A Court Of Nightmares

Chapter Ten Meeting the Illyrian Lord

Ignes continued to not say a word to me as she strutted her way through Velaris. We made our way near the right side of Sidra's edge. Where the river was still flocked with multiple ships all varying in size. It seemed to have more ships from the last time Mia gave me a tour days ago.

We hiked our way up a hill. Where the houses that were once made of gray stone now ranged to all different colors. It was almost jumping out at you to notice their presence. I began to smile slightly at the sight of it all. Letting the strum of music surround me as we entered the Rainbow. Feyre was right, I do love the Rainbow. It was nothing like I've ever seen. It represented everything I loved all in one place.

Music.

Music always seems to transform me into another person. It understood me when no one in the world could and brought me comfort at my worst. Expressing all the words I couldn't say out loud. I guess Ajax and I had that in common. Always occupying our minds to something creative to make us feel like we're not outsiders for once. With him putting his anger and unexplainable rage towards painting. And with me trying to fill a void within myself that I couldn't place with music.

The upbeat song of the Rainbow only became louder as we got closer to the middle of the quarter. It was filled with people who were all wandering around rushing. Some were gouged with paint all over their clothes and others were on the brink of exhaustion. In the fray, I almost missed Ignes who still kept strutting her way through. Blending into the crowd. If it wasn't for her bright rose-colored dress I would have lost her indefinitely. I'm only on my first day on the job as her bodyguard, and I almost lost her in five seconds. Great.

I can tell she isn't going to make my job easy by any means.

Ignes slowed her pace a bit. Swinging the door open to enter a small store. It had tables and chairs surrounding the outside of it. Letting people sit and be able to enjoy the beautiful spring day. As I got closer, the street started to have a smell of fresh-baked bread and chocolate pumped into the air. I opened the door and before walking in. I actually saw the customers that were sitting in the outdoor area smiling at me in greeting. I smiled back at them. Puzzled partly by everyone's odd friendly nature, which seemed so foreign to me. Also to the fact that everyone seemed to think I belonged here. When just mere days ago people looked at me curiously hoping to figure me out with their stares. Maybe my "earth stench" as Ignes called it, disappeared after the many days spent in Velaris.

I finally walked into the cafe and my brows knit together from how familiar the place seemed to me. It looked like a regular coffee shop I would hang out in to study. The neutral colors of brown on the walls and furniture added to the cozy feeling of home. With some people sketching in their notebooks. Looking out into the distance from the wide window.

While Ignes was at the counter ordering something. She managed to turn to look around the place. Like she was searching for something. Her eyes stopped on me, gesturing to come closer with her hand.

"What do you want?" Ignes asked. I shrugged. Not knowing if they would have the same food they do back in my world as they do here.

"Surprise me," I muttered, turning around to look at the distracted artists. Their faces are so focused on the page in front of them. I felt a pang in my chest. As glorious as the Rainbow was, it was also a reminder of all I lost.

"She'll have two sugar cookies. She deserves it after all," Ignes said kindly to the worker. My ears perked up at the sound of Ignes's surprising praises.

"I deserve it," I hummed. "Say that again. I'm afraid you'll never say something so kind to me ever again."

Ignes glared at me, pointing to a vacant table near one of the windows. I gave her a toothy grin before making my way towards it. Sitting down comfortably. Moments later she came around the table with two brown bags in her hands. Practically throwing mine in front of me to dig into hers hungrily. Holding up a huge odd electric blue almond cookie. I guess the obsession with blue didn't end with her father as I recently thought.