Lolirock: Ephedia - Sequel to Lolirock: A New Beginning

Ephedia: Confesssion

NATHANIEL POV 

I wrung my hand as the sun grew brighter and brighter. Dawn shielded her eyes from the light, while Talia, who was always prepared, pulled out several packs of sunglasses. 

"How did you-" I began, confused as she handed me one. Pink, of course. It reminded me of Iris' kind face. 

"What do you think happened?" Dawn murmured. 

"What?" Lev asked, who was walking silently next to me. 

"To Iris." 

"I-I don't know." Lev's shoulders shook with grief and sadness. I sniffled, and Dawn looked at me in confusion. I straightened up, and Lev glared at me. 

It wasn't my fault that I got poisoned with leprechaun dust. It wasn't my fault that I accidentally stepped into a portal to this crazy world. 

"We'll rest here." Carissa decided. 

"We're not even close to the kingdom of Borealis!" Talia complained, "In fact, we're still in Calix!" 

"Yes, but we've been traveling for so many miles. We should rest." Lyna insisted. Talia sighed, while Chandler rubbed her shoulders filed with sympathy. Dawn was so happy to finally relax that she flipped in the air and hovered next to Lev. 

"Where will we stay?" Talia asked, still protestant. 

"Here!" Carissa said. 

She swept aside a few branches from a willow tree, to reveal a door. 

"Wow!" Auriana jumped in front of everyone and opened the door. It revealed a worn carpet, with several cots and thousands of swords. Food provisions and sunglasses were stocked on the shelves, while shields with bows and arrows were hung on racks. A WANTED poster was stuck on the wall, along with a coronation crown and a glimmering sash. Fancy lights were above us, as Talia looked outside to make sure we weren't being tricked. 

Lev lounged on a nearby couch. 

"What is this place?" Lyna asked, as she twirled on the carpet. 

Carissa smiled proudly, "My hideout."

"YOUR hideout?" 

"Yep. My father had it built for me before he went into battle." 

"This is WAY to big for it to be built when you were like, three." Lyna protested. 

Talia, who was still pouting, couldn't help but be a little awestruck at the fact that Carissa had a sweet hideout in the middle of the woods. 

We sat down and ate, drinking from an indoor water stream that was surprisingly cool under the hot summer sun. 

The boys were cut off from the girls, who were allowed another room that was hidden in the back of the building. Carissa's room. All I heard were giggling and uncomfortable squeaks from behind the cot. 

Lev sat on the cot and looked at Chandler, who looked at me. 

"I need to confess something." Lev started uneasily. 

"What?" 

"Do you love Iris?" 

"Yes, ever since I was a teenager." 

"How sure are you with your feelings for her?" he prodded

"Very sure. I love her." I said. He sucked in a breath and looked at Chandler again, who nodded. 

"I-I don't love Iris," he confessed. 

"What? She looked up to you! Iris said she loved you. Sure, she was having mixed feelings, but-" he held up his hand in impatience. 

"All this time, I thought Iris was another girl who needed protection, a damsel in distress. But it took me too long to notice that- she needs someone who is willing to follow her, not as her superior, but her equal. She needs...no, deserves someone who wants to be with her, not to travel, not to pull her along. Not to push her to make decisions. Some who will stand beside her, no matter what decision she makes. She needs a point of view, not insistence. But I never realized this until I saw the way she looks at you. She sees pure respect, a beacon of kindness and gentleness. Someone who will be with her for all time. She needs you." 

I paused, wanting to continue my rant. 

"That's why she needs you to break it. Her corruption, her despair. She needs you." 

"What about you?" I inquired, staring at his crumpling face. 

"I think I have someone in mind." he looked at the door across the room. 

"Dawn?" Chandler interrupted. 

"Yes?" he squeaked, while Chandler was staring him down. 

"There were so many signs I didn't even notice. How did you-" 

"Dawn is a complicated being. turning evil, then good, then evil, then good again. She needs a definite opinion. She's not afraid to stand up for what she wants." 

Chandler nodded, and shook his hand. 

Lev sighed, the weight finally of his shoulders.