The Hidden World of Nitea [2 | The Other Realms Series]

Chapter Three

Eddie shifted in his bed as he forced himself to sleep. He had been tossing and turning for the past hour or so, switching sleeping positions every few minutes. A soft whimper escaped his lips. He envied those who could doze off so easily. Every time he went to bed, he had to straighten, curl up, and contort his body in at least twenty different ways before he could feel comfortable enough to rest. And there was no single position that he could rely on—some nights he slept with his limbs spread out, and other nights he lay still and straight.

And to think that finding the perfect sleeping position was hard enough, finding the best way to wrap a blanket around the body was just as significant. Sometimes he would cover himself from head to toe, other times one leg would stick out, and occasionally he folded his duvet in a way that concealed his whole being except for his knees and lower thighs. He sometimes joked that he had mastered the art of "blanket origami."

At last, his body lay still once he had settled on the perfect position. He leaned his head to one side, his mouth slightly open as he dozed off. His left arm and leg were wrapped around a bolster, while his right limbs were relaxed on the mattress. The tension left his chest and back as he fell into a deep sleep.

Thwack! Eddie jolted upright as hard velvet smacked his left cheek. He lunged at his bedside table and reached for his phone to check the time. It was 11:30 p.m.

"About time you're awake," Louis said, appearing before his face. "You got a lesson in twenty minutes."

"What are you talking about?" Eddie said, exasperated. "Giorgino said the first lesson's tomorrow."

"He was talking about the one with the three of you, not your private lesson. You can check the scheduling app on your phone."

Eddie opened the application on his phone, which was a product of Nitean software. He checked the schedule for Monday night. Louis was right—he and Giorgino were to meet at 11:50 p.m., Central European Time.

Eddie kept the phone in one hand as he reached for the nearest light switch and flicked it. He covered his eyes. It took him a minute or so before his pupils had adjusted, and after they did, he then staggered towards the right side of the room and opened the door to his walk-in wardrobe. He entered it and undressed, tossing his sleepwear to one of the drawers. A yawn escaped his mouth as he put on his usual outfit: a short-sleeved t-shirt, close-fitting pants, and thin-soled sneakers, all of which were pitch black. He slung his messenger bag across his shoulders, placed his phone inside, then stepped out of the wardrobe. Louis was still hovering above his bed, waiting for his command.

"The usual," he said.

Louis lazily waved its pages, flashing a light that sent them to the antechamber. Eddie opened his palm and lit a yellow flame in his hand, which barely brightened his environment, and then glanced at his sides. The door was on the right. He strode towards the door and then entered the other room.

"Defluo."

Eddie curled his hand into a fist. A small speck of light appeared on the floor just as he extinguished his flame. He stood idly as he watched the light eat away at the ground. Once the opening was large enough, he jumped into the portal. He found himself on the other side a moment later.

Eddie turned his head around and searched for Louis. Once he had found it, he grasped it with both hands and let it lift him out of the pond; it was quicker than using his limbs to swim to the surface. They teleported as soon as they were above the water. Solid pavement crept over the pond; buildings and signposts replaced the trees; and bright lamps and electronic signs expelled the darkness. Eddie let go of Louis and peered at the sky. Above him, a royal blue hue began to sweep over the canvas of midnight black. Dawn was creeping over the horizon. Eddie felt his shoulder strap become weightier as Louis entered his bag and snuggled inside.