Also, the deeper they felt for each other, the stronger the bond of magic would be with they were wed.
With a new tactic in mind, he walked towards her. She tensed, but he merely brushed past her, heading to the window. He peered down the sheer drop and toward his kingdom. She had a great view. He had made sure of it.
Qwinn pretended interest in his kingdom, when actually he was listening to her. She shifted nervously from foot as she watched him out of the corner of her eye.
"Can I go home?" she asked quietly, daring to speak. She watched as his shoulders tensed slightly.
"I have something you can help with," he said, changing the subject. She noticed, but didn't push it. If he was asking for her help, which most likely meant that she was getting out of the room.
"What is it?"
He turned toward her, causing her to flinch slightly. He remained still for a moment so she could get her bearings back. "Come with me."
He began to walk toward the door. She hesitated, then began to walk behind him. Right before he reached the door, he spun around, grabbing her wrists.
The act was so sudden that she cried out in fear. His dark eyes blazed slightly. "When we leave this room, you will not run. You will walk calmly beside me. I do not want to chain you, but I will if you make me."
Alison's mind was screaming for her to run, but strangely enough, she was calm. His touch did not scare her as she expected it to. Instead, his temper scared her.
"Do you understand?" he asked gruffly, not lessening his grip on her. She nodded hastily. He tugged her slightly closer, breathing silently for a moment. He closed his eyes and she watched as the tension disappeared from his shoulders. When he opened them again, his eyes were calm, but stern. "There are some here who would not restrain from hurting you, because you are human."
Alison gulped and nodded again for good measure. "Can I ask you a question?"
He worked his jaw slightly. She could tell he was weighing his options in his mind. "One question."
So many questions fought for priority, but there was one that, at the moment, was burning with curiosity. "Why are you nice to me?"
For a moment, she thought he wouldn't answer and her shoulders slumped.
"I see you as more than just a human," he answered softly. There was an undertone in his words, but before she could ask what he meant, or figure out exactly what he was talking about, he dropped her wrists and opened the door. "Stay with me."
They stepped out into the hall and Qwinn led the way through numerous halls, taking the long way to confuse her. His hands still tingled from where he had touched her. He had been helpless to pull her closer, and ever more helpless to let her scent wash over him. It had almost been his undoing. He hadn't even prepared to answer her question. Even now, he didn't know how to explain to her that he not only needed her to trust him, but he wanted her to. He wanted her to light up when he entered the room, as he'd seen his mother do every time his father appeared. He wanted to share his secrets and memories with her. He wanted her to give him her heart.
He shook his head, shaking the thoughts away. He sounded like a lovesick child. He had thought he'd been in love once before and it only killed his heart. No, he did not want to love her. He merely wanted a queen for his people and someone to bear him children. Though he wanted her, he wouldn't allow himself to give his heart. He glanced to his side to make sure she was following closely.
Alison was beginning to feel nauseated from all of the thoughts that were running rampant in her mind. Would he protect her if one of them decided to hurt her? What was he going to have her help with? When he said he thought of her as more than just a human, did he mean it as in a friend or romantically? She almost laughed at the last thought. When he touched me, did he feel the same strange comfort I felt? She wondered. However, she had no time to think over anything that had just happened because the next thing she knew; his hand surrounded her wrist and tugged her down the side hall. Again, his touch sent a strange wave of calm through her. He stopped suddenly before a door and knocked. It seemed strange to Alison that he would knock when he hardly blinked at the idea of bursting into her room with no warning.
The door opened and a bright red eye peeked out, taking in Alison and her escort, who she had yet to learn his name. Whoever was behind the door, opened it all the way and allowed them entrance.
Qwinn gently took Alison's arm again, leading her into the dim room. Her skin felt like cream beneath his fingers. They walked down a short hallway and stepped over what looked to be a small gate. Qwinn gazed at Alison out of the corner of his eye, studying her.
Her eyes grew wide as she took in the large room. But it wasn't the glowing walls that caught her eye. It was the occupants in the room, the tiny ones.
The dimly lit room was filled with small creatures. After the first shock wore off, Alison realized that the small creatures were children. Most of them were curled together on blankets on the floor, keeping each other warm as they slept. Her green eyes moved to her escort. "What are we doing here?"
The two women in the room looked up and fastened their gaze on Alison. One of them growled low in her throat. Her escort stepped protectively in front of Alison and spoke lowly. "Annnna qwisss adavaaa gress. Unnsa attfaaya adess Qwi."
The women bowed their heads, however, one still glared at the human. Qwinn stared down the women. It was time for them to accept that Alison would one day be their queen. He would not tolerate them excluding her because she was human. He motioned Alison forward as he stepped over the sleeping forms. She did the same, following closely behind and trying to hide her nervousness.
"This is where the young children stay when their family works for me," he explained softly. They reached the two women and Qwinn pointed to an empty stool. With a moment of hesitation, Alison held back. "What am I doing here?"
You will help tend the children."
Both women glared at her now. Alison shook her head. "I can't."
Qwinn frowned at her. "They need your help here," he said, ending discussion.
