Alayna
The next day is decidedly less interesting in a good way; no cloaked strangers or bad-tempered redheads. I've already wrapped up my chores and taken a long enjoyable bath. Grams had dropped by earlier and offered to take Mia to the separate bathhouse for the children. It was more like a pool to play in but even though I was unwilling to separate her from my side, seeing her earnestness to mingle I gave in. I'd already filled her in about the stranger so she would be on guard.
Closing my room's door behind me, I step outside letting out an audible sigh. The hallway isn't well lit but it isn't dark either. Still, it's dim enough to easily blend in should one have on dark clothing and a desire to lurk invisible.
Having absolutely nothing to do I make my way toward the common room. It's busiest at this time of the day; the afternoon. The weather is cooler and most people prefer to have tea at this time here in Zalcia.
As I expected, the room is bustling with activity. Men, women, and families sit together, laughing and chatting. The servers rush hither dither, bringing a pot of tea here and a platter of biscuits there. I even spot the rude group of five that works in the kitchen. They've warmed up to me, or at least four of them have. The oldest of them is Dimitri who was the first to welcome me. Agatha and Iris then embraced me and offered a dish of chocolate cookies that I graciously accepted. The last two Qais and Awais, Awais quickly befriended me while his brother decided to remain against me. Awais was the youngest and closest to my age having turned twenty just a month or two ago. I'd already seen eighteen summers. Qais treated me like I didn't exist so I treated him likewise. It wasn't really mature of me to do that but I realize that after being chased across continents for god knows what, I don't want to act all mature. I want to have fun and live.
Even now, when I'm bumped from my right side I turn to see Qais deliberately walking away, lips pursed. I'm about to go after him when I suddenly freeze.
There at the very corner of the room, sits him. The man from yesterday. The stranger, the cloaked stalker, and the creep. He sits alone, his chair angled away from me but I can see that under his hood his face is twisted toward mine. I spot only a strong jaw jutting out from under the hood. Without drawing any attention to myself, I slink away, rushing to find Mia and get out of there. Clearly, this isn't the final place for our happily ever after. After turning and twisting through numerous hallways, I stop panting in desperation. I should have asked to know the location of the children's bathhouse.
"Going somewhere?" A snarky voice says. I pirouette, my heart in my chest as I come face to face with the man from yesterday. "Who are you?" I demand, "Where's Mia? What did you do to her?"
My eyes widen as he chuckles then proceeds to remove his cloak, throwing the hood back from his face. Stormy grey eyes, on a diamond-shaped face with a pointed nose and a sharp jawline, asses me.
"So her name's Mia, huh." He muses aloud, thoughtfully, his gaze still resting on me. Overcome with sudden rage, I growl at him, " Where is she!"
His chuckle turns into a full deep-throated laugh, his eyes crinkling around the corners from laugh lines. "Shouldn't you know where she should be?" He says, mirth shining from his eyes. "My business is with you not her."
"And what is that?" I ask, feeling anxious and angry at the same time but somehow managing to keep my voice calm and collected.
"I'll have to bring you with me I'm afraid, to tell you my business." He says, "Will you?"
Feeling reckless I take a step closer. "And if I do, then? Will you leave us alone?"
"Hard to leave you alone forever when I'll have to take you to kill you. It'll be more like you won't be leaving me, choosing to haunt me as a ghost for eternity." He says, casually, "The girl though, I'd be pleased to leave behind."
Suddenly scared, I decided to trust my instincts now, when they'd been screaming at me since the beginning to run. I turn and sprint down the hallway, hoping against hope that I might stumble across any of the staff who might help me out of this dilemma and find Mia. I'd barely taken more than two strides when I'm yanked back by my arms and twisted painfully behind. A low voice whispers into my ear, "No more running now, Alayna."