Imaginary friends

21. Hotel

The hallways were cold and silent as I silently crept through the small hotel. Kilorn wasn't in the room when I woke up but I knew he wasn't far. My bracelet pulsed with every step. The small rusty clock on the staircase wall assures me that it is only seven in the morning.  

Every now and then I hear a wisp of a laugh, a yell, a whisper or even a  giggle through the walls of the strange place. I turned down a narrow corridor my bracelets pulse getting stronger by the second.

"Well you can't stay here forever." Stella's voice echoed through the corridors. I can hear a slight clatter of pots and pans. Peering around the corner I turn to see Stella and Kilorn in a small kitchen talking in hushed voices. 

"I understand Stella, But we can't go back. Not yet. Her house would be crawling with moon creatures." Kilorns velvet like voice pleaded, I let out a breath of relief to hear his voice again.

"Yes, Yes. I know, but an old woman like me needs to keep in business." Stella cackled. She pottered around the kitchen, her  floral nighty was covered with a stained blue apron, and her wispy grey hair was pulled back in an elegant bun.

"What if we were to help out around the hotel? You know? cleaning, cooking whatever you need." Kilorn applied as he followed the woman around the old kitchen. 

"I'm sure you don't even know what a duster is, let alone how to use it." Stella chuckled sweetly before turning back to the stove. 

Kilorn seemed to be struggling to persuade Stella, responsibility wrestled with my self doubt, after a silent debate I step out from the shadows to intervene. Noticing my presence Stella and Kilorn look up from their hushed banter. 

"I know how to clean, quite well too. I also can cook and help out with housework. I had a sloppy older brother and I was usually walking behind him cleaning his messes." I say. images of Noah stained my mind as a small smile crept its way to my face.

Stella looked me up and down her hard gaze slowly softening at my generosity. 

"Well. It's the least you can do." She huffed holding back her smile. I can't imagine her getting much help and this place is so big, so she must be happy that someone offered to help out. 

I roll up my sleeves and head straight for the dirty dishes beside the sink. Kilorn smiles gratefully at me, thanking me silently with his exotic eyes. 

Soon after a long hour of scrubbing scum off of pots and pans Stella told me to stop before walking out of the kitchen. I look around confused. I notice a plate of biscuits sitting in the centre of the table. A thank you gift, I suppose. I smile at the woman's small attempt of kindness. Kilorn was right, she was warming up.

***

Working in the hotel was hard work, but it kept my mind occupied so I had no time to worry. I work my way around the kitchen floors, mopping every spot. I hum to myself a soft chune before swinging around to grab a biscuits, only to stop when I notice a few biscuits missing from the plate. I look around confused at the strange occurrence before brushing it off and turning my attention back to flour covered floor.

Moments later I hear the faintest of giggles, when I look I see more biscuits are gone. I walk to the table slowly watching the plate carefully. My eyes light up when I see a small childs hand reached up from under the table and grab a biscuits. I lift up the tablecloth and peer under.

A small gasp echoes through the kitchen. A young boy sits under the table with biscuit crumbs coating his mouth. He was no older than nine. With light brown hair, freckles and piercing blue eyes, much like Kilorn's. By the look of his feline eye I concluded that he must be a warlock. 

I look at the strange boy, astonished at his sneakiness. Just as I open my mouth to question the boy a mist of blue clouds my vision. I cough at the sparkling blue mist, when I look to see where the boy has gone I find no one and a missing plate of cookies. I look around for the small boy with confusion. Kilorn waltz in and looks at me up and down questionly. 

"What?" he asks

"It's just.... I swore... But I...." I search for the right words but nothing comes out. 

"Maybe, you should finish up for the day. It's four and you look pretty tiered." He suggested, he seemed to understand what happened without a hint.

"It's four o'clock already." I say in disbelief realizing I hadn't checked the time once. 

Kilorn only laughed and guided me out of the kitchen, I stop to look back at my the missing plate. How was I supposed to explain this to Stella. 

"We need to go visit Zedar tell him what's happening." Kilorn said as we walked up the stairs. I nodded a reply. 

***

"Aisha. Please would brew up some tea for our guest?" Zedar sang as Kilorn and I sat in the crystal room. Aisha nodded and smiled before walking through the beaded curtain. I look up at the roof as I watch the warm light reflect through the crystals hanging from the roof, coating the room with golden light that danced under my gaze. 

"So. You mean to tell me that you found this.... Other half?" Zader asked his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Well. They found us, realy." I reply while I watch the roof's spectacular dance.

"They?"

"Yes. Blake and his guardian." I say simply as Zedar's mouth went into a small o shape.

"The guardian seems to have an unnecessary grip on the man, and she doesn't seem to like us either." Kilorn said as Aisha walks in with a silver tray with a kettle and tea cups placed neatly on it. 

"I see." Zedar poured the strange purple tea into each cup.

"Zedar. Do you know what I need to do?" I ask.

"Not really. But I have an idea." He smiled.

"And that is?"

"Well. Aletheia literally ripped her soul in half, Divided it into two beings. The good half an the bad half. She banished the bad half in order for her to balance out the life between the moon creatures and those of the sun. She needed to be pure, innocent and perfect. Aletheia's whole being is far too powerful to reincarnate into one body, so there is two. You and this Blake fella."

"My guess is; that you need to come together and become one. protect each other as well as the balance." He continued.

"Cynthia, would never let that happen. She has a hold on him, he's her toy." Kilorn explained.

"Well then. You need to find a way to overcome that, Don't you?" Zedar said simply sipping his tea. 

I take a sip of the strange beverage and my eyes widen at the taste. This explosion of sweet and spice fills my mouth as drink the warm beverage. my mind began to lighten as the tea took its toll on my body.