The last hours of staying in the hospital bed, I kept my eyes shut, I covered my ears up too when I felt like it. I made the conclusion that I was given too much pain killers. The nurse was nervous when testing my blood, I remembered biting my lip as the needle poked through my skin, failing to find the vein.
As my last sip of cranberry entered my mouth and my normal clothes back on rather than the very sheer white cloths with blue tiny dots, I felt a weird numbness circle my brain. The white wall remained white and would disappear as the door opened to reveal Farley.
"Hello Ms. Mare, you reading to get going."
The cranberry gave that weird taste where my tastebuds had somehow vanished at the end of the gulp. I rubbed my tongue against my teeth to get rid of the taste and turned back to Farley.
"What?"
"Home, we packed your bags."
My knees bucked as I rose up to meet her and I felt the embarrassment in my cheeks knowing Farley watching me like my mother, worried and probably disappointed.
"I'm not going home, why would I?"
Farley eyes surprised me, an actaul surprised and confused looked plastered on her face. "I-I thought you wanted to leave."
"Well, I thought I'd help with anything here."
Farley walked closer to me, not sitting next to me but rather looking down on me as I stayed on the bed. "Well, were moving locations, were going to Aadel for some insight with the Lakelands."
I leaned in, "Aren't you guys trying to gain land from the Lakelands?"
Her eyes wondered the room like a child avoiding a awnser. "Well... yes, but right now were trying our best to try and reconstruct the country."
And then the letter hit me, remebered the words written on the paper. "Yea, about that-"
"I can't talk specifics Mare, you know that. I'm just trying my best to get this done so I can spend more time with Claire."
"Oh...yea" I moved my head to the floor.
"So, you ready to go?"
"No."
"What." I heard her feet step back a little.
"I'm coming." I rose to my feet in a smooth motion, "Julien needs me for some things and I'd rather do that then go back to sewing with my mom in Montfort."
Without another word escaping my mouth, I moved away from Farley and left the room, ready to pack my things to Aadel.
I didn't expect as soon as I unpacked my bag I would packing them again so soon, I would at least think it would be for home rather than the Lakelands.
It had been awhile since I'd seen Iris and I wasn't looking forward for a reunion. At least I got to leave the dingy room I was staying in.
I sat my bags down ready for the jets, avoiding the eyes the generals gave wondering why in the world I was coming along. I secretly hoped Farley would be by my side for some socail comfort.
"Didn't think you were joining us?"
Looking up, I knew by the gold eyes that it was the last person I wanted to talk to.
Folding my arms, he understood the body language and backed off a bit.
"I'm fine actually. Where's your acrobat?"
"My what?"
"Your girlfriend?"
His back slouched, the insult scanning through his dumb brain. "Oh, oh shes just packing her and I's stuff."
"Where's Julien?"
"Um, he should be coming soon, why? Did he already drag you into a historical lecture?"
Scoffing, I picked my bag up ready to board. "No." The silence sucked my voice, "well, that would sound nice."
A smile escaped my lips and Cal noticed copying my emotion. An odd scene to watch, ex's laughing at the uncle and the mentor.
"Well, I got my own jet to catch, so, see you in Aadel."
I didn't catch myself looking at him as he left, knowing I would catch something that I'd miss. "Yea, see you." I said under my breathe.
I felt a hand come over my shoulder. "Mare?"
The voice echoed in my head, a low voice that was somehow icy along with his eyes. I didn't turn around because I knew he wasn't there, he was no longer alive, it was just my head.
"Mare."
I turned around and my breathe softly signed in relief as it was Farley next to me.
"Sorry, I didn't see you there."
"Its not a very long flight but I was wondering... are you sure that you want to come, I haven't spoke with General-"
"Farley," I said sharply, "I'm coming, it doesn't matter if I'm useless, I'm not going back to a story in the papers."
Farley stepped back as if my words were a dagger in her stomach.
"I'm sorry. I'm- I didn't mean it like that its just, I don't want to go back to forgetting why I earned that apartment in Montfort in the first place."
As I walked towards the jet that was emitting its first flume of gas, I could sense Farley willingness to reach out.
"Mare, you didn't earn that, it was given to you because you're blood, your people deserved it."
I turned around with a unintentional glare, one I knew I shouldn't have given but let my pride and anger swallow my regret at the moment.