Alison sat on the stool and clasped her hands in her lap. As soon as she was comfortable, he turned to the women and talked to them again, this time one of them spoke back. She was rather large, with earlobes that hung down to her collarbone. She had beady little red eyes and dark black hair with bright red feathers braided in. As she spoke, she swung her seven-fingered hand toward Alison, standing on two small legs that looked as though they could hardly hold her.
Alison could tell by the tone in her voice that the woman was upset and fought the urge to slink back into her chair. She didn't know what her captor wanted from her, but she'd face this head on. Now that she was out of the room, she had more of a chance to escape. She had to get him to trust her, then when the time was right, she'd run.
She watched the exchange silently, adjusting to the flow of their words enough to concentrate on their faces. He was obviously ordering her to do something that she didn't want to do.
Finally, he turned back to her. "They would like you to tend Absul."
"Absul?" she asked, rolling the strange word around in her mouth.
One of the women, this one thin with an abnormally long neck and long fingers, glided across the room toward Alison. She carefully stepped over the sleeping children, making her way with a bundle in her arms. Alison swallowed nervously as she watched the very tall creature come closer. Her escort had a grim expression on his face as he too watched her. The woman reached Alison and towered over her, her silver eyes like large orbs in her head.
Then she bent down, bringing her face closer to Alison. "Absul," she said, holding out the bundle in her arms.
After a moment, Alison accepted it, surprised at the weight she felt. She held the bundle as she had seen the other woman do, and then pulled back to cloth, revealing a tiny black face. A gasp escaped her lips as she realized she held a baby. She couldn't have stopped the smile that over took her face if she wanted to.
Living
with her uncle, she rarely saw babies, and she had never held one. When her uncle would allow her into town, she would see couples strolling around with baby basinets. There always seemed to be a magic around babies that calmed people.
Before she realized what she was doing, she snuggled the baby closer.
Qwinn felt his stress fade away as she cuddled the tiny body. He had been worried that she wouldn't accept his kind. The transition from her human life to a life with his people would be much easier once she accepted his kind and what better way to expose her to his people then to start with children? They would not intimidate her as much as an adult would. The women watched wearily, but also seemed to relax a little.
Qwinn nodded toward the women and knelt beside Alison's stool. "I will return before the next meal."
Fear instantly lit her eyes. "You are leaving me?"
"They will keep a close eye on you. Please do not try to leave. You will be safe here."
"You can't leave me!" she said, slight hysteria creeping into her voice. Yes, she wanted to run away from this place and leave him behind, but being locked in a room with two creatures and numerous little ones was different.
He stood, his face expressionless. "I will return," with that, he left.
Alison felt as if her only hope was disappearing as he picked his way through the sleeping forms.
Suddenly her throat was dry as she ripped her eyes from the door and looked to the two women who were in turn, watching her closely. She sucked in a shuddering breath.
At that moment, the tiny creature in her arms decided to squirm. Immediately, her eyes fell to the baby. The tiny black creature rubbed a fist over its eyes as it stretched its back. A small cry escaped its mouth and she saw little rows of sharp teeth. The baby squirmed harder in her grasp.
She had no idea what to do with a baby. But she followed her gut and rocked him gently. He stopped crying and opened his eyes. Alison's smile returned as she stared back down into large green eyes. The baby stared back at her for a moment before smiling at her. Alison's heart melted. Absul was the cutest yet strangest thing she'd ever seen.
"He…like you," the tall thin woman said in broken English. Alison looked up in surprise. The woman stepped forward, keeping her voice down so as not to wake the other children. "I Colia," she said. "This Mele."
"I am Alison," she said politely, relieved that at least one of them was no longer glaring at her. The tall one, Colia, ran her finger over Absul's cheek. He squirmed happily. "Absul…not like…all people."
Mele, the large one, huffed slightly and turned her attention to the sleeping children, who had begun to stir. Alison shifted uncomfortably. She didn't know what to expect from the children. A few of them looked scary with their horns and spikes and many arms and legs. Their skin was varied from ocean blue to black. One child was almost silver. Alison wondered how they could all look so different from each other.
Colia hurried to a cubbyhole in the wall and gathered what looked like food into her arms. Absul made little gargling sounds and brought Alison's attention back to him. His green eyes were huge and he had two little slits for a nose. He was adorable. He stretched against the blanket that was wrapped around him. Alison loosened it slightly for him.
His other trapped hand burst free, and then another. Alison gasped in surprise at the three arms she saw. Each arm ended in a tiny chubby hand with four fingers. Mele watched Alison closely now, expecting her to be revolted and get rid of him.
Instead, Alison studied the baby closer. Its black skin held a tiny crown of black horns atop its head. He should have been a frightful sight. He wasn't. On impulse, Alison held out a finger and smiled as Absul closed his tiny hand around it.
More children began to rouse. Olia handed food to those who were awake. The children munched happily, allowing Alison time to study them. They were all so different, yet obviously of the same race. Those who were done eating began to crawl or walk unsteadily around the room, exploring. Mele helped balance one child by holding his hand as he took a few experimental steps.
