by Tiya Rayne
“Where am I?” I ask.
“Well, you’re in the Locke.” The woman says walking over to me in the room.
“How far is that from Raleigh?” I ask thinking of the largest known city near my town. She places a tray down beside me on the side table. The tray is filled with an assortment of fruit, bread and some kind of soup. My stomach growls as soon as she sets the tray down.
The older woman laughs. “No need to worry about that right now, you better feed those boys; you’ve been out for two days.”
“Two days?” I repeat swinging my legs to the side of the bed. I’ve missed work. I know mama is having a heart attack. By now she heard I was attacked by some psycho old lady and she and Uncle Buddy are probably throwing a fit. I go to stand and immediately drop back to the bed. My legs feel like cooked spaghetti noodles.
“Whoa now, child. I know you have a lot of questions, but first you need to eat.” I have millions of questions. However, she’s right I need to eat. I pick up the roll, because it’s one of the few things I recognize and stuff it into my mouth.
“My name’s Rose by the way.” The woman says walking over to the other side of the bed.
“I’m Lilly.” I say with my mouth full of food. My mama would have a fit if she saw me talking with my mouth full. After devouring the bread in my mouth I attack the fruit next. The only fruit I recognized were grapes, strawberries and plums. There was also some kind of round, pink thing that taste like a watermelon but looked like a navel orange.
Rose unbraids my hair behind me. “I know who you are.” She says placing her hand on my shoulder.
“Gidjet!” Rose shouts towards the door. A small child with curly black hair and puffy cheeks stick her head in the door. “Get a bath ready for our guest. I want her bathed and ready for when the assassin returns.” Gidjet nods and exits back out of the room.
“The Assassin?” I question almost dropping my pink fruit.
“Oh don’t worry,” Rose laughs. “He is the one that saved you.” I remember the handsome man with the sparkly eyes. I thought Rykan was the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen, but this man was heart-stopping. The kind of gorgeous that should come with a warning label like; men hide your wives and daughters guard your panties. He wasn’t that polished handsome that you see in Hollywood, he was rough around the edges. He’s the handsome you just happen upon on some back road to nowhere where there has been no alterations to his good looks, it’s just really good genes. He was tall and lean but well-built like a swimmer. He had stunning silver eyes that sparkled like diamonds and his hair was dark. It isn’t the color of raven’s feathers like Rykan, but a deep brown color like fudge brownies and was sheared in wavy layers to his shoulders. The smile that spread over my face at the thought of him did not go unnoticed.
“I thought you would want to look your best for him.” I blush and look down at the half eaten strange pink fruit in my hand.
“I doubt he’s interested in me.” I say touching my hand to my belly. I’m pregnant, I’m pretty sure I’m unemployed by now, a single mom, and evidently I’ve made an enemy that wants me dead. Yea, my status has just gone from single and complicated to downright run the other way. Talk about baggage.
“Don’t be foolish. You are the catch of the Locke.” She says raking her fingers through my hair. “Any man would be honored to claim you as his wife.” Wow! Rose is worse than my Mama in elementary school when everyone on the bus called me a mutt and wouldn’t sit beside me; she said that they were really just jealous that I was unique. In reality they were just hateful redneck assholes who were taught to dislike me from birth.
“Now hurry up and eat.” Rose says bringing me out of my head. “He will be back soon.” She walks back around to face me. I’m not sure about getting all dressed up for this assassin guy, but my body is craving a nice hot shower.
*********************
“You look beautiful!” Rose states with her hands clamped together in front of her face. After Gidjet rolled the tub into the room (Yes, she rolled a tub into the room). The tub looked like one of those silver troughs you use to feed farm animals. It was filled half way with steaming hot water. Gidjet scrubbed my body while Rose washed my hair. I’ve never had servants before, there is no need for them when you live in a two bedroom trailer the size of a camper, but I would imagine that is what it felt like. After my bath, Rose dressed me in a baby blue satin empire waist dress with silver fleur-de-lis designs throughout. She has just finished braiding my wet hair into an intricate braid that starts at the crown of my head and sweeps back behind my ears on both sides. The two braids are pulled together in the middle of my hair and the rest of my hair falls loose down my back. It is very Renaissance.
