Alex
The first thing I became aware of was how sore my entire body was. I mean it felt like I was run over by a train, or bulldozer, and just for fun had a building drop on me everything hurt.
"Dominic, I think he is starting to wake up."
The sound of crushing leaves sounded a little way away, the sound growing louder as heavy footfalls came closer.
"Alex, can you open your eyes, come on man we're dying here."
Opening my eyes took a lot of effort but peeking through the narrow slits I managed, I saw their worried faces. Tempest was closest, her head above mine realizing my head was in her lap I tried to move.
"Don't try getting up, you're still very pale."
"Tempie is right Alex, you were out for a long-time, hours we were beginning to think you were dying."
"Dying why would you think that?"
That could not be my voice though the words were mine. My voice was so weak.
"What Dominic means is, you were like sort of in a comma, you didn't respond to anything and then you became so cold even putting you right next to the fire, did nothing you actually became blue from the cold, holding you and using my "gift" was the only way to get your body temperature up. I don't burn things I don't want to burn but my fire did help. In the last half hour alone, you sort of began to improve but you're still very pale."
Ok having been told I was being engulfed by Tempest's fire was not very comforting having seen what that "gift" can do.
"Thanks, Tempie but I think I need to sit up now, I think I will be ok."
She and Dominic shared a look like they were having a conversation without taking Dominic nodded and Tempest helped me sit up. Dominic gave me a bottle of water he had taken out of his bag and Tempest after digging in her bag gave me a chocolate bar.
"It's not much but at least it will help build up your strength."
"Thanks, I am glad you're looking ok Dominic, you look good for a guy that almost died, and let me be the first to say the mark suits you, it makes you look even more intimidating."
The water was like nectar to me and the chocolate filled every part of me with a feeling of bliss. I must seriously be in bad shape.
Smiling at my very poor attempt at a joke Dominic sat down next to Tempest taking her hand and holding it in his.
"Well, to be honest, I think you had it worst of all. I felt fine after you did whatever you did, but you collapsed, and to be quite frank that scared the hell out of us."
"Sorry, I did warn Tempest."
"Yes, but you said a little while you have been out for almost a day and a half."
"What!"
The realization that we almost lost two days and that we have even less time to save Layla. Made adrenalin chores through me, making me actually jump to my feet. Sending the water bottle flying.
"We need to get going, we have even less time to find Layla."
"Easy Alex, you were very sick… and your strength is gone ok, and you are still weak, you should rest a bit. You will be doing Layla no good by killing yourself."
"Yeah, and she will just kick our butts if we let you die. And trust me you haven't seen her mad. That is a very scary thing."
"You don't get it; the longer Layla is missing…"
"The weaker you will get."
"Yes,"
"Ok, what can we do to help you?"
Dominic and Tempest ask together both looking like they would like nothing more than to argue that I should rest. But something inside me told me Layla needs us.
"I need some strengthening potion."
"Ok I will get it for you, Dominic you see what we have to eat for the road."
Jumping into action Dominic started going through our bags coming up with bags of crisps and energy bars. Handing me some of the strengthening potions she still looked worried for me.
"I will be fine, Tempie I promise."
"You better drink up, so we can find Layla and get the hell out of here, I will not see my friends die."
"None of us are going to die, Baby, because we are going to stick together."
Getting to my feet with what felt like a huge effort I smiled at them both.
"Let's get going shall we."
Tempest
We walked for what felt like hours, Dominic taking the lead this time. Following my directions, we were both still worried about Alex; he still looked very pale, even after the amount of potion that he drank.
I started to realize that he was serious when he said he needed Layla, that the bond that has started to form between them was stronger and so different from anything I have ever heard about. But realizing with relief that Alex only said it weakens, him being apart from Layla. That made me glad but also made me feel like the worst person ever. Layla was my best friend, more like my sister and Alex was her true love and my friend. I hate conflicting emotions and thoughts.
The woods were starting to thin out now and the ground became more even.
"We are getting close now."
"I think you are right, Tempie. Layla is closer than she was before. I am starting to feel a tiny bit more like myself."
"That is good but that just means we should be even more careful."
We walked for about 30 minutes when we came face to face with a huge castle that was dark and terrifying to look at.
"Layla is in there we should find a way in."
"Yeah, but where do we start looking."
"In the dungeon, I don't think she will stay out of her own free will. But before we go any further…"
Alex's blue-green magic surrounded us; staggering Alex grabbed hold of Dominic's arm.
"Alex!"
Dominic grabs Alex and steadied him till he found his feet
"Alex, are you ok what did you do?!"
"I put a concealment spell over us, so none of the guards see us. We can't just go walking up to the front door and ring the doorbell."
"That is not the point, you look even paler now than you did before."
"I will be okay Tempie, I just needed a sec…"
"Ok, you sure you're, ok?"
