"Luke! Don't open it now!" Kelsie yelled over the roar of the wind. She gripped Luke's hands and tightened the lid back on.
"I want tea!" he complained miserably.
"You'll get some at Alltalos, ok? I promise, we can stop at a café there," Kelsie said sighing. It was like looking after a two-year-old.
"It's raining!" Luke mentioned helpfully. Kelsie nodded as she looked up at the dark clouds above them. The rain was slowly getting worse, battering down upon them. All she could hear was the plummeting rain. In front of her, Luke had his mouth open at the sky, drinking in the rain, not caring that it splattered heavily on his face. Her hair blew around her head, in long stringy clumps, having lost their spikiness. Kelsie clenched her hands around the reins and pushed the horse faster. They charged through the storm, drenched head to toe in the rain.
"Kelsieaaa!" Luke was screaming something at her; she couldn't hear him over the constant battering of the wind. "Kelsieaaa! Faster! - Hurry -"
"What?" she shouted over the gale, blinking the water out of her eyes.
"Fi – figure! Chas – Chasing us!" Without thinking, Kelsie dug her heels harder into the horse. It sped forward with immense power and speed. Whatever Luke was talking about, she didn't want to know. The air around them felt dark, the black clouds above them had cast shadows all around them. Luke was trying to tell her something, his cries were getting more desperate.
"Further in land!" he was screaming. What was he talking about? Her heart raced from the pressure. But she took his advice and pulled the horse to the left, further into the land. Away from the storming sea.
"Faster!" Luke shrieked in horror. He was looking behind at something, his red eyes diluted with fear. Her heart beat faster and faster, she was pushing the horse to its limits, sooner or later it was going to tire. Kelsie made the mistake to look back. A dark figure was running at them through the rain. Ferocious green eyes, like emeralds amidst the darkness. Her breath caught in her throat. She couldn't breathe. Her heart was pounding wildly, she was sure it was going to explode.
Chapter Twenty
"Faster!" Luke was screaming at her. The figure was getting closer and closer. Kelsie blinked back the panic. She focused on the task ahead of her and charged the horse straight towards the gates of Alltalos. The walls shimmered white; guards stood at the entrance. They had seen them and the figure behind them. Kelsie could see them shouting orders at people behind the gate. Faster, faster, faster, faster, faster. The drawbridge was so close now, the moat around was filled with unnaturally green water. Shining just like the emeralds in the darkness. A single word came into her mind. Poison. But not for her. Not for elves, humans or animals. No, it was for a beast so terrible that all Elfish kind lived in fear of it. Mermaids. Everything was crashing down on her. Her reality was crumbling to pieces. They existed. They actually existed.
The horses' hooves clattered over the draw bridge; they were inside the gate. The portcullis fell behind them, trapping them inside the city. She could finally breathe, though her heart still was pounding rapidly. Luke sighed in relief and hugged his jar of teabags. But now as she opened her eyes to the tall graceful buildings of Alltalos, she could only gape. Everything was spotlessly clean, the beautiful towering buildings shone like gems in the pouring rain. Fountains, ice statues, ponds and mosaics covered the entire place. A green mysterious light gave the city a gentle mysterious effect, like it had just emerged from the ocean – still glittering with water and decorated with anemones.
The swirling mosaic pattern under her horses' feet were unlike any other she had seen, it was full of different shades of green, blue and gold. Alyssa would've loved it here; the architecture was just remarkable. High arch ways and domes that bobbed up and down through the streets, it was even more beautiful than the grand hall in Mylvehil. And that was saying a lot. The people here moved with a regal grace, their feet barely touching the ground as they walked. They all wore expensive valuable clothing, that made Kelsie suddenly seemed under dressed in her riding breeches and boy's shirt. A few people looked at her as she and Luke rode through the streets, high up on horseback.
"Do you sense that?" Luke said through the rain. He was shivering dramatically from the cold, or maybe the thrill of the escape.
Kelsie tried to see what he was talking about, but she couldn't sense anything. "What is it?"
Luke pointed his snub nose in the air, sniffing like a dog. "A strange presence...it's far below the ground...but it's there, I don't know what it is. Dormant...I think...hmmm..."
