I played with my finger nails as we travelled to the city, there was more traffic as Kili described. It was only going to get worse the closer we got to New York. I was nervous, I didn't know what to think of the new world. I knew for a fact, that they would not be so welcoming if they saw who we truly were. If they are as greedy as my team has said they are, I can only assume they would try to capture us or kill us. The plans had been running through my mind continuously since we left, we had to fix this.
"Freya, relax a little. Your tension is making me nervous." Keon said with a small nudge.
"I'm sorry, I'm just worried about all of this. We need to fix this." I said quietly.
"And we will, have some faith in the Gods. Before you know it we will be on our way home with a world plague free once again." Keon said. They were quick to always think positive, but in times like this it was difficult.
"Anyone who hasn't seen a city before look ahead, just over this hill you'll be able to see the city. We are about 15 minutes from your temporary home." Kili yelled to us all. The bus had fallen silent as we all watched ahead, nervous and excited we waited. Until we finally crossed the peak and a city lie before us. Buildings almost the size of my castle covered such a small space, the sizes varied and they all stood so close together. The buildings were surrounded by much smaller ones, it was incredible. We all watched and admired as Kili drove us into the heart of this New York they called it. Once we arrived in the city, I was amused with what the humans wear. Some where bright baggy clothes whilst others happily wear their bras and underwear for everyone to see. The men of the bus were partly intrigued but almost disgusted, they had never seen such displays before. We often stopped at traffic lights, Kili described them as lights that help control the flow of traffic and people. He would often get angry at the lights too for making him stop frequently. Before we knew it, the bus travels had come to an end.
Kili stopped the bus out the front of a large glass building, I was pleased that my mind finally understood what glass was. I was slowly learning, the liquid has finally become useful. We stepped out onto a hard path in front of the building, cement my mind told me. I looked up and admired the building. The path was busy with humans walking past chatting away, they were oblivious to who stood before them. Is this what it feels like to be normal?
"Right, we'll get you guys checked in and settled. Follow me." Kili said walking into the building, two large doors slide open for us all. We walked inside and were all amazed by the building structure, the floors shone magnificently, the walls were just the same. All the same white stone colour, we all stood around and waited as Kili check us in to our rooms. I often shared smiles with the humans who walked by, it made this process easier that they could still exchange a smile.
"How weird does it feel not having crowds swarm to you?" Keon whispered in my ear.
"Extremely, almost like you walking in on me yesterday with my night gown on." I joked. Keon laughed, drawing a small amount of attention from the humans to us. Shortly after we were given room cards to get into our chambers. Kili walked us each to our rooms to ensure we knew how to get there.
"Alright, today and tonight you need to all sleep so your minds can adjust and absorb the liquid. Tomorrow you will begin to understand much more, and you guys will have your senses back. Vili, you have a room on the top floor next to Freydis. You were the lucky one." Kili said as he walked us up one last flight of stairs, I still wasn't trusted to be in an elevator.
"509 to 514 are the rooms right down the end of the hallway, place the card on the little box like this and the door will open." Kili explained. We each walked down the hall ways and found our numbers. Everyone opened their doors with ease, however I struggled to tap the card.
"Here, like this Freya." Vili said as he took my card and tapped it, with a click the door opened.
"Thank you, Vili." I said taking the card from his hands, accidentally brushing mine against his. Vili grabbed my hands holding them.
"Vili." I warned looking up at him.
"We need to talk Freya, please. I can't act as if I don't know you. We are Freya and Vili, we need to talk. You are my greatest of friends." Vili pleaded. My heart ached at his words, he was right. We needed to talk.
"Come by later, let me settle in. You are right next door, knock in about an hour." I said quietly as I made my way into my room, closing the door behind me. The room was massive, as I walked in to my left there was a kitchen decorated with many things I didn't know what,. A... Kettle... Refrigerator... Toaster... So many new things. I walked further in to find another space with a large table to my right, nothing like the tables we have in the realm. I continued walking to a large glass window that showed me the city. I was looking down at the other buildings, missing the view of home but grateful to be experiencing the new world. To my left was a large room with a bed in the centre. It was covered with a material I did not know, it was cold and smooth to the touch. The room to the right of the window, across the hall was another bedroom. I chose the room with the strange material. I opened one last door in the room, to find what I believe was a bath house. But it was very strange. The chamber pot was full of water, I pressed the button on top to find it created a motion of water. Intrigued I kept looking, I stepped into a glassed area with a strange shiny grey nosle. Underneath it was a... Tap, my brain repeated to me. I turned the tap and water sprouted from the nosle drenching me in cold water. I froze momentarily in shock before trying to turn it off.