"Yeah, I sure."
"Ok, then all we need is for me to find a way in, and let's not get captured please!"
Layla
After I scrubbed my skin nearly raw in the shower, I was standing in front of the mirror having changed my 'make-up' to light shades of blue and green. Hoping I will survive the night. A sound behind me made me jump so high that I landed on the end of the bed which is lucky taking in the fact I was wearing heels.
"Wow you look great sunshine; I would say hot but that will just be creepy."
"Please don't scare me like that Damien."
Giving me his hand, he helped me to my feet smiling like this was the funniest thing he has ever seen.
"Sorry, sunshine I didn't mean to scare you, are you ready I think Loki will be here any minute. Just remember to stay focused at all times and don't go anywhere there isn't light ok. But I will be close, you're not alone."
Smiling at him I hardly said thanks when there was a short knock on the door and it burst open and the prince of darkness was striding through.
How Damien does it I don't know but before the door opened, he was gone.
"Well, well don't you look lovely, really sexy I love it very much."
"I didn't dress up for you, there aren't any plain dresses in the closet.,
"So, I was forced to dress up."
"Well, I like it anyway, let's go. I don't want 'mother' on her own for too long."
Again, the way he said mother made my blood run cold, something was not right.
Taking hold of my hand he dragged me with him out of the dungeon room and up the stairs that lead to the upper levels of the castle. We walked through twisting corridors and upstairs and threw rooms till I was dizzy and totally lost. Finally, after what seemed like forever, we entered the dining room. It was just what you expect from a castle dining room. It was big and vast but there was no warmth in it and purple smoke covered the floor. At the far end of the table flanked by two guards sat a woman who looked about in her 30s but being an elf, she could be much, much older than that and just look young.
She looked up when we came in, Loki still pulling me to where he wanted me. She let an audible sound of shock escape her lips when her eyes found mine. But hid her surprise very fast and she also went to stare at the table. But I could still see her clearly. Her face was not turned down, just her eyes. She was very, very beautiful even though she had a very nasty scar across the left side of her face. She had copper brown hair, rosy pink lips, and emerald green eyes.
"Are you not going to address your King and future Queen, Brie?"
Every word Loki said was filled with dislike and hate.
The woman Brie looked up staring at me and it hit me like being struck by lightning. She looked a lot like my Dad but also a lot like Damien. Shocked, I just stared at her because I knew who this woman was granny told me about her, she was my aunt.
"Forgive me, Layla, I didn't mean to be rude to you. I was just taken aback at seeing you, and Loki if I remember correctly, you said you never wanted to hear me speak again, the last time you let me out of my gilded cage."
The look he gave her was a look that brought death but before Loki could say or do anything I stepped forward and held out my hand to Brie.
"I am very pleased to meet you Mellady, though I wished it was under different circumstances."
"Me to my little one, but I see that our host, like his father, takes what he wants even though it does not belong to him."
"I think we should go back to where; you hold your tongue, or I might just cut it out for you. Layla, you should sit down now dinner will be served right away."
Nearly throwing me into the chair next to me he went to sit at the head of the table.
The atmosphere was so thick you could have cut it with a knife.
Loki was glaring at the table in front of him and a few Elves came in carrying plates of food. They placed a little of everything on our plates Brie sat there like she would want to be anywhere but here. The stress of this situation was making me feel sick. The food didn't look bad but I was really not hungry.
"We all should eat now."
Brie took small bites like she herself felt like she could not eat anything. Taking small bites, I forced myself to eat.
"I took the liberty to get your wedding dress. It is black and purple. I think you will love it either way. I would love to see you in it."
Loki said this with a less cold voice but it wasn't calming us at all there was still danger in it.
"The wedding will be in the evening, just as the eclipse starts. Just a few days more I am looking forward to that and the plans I have for…"
He was interrupted by two guards that came storming into the dining hall. They looked scared, the biggest one seemed in charge, and leaned down to whisper in Loki's ear. The look on Loki's face changed to absolute rage.
"What do you mean there is no trace of them, they should have been back by now?"
"My lord there is no sign of them, there aren't even traces of a struggle it is as if they just vanished."
"Guards take Lady Layla and my 'Mother' to their rooms and no one touches them am I clear."
"Yes, my lord."
"Your food will be sent to your rooms."
With that, he stood and left and both aunty Brie and I were pulled and basically dragged to our rooms.
The walk back to my room felt much shorter than the walk to the dining room. As we reached my dungeon door the guard yanked the door open and threw me into my room closing it at almost the same time. Thinking I am going to break my neck on the impact I just closed my eyes and threw my arms out but the impact never came. Damien caught me before I hit the floor.
"You know some people have no manners at all, you ok sunshine."