"Ok...shall we go into a shop and get a cup of tea to warm you up? You're shivering so much," Kelsie suggested, waving the topic off. Luke looked round at her from the front of the horse. He grinned and held up his peppermint tea bag jar. "Yes please! Can we ask if they've got spinach tea?"
Kelsie nodded slowly, though she wasn't sure what shop sold spinach tea. "They might have nettle tea, you know. Only the richest can buy nettle tea...it will be a treat."
Luke shook his head, his eyebrows furrowing. "Why would anyone invent nettle tea? What if it stings you?"
Kelsie sighed. This really was like speaking to a two-year-old – though adorable in his own way. "The nettles won't sting you because it's been heated up – anyway, it's not the leaf that actually stings on a nettle, it's the stem."
"I still think it sound's horrible – how about cabbage tea? Or artichoke tea? My mother use to make artichoke tea..." Luke got lost into memories again.
"Well, we certainly can look for some," Kelsie said, glancing round at the shops around them on the street. She steered the horse down over to a small neat little café and tied the horse to a wooden pole outside. Luke jumped down into her arms, amazingly managing not to spill the jar of peppermint tea. Kelsie wrapped her cloak around his body, and they walked into the bustling shop. It smelt of all sort of herbs and spices, a strange aroma hung in the air as well. Though she couldn't detect what it was.
"Kelsie? Is that you?" Kelsie's eyes widened. She looked up at the lady in front of her, who promptly gave her a big hug. She smelt of rose petals.
"Rose," Kelsie said, trying not to grumble. Last time she had seen Azura's mother, she had tried to set Kelsie up with a twenty-year-old man with acne. She was five at the time.
"Oh, Kelsie! It is you! I can't believe it, you've grown so much – I mean look at you, you're so beautiful – hmmm...let me guess, have you got a boyfriend?"
"Uh...no..."
"So, you're married! How wonderful! You must tell me all about him, is he cute? Does he have a six pack?" Rose started squealing annoyingly like a pig.
"No, I'm not married. I'm still single and that's how it's going to stay," Kelsie said firmly.
Rose pouted; she put her hands on her hips. "But a beautiful girl like you can't stay single all your life, you must at least hook up with a few people! How can you let this beauty go to waste? Please don't say you're gonna end up like Mia? She's over two hundred now and still a virgin," Rose looked absolutely horrified at the thought.
"I – uh – think I better go..." Kelsie said, backing away from the crazy woman.
Rose looked startled when she saw them leaving. "Wait! Don't go, I'll give you free discounts off my newest hot drinks," she pleaded. Luke stared at Kelsie with his big red eyes.
Kelsie huffed in exasperation. "Fine, as long as you stop talking about my love life."
Rose nodded and went behind the counter. "So, what can I get you? Nettle tea is very in fashion right now, maybe you would like to try some fruit teas? Oh, I know! We've just had a new batch of drink in – I've called it coffee; you want to try some?"
"Um...ok. What about you Luke?"
Luke considered. "Nettle tea, please."
Kelsie stared down in confusion at Luke. "I thought you didn't like nettle tea," she hissed.
Luke shrugged. "Really? I never said that – anyway it's a treat," he smiled cheekily up at Kelsie, who rolled her eyes at him.
"It's really expensive...ten
gold coins for a single cup of tea..."
"Pleeeeese?"
"Have you made up your mind?" Rose asked pleasantly. She hadn't really noticed that Luke was a goblin yet.
"Ok, um...one nettle tea and one cup of cuffee?"
"Coffee," Rose corrected. "Since you're friends I'll give you a very generous discount at 50% off! So that's seven gold pieces please." Kelsie dropped the money in her hand and Rose collected the readymade drinks from the shelves.
"Thanks," Kelsie said, sitting down at a small wooden table, Luke sat next to her sipping his tea peacefully. Rose sat down in front of them, her face lit up with untold gossip. Just like her daughter.
"So, how's Alyssa then? I heard that Prince Tristan – he is so cute by the way – he's going to marry Alyssa. It's going to be the biggest wedding in history! Not that Tristan will stay faithful to her, he takes after his father so much," she smiled dreamily.
