Magician's Melody: Hymn of the Fallen

Part 7

I woke up and it was bright. Morning light shone in through the window hurting my sleepy eyes. But this isn't my room. The sheets feel so soft and clean. The ceiling was decorated with intricate engravings and marble. I sat up. The room looked like a Victorian era castle room painting.

Where am I?

The last thing I remember is Iris' voice.

I'm sorry.

It rang through my ears and fueled an anger in me. I flew out of bed and raced towards the door. Before opening it I opened all of the drawers. Hairbrush, comb, lamp. Nothing I could use as a weapon.

Why kidnap me and not tie me up? Their mistake.

In the closet were the most beautiful dresses that looked like they were made for a princess. And metal hangers.

I took the hanger and twisted it as well as I could. The hook's edge twisted into a thicker metal rod. Sharp enough to make some one hurt.

I opened the door carefully, the hall way was humongous. Door after door all the way down to a staircase. I started there.

No one was around so I quietly went as fast as possible to the stairs. Voices of people I didn't know were in some of the rooms, but none seemed to hear me.

Down the stairs an incredible room, almost like a ball room, was laced with silk drapes to cover the windows. A chandelier accented the painted roof. Three large doorways that looked like an entrance towered before me. I stepped onto the marble floor and was met with a very cold sensation. I jumped back.

I had no shoes. And the floor was covered in... Ice?

"BELLA!! MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!!" Someone screamed from my left. I ducked down below the railing of the staircase. A child on a very fancy chair zoomed past me, gliding across the ice laughing. A large animal was behind the chair, accelerating it.

The girl on the other end, Bella I'm assuming. Screamed and ducked behind a pillar on ice skates. Skating backwards and then forwards, then dodging around the moving chair-animal mobile. The screams of children echoed around the ballroom

I tried inching back up the stairs but I was in the open and the giant cat saw me first. With a yowl it leaped across the ice, maneuvering flawlessly. If it wasn't terrifying I would think it to be incredible.

I tried to climb up the stairs but stumbled. Thudding footsteps grew closer. I turned to face the predator with my sad wire hanger. It was at the bottom of the stairs and with a powerful leap it pounced. Soaring through the air in slow motion, claws unsheathed aiming for me.

I closed my eyes. Waiting for my painful and gruesome death. The children's screams stopped and the room went silent. I dared to open my eyes, finding the head of the beast inches from mine. It purred and sniffed me happily.

I gasped and pushed myself backwards as it inched closer when the back of my head hit something. I froze. Scared to turn.

"Lamassu. Down." A stern but familiar voice commanded the cat. The cat sniffed and made a friendly grunt then walked away. The girl jumped on the back of the cat and ushered him away, the boy sat quietly in his chair trying not to be seen.

"I'll deal with you kids later. Go." The voice instructed.

"Yes mam'" The kids answered. The kids didn't say more and the cat walked away pushing the boy and carrying the little girl.

"Need some help?" I looked up and was met with vibrant extraordinary eyes.

Iris? This couldn't be Iris. Her eyes were never that pronounced. Her hair was braided, the electric blue streak falling from the sides of her face. She had her hands in her pocket, calmly looking down with a gentle smile.