Another World

Chapter 24

Why does absolutely everything have to be so convoluted?! I sit in the garden and watch birds flying through the purified blue sky. It's starting to show signs of dusk. Kio sent Tom, Jake, Austin and a few guards to hunt down Jolene. And just guess who decided to pickle along? Quinton. Just when I stood up, a thought suddenly popped up in my head. The key. Underneath the tub, Jake's secret place! I rush to the Chinese Gardens. Immediately I crouch and look for a latch. Aha! I detach the little key and slide it into my jeans pocket. Now where did he say it was? Somewhere in the woods, but that's where everyone is... Hey, it's an adventure! I exit the gates and am on my own. After about 20 minutes' walk, I spot a little cabin in the far north side. That must be it. I'm careful as I walk over remains of shrubs and it's dark already. I remove the key from my pocket and just as I enter the tip, I notice the bolts are worn and tumbling. That's strange. As I take my first steps into the villa, a light switches on. "Hey Princess!" Austin sits on a little cradle filled with a futon covered in silk.

"Hey Austin. What're you doing here? You scared the living hell out of me!" I snigger a bit. He stands up and walks toward me. He puts his hand on my back and leads me to sit on the cradle. Suddenly he switches off the light! I start to panic and try to stand up. Austin pulls me down again and says, "Whoa, relax! You don't want that crazy lunatic woman to kill us now?"

"No." I sit very close to him, frightened that Jolene would jump through the door at any minute.

"I thought Princesses are brave."

"They are!" I keep my voice low. "But why are you in here? Aren't you supposed to be hunting Jolene?" He snorts.

"Did you not hear what happened? We were attacked, my dear Isabelle. We didn't stand a chance, it was by surprise. Some of the pythons got a few guards. Poor things, you know? Were bitten and blood sucked right out of em'." I tilt my head backwards and whisper to myself, "I'm never getting out of here alive." And sigh. "Do you know where Jake and the others are?"

"I think they ran to the waterfalls."

"I don't think it's a good idea to go and look for them, is it?" I worry.

"It's way too dangerous and if they get their hands on you, it's over."

"Okay. Then we stay here?"

"Yeah."

"Okay..."

"Okay." I smile at his sense for humor. After a few minutes, I fall asleep on his shoulder and he wakes me up right before dawn the next day. Day 5.

"Hey, Isabelle? Are you awake?" I realize my head is in his lap..! I open my eyes slowly and look up towards his face. I start blushing. It's not every day you wake up with your head in someone's lap! "Hi Austin." I smile and sit up next to him. "Is it time to go back?"

"I'm afraid so." He says with a sad face. Ipunch his shoulder and giggle. We carefully exit the cabin and hop behindtrees, looking out for any strange movements. He leads us south, to thewaterfalls and lagoons. After 1 hour's complaining and mutters, we reach thefirst waterfall. There's no one hereexcept Zetora. She is huge. Masculine and beastly. As she comes closer, I beginto hide behind Austin. He puts his palm on her forehead and she purrs! "Hop on!"Austin says and he decides to climb on first. I give him my hand and he pullsme up in one, smooth movement. I sit behind him and hold him as tight as I can.He whispers something in the beast's ear and suddenly we are moving towards thepalace grounds.