The Inner Kingdom

Chapter Ten - The Information

Location: The Path

◑ Angie ◐

I was awakened to the sound of someone knocking on the door. Pretending to be asleep, I ignored the noise, hoping that it would end.

To my relief, the knocking ceased as I snuggled deeper into the pillow under my head. My seconds of bliss were abruptly ended by the sound of pounding on the room door.

Reality hit me when I opened my eyes. I begin to recall that I was no longer home or on Earth for that matter.

As I glanced at the lit fireplace, which took the remainder of our strength to activate its celta last night, I caught myself becoming confused about what was true and what was not.

The noise had returned, and this time it didn't sound like it was going away as I sat up in bed and stared at the door. The soft satin covers and the smell of burning firewood was almost enough to lull me back to sleep, despite the loud knocking.

Dragging my achy body out of the tangled limbs that belonged to my sisters, I didn't bother to straighten my wild hair as I opened the door to find Leo with his hand raised in the air to bang again. He was still sporting his armored clothes except today his armor plated chest, boots, and cuffs were gold and the clothes beneath were silver.

"What?" I growled, looking up at the one person I wasn't expecting to find at the door. "Why are you here?" I was never much of a morning person, so my voice held an extra edge to it.

He stared at me with one eyebrow lifted, not letting his face betray what he was actually thinking. "I take it you slept well, since you did not hear the helpers' attempts to wake you."

Opening the door wider to glance around the corner, I found three ladies standing against the wall whispering to one another, which turned into giggles as they saw me. "What's wrong with them?"

Clearing his throat, he said, "It is very improper for a lady to open the door to a person of the opposite sex in her... sleeping attire."

"Improper? I look like I am wearing a rug," I exclaimed as I motioned at the calf-length thick red fabric with wide shoulder straps. "Secondly, I don't see you as human, let alone a man. You are more like a homicidal invention, of my hormonal teenage nightmare, which I can't seem to be able to awake from."

"I assure you that this is not a dream, and I have no time to confirm or deny your sanity."

"Never mind that. Why are you here?"

"To hurry along the process of getting you ready since Mina will not let anyone break the agreement that was made."

"What agreement?"

Sighing heavily, he said, "The one she made with you and your sisters about boundaries."

"Then that must mean you came here to escort us home."

"I am here to make sure that you are properly escorted to Nolin whom in return will answer any questions that you may have."

Crossing my arms over my chest, I asked, "Is that a yes or a no?"

I could tell he was beginning to lose his composure as he rubbed his temple with his right hand. "Why can't you just do what you are told?"

"Do I look like a pet you can boss around?" I countered.