“Thank You!” I say blushing into the tall mirror Gidjet holds up in front of me.
“Go to the gate, Gidget. Tell the guard to notify the assassin that Lilly is awake.” Gidjet slips soundlessly from the room taking the mirror with her. Rose walks over to my bed and starts to fold up the covers. I follow behind her, my dress swishing against the floor.
“Thank you for everything.” I say folding the blanket that is at the foot of the bed. “Mama will be happy to know I was so well taking care of. You should probably meet Mama; I know she would want to meet you.” Rose’s face tightens as if she is suddenly saddened by something, then she quickly replaces it with a weak smile.
“I would love to meet your mother. She sounds lovely.” Rose says. I can’t help but wonder is Rose hiding something from me. Rose takes the blanket from my hands and lays it on top of the pile in her hands. She strokes my cheek with her free hand.
“You are such a sweet child. If I don’t see you again, I wish you all the best of luck.” She says sadly, then withdraws her hand from my cheek and walks out of the room. That was odd. I twirl my butterfly charm around in my hand trying to figure out what would make Rose change from her jolly self to someone that looks almost depressed.
“You look better.” A voice as smooth as aged cognac says behind me. I turn around to find my sparkly eyed hero leaning against the door frame with his ripped arms across his chest. Sweet Jesus he was Hot. The kind of hot that makes females do stupid things. I feel the heat climb up my neck toward my face. I turn my head and look out the window just to keep him from seing me blush.
“Thank you!” I answer lamely. He pushes off the wall and walks over to me with the swagger of a rock star. He stops right in front of me and he smells just like I thought he would, like man and toe-curling sex. I’m not sure Old Spice has that fragrance but they should. He smiles at me and if I thought he was gorgeous before, his smile makes him intoxicating. Suddenly something flashes in my memory.
“Your hair was longer?” I ask. His face falls and he takes a step back but quickly recovers.
“Why do you ask?” his velvet voice sounding husky. Just hearing his voice is like being touched by him in the most intimate place, by the way, said place is tingling.
“I don’t know I just felt like maybe your hair was longer once.”
His smile broadens on his face. “I wish that you could have more time to recover,” He says placing his hands behind his back and walking away from me. “But circumstances beyond my grasp require that we travel right away.” He dodged my question.
“I don’t know about traveling. I need to call my Mama and let everyone know I’m ok. There is also some crazy woman out there that tried to attack me.” His jaw clenches when I mention the woman.
He turns back towards me with his hands still behind his back. “I understand, but we must first go...”
“No!” I say holding my hands out in front of me. “I’ve been patient. I played dress up with Rose and waited for you. No more evasive maneuvers. Now take me back home.”
He walks closer to me raking his hands through his hair. He stares at me for a moment. His sparkling eyes are so intense and I get the feeling he is seeing deeper than my outer appearance. It feels like he is reading me like a book, like ma
ybe he knew me more about me than I even knew my self. “Would you feel better if I answer some of your questions first?”
I hesitate for a moment, maybe there was some truth to my earlier thoughts because as much as I want to go home, I do want answers. I mean you don’t meet pointed ear people and women that can throw fire every day. Mommy always said I was too inquisitive for my own good.
“Yeah, I guess.” I finally say. He nods his head, walks around me and sits down on the chair beside the bed. He motions with his hand for me to ask my first question.
“What are you?” not the most urgent question, but I still wanted the answer.
“An Elf.” He answers matter-of-factly as if that was the most common thing in the world. Ok, I’m going to skip pass that. I mean it’s obvious by his pointed ears and sparkling eyes he has to be something otherworldly. Although, he is a far cry from the elves that Christmas portray. I would have gone for vampire seeing as that’s the going rate for hot guys now a days. Well, on to the most important question.
“Where am I?”
