Atlantis (A Waterfire Saga Fanfiction)

Chapter 4

Alma had a dizzy feeling when she opened her eyes.

For a moment, she had forgotten why there was a large cut across her right arm. Then, the memories came flooding back to her:

Orfeo speaking with his fellow mages in the citadel; her telling Thalia that magic wasn't real; Thalia slashing her arm and asking her if she liked Orfeo as more than a friend.

She scoffed when she remembered that her friend claimed that she was doing her a 'favour'.

Alma got off the large comfy bed and tried to figure out where she was.

As she walked around the room, she tried to take in her surroundings.

The floor was made of polished marble and the walls made of red stone.

In the corner of the room, stood a lyre with a sound-chest made of a turtle shell. Extending from the sound-chest were two raised arms made of wood.

Alma was fascinated.  She had never seen a lyre or any type of instrument from up close before.

Many scrolls rested neatly on a shelf above a desk which was elegantly carved out of birch wood.

Alma noticed many glass bottles placed on another shelf on the wall.  She observed them with curiosity for each bottle was filled with strange liquids.

Perhaps a scientist works here, she thought.

"I see you're awake," said a voice behind her.

Alma stopped walking.  Her heartbeat quickened once she realized who was speaking to her.  She took a deep breath to calm herself and turned around.

"Does your head still hurt Alma?" Orfeo asked her.

Suddenly, she felt her face grow warm with embarrassment. What in the world am I doing in his chambers? she asked herself silently.

Orfeo studied her with a look of concern on his face.  He walked over to the shelves and took a bottle filled with a murky green liquid.  Carefully, he poured some of it in a cup and handed it to her.

"It should get rid of your headache and dizziness," he said with a charming smile.

"I don't understand.  When did I come here?  Why am I here in your chambers?" she asked before drinking the strange medicine.  Surely she could trust him, she thought.

"When Lady Thalia was introducing us to each other, you fainted.  You hit your head on the wall before I caught you and that might explain why you may have trouble recalling certain memories," he said.

Alma's face grew even redder than before.  I fainted.  Great. Such a lovely first impression.

"I...Um checked to see what had caused you to fall..."

Oh dear gods no, Alma thought.

"...And it seems that this awful heat had somehow gotten to you," he said. "You should stay more hydrated."

Alma breathed a sigh of relief.

"Where is Lady Thalia?" asked Alma, hoping to quickly change the subject.

"She said that she would be back in a little while.  Come, sit down," said the mage while pulling Alma's uninjured arm and leading her towards some wooden chairs.

Alma felt butterflies in her stomach when he touched her.

They both sat down, wondering what to speak about.

After a while, Alma said: "I heard you playing the lyre. You're a very talented musician Orfeo."

"Thank you," he said with a shy smile.

"Are you a scientist as well?" she asked.

Orfeo chuckled and said: "What gave you that idea?"

"Well, for instance, you have many strange liquids bottled up on shelves and you have many scrolls as well, so I assumed that maybe..."

"Well, you guessed wrong. I'm a healer. I play the lyre for the sick and suffering and create medicines. I saved many people Alma. I set bones,..." he said, but Alma wasn't listening.

Instead, she simply stared at him and took in all of his features. Before she knew it, Orfeo started waving his hand in front of her face to try and grasp her attention.

"Hello? Earth to Alma?" he said while snapping his finger and waving his arms around like the world was about to end.

Alma shook her head, trying to get her mind to focus on the present.

"What is it?" Orfeo asked while holding back a grin. "Surely, I can't be that handsome." he said with a laugh.

Alma hands turned ice cold.  Is it really that obvious that I like him? she wondered.

Trying to get rid of the awkward silence, Alma stated: "I don't believe you."

Orfeo stared at her.  "You don't believe me...about what?" he asked.

Alma sighed.  "When you say that you can set bones. It's impossible. Even here. On the island of Atlantis. Where wonderful fruits and flora grow and everyone is 'magically' protected from other cruel and horrible people..."

Orfeo stood up from his chair and interrupted her, mid-sentence.  "You don't believe in magic do you, Alma?"

"Magic isn't real Orfeo." she said with a bit of edge to her voice.

Orfeo clucked his tongue and thought for a moment.  "How is your arm? Let me see it." he instructed.

Hesitantly, the young girl held out her right arm for him to see.

The wound had stopped bleeding and surprisingly, it didn't seem like it was infected or anything. It just resembled a normal scratch.

Orfeo held onto her arm and observed the cut for a moment. His ice blue eyes then drifted from the wound to her own sapphire ones.

He then placed the palm of his hand gently onto her arm and then removed it.

Alma's throat went completely dry and her face was as pale as snow.

There was no scar, no dried up blood. Literally. The cut was gone. There was nothing on her right arm.

The young girl observed where the wound had been in disbelief.

"How in the gods names did you heal me?"

She looked at him, wide-eyed.

"I told you, Alma. There is magic here in Atlantis."

***

I apologize for the long wait in getting this chapter published. To be honest, it has been a very busy summer and I have to admit, that I had a bit of writer's block. Hope you enjoy this. Don't forget to like, comment and share!

<3 AGkittykat