SEVEN TALES OF LOVE

11. LOST IN THE HALLS

~ISSA

"We need your help," she cried.

I frowned but decided not to react.

"I can't. I am with my Lady," Surya stated.

"It's urgent. It's the thing I told you about," the maid insisted.

"But I have to escort my Lady to the dining halls. I cannot abandon her," Surya replied firmly.

I took one look at the maid, at her eyes and I knew that she really needed this help— it felt important and I felt guilty withholding Surya much longer.

After all, it was not like I was a real princess. I was just a girl like Surya and this maid. I could relate to them.

"Just go on and help her. I'll find my way to the dining halls," I muttered.

"What? You'll let her come?" The maid exclaimed in disbelief.

I nodded. "Go on. I'll be fine."

Surya stared at me for a long time before pointing ahead. "Just follow the corridor. It will lead you to the dining hall."

I smiled at her in agreement and she gestured at the maid to lead the way. I waited until they were gone before facing the empty corridor.

Why did I think that I could do this alone?

I sighed heavily. "Surya said to follow the corridor."

So I started walking forward, dragging my unnecessarily dramatic dress down the strangely empty corridor.

Wasn't it supposed to be lined with guards?

I reached a place where it parted into two more corridors and I stopped. Surya never told me that there were two.

Was I to take the left or the right?

My heart began to pound heavily as the last thing I wanted was to get lost in this large castle. I did not want to run into that strange person again nor the Monster.

I guessed that I was just going to trust my instincts. I looked at the right corridor and was beginning to take it when a strange scent suddenly hit my nose.

It caused my wolf to spring to life as she began to dance with excitement within me. I stopped my initial attempt.

The scent was coming from the left corridor. I could not quite explain it. But I knew that it was alluring, seductive even and made me feel things I had never felt before.

So I took the left corridor in the aim to find the source of this scent. It lured me in like fishes were drawn to bait.

I soon started hearing heavy breathing sounds, almost as if someone was fighting or. . . sparring, perhaps— since fighting felt too extreme.

I spotted an interior balcony that allowed for one to see the floor below. Whoever was making those sounds was on the floor below me.

This was a bad idea. I wasn't supposed to allow that scent to lure me in and I definitely wasn't supposed to be watching whoever was below.

I wanted to turn around, in fact, I even began to turn but the scent only grew stronger and my wolf went crazy inside of me. I could no longer resist.

"I'll just take a little peek to satisfy my curiosity and I'll leave," I whispered to myself.

There were vertical pillars lining the long balcony, so I chose to use one of the pillars as cover. I could just hide behind it, peer below and no one would would catch me.