Hated to Loved

Chapter 20 : Dinner

Thayne's POV

The room was large and comfortably furnished. After my bath I was surprised--and slightly creeped out--to find clothes exactly my size and preferred style. I mean, sure, this was a magical place...still creepy though.

I didn't know what to think of Zanta. Like, what, was she supposed to be a Goddess or something? Or maybe I was dreaming, but everything felt...well, somewhat real. Except for time travel...and magic...and...oh god, I was going crazy.

I was surprised to find pictures of myself on the shelves. I didn't even know that pictures of these scenes had been taken--like the one where Ember was laughing as I walked her home and told her childhood tales. Or the one where we kissed after she foiled my almost suicide...

Yeah. This place was creepy.

There was a knock on my door. When I opened it there was a wizard. "Hello. Zanta had set up dinner for thy companions and thou, I am to lead thou, along with Chase, to the meal. Follow me."

Chase was already behind him wearing a very annoyed look on his face. He had donned another identical--though cleaner--orange vest and black undershirt. The only difference was that he wore black jeans instead of blue ones, and actually had shoes--because Ember still had his.

He assessed my own outfit--a black tee with comfortable grey jeans, black belt and red tennis shoes with no show socks. Of course, he couldn't see the socks--but they were there.

He turned his gaze to the wall just as I caught him looking at me.

We followed the wizard to a dinning hall. Ember and Martha were already there, sitting with the plates on the table in front of them. Martha wore a simple pink dress with a white sash tied at the waist and sturdy shoes, and Ember wore a loose camouflage tee-shirt and grey yoga pants with white crocs. She'd tied her hair up in a pony tail and was braiding Martha's hair with her back to us as we entered.

When the wizard shut the door--and none too quietly either--they turned towards us, startled. The surprise ebbed away to show relief.

"Oh, you scared us." Ember smiled.

"Sorry not sorry." Chase said, going to take a seat. "When do we move the food to our plates? I'm starving."

"We were waiting on you guys." Martha shrugged. I took my seat across from Ember. "Well, lets eat then. Though--should we see if Zanta wants to join us?"

"Oh, they don't eat. Don't need too." Martha said, putting food on her plate. Ember, Chase and I followed her lead.

Once we'd eaten our fill, we talked about what we should do next.

"I think we should stay here and kinda just rest...for awhile, then we can move again." Martha said. Chase leaned back and let us talk it out--probably didn't think we'd listen to him anyway.

"Shouldn't we try to finish this up as soon as possible--if we aren't gonna just give up right now that is..." Ember said lightly, but with longing. She probably missed her mom, who by now would probably want me out of her home for putting her daughter in danger...we were lucky there hadn't been a cave in, or a bear, or a number of other things that could have happened.

I was a idiot for ever following Martha, or allowing Ember to go anywhere near her...

"I agree with Ember. This adventure has been nothing short of confusing and dangerous, and it is time to go back to the real world."

"Oh guys! No, we aren't even close to our destination--"

"And you are the one we have to blame for that. Don't forget, you're the one who led us the wrong way. On purpose. And we don't need to take this adventure with you; if you want to go you may."