"Yes, I think so everything about tonight was just…"
"You are my cousin aren't you. Lady Brie is my aunt, isn't she? My granny told me about her, she was believed to be dead. You should have told me."
"OK, first would you have believed me, and second it is a very long story."
He gave me a cocky smile; he was about to say something when we heard noises outside. The noises sounded like someone sneaking around.
"Stay on the other side of the room sunshine, that is not Loki he would not be sneaking, and if it is a guard…"
He looked determined and scary placing himself in front of me and fear flooded me. I saw the look in the guards' eyes and heard the edge in Loki's voice when he said the guard should not touch us.
Damien was staring so hard at the door just waiting.
The door burst open and all I saw was bright red hair and two sets of heads with dark hair.
Damien rushed to close the door the guards must have locked it that's why they had to bust it open. Tempie rushed over to me and hugged me so hard she nearly broke my ribs; Dominic was next he hugged me just as hard.
"Tempest, Dominic what?"
But my questions vanished when I saw that the third head was Alex and he looked in seriously bad shape just lying on the floor rushing forwards, I fell to my knees beside him.
"Alex, what is wrong with him? How are you guys here, how did you find me? How did you get into this castle? WHAT IS WRONG WITH HIM?"
"He is a druid, isn't he? That is how two light elves manage to make it all this way."
Damien remarked from the door.
"What?"
"Alex needs you, Layla, he used all his strength first to save Dominic and then to make sure we got to you undetected which was really hard seeing as there are guards everywhere."
I heard everything Tempie said but my main focus was on Alex. He looked pale and there were dark circles under his eyes. His hair was a dull color.
"Alex, can you hear me?"
I placed his head on my lap and started stroking his hair and with each stroke, his hair started changing the color and became the vivid dark color that was so Alex.
"You're bonded with a Druid well that says a lot sunshine. The time apart must have been rough on him and both of you must be pretty powerful. I am Damien by the way."
Damien addressed his last words to Tempest and Dominic, for they just stood there staring at me and Alex, but his words brought them out of their daze.
"I am Tempest Layla's best friend."
"Dominic, Layla's other best friend."
"Also, the king and queen's son, and please don't look like that I mean you no harm. I am Layla's cousin; it is a long story but I am the good guy just so you know."
"I thought Alex was human, a druid that is really unexpected. How did you guys manage to get here and why did Alex have to save Dominic."
Still stroking Alex's hair, I turned my attention to my two best friends.
"That is a long story, Layla…"
Sounds from outside made Dominic's words freeze in mid-sentence.
One-minute Alex was in my lap the next he and Tempie and Dominic vanished along with Damien.
Sitting on the floor my legs folded to the side, my eyes swept the room once making sure that there was no trace of them in the room. Turning my head towards the door just as it was opening, I started fiddling with my shoes, undoing them and taking them off. Just so that I could get my emotions and facial expressions under control.
It only took a few seconds to get, myself back under control not only did my life depend on it but also, the lives of my friends and family.
The door swung open fully making the purple smoke rise in swirling clouds. Framed in the door was the last person I wanted to see…
"Well sweetheart, I have to say the night did not go as planned. I am leaving the castle and some of my men seem to have gone missing. I am here to warn you, do not leave this room if you do, you will be fair game to my guards, and let me make it clear that what they will do to you, will look like a walk in the park compared to what I will do if you disobey me."
"I hope I made my point quite clear; you are not my queen yet. So, they only see you, like a toy with a pretty face."
"You made your point Loki; I just wonder do your guards leave Wendy alone when she walks the castle halls alone."
"They do because Wendy is mine, for as long as I want her to be, once you are my queen and we have taken our relationship to the next level none of them will touch you."
"You still think that is going to happen?"
"I know it is sweetheart because I am Loki and I always get what I want. If it wasn't for the fact that Wendy cannot stand you, I would have sent her over to keep you company, but well you two just don't get along. You are soon to be my wife and Wendy my mistress well that is expected.
"She can have you with my compliments."
Loki didn't like that statement at all, my sentence was barely finished before he stepped forward and yanked me up by my arm, spun me around, and pushed me against the wall beside the door.
Pinning me to the wall he forced my chin up so that we were face to face. His eyes had cold rage in them and passion, the passion for control.
"Know this Layla you can fight, for as long as you like and as hard as you like, that will only make my resolve to have you that much stronger. I am not a good man sweetheart once I was, but the good that was in me died a long time ago. I get what I want always because I take it and anything that stands in my way I destroy."
"I will have a lot of fun with you sweetheart."
Wrapping my hair around his wrist, he pulled my head back till I felt tears in my eyes from the pain it caused, he then kissed my neck. Just as suddenly as he had pushed me against the wall, he was gone and the door slammed shut. Sliding down to the ground I sat there shaking for the first time in my life out of pure fear.