The Nexus

Chapter Ten

It was calling Arayna again.

She could feel it as she walked down the dark cave tunnels once more, following the pull. She couldn't resist it, she had to go to it, to answer it's summons. Her heart began to quicken as she drew closer, she could see the light coming around the corner. She had to go to it.

Her breathing was loud in the enclosed space as she drew closer, her combat boots clicking on the stone ground. Heart in her throat, she turned the corner and went still at the sight of it, at it's beauty, its power reaching out to her, calling her closer. She could feel it's energy, coursing through her veins, warming her blood, making it hum in her veins.

Then as before, an image passed over it, distracting her.

It was that woman again. She was laughing as a man, that seemed oddly familiar with his black colored hair swept back, violet blue eyes sparkling with mirth, came up and wrapped his arms around her, pressing a kiss to her cheek. Arayna felt a strange pang in her heart that she couldn't describe as she watched the couple. Something happened that drew the man's attention, and he suddenly bent down and swept up a young boy with long wavy hair up into his arms.

Why did he look like Arrow did as a young boy?

        ***

Arayna bolted awake, heart hammering against her rib cage, sweat sliding down the side of her face. She looked around the strange room, taking in her surroundings as she breathed heavily, trying to get her rapid pulse to return to normal. These dreams were becoming more vivid, but they still didn't make any sense. What did they mean? Who were the man and woman? Why did they seem so familiar?

Still uncomfortable with her surroundings, she tossed the covers aside and swung her legs to the side of the mattress. Scrubbing her face, feeling like she hadn't actually slept at all, she got to her feet. She looked at the clothes on the large chair that Kayda had brought the night before, and scowled. Grabbing the light blue tunic, black leather vest, and black pants and boots, she walked into the large adjoining room to change. She went over to the sink and started scrubbing her face with a towel and then she took a hair brush and made her way through her long auburn hair.

With her hair brushed, she french braided her hair at the top and the rest she tied back to keep it out of her face. Arayna returned to her room, only to find Kayda leaving a dress and jewelry on her bed.

"What is all this for?" She asked the Dracotine woman with a skeptically arched brow, feeling lost without her weapons.

Kayda let out a startled yelp and spun around with wide eyes, then chuckled nervously. "Oh, good morning. I hope you slept well, and this is for you. Prince Xavier has requested you wear it." Kayda gestured to the dress and jewelry, smile growing almost stiff-like that she tried to hide.

Arayna felt her frown grow deeper as she looked at it, feeling her nose scrunch up with a snarl.

Another dress? What the hell was Xavier thinking? Why would he send another dress? Surely there wasn't another dinner, was there? The first one had been awkward enough. This time the dress was a pearl white color that seemed extremely impractical, with a long, ankle length hem, and long open flowing sleeves. Then there was the jewelry, of which Arayna despised wearing. Two pairs of silver bracelets with a leaf design, a silver necklace with a blue gemstone in the middle, and a silver tiara that wrapped around the forehead with a leaflike design and a blue gemstone in the middle.

Arayna cringed. She was being forced to dress up again, but why?

Kayda gave a girlish giggle. "Xavier left you a note." With those words, she left Arayna's room quietly.