A World Of Treason and Tides

Chapter 27: Our bubble!

"You look..."

"Stunning?" I said before Ryan could complete the sentence. A smirk was plastered on my face.

Ryan's brows shot up and he tilted his head to one side. His hands were in his pockets and he looked at me with amusement in his eyes. "Magical," he said. I snorted at that. If anything, I was looking like a cotton candy.

"Magical is quite the flattery, don't you think?" I looked down at the dress I was wearing. Then, I looked at him.

Ryan came towards me and holding me in front of him, he looked at me with an intent expression on his face. Our eyes met. "I think- " he started slowly, "- that it is the perfect flattery for you."

"Oh Ryan," I sighed. My eyes went to my dress again-it truly looked magical and I supposed it had the ability to make me look magical too, even though I was not-both literally and metaphorically.

The dress was pink-a colour I rarely wore, since I believed pink did not quite match my personality-but that dress had at least three different shades of pink, the lightest shade near the neckline; and the skirt was streaked with the most beautiful shade of lilac. It made me look bubblier than I really was, but I liked the dress, nevertheless. It even seemed that the wide hem of the skirt was woven with original lilacs. The lilacs might have been imported from the Land, otherwise it was not possible to get those under the ocean.

Ryan might have noticed my fingers that grazed over the soft material of the dress. "You'll look magical in any dress, Spark," he said. I huffed out a laugh, without meaning to. I did not want to laugh, really, not when he spoke with so much sincerity, not when his eyes reflected so much care and attention.

"Thank you," I muttered, then flashed a broad and genuine smile at him. I hoped the smile would convey what my words could not-that I did not mean to come off as rude, that I really cared for him, and appreciated him for giving me the dress.

Yes, Ryan had brought the dress from the City. After I had finished eating, he told me that he wanted to take me somewhere-obviously I did not want to go at first, afraid what might happen-but finally agreed, after about fifteen minutes of reassurance from Ryan, and also because after spending two weeks at Myra's house without really going anywhere, I wanted to go outside, to explore more of Kingdom of Water. I could see the relief on his face when I had agreed to go; and the cautious excitement that was radiating from his words as he told me that he had brought a dress from the City.

Ryan was at least able to guard his excitement, but I was not-I could not remember the last time I got that excited over a dress. I realized that I got so thrilled because at Myra's, the clothes were not really suitable for me to wear-I did not feel very comfortable in her tops and for the bottom, I had only my trouser and a couple of skirts and underwear that Myra had sewn for me. In the Mer Colony, the shops did not sell any bottom-wear, and Myra had not wanted to leave me alone and go to the Fae Colony to buy me clothes-the City was never an option-and so she had to sew.

I was really grateful to her for what she did. I was grateful to her for so many things-for taking care of me, for treating me like I was her own, for at least trying to make me comfortable in this strange kingdom-but the prospect of finally be able to wear something different and comfortable did funny things to my feelings.

"You are welcome," Ryan's voice broke me from my thoughts. He slid his arm down mine and pulled back. There was the barest brush of his fingers over mine. "Shall we?"

I was about to say yes, but then stopped, remembering something. "How did you get the money for this dress?" I could say looking at the dress that it was definitely not cheap.

Ryan shrugged. "I traded some at The Obsidian."

"What did you trade money for?"

"My dagger," Ryan answered casually.