of the Lost.
“Stop being dramatic,” Xavier said, blowing her a kiss. “She tends to get carried away, sometimes.”
“A trait you adore,” she said, winking.
He took her hand and resumed walking.
Lela and Eldrich let them walk ahead a few steps before pacing forward.
Eldrich leaned into Lela’s ear, “I don’t trust them. Something is off about them. Once you’ve eaten, we’ll take our leave.”
“We can go, now,” she whispered.
“No, love, you need to eat and besides we have already accepted their invitation.”
“Once you get to know us, you’ll like us,” Zel said.
“Don’t worry, she can’t hear your whispers or read your thoughts,” Xavier said. “Aside from being dramatic, she’s also a bit insecure and can’t stand anyone not liking her.” He kissed Zel on her forehead and said, “Right, my love?”
Giggling, she shoved him. Puckering her lips, she said, “Kiss me.”
And he did.
“They’re distracted,” Lela said. “With your speed-”
“Hush… she may not be able to hear us but something tells me he can,” Eldrich said in a whisper.
Just then, Xavier stopped kissing Zel and winked at Eldrich and Lela.
“Come, up head is our home,” Xavier said, pointing to a tall, circular structure which resembled the prison towers of Barmoth.
Their home was a prison tower!
Lela bit off a nail and then another.
Reaching the tower, Eldrich said, “If we may ask, is it custom for a prince to live in a tower in your kingdom?”
Xavier laughed. “Of course not. I don’t reside here all the time. This is actually Zel’s home, but since I’m here often I guess I think of it as mine as well.”
“Is she your prisoner?” Lela asked, instantly regretting her question.
Zel burst into laughter. “Why yes, of course. He’s the prince of the Lost and I’m his eternal prisoner.” She licked his bare chest and bit down on the cross hanging from the chain around his neck.
“Later, love, later,” Xavier said. Then he opened the door to the tower. “The stew smells delicious. I’m starving.”
Zel followed him inside and waved Eldrich and Lela over. “Hurry up,” she said.
Once they were all inside, she shut the door and said, “It’s a long way up.”
Eldrich gave Lela a nudge forward to the spiral staircase. Upon placing her hand on the rail, she realized the staircase was made of golden hair.
Xavier started climbing; Zel followed and then Lela.
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” Eldrich hushed into Lela’s ear.
Up the golden staircase they went. Eldrich could have been at the top in a second and Xavier, well, she knew he could fly. Yet, neither one of them was willing to expose their skills.
As Lela continued to ascend, she recognized that her life was about to change again. And she was terrified.
Breathless and feeling pain on each side of her stomach, Lela finally made it to the top of the staircase. She was the only one out of breath and in pain.
“Come sit down before you faint,” Zel said, taking her hand and leading her to a chair.
Lela was sure she was going to vomit.
“Breathe,” Eldrich said, his hand on her shoulder.
Xavier disappeared into another room and three seconds later reappeared holding a cup. He brought it to her lips and said, “Sip slowly.”
She couldn’t resist swallowing the cup’s contents all at once which caused her to cough and gag.
“You disobeyed,” Zel said. “Does she always do things as she wants and not as she’s told?” she asked Eldrich.
“She’s not a child,” Eldrich said.
He was not amused and Lela worried he would lose his judgment and attack Zel and Xavier. Without knowing where they really were or what these two creatures were capable of, Xavier could fly and she guessed he was also strong and Zel, well the long haul up the stairs didn’t affect her in the least bit, there was a possibility that Zel and Xavier could overtake and really harm Eldrich.
“I feel better. My, the stew smells wonderful,” Lela said, trying to lighten the situation.
“Oh, yes, the stew,” Zel said, dashing off.
Xavier pulled up a chair next to Lela. “Where are the two of you from?”
“Barmoth,” Lela said.
“That’s a ways from here. A long way, indeed. How did you get here?” Xavier asked.
“We’ve been traveling for days,” Eldrich said.
“Yet, you have nothing with you, and you were naked when we found you.”
“That’s because we left our things in the camp we set up not too far from where you found us,” Lela said.
Xavier put his hands on the back of his neck and reclined in his chair. “I don’t believe a word you’re saying. But, your business is your own. I won’t press any further.”
“We’re grateful,” Eldrich said.
“Let’s move to the table,” Xavier said, standing and dragging the chair to a round table.
Lela scanned the room. The walls and floor were painted red. The whole room was red, including the drapes on the single window and all the furniture.
“Is Zel really your prisoner?” Lela asked Xavier. She absolutely had to know.
“Love, our host has asked us to take a seat at his meal table. Let’s not pester him with questions.”
“It’s all right. I’m not offended.” Xavier put his elbows on the table and rubbed his chin.
Lela and Eldrich joined him at the table.
“I apologize for my persistent curiosity,” Lela said.
“Although she enjoys pretending she is, Zel is not my prisoner,” he lowered his head, “but, she is a prisoner. I hope to someday free her.”
“What do you mean?” Lela asked.
He raised his stare. “A few short months ago, I came across this tower. I’m the prince of this land, yet I had never in all my travels seen this tower. One morning I quite literally bumped into it, almost lost consciousness. It appeared out of nowhere. Just when I had regained myself, golden hair dropped to the ground in front of me. I looked up to discover that the hair was coming from a window at the very top of the tower.”
“Time to eat!” Zel said, striding into the room carrying a large, red pot.
She put the pot in the center of the table and then said to Xavier, “Will you help me with the bowls and spoons?”
“Please excuse us,” Xavier said and followed Zel out of the room.
Now alone, Eldrich leaned into Lela. “Everything about this place is odd. Have you noticed that everything is red?”
“How could I not? And whose prisoner is she? And that story he’s telling.”
“I went too far. I shouldn’t have gone so far from Barmoth,” Eldrich said, sighing.
“It’s not your fault,” Lela said.
“I suspect they want something from us. And the way he looks at you as if he’s familiar with you.”
She implored her face not to give anything away to Eldrich. She should have told him about her encounter with Xavier. Her confessing now would only anger him. And what’s more, he would probably think she kept it from him because she had indulged with Xavier. She was doomed.
Xavier and Zel returned carrying bowls and spoons which not surprisingly were also red.
