Bound

Chapter 4

Darkness enveloped me as I walked down the empty corridor. The whole castle had long since gone to sleep. I tiptoed down the stairs carefully trying not to make any creak. When I finally made it to the Recreational Room, Mr Jenson was waiting. I greeted him with a smile and sat down on the couch next to him.

"Ready," he asked.

"Yes," I replied.

"Well then, let's learn some proper Spirit bounding," he said excitedly.
He stood and began an elaborate dance while chanting in the ancient language of Myfalopian. At first I couldn't see it at all, it was like light being reflected, but as it grew, I realised that it was like water, shining in sunlight. It grew and grew until it was the size of an average sized person. I ran my hand along the surface and it rippled. Bang! The sound came so suddenly I jumped a meter off the ground. Bang! The sound came again.

I turned to look at Sir Jenson and realised this was not supposed to happen.

"Quick Bria they have discovered your not in bed. You must leave now."

I look at him with confusion but he just ushered me towards the wormhole.

"If you don't go now you'll never be able to escape, now step into the portal and imagine where you want to go," he said quickly.

I stepped into the wormhole expecting to get completely soaked but instead I just felt refreshed. I pondered what he had said. A place where I could go. Bang! Bang! Bang! The sound came more quickly this time. Think Bria, where could I go where I would be safe. Then it hit me, Gran's place. My grandmother lived in a remote part of the country side on the borders of Myfolopolis. She lived alone with her dog, Frankie. She lived in a small cottage surrounded by a meadow, I remember picking the daisies and foxgloves and swimming in the mountain stream that supply her with cool clean water. Sir Jenson looked at me quickly. At any moment the doors were going to burst open and every one outside would come spilling in.

"Miss Cole, remember that your bounding is a crucial key to staying alive and I'm sorry I didn't get to teach you much, but you will learn in your travels. Oh, and be careful! Their society is unstable. Now go!" He shouted. I thought of my grandmother's cottage with every part of me.

This better work I thought. Bang! The door opened and 50 or so guards spilled in, followed by a man in a dress robe. They seized Sir Jenson and began to whip him across his back with a riding crop. He screamed in agony, and their was nothing I could do. I looked back at the man in black and realised it was him and his merciless expression was the last thing I saw before everything went white.

***
Everything was white. It was blinding. I felt myself falling but I couldn't see anything. Suddenly, I could see the stars shining above me and could feel the lovely softness of the daisies in the meadow creating a bed beneath me. I pinched myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming, and as I looked around again I realised I was really outside my grandma's cottage as I could see the familiar glow of the fire through the window. I shivered, realising that what I was wearing wasn't very warm. I stood up, still stunned that it actually worked. As I walked towards the stone cottage I thought of Sir Jenson, he was definitely going to suffer now, who knows. They may even killed him. Just as I reached the front door I heard a laugh that was distinctly familiar. I knocked on the old oak door and to my surprise Christof opened the door.

"Christof?" I asked confused.

His face showed shock and complete and utter happiness.

"How?" He asked.

"It's a long story but first what are you doing here?"

"Oh, umm I offered to inform your Grandma of your... you know, new life."

I shivered.

"Please come in, you look- wait, what are you wearing?" He asked, he knew I hated all types of dresses.

I blushed.

"You have to forget you ever saw me in this- Grandma!" I squealed with delight turning to look at the old woman.

"I'm so glad to see you, how are you?"

"Ah Bria, how I've missed your non-stop chatter," she said pulling me in for a big hug.

"When Christof first arrived I thought something great had happens and you where just to busy to come yourself but the Council kept you hostage, why?"

I held up my left hand revealing the shiny silver mark which now lived on the palm of my hand.

"This is why."

Grandma took my hand.

"Your a Spirit Bound then?"

"Yes grandma,"

"Oh well, what's done is done, you look like you could do with some hot soup, clean clothes and some sleep."

My Grandma lead me to her little living room were I sat down in front of the crackling fire. She handed me a big bowl of steaming chicken soup. I took a big gulp of the soup enjoying the hot liquid sliding down my throat. I hadn't had a meal like this the whole time I was at the palace. It was a nice change. My grandma handed me a shirt that was massive on my small frame and a pair of shorts I had left last time I was here. I went into the spare room and changed. Yawning, I decided it was bedtime. I laid down, closing my eyes I drifted off.

***
A bright light woke me from my slumber.

"Ah," I groaned.

"Bria," a voice said.

I opened my eyes. Christof sat on the bed.

"Get your lazy arse up. I want to show you something,"

I groaned, "This early?"

"Yep." He replied as he pulled on my blanket. Of course I had cocooned the blanket around myself so it didn't budge. He stood up and tried again. It still didn't work. So he tried another approach. He jumped on top of me. I groaned.

"Get off," I screamed but instead he smiled evilly and began tickling me. "Nooooo...." I
said inaudibly, laughing hard and squirming. "St..ooooop," I finally got out.

"Did you say something?" He replied still tickling me savagely.

"Stoooop," I said again but he still continued to tickle me. So, I shoved him hard. He went tumbling off the bed but at the last moment he grabbed my arm pulling me down on top of him. I looked down at him, he looked back at me with longing. Wait, longing what? Just as I was going to move away he grabbed my head, pulled down and kissed me. Whoa what is happening? I pulled away completely and utterly surprised. Sitting on the floor next to him I asked, "What was that?"

"I just thought maybe..." he said.

"Oh, you thought that I reciprocated your feelings," I said shocked. How had I been so blind? How had I never noticed that my best friend had a massive crush on me?

"But you don't do you," he said his features darkening.

"Ummm..." I felt like I was physically crushing his heart, "No."

He stood up and stormed out the door. Dammit, I had just broken the heart of an innocent, sweet guy. Why me?