The Puddle Portal

Part 4: King Skyler

       The girls stared in awe at the massive castle. The walls were covered in moss while a trail led to the front door. A fountain stood in the center of a huge garden. The moon rose high in the sky. Lexie lead the girls to the front, which was guarded by two women. The guards were big, buff ladies. One of them said, "Sorry, the king isn't taking any visitors right now." Lexie smiled and said, "Det är Alexis. Antingen flyttar du eller så tar jag Dallas." The guards gulped and moved.

       The door opened into a long hallway. The walls were lined with paintings of different men and women. Potted plants sat underneath them. At the very end of the hall stood a tall black and blue throne. On it, sat a man who was about the same height as Lexie. A guard came in front of the girls and said, "King Skyler. You have visitors." The king sighed, "I can see that that." The girls walked up to the throne and Lexie introduced them. 

       "This is Sophia, Olivia, Brianna and Liz." Skyler eyed Liz. "I assume Liz is short for Elizabeth?" Liz nodded. Olivia looked around the room. "So you are really a king?" Skyler smiled. "Yes, I am the king of the puddle world." Sophia sighed, "I still can't believe we went through a puddle." Skyler frowned. He got off his throne and walked around the girls. "Many people fall into the puddle and come into our world. We give them a choice. Either they stay or they go back through the puddle. Sadly, when they go back through, they forget that they went in."

        Sophia smiled and said, "Then let's go!" Skyler sighed and Lexie rolled her eyes. "We would," Skyler said, "But the gems that are used to power the portal, were stolen..." The girls and Lexie looked shock. "Who stole them?" Lexie asked. Skyler looked at her. "I don't know." Lexie rolled her eyes and whispered, "Maybe if you were better at being a king, you wouldn't have that problem." Skyler walked over to her. "How about you just shut your mouth!" The girls looked to the side, trying not to watch. Lexie licked her lips and said, "This is why we divorced." "No," Skyler said. "We divorced because you disappeared with our child!" Lexie smiled and walked out of the castle.

       Skyler looked back at the girls. "Sorry, I didn't want y'all to see that." The girls turned around and Olivia said, "Oh, that's fine. But one question: Where are we going to sleep. Both me and Sophia are really tired." Skyler looked around the castle and said, "Follow me." The girls followed Skyler up a tall staircase. Soon, they came to a long hallway. Ten different doors lined the hall. "Sophia," Skyler said, "You can sleep in the first room. Olivia can sleep in the next room while Brianna can sleep in the one after that." All the girls ran into their new room. "Goodnight," Sophia said, "I'm about to listen to my pop music." They all closed their doors.

       "Where do I sleep?" Liz asked. Skyler walked down the hall and Liz followed him. "This used to be my daughter's bedroom." Skyler said and then he had a face of regret. "She disappeared when she was only a eighteen months old." "What happened?" Liz asked, with a look of concern. "December 4th was the last day I saw her. I put her in her crib and went to sleep. Then I heard her crying. I ran into her room and saw that Alexis had jumped out the window with my child. I found Alexis but couldn't find my darling little girl. The court said Alexis could come near me, but she can't touch me." Skyler looked out a window. Liz walked over to him and hugged him. Skyler smiled and started to walk out the door. "Goodnight."