“The Locke.” I roll my eyes. Everyone keeps saying that as if I’m supposed to know where it is.
“Where is the Locke? And how close is it to my house?”
“The Locke is everywhere. We live beside your world.” He answers locking his fingers together in his lap. Ok, now I was about to lose it.
“Beside my world?” I repeat. He nods. “Like mars?” I ask thinking of its position in the solar system. If I really am on an alien planet I am going be the talk of the neighborhood. Uncle Buddy’s friend, Harley Edwards, swears that he’s seen a flying saucer. He was even on the evening news about it once. Of course now he’s a homeless drunk that rambles about aliens and probing. I don’t think I’ll be appearing on any news channels about this. I got enough problems. The Assassin laughs.
“We are not on another planet. We live on the same Earth as you, just another realm. Imagine the world as an onion. There is an outer layer and underneath are tons of different layers. You are in another layer.”
“Uhuh! So I am to believe that I am in some mystical world that lives on top of mine.”
“You can believe what you want, Lilly, but you asked a question and I gave you an answer.”
“Ok fine!” I say flopping down on the bed in front of him. “Let’s say I believe I’m in “Oz” when do I get the ruby slippers to go home?”
“I’m afraid you will have to see the wizard for that.” He says with a stunning smile. I see the handsome Elf is quite the comedian.
“So when do I meet this wizard?” The Assassin stands to his feet and puts his hand out for me to take it.
“There is a lot we must discuss before you will receive your ticket home, but I promise you, you will receive all the answers you want. But first, you must first come with me.” I want to be angry and demand he give me a phone to call Mama, but for some unknown reason I trust him. It is something about this guy that makes me feel safe. He did just save my life. Maybe that’s why my hand is already reaching out towards him, although it felt more intimate than that. His hand closes around mine and he tugs me toward him. My body, flush against his, feels like I’m up against a solid wall, a hot, sexy, intimidating wall.
“Do you trust me, little human?” He asks and his warm breath spreads across my face. We are exceptionally close and I am highly conscious of where his hands are. One hand is at the middle of my back and the other clutching my left hand between us. It is the hand on my back that feels so hot.
“Lilly!” he says my name with a faint smile.
“Huh?” I ask still physically aware of that right hand that seems so close to the top of my butt.
“Do you trust me?”
“Yes.” I answer without an ounce of doubt.
“Close your eyes.” Automatically they close. My body is obeying him on its own accord. Is he about to kiss me? Do I want him to kiss me? Hell Ya!!! I wait for the pressure of his lips on mine, but instead there is a whoosh sound and the feeling of being dropped. I tighten my grip around his neck and bury my face in his shoulder smothering a scream.
“It’s ok.” His voice says softly in my ear. I keep my face buried. My stomach feels as if it has dropped into my feet. My head is spinning and I feel like I have stepped off a merry go round. Trust me, I know all about merry-go-rounds, in third grade some girls trapped me on one and spun me around for five minutes. I was sick for two days after that. Assassin tries to pull me back to see my face, but I know if I move I will vomit all over him. I clench him tighter, even though we are already close enough. I can feel the hardness of his chest pressing against my breasts.
“Lilly, It’s ok. It’s over.” He says rubbing up and down my back. “I won’t let anything hurt you.” His voice is so serious it sounds like he meant that with every fiber of his being.
“emmhmm!” someone clears their throat behind us. I open my eyes and as soon as the room stopped spinning I see that I am no longer in the small cabin. This room is huge and made entirely of Ice? That can’t be right. I once saw a book of photography by some cave explorer and there was a picture of the Skaterfell cave in Iceland, this place is very reminiscent of that. Surprisingly I’m not cold. I turn to find a room full of smiling faces. I release the assassin and step back; right away I realize that was a huge mistake. The room spins and my feet disappear from under me. Before I can hit the floor Assassin’s strong arms grip me.
“Get her a seat.” Someone says.
“I’m fine. Honestly. I just need a minute.” I say breathing slowly fighting the urge to hurl. Someone hands me a goblet of water and I drink it greedily.
