went to the door of hanging beads.
There was jingle as I entered. In the room was a small lady hovered over a deck cards. She was shuffling time and place them out.
"I was expecting you," she suddenly said without looking up. I jumped at her quiet voice. She looked up with a small smile, "Come...sit." She gestured with her hands at the chair across from her.
I sat down breathing deeply, I watches d as my breath made puffs in the air. For some reason I wasn't really cold, it was like my body was used to this temperature.
"Would you like me too read your? It's for free." The lady was still smiling, I smiled back timidly. "Sure."
She laid a row of cards and asked me to pick four. The first was a picture of a house, the second two masks, the third of a boomerang, and the last one was a shield.
"Aah."
I looked up, "What does it mean?"
She pointed to the first one, "This means you belong in three places. The second means split in two, the third meaning someone will always be by your side no matter how far you throw them." She chuckled at her own joke.
"And the last one?" I was curious.
"The last one means things will block you as you search for answers. Pick another one."
I grabbed another and flipped it over. It was a picture of arrows and knives flying. The woman smiled brightly, "This one means that you will fight against those blocking you and prevail over them. Winning in the end."
I smiled at her, thinking this was just a bunch if words she made up to reel in customers. Though In the back of my mind I couldn't help but believe her words slightly.
The beads jingled and in walked Tristan. He looked at me and raised his eyebrow at the cards before me. The action mad me want to laugh, I refused to.
"We have to go," was the only thing he said and then he left the room. I got up after him then turned back to the lady.
"Do you know any thing about six teens coming here? Like a few weeks ago."
Her smile was gone and she looked down at her cards again.
"All I know is that six came and six never left."
She stopped talking to engrossed in her cards. I left the room feeling like I should've asked more questions.
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We got back to the safe house hours later. The sun was already setting and it was getting dark. After taking showers and getting warm we all came back to the living room eating leftover pizza.
As I was sitting I felt a tap on shoulder and turned to look at Tristan. He was always near me and I was getting used to it.
"I didn't know you were into tarot card readings," he smirked.
"There's a lot you don't know about me," I answered slyly.
He laughed softly, "Your right, I should fix that." I stopped chewing for abseonc and swallowed hard looking down at my lap.
"So what did you guys find? Anything interesting?," John asked sounding like a teacher who just took his kids on a field trip to the museum.
Sarah jumped up taking something out from her pocket. It was a red piece of paper with cursive on it.
"I got this." She held it up for everyone to see. It was a flyer for a two-night masquerade ball at the White Palace.
"Me and Tyler learned that the six may have gotten captured by the White King. So if we go to this we might find their hiding place if their keeping them somewhere."
"So you want us to go to a ball?", I asked.
She looked at me like I was dumb, "Yes Yana I want us to go to this ball."
I sighed sinking into the couch.
"So it's decided, we're going to a ball," John said happily.
Yes a ball, with dresses. I cringed inside.