After my incident in the bath house and further adventuring I found a room with a comfortable seat facing a large computer screen. It was a fabric material big enough for three people, but I found myself out stretched on all three seats. It felt wonderful. But my comfort was short lived when I heard a knock at my door, had it already been an hour, I thought to myself as I made my way to the door. As I opened the door I was met by a strange face.
"Hello Ma'ma, we've been instructed to bring you your meals early this evening, may we come in and set your table?" The lady asked politely, she had a trolley that was stack full of food. My stomach growled at the sight of it. I smiled and allowed them to pass into my chambers. I sat down at the table as they set it, I have never seen some of these foods before. I was eager to try it.
"Now, we've left some extra towels for you and some snacks in the fridge that Kili thought you would like. If you need anything, just call the desk and we will send someone to assist." She smiled.
"Call? They wouldn't be able to hear me from here." I said, and by the looks of it, it was a stupid statment. The lady raised her eye brows and tried not to laugh.
"By using the phone by the door Ma'ma. They will hear you from there." She smiled still remaining polite despite my stupid question. She left quickly to serve the others I assumed. Without waiting I begun to eat my food, There were about 4 different plates of food, some contained steaks, others contained what could only assume was sea creatures, another had a roasted chicken and the last plate looked to be filled with sweet treats. It seems like a lot of food, but our blood line it viking, and we eat like it too. I begun munching away at the food in front of me, the cutlery they used was shiny and small to what I was use to but I made do. I poured myself a drink from a glass pitcher, it was a deep red colour, almost like blood. I took a sip and the taste intrigued me.
"Wine." My body responded, it was wonderful.
After cleaning up every plate, a pitcher of wine and all of my treats I made my way into the bath house again. I undressed myself, wrapping into a towel before I made another attempt at the... Shower. I was so accustomed to my hand maidens drawing my baths, I had never had to do this before. Nor under these circumstances. I turned the tap and dashed out before the water could touch me. Whatever I did was wrong, though. The water was boiling, I couldn't even turn the water off now was it covered the tap handle. The bath house was soon full of steam and I was unaware of how to stop it.
"Freya?" Called a familiar voice from my chambers.
"Yes? I'm in the bath house." I called back as I sat down on top of the toilet seat. Annoyed that I was unable to even control a shower.
"May I enter? The shower is... Difficult to navigate." The voice said, it was Vili.
"I'm really not dressed appropriately." I said placing my head into my hands and I leaned over.
"I have seen you as naked as your birthing day many times Freya, please allow me to help." Vili said as he turned the door handle, not allowing me to answer. He was wearing some darker jeans and a dark cotton shirt, his hair was still damp from what I can assume was his shower earlier. I was drawn to this arms that stretched the material of the shirt, and the tattoos that now laced his arms. His eyes met mine before they lingered on my body momentarily, he then walked towards the shower to adjust it.
"What were you trying to do? Bath in fire?" Vili laughed as he tried to dodge the hot water.
"It wouldn't be the first time. But you cannot speak, you're drunken ass fell into my fire once." I joked back. Vili laughed as he recalled his drunken memory.
"Ah yes, the sacrificing to the Gods. That was a wild night, I only remember parts of it." He said with a big smile.
"Yes and we all saw parts of you we don't want to remember." I said with a giggle, Vili rolled his eyes as he stepped out of the shower.
"There, fit for a Queen. I'll wait in your quarters for you. If you need anymore help that is." Vili said drying his hands on a small towel.
"Thank you Vili." I said as I stood up to make my way to the shower. The room was quiet small for the two of us, we had to turn side ways to pass. Resulting in some, skin to skin contact. I blushed as I felt sparks ignite where his skin touched mine. Why was all of this happening to me all of a sudden? I had slept beside Vili for warmth, embraced him prior to this, but never have I once felt anything remotely like this before. Are my senses now stronger than before?
"I have missed you, Freya." Vili said as embraced me in a hug, I swore my body was practically glowing from the sensations I was feeling. But to have contact with my Vili made me happy. He did not see me off as we went into slumber, nor had we shared a moment like this until now.
"Likewise, Vili. Now I need to shower, please." I asked ending the embrace.
"I'll await you outside Freya." Vili said as he left the bath house and closed the door behind him. The moment alone offered me time to consolidate my thoughts. I needed to speak with my companions about these sensations, maybe theirs were the same.