The Mystics Of Valenthia

10. Abducted

I opened my eyes to unfamiliar surroundings. I pushed myself up. I was sleeping on a single bed in a room where I had never been before. My head felt groggy and my legs were aching terribly. I had no clue as to how I reached this place. The last thing I remember was dancing with Daphne and her friends till late. I was tired and tried to find my way to our suite. In the dark hallway, my toe stubbed a cupboard of some kind and I sat down for a while. After that I do not remember a thing. I tried to make sense of what could have happened next when I heared the door open. I looked up and see striking blue-green eyes staring back at me.

Carter's lips were pulled into a smile as he asked, "Had a good night's sleep, Carrot?"

"What the hell are you doing here?" I asked, surprised to see him of all others.

"Fancy you asking me that. This my room," he said as he took seat on the bed. He sat cross-legged, facing me.

I scooted away from him. "Your room? What am I doing in your room?" I asked, scared of the answer. My mind wouldn't do justice to the crazy possibilities running in my head regarding what could I be doing in Ryan Carter's bedroom.

"Well, yesterday while coming back to my bedroom from the Reunion, I found you in one of the hallways, fast asleep on the floor. If there's one thing I learnt by experience, it is that never fall asleep in the hallways of the Warmage Academy. Bad things can happen. So I thought of delivering you to Nova's suite. But they weren't answering as I knocked. Finally, finding no other alternative, carrying your heavy body, I somehow got you to my suite and laid you on my bed. I had to sleep on that uncomfortable couch, the entire night. But you know, I didn't really mind that. I was being a chivalrous knight in the shining armour." He finished the embarrassing story with a smirk.

I was too embarrassed to speak. I nodded my head silently as I stared outside the window.

"Hey," he said softly, after a while.

Goosebumps formed on my arms at the sound of his soft voice. He wasn't mocking me or teasing me right now. I looked at him.

"What is bothering you, huh? You look too worried. Is it something about your dad and his office? Was it on fire?" He asked.

I froze. How did he know that? Can he read minds, invade my thoughts? I stared at him. He had a genuine expression of curiosity and concern on his face. Or maybe he is just a good actor.

"It is nothing." I answered.

"You're a terrible liar," he replied. "I know it is something. What is it? Won't you tell this charming person who saved your life?" He pouted.

"You didn't save my life, Carter. And trust me, it is nothing. Why should I answer your question anyway?"

"I know it is something. Why can't you answer my question?"

"Because you never answered mine," I said, simply, remembering the time I asked about his parents.

He straightened and seemed to think for a while. "What if I answer your question? Will you answer mine?"

"Sure." I said, my curiosity rising.

"They're dead." That's all he said. No prologues or epilogues. Dead. No further explanations needed.

"How?" I asked. "What happened?"

"I was just supposed to answer one question, Carrot. And I did." He said, his voice void of all emotions.

I saw Carter with a new light, now. A parentless boy in a war academy. Learning how to wield a sword and kill demons. A scared boy. A frightened boy who lost his loved ones. Growing up to be strong. But too much of strength is not good either. Sometimes you have to flexible and have emotions. Strong things do not bend; they break. But flexible things do not break easily.