Since Alison had never been around toddlers, she was fixated on their every movement. They seemed so fragile and every time one of them fell, Alison wanted to help them up. She knew she had always wanted children, but she never thought through the stages of life.
Absul gurgled happily as he tried to stuff one of his fists into his mouth.
The day passed much the same. The women played with the children and Colia took Absul away, only long enough to feed him. Alison hadn't realized how much time had passed, or that she was actually enjoying herself, until her escort stepped into the room.
Instantly, she was ripped back to reality. She was a prisoner. She was surrounded by creatures and she was probably never going to go home.
Qwinn entered the chamber and his eyes found Alison immediately. She cradled the baby to her chest. A small black hand reached up and tugged a strand of her dark red hair. He ignored the skip of his heart at the thought of her holding his future child.
He felt a slight touch on his leg and looked down. A toddler was bracing himself against the king's leg. He craned his head back to get a look at the King and his eyes grew wide. Qwinn smiled slightly and patted the child's head, who in turn giggled.
Mele and Colia bowed their heads slightly to her escort, which made Alison wonder just what his status was. He patted the child again and she couldn't help but notice how his eyes softened. Then his black eyes suddenly were on her. She froze under the intensity of his gaze. He stepped around the children, never taking his eyes from her. "Come."
Colia was suddenly by Alison's side, scooping Absul into her arms. Alison was sad to give up the baby, but once her eyes returned to her escort, Absul was the farthest thing from her mind. She stood, questions racing through her mind as if they had only been quiet until this moment. Why is he taking me away? Why is Mele still staring at me? She wondered. As soon as she reached him, he said a few words to the women and turned on his heel, only glancing once back to see if Alison was following.
They made their way to the hall, where he slowed down. "Are you hungry?" he asked when the door to the child's chamber had been closed.
Alison blinked in surprise. "What?" she asked, the question was so unexpected. She'd been imagining him leading her to her execution.
"Are you hungry?" he repeated.
Her stomach growled in answer and a smile tugged at his lips. "I have had a lunch prepared for you."
Alison frowned slightly. "Who are you exactly?"
"What do you mean?" he asked, his smile disappearing and in its place, a hard mask to hide his feelings.
"You obviously have some sort of status if you can order people around."
Qwinn thought quickly of how to explain without scaring her. At that very moment, Jabr hurried down the hall. He bowed quickly. "Bartus wishes to speak to you," he said, getting right to the point.
"Now?" Qwinn asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
Jabr nodded and the King sighed. "Escort the girl to her room," he said, glancing at Alison. It was obvious from the look on her face that she didn't understand a word they had spoken.
He didn't want to leave her. He had been in a meeting with the council all morning discussing the attack from the Torin. During the entire meeting, he had been anxious to see her again, to make sure she was all right. Now that he was with her, he had no desire to leave her again.
She eyed him hopefully, wanting him to translate and expecting him to protect her from the worst. Maybe he did need to distance himself. If he gave in to that look, he would never leave. So, with a nod to Jabr, he turned to leave.
He couldn't help but hear the slight catch of uncertainty in her throat. It nearly stopped him. He balled his fists as he continued walking. It seemed that no matter how much he tried to distance himself, she drew him more.
Alison watched as her only ally left her standing with the short man. Her heart sank with fear. He hadn't said a word to her about where he
was going or what was going to happen to her. The small man turned to her. "Please, follow me," he said in a thick accent.
She began to walk with him. However, as they walked through the halls, nothing looked familiar, and then it hit her…they were going to sacrifice her.
A chill raced through her body. This was the end. Her eyes darted around the halls for a way to escape. She knew she promised that she wouldn't run, but she had told that to the other escort. The small man was walking only a foot or two in front of her, glancing back every now and then to make sure she was still there.
To her left she spotted a hall coming up that looked deserted and decided to take her chance. He glanced back and as soon as his eyes returned forward, she darted for the hall.
It took the small man a moment to realize what was happening, and by then, she had reached the shadowed hall. "Stop!" he yelled as he tore after her.
Adrenaline shot through her as she darted into the dark. She could hardly see more than a few feet in front of her, so she held her arms out before her. She nearly ran into a wall. She wished for that strange moss to light her way, but it was scarce in this area. Footsteps thundered behind her, but she didn't look back. Adding more speed to her run, the small man called out again. "Stop! Alison!"
The fact that he knew her name shook her to her core so badly that she never saw it coming. Then suddenly she was in the air with her stomach in her throat as she fell. She landed on the third step, which sent her sprawling down the rest.
Her screams ricocheted off the stonewalls as she smacked her shoulder, hip, leg and head as she fell. She landed in a heap at the landing at the bottom of the stairs. Her vision blurred in and out, as she saw the short man rush to her.
"Alison! Alison!" he yelled, patting her cheek. His arms were under her in an instant and lifting her. A sharp pain exploded from her leg and she cried out in pain. It was enough to send her over the edge. Her eyes rolled back and she blacked out.
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