Farley didn't hop on the same jet as me, instead took the one with all the generals and higher commanding people. I was left with the nurses, cooks and non essential war groups, but at least if we were all hungry, one of the chefs would gladly cook up a air safety meal.
As the jet became one with the air above ground, my stomach began to turn. That every impulsive decision I've made so far has something bad in the end. It was too late know, I wasn't about to scream to the pilot to suddenly halt the flight and run home. No. I had to endure this stupid journey I put myself on, and I don't even have a map to guide me.
I wondered how much I put myself through all theses years. How everything that happened to me, to this country was not my doing but only others dragging me along. I never wanted to be a red with powers, or be mentored with the Royal Calores. I didn't expect myself from going pickpocketing strangers on a hot day to wiping blood of my face during a bloody battle.
Too much had happened for me in what seemed like a relatively short time. A small part of me regrets the things that happened, wanted my life to play out like it should have, dead on the lines of the Lakelander and Norta battle. Maybe the Scarlet Guard may have won in the end but I doubt I would have lived through it. I wonder if the King would have still been executed, it Maven would turn into devilish act and ending up dying in the end. If Cal would have gone along with his entitled prince statues along with the family.
If I hadn't of meant him, if I hadn't done a lot of things, most of this wouldn't have happened. That's what I was putting myself through now. Maybe if I just stayed home, ignored the phone call, my life would be like how it was in the Stilts, planned and orderly.
I didn't want that, I knew that now. That a radical decision made by me was the only hope I had to in braking the bubble around me and go back to the Lighting girl that was given to me by a sinister queen.
I fell alseep before I could think anymore, and I didn't dream at all. Just a black wall that consumed my mind. But I never felt like I fell asleep, as if I was stuck in a conscious slumber were I heard everything around me, especailly the loud engine, but time went really fast. Just after I had closed my eyes for a few minutes and suddenly I felt the popping in my ears as we got closer to the ground.
Adela was arranged much like many other cities are, with the urban areas that include the factories and metal industries in the center of the city, while the agriculture industries are located in the rural areas on the outskirts of the city.
Even though Adela is located in one of the coldest countries in the world, this doesn't stop the agriculture industry in the region. The society and culture of the region helps keep this industry alive against the environmental constraints especailly it being one of the wealthiest cities supporting the Cygnet dynasty.
I felt a tap on my shoulder, it was a nurse, a male nurse I had never seen. He seemed young and was uninterested.
"May I sit here?"
Waving my hand as a go ahead, I kept my eyes on the window until I heard the young man begin his speaking.
I tried my best not to seem irritated.
"Have you ever been here before?"
Turning my head I gave a faint smile and nodded no.
"I have, its quiet a beautiful city, my grandparents lived here so I would always love to come here during the summer."
"That's nice." I said bluntly.
"Adela physical geography is diverse because it contains wetlands, plains, and forests. The city is also situated along the southern bank of the Adela River. Having two popular waterfalls; Chaudiere Falls and Rideau Falls."
I wasn't trying to be rude but as that moment I really wanted to get off of the jet.
"Some say that behind the falls lead to a tunnel into an underground train system that leads to Ronto."
Secret tunnel was something that finally peaked my interest.
"Really?"
"Yea, but its just a myth, also the city has a varied landscape. The eastern side is covered with rolling hills and plains while the western side includes wetlands and swamps. Also contains fertile soil and abundant water sources which greatly affect its economy..."
Nevermind, interest was lost.
The mumbling was now a blurred voice but the ding that rang through the jet meant I could get off, and I sprung up to my feet.
"Thanks for all the information, but I really got to go see my... my friend- general."
"Oh, ok." His voice trailed off as I almost ran off the jet.
The early autumn air hit me in the chest, not relizing how cold it was. The fog drifted from the rivers making it difficult to see very far infront of me. Even my breathe was visible.
I couldn't see the other jets because of the wet air clouding my vision but I could certainly hear them.
After the jet engines came to a stop the bustling sound of people swam around me and I stepped closer.
People around me began to unpack and walk behind me. Many having giant suitcases and baggage. The loud clomping of official suited shoes on the pavement. I should be getting tired of jet stations and temporary forts where the Scarlett Guard continue there odd quest, but all I wanted at that moment was something to eat.
"Mare Barrow?"
A deep voice that I remebered came close to the side of my ear. It was the general, the one with the snarky attitude.