Kelsie gagged on the coffee; its taste was too unfamiliar in her throat. "So, Tristan isn't going to stay faithful? That's horrible."
Rose rolled her eyes. "Nah, it's just life, Kelsie. It's the nature of elves – especially Tristan's you see? Oh, you should have seen the King of Alltalos – he's had soooo many flings with countless amounts of women..."
"Are you included?" Kelsie said whilst trying to get the bitter taste of coffee out of her mouth. Rose gasped in mock hurt.
She clasped a hand over her heart. "Me? Of course, not – that would be disgusting. Just...Eww...although I have to say that the king is very handsome."
Kelsie gagged though this time it wasn't on coffee. "Gossip says that Prince Tristan is having an affair with a maid from his own castle – can you imagine how wrong that is? Uhhh and he's getting married to Alyssa so soon," Rose carried on aimlessly.
"Right..." Kelsie tried to zone out, she really didn't like this conversation. Next to her, Luke tugged on her shirt, wanting attention.
"She's really pretty," he whispered.
Kelsie wrinkled her nose. "You say that about everyone."
"Are you going to my daughter's wedding? I hope to be going as well, though I have no idea why she would want to have a long-lasting relationship...with a blacksmith’s son. I know he's muscular and all...but he's not going to bring in much money for the family, is he?" Rose complained. She twiddled with a piece of her hair as she spoke.
"Yes, I'm going. I'm going to be a bridesmaid for her – I have to wear this light blue dress, ewwww..."
Rose clapped her hands together in delight. "Wow, you're going to look amazing; I've hardly even seen you wear a dress before – you will look incredible, trust me."
‘I don't trust you though’ she wanted to say. "It's only for a day and then I'm going back to my black clothes."
"What a shame – you should be like Alyssa; she wears dresses all the time. That's how a proper lady picks up men."
"Can we stop talking about this?"
"No..." Rose said. "So why are you in Alltalos today? It's pouring with rain – you look drenched, your hair has gone disastrous!"
"Thanks for pointing that out," Kelsie muttered. "We're here to find a physician for Luke – this little guy, he's a goblin and we need to turn him back to an elf."
Rose patted Luke's head from over the table. "Aww...he's so small. The person you need to find is Dimitri – the best healer since...well...forever. You'll find him in his chambers in the castle; he likes dark places so you might want to look near the dungeons. That's where he usually works. Did I mention he is really hot?"
"No, you didn't – we need to get going. Thanks for the discount," Kelsie got up from the table. Her half full cup of coffee unfinished.
Chapter Twenty-One
Luke followed her out of the door. "Come back for more coffee whenever you like!" Rose called. Kelsie didn't reply as she left the small café. She untied her horse and helped Luke get on and then sat in the saddle behind him. Kicking the horse lightly in the side, they started making their way through the winding roads and streets. They rode up to the entrance of the palace courtyard, the rain soaking into their clothes again. Kelsie climbed off the horse and helped Luke down, who insisted of carrying his jar of teabags with him. She stared up in wonder at the splendor of the palace; it was ten times more stunning than the one in Mylvehil, with its gems encrusted white walls and a hypnotizing glow that shone around it. Tall towers reached into the sky, the whole building was a maze of complicated architecture, polished to every inch. Kelsie led Luke up the mosaic studded steps up to the castle.
Two well armored guards stopped them at the top. "State your name and your business."
"I'm Kelsie Grace and this is my friend Luke. We want to see the physician," she told them boldly and with respect.
One of them raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah I know your father. Sure, I'll escort you down to Dimitri's chambers," he said gruffly. Kelsie wondered how he knew her father, maybe it was because he was friends with the King of Alltalos. She had seen them get into a carriage together – but it still mystified her as to where they were going. He turned around and led them down a spiraled staircase, picking up a flaming torch on the way. It was getting darker and darker as he led them further down into the ground.
