Once Teague had prepared us some freshly caught fish and Lark had warmed up the tiny cabin with a crackling fire we all sat down around the small circular table to eat. The room around us was surprisingly homey, set up with cute handmade decorations and simple furniture. There was a small but functional kitchen and an even smaller bathroom complete with plumbing (which was a wonderful surprise after going in the great outdoors all day). I wondered whose house it was, and where they had gone. Maybe it was someone’s vacation home. Did people take vacations here? My mind wandered as I enjoyed my well overdue delicious hot meal.
“I can’t figure out how you got here, Lena.” Lark studied his hands as he spoke quietly, his voice bouncing off the cabin’s log walls. “Like I told you before, all of the entrances to Camborne are under strict lock and key. The doorways themselves have compounds built around them with guards everywhere.”
I could feel his eyes watching me as I fought to not look away from my dinner.
“It had to be a new entrance that you came in.” he mumbled, mostly to himself.
“Tell me, was anyone following you? Did anyone see you go through the door?”
I swallowed and sat down my fork. “No, not anyone,” I lied, “I just happened upon it in the back of a supply closet.” My fingers instantly went to the chain around my neck and tugged at it. Why didn’t I just tell him the creepy janitor from the backwards children’s home was following me? I hated lying.
Teague’s voice interrupted my thoughts. “Do you think somebody made the entrance on purpose, Lark?”
“I can only imagine. I don’t see why anyone would try it these days, but how could it happen by accident?”
Teague nodded. A thought suddenly occurred to me.
“Exactly how long can you guess it’s been since someone like me appeared in your world?” I asked.
Lark glanced across the table at Teague, who studied his older brother.
“Nobody’s been through since before we were born.” Lark said quietly. “Our leaders here have restricted access to all the exits. Our people had problems with your kind finding out about us coming in to hunt and steal our resources. It was ugly; a lot of blood was shed in securing the land so our people were safe again. It’s a double edged blade...” He mumbled the last part to himself.
I felt a pang of guilt instantly at the tone in his voice towards me and ‘my kind’, but I of all people should know just how nasty my kind could be.
“How the entrances created?” I asked.
Teague shook his head slowly “I wish I knew. Maybe aunt Beth will be able to tell us more.” He looked over at Lark, who sat rubbing his temples. His hat lay on the table next to him, and the candlelight bounced off his mahogany hair.
A thought suddenly occurred to me. “Why don’t you guys just take me to the man in charge and explain to him the situation? I mean, I bet he’d let me go back. Right?” I looked between both of them, the same expression present in both of their eyes.
“It’s not that easy, Lena,” Said Lark. “They can’t let you go because you might tell someone, and then the secret would be out once again.” He drew in a big breath. “If we wouldn’t have found you they’d have killed you as soon as you arrived at the castle.” He sat his napkin down and walked to the door, looking out into the dark night. Even from inside you could see the moonlight sparkling off of the dark ocean. Lark’s hands were on his hips, and he seemed to be deep in thought.
“Why don’t you go keep watch, T. I’ll take care of the dishes.” he said, his eyes never leaving the window.
I got up with my dishes in one hand and realized again how sore I was. I tried not to let my discomfort show, but my muscles were screaming in agony, and the numerous cuts and scrapes on my body seemed to throb back to life as I walked into the kitchen. I was absolutely exhausted, and couldn’t wait to lie down. The heavy cabin door squeaked shut, and I head Lark’s soft leather shoes approaching.
“Don’t worry about those dishes, I’ll take care of ‘em. You really need to get some rest, I can tell you’re exhausted.” He said gently, and led me down the short hallway and into a tiny room with a small bed and dresser. Lark set his burning candle down on the bed next to the dresser and looked around the room awkwardly.
“Um, guess that’s it then, if you need anything either Teague or I will be right here.”
“Where are you going to sleep?” I asked him curiously.
“Oh, I’ll uh, just curl up on that couch out there.”
“And your brother?” I asked.
“We’ll take turns keeping watch.” He said, staring at the ground.
I could tell he was hiding something. What, I didn’t know. But I’d never been wrong about something like that before. My Teachers and roommates back home always thought it was weird that I always knew when someone was up to something, but it’s nothing extraordinary, just a really good gut feeling I get. Maybe I got it from my parents.
“You guys sure don’t seem to be tired from all this gallivanting.” I probed.
“Like I said, we’re really fit. I better go check on Teague, if you should need anything…” he gestured towards the doorway and smiled quickly before stepping out.
Whatever it was, he didn’t want me to know about it. Stepping out of my filthy sneakers, my mind began to wander. What could those boys be hiding? Nearly anything could be possible here. A yawn came over me as I slipped under the surprisingly clean quilt and my back seized as it settled onto the mattress. The cool pillow beneath my hair felt amazing and my breathing started to settle into a sleepy rhythm. I could hear the boys speaking in hushed voices just outside the bedroom, but couldn’t make out what they were saying. I felt like sleep must come easily at this stage of exhaustion but still my mind continued to turn over and over, refusing to quit.
How did Teague catch up so easily this morning, and how did Lark make it all the way to see this Beth lady and back again while we’re still travelling? Whatever they were hiding, they weren’t hiding it very well. They seemed like smart enough boys; I’d think that they could keep something important from me if they really wanted to. I was bound to find out sooner rather than later. It was this thought that brought me just enough peace to finally allow me to fall into a dreamless sleep.
YOU ARE READING
Becoming Ambellina
Fantasy'If you could listen closely, at this very moment, you could almost hear my life twisting and turning on its axis, spiraling me into a whole new dimension.' Follow Ambellina as she is thrown into a new world full of unbelievable people and lurking d...
