The Necromancers

Chapter Five

When Drystan came around I was ready with my stuff already packed. Aunt Morana was leaving for the continent today after I left for the palace.

There were jitters in my stomach. Probably due to the new life I now had. A part of me was all pumped up for whatever adventures were to come my way after this day and another part of me just wanted to hide in a corner and cry my days away. I find the first option is not self destructive so I can do that much. 

Drystan took one of my smaller bags and his other soldiers had carried another bigger ones. The last two bags, one of which he was carrying, had some delicate stuff that I didn't want breaking throughout the journey there. He very gracefully swooped in like some prince Charming and took one of my bags from my grasp.

"Are you good to go?" He asked softly. But with a gravelly voice. I don't know but maybe it's because he rarely speaks so his voice is rough, scratchy but in the most attractive way. Which I totally despise. I don't like anything about him.

Ignoring him, I looked at aunt Morana. "I'll be going then." I nodded my head in the direction of the door.

Goodbyes were always hard for me. I don't know how to say bye to someone. Even before whenever aunt visited I never knew how to bid her farewell. Its always awkward and painful.

"Come here." She pulled me closer by my shoulders and held me closer to herself. "It's going to be alright."

I just nodded silently and pulled away. Nodding once again I left and didn't look back. There was nothing to look back at for now.

I just had to build a life for myself. The best I can do is go with the flow.

Sitting next to Drystan felt oddly calming. Or maybe it was the vibe that he always carried along. He was always so calm and put together. So strong and resilient to everything. Like nothing in the world could bother him.

He was like a stone. Perhaps a stone could school better emotions than him but Drystan was another mystery. And I was not here to figure him out. My only work is to go there, learn and come back and extract the revenge and then....and then be happy far away from this place.

Something unsettled me at that thought.

And I knew right away what it was. Glancing outside the window of the moving vehicle, I watched as the buildings pass by. This place has been my home for as long as I can remember. Ever since I can recall all about my childhood. This is what I know. And leaving this place, letting all of it go, scared me more than anything else.

Me thinking so casually about it was another thing that disturbed me. Was it so easy for me to let it go? Was it so easy for me to just leave all of this behind? Could I leave the world I've known?

"Astoria you're sweating." Drystan's cool and calm voice reached my ears. I turned to look at him and then turned right away when I found his eyes staring right back at me. His brown eyes were lit with slight concern. I could not stand that look on him.

"My apologies for ruining just another one of your cars." I smiled a sickly sweet sugary smile.

He narrowed his eyes the slightest bit, "quit doing that." He commanded. A command that I should yield to. But I did not. Because I did not like the way he was talking to me. About how he could look me in the eyes without feeling guilty for murdering my mother.

"Or else what? You're going to kill me?" It slipped out before I could stop. Before I could put a thought to it.

Drystan just sighed and looked away from me, going back to his usual unbothered self. He doesn't care at all about what goes around him. As long as it does not concern the people of our kingdom he is uncaring.

When we reached the palace I was escorted to a well decorated bedroom. With an attached bathroom. And a study room too. A very good thing I suppose for someone who hasn't had much experience with personal space and so much of it at that.

But I couldn't help but think that I would be lonely here.

A knock at my door had me whirling around quicker than I could have blinked. I should have stayed alert here.

When I went to open my door I saw a girl standing there. A cute chubby girl. Probably my age or maybe younger. Or maybe older. I was bad at age guessing.

Her skin was looking milky soft to touch. So spotless and healthy looking that I wanted to forget everything and ask her of the skincare. Her attire was casual, and it suited her so well that I felt like the clothes were made for her exclusively.

Her face was bright and shining. A smile so brilliant lit up her entire face as I opened the door and her curly ginger hair were fanning her face in the most perfect manner. And my god if only I was one to swing in that direction I would have begged her on my knees to be mine.

"Hi. I'm Nyx." She smiled at me. Could she get anymore prettier?!

"Hello Nyx. Please come in." I opened the door wider. She stepped inside gracefully as soon as I closed the door behind her, her shoulder dropped and she let out a cute little sigh. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I'm alright. Great. It's just that the mistress haunts the hallways of the palace and if she finds any of us slouching, we will all be in for a lecture the next day and oh let's not forget her taunts that carry on for about a month approximately." She explained sweetly with a sarcastic smile.

"She sounds horrible."

"You'll have the pleasure to meet her." Nyx winked at me then looked around the room noting all the scattered cardboard boxes. "I guess you need help with all this. Let me help you please?"

"Uh...sure." Is this what friends do? Are we friends now?

And so we began. She piled up my neatly folded clothes and I took them from her placing them in the cupboard however I wanted them to. Nyx was a chatter box. And I wasn't one to complain because all of what she said kept me hooked. She was a good speaker and perhaps a good listener because whatever I said she immediately took note of it.

I felt special. Bonding with her and talking to her. Letting her in on my life before coming to the palace. She didn't ask me much about my ma when I told her that she recently expired. "Oh" Was her only reply to me.

When all was done she smiled at me and told me that she knew the perfect place for me. Confused I followed Nyx along the hallways and across all the rooms where the servants were busy working almost mechanically.

"Tadaa!" Nyx exclaimed as she pulled open a door. I peeked inside and saw that it was a library with all the books for the witchcraft. An old looking library with all the brown interior and brown hardcover books. Stepping inside I inhaled and holy molly, it was too good to be real. "You can find any type of witch craft books here. This is the one for the students at the palace."

"You mean there are more?" My voice didn't sound like my own. I was in awe of this place and the interior and the serenity this place provided.

"One for the king and the queen and one for the prince. I've heard that the library of the Prince is much more beautiful and filled with books. And apparently he has read almost all of them."

I nodded absent mindedly. Whatever Drystan did was his business. But this library was awesome. And Nyx bringing me here to show me this library makes me want to fall in love with her all the more.

This girl is awesome.

"Thank you so much Nyx, it's truly amazing."

"Considering all the books that you have about witchcraft I feel like you're the crazier version of any of us witches." Nyx jokes lightly turning on her heels and walking down one of the column of books.

I think I just made a friend.