She could hear a slow dripping noise in the background. The staircase stopped and she found herself in an underground passageway that was dimly lit by green lighted torches. Empty chains hung off the walls, cobwebs shone forebodingly in the lighting. Kelsie felt Luke clutch her hand in fright; it almost felt like someone was watching them from behind. Slowly following them...ready to reach out and grab their shoulders. She shivered at the thought, though she couldn't help but frantically look behind her. Nothing. There was nothing there. She almost laughed out loud for being so superstitious, there was nothing following her...nothing...nothing. The guard stopped outside of a wooden door; a light shone from inside of it.
The guard knock on it twice and waited. A few seconds later, it opened. Revealing a tall youthful looking blond-haired man. His eyes looked golden in the lighting – or maybe they were golden. "Hello?" The guard coughed and stood straighter. "I've got some patients for you, Dimitri – hopefully you'll return them all in one piece..." he silently hinted at something.
Dimitri rolled his eyes and winked flirtatiously at Kelsie, who automatically glared at him. "Feisty ones? Well this is new – come on in into my...er...lair." Without looking at him, Kelsie walked into the cold musty room.
Dimitri sat them both down on old wooden chairs that looked very unstable. "So, what's the problem? Earache, lung disease? Love potions?"
"It's my friend Luke. He got turned into a goblin and I was hoping you could turn him back to an elf," Kelsie pulled down Luke's hood. Dimitri studied him intently, his fingers locked together.
"Hmm...Open your mouth please..." He looked into Luke's mouth, for about ten minutes straight whilst Kelsie fidgeted on her seat. "Yes...this is a most interesting case; it may take four or five days to complete – would you two like to stay here in these chambers? It's perfectly alright for me; I promise that your friend will be perfectly normal again very soon."
"Uh – ok? We don't have anywhere else to stay I suppose..."
"Yay! I'm going to be an elf again!" Luke said happily.
"Yes, now shall we begin?" Dimitri said. He winked again at Kelsie. She glared at him, her eyes smoldering. "Ok, ok – Luke, can you lie on this bed? I'm just going to start making the potion..." Luke enthusiastically lay on the bed that was next to the wall. Kelsie hoped that this process of transformation wasn't going to be painful for him
Alyssa sat tall and composed in the royal box, Kelsie's seat next to her was empty. She wondered what she was getting up too right now... Her father was stood up, addressing all the remaining contestants in the arena. The arena itself was empty, just like the first challenge. Alyssa listened to her father explaining the rules of challenge three. Although it didn't look like much. "– will be a test of your emotional strength, you must be able to not fal
l unconscious whilst defeating the pressure of the void and physically defeat your opponent. The first to fall unconscious will not make it to the next round."
The contestants left the arena, amongst them all she saw a familiar mop of black hair. He looked up and smiled at her, even from this distance, Alyssa could see his green eyes sparkling at her. Her heat beat quickly, and she felt a blush rise up in her face. There was a flashed of white teeth. Eeek...he noticed... He was the last one to leave the arena, just before a dark mist seemed to shroud the arena, like a blanket of death. A rush of cool air rose from the ground, but it stopped before it reached her. As if something was holding it back. A barely visible shield of energy protected the stands of the spectators. Leaving the arena in a cocoon of shadows. She could feel pure evil rising from the ground, what was happening? The drums sounded for the first pair of contestants to come on.
The darkness split before them as they made their way to the center of the arena. Their faces were prepared for anything. The drums sounded again, and the darkness closed in on them. The results were immediate. One of them fell to his knees clutching his head in agony. Alyssa heard him crying out; she clutched the sides of her chair in fright. What was happening? What was happening? The second contestant's legs wavered as he tried to focus and take a step forward. He tried to swipe at his opponent, but his sword completely missed. His movements were unsteady, as if he were drunk. But his expression...it was so full of pain.
The man on his knees got shakily up and dragged the other man’s shoulders, pulling him down to the floor. Both tumbled down to the ground, fumbling for their daggers and swords. But they couldn't find them, something was stopping them. It was all over so quickly. The first contestant gave up; his body lay limp on the floor. His face was freakishly white. The drums were hit again, and the darkness cleared for the time being, allowing the servants to carry off the unconscious contestant. The crowd were screaming for more action and blood as the winner unevenly left the arena.
Dark Oceans (Ocean Series Book 1) Page 12