"Pearce-"
"What the hell are you doing here, this is not some playground for you to come and join."
"Excuse me." My anger began to rise into my cheek almost as I was embarrassed.
"I expected you to leave soon, go back to your comfortable home."
I put my hands behind my back, leaning in to be the one with the cool temperament which I obviously lacked.
"Well I'm glad you mentioned that actaully. Some say you live in a comfortable loft where ever you travel. I'm glad we both use our 'titles' to get some comfortable beds."
His brows furrow, almost understanding I was trying to get him angry.
"Well, if you care so much about your comfortability than let me show you the way to where we keep our such prize titles."
He tried touching my shoulder like he was leading a dog but I aggressively shrugged him off.
The fog was too dense to see what he was leading me to, hopefully not a cliff. But the building emerged and it looked liked a brick library, old and full of secrets.
He opened the door to the anonymous building and it was no library but a nice hotel, empty but shiny, as it was cleaned every few hour.
"What, what is this place?"
I turned around to Pearce and all he had was a smile, "Just keep walking O.K."
Getting closer to the lobby, the floors where a gold rough tile with plain white walls covered in mundane painting, the ceiling was oddly high but getting closer to the elevators, the sound of muffled jazz floated above me.
"What the fuck." I said quietly. It was so odd, yes the building was odd to begin with but now it was weird how an old brick building was now a beautiful lobby inside.
He pushed the button to go up and waited for the door to open.
When the doors smoothly opened, he slightly pushed my back into the elevator without joining me.
"Wait-"
"Just go to floor seven."
The doors closed, leaving me in an empty elevator with annoying muffled trumpets playing in the background.
I placed down my luggage to my feet and looked at the button, floor 1,2,4,5,7. Odd that they skipped 3 and 8 but I imagened it was a planning problem at the worse.
Pushing seven, the elevator moved very, very slowly. Two minutes had went by and we had only passed the second floor. My impatient rising, I kept pressing the button until I felt a presence behind me.
After pressing it a bunch of time with anger, I looked ahead of me, seeing only my reflection in the wobbly gold walls. Yet the air felt stiff and cold. The music around me became background music and I became focused on my loud breathing, coming in and out of my nose.
"Pressing that button won't get you there any quicker."
My back stiffen and I decided not to turn around. Instead I just felt the cold breathe behind me, breathing with the same rhythm as mine.
Looking back at my reflection, the same boy I saw in the hospital room was behind me, smiling a little.
"What are you doing here."
"Making sure you don't break your fingers pressing that button."
My breathing became rapid, coming in and out of my mouth now.
"No, you're supposed to be dead."
"Well, you didn't find the body so I guess that's up for debate."
All while speaking, my head closely began turning to see him behind me. Looking down I could see his shoes, shiny along with his clean cut pants. His hands remained in his pocket, yet no bracelet hung off his wrist.
"Why are you here than?"
"I don't know, maybe to annoy you."
I couldn't hold it anymore and decided to turn around to face him. That pale skin and dark curls were still cleaned and perfect as he strived to be.
"What the hell do you want. Because I know damn well I will kill you again, right here right now."
He remained a normal temperament.
"I'm glad you didn't lose any of that spirit Mare, it would be a waste and a shame."
"Well, since you're alive I consider that's a shame."
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, how's Cal?"
My mind turned into a boiling pot and I was ready to let my teeth rip him to pieces.
"Actaully, he's just like you, just as selfish and foolish as you."
I didn't mean it but at the time it was best I could say.
"I don't need the 'Calores' in my life anymore, your stupid family are the ones who ruined everything, put me in a pit and made me climb out of it."
Remaining his cool, his smile was cold. "Well, I can tell you now that my great grandfather had no intent of making you the center of a revolution."
"You bastard, you have nothing to say but filth, ignoring that everything I say is true."
Leaning into my face with his hands out of his pockets and now folded, his grin was now infront of my face.
"I'd spend less of that anger and spend it on the people your about to meet."
"Screw yo-"
"Ms. Barrow?"
I hadn't noticed but the doors began to open and turning around there was a man, tall with tan skin, dark eyes and dark hair that was almost greased into a tight swoosh.
I turned around again to see nothing was infront of me and felt my stomach flip.
"Hello, um." I started walking into the loft clasping my hands, "You are?"
"I'm Daniel Fliker, foreign represtive for the Cygnet Dynasty."