“You should not trace with her. She is not accustomed to it.” a familiar voice says. I open my eyes and standing in front of me with the same blue dress is Avalia.
“No way!”
She smiles politely. “Hello again, Lilly.”
“How did you…but you are…. you were in my dream. You were with…” I grab my stomach and panic starts to rise up like a tidal wave heading for shore.
“They are still there.” She whispers and the anxiety eases down.
“I would like for you to meet everyone.” She says stepping back. “Of course you already know Assassin.” She says with a smirk pointing to my handsome rescuer whose arm is still wrapped around my side. I blush, again, as my eyes catch his silver eyes.
“Yes, I’ve met him.” Avalia places her hand on my shoulder and guides me away from Assassin. I look cautiously over my shoulder.
“Don’t worry, Lilly. He will follow.” She says in my ear. I am in a room surrounded by unfamiliar faces. He is the only one I know and feel attached to; of course I want him near me. At least that’s the excuse I’m giving myself for my actions. Assassin places his hands behind his back and follows closely behind us.
“This is king Artumis of the Western Kingdom.” She says stopping in front of a short round guy with thick red hair like straw and a long thick beard. It is almost as if he has stepped right out of the pages of J.R.R. Tolkeins ‘The Lord of the Rings’ novel. I’m definitely not in North Carolina any more. All I’m missing is a checkered blue dress and a dog named Toto.
“Hello, chosen. You are looking healthy.” He says gripping my hand in a sweaty handshake.
“Thanks, but my names Lilly.”
“Yes it is, and we should call her that.” Avalia’s voice is clipped.
“My apologies Cho…I mean Lilly.” Artumis says bowing his head.
I wave away his apology. “It’s no big deal, how could you have known?”
He smiles and his face crinkles up like used discarded paper.
“This is King Fisgal of the Eastern Kingdom and his son, Geronis.” Avalia says pointing towards a tall black man and his young handsome son.
“You are beautiful.” Geronis says taking my hand and planting a kiss on it.
“Thank You!” I say hoping my cheeks aren’t as red as they feel. Geronis holds onto my hand longer than necessary, but
I don’t mind. He is tall with broad shoulders and has the most beautiful chocolate skin I have ever seen. His lips are full and his eyes are the color of fresh brewed coffee with thick eyelashes. He smiles and it’s like watching a Colgate commercial. His teeth are perfectly aligned and white as if he never had a piece of candy in all his life.
“Maybe I could give you a tour of the Eastern kingdom. It would be my pleasure to spend some time alone with you.” Before I can answer, Assassin grabs my hand from Geronis. Geronis looks up at the Assassin’s face and tilts his lips up in a smirk.
“She has an escort.” is all Assassin says as he places my hand back at my side.
Avalia continues on with her introductions ignoring the hostility between Assassin and Geronis. “Lilly, this is Bartus of the Southern Kingdom.” Bartus looks oddly familiar. He has intense dark eyes and black hair with Italian tan skin. He looks to be in his mid−fifties with a dusting of gray through his thick hair but it doesn’t make him look old, just distinguished. He is handsome, there is no denying that.
“You look amazingly like someone I know.” I blurt out.
“Who might that be?” he asks with a spark of mischief to his eyes. I thought about telling him he looked oddly familiar to my twin’s father but that would be inappropriate, considering I don’t know him that well.
“You wouldn’t know him.” I say feeling silly. The entire room laughs at that, all except Assassin who I don’t think laughs very often any way.
“You would be surprised who he knows.” A voice calls from behind me. The sound of it takes me back six weeks earlier.
My room comes into view and I’m lying on top of my pink and black comforter with a very handsome Rykan leaning on top of me. His lips find mine and the kiss is slow and intense, not as urgent as his first kiss. This kiss reaches into my soul and pushes away all my inner doubts and insecurities. His lips are soft yet firm against mine, his tongue is demanding control of mine yet gentle in its caress. His mouth is full of contradictions. His hand skims my ribcage and goose bumps follow its trail.
