Atlantis (A Waterfire Saga Fanfiction)

Chapter 11

"Thank you so much for the invitation.  I would love to stay," he said with a huge grin. 

Alma was beyond worried.  This was not what she had wanted to happen. 

Her heart was beating rapidly inside her chest as she thought of what her father might say when he would discover that they had a guest for dinner.  And not just any guest, but a boy whom Alma had a liking for. 

To make matters even worse is the fact that she hadn't mentioned her association with the mage to her family in the first place. 

How will I explain to them how we met without mentioning the prophecy and the fact that there is magic in Elysia?  Alma wondered desperately. 

She sighed as she realized that she would have to stretch the truth. 

I made Orfeo a promise, one that I won't break. Alma reminded herself in spite of the fact that she was usually honest and found it incredibly difficult to lie, especially to her relatives. 

The young girl was immediately pulled out of her thoughts when Neith invited them inside. 

"Mother, do you need any help preparing..." 

"It is almost finished, Alma.  No need to worry,"  Neith said before she quickly scurried off into the kitchen. 

They made their way to the small dining room where Aeneas sat whilst studying a piece of paper.  The table was already set.  A small window located on the wall across from where Alma's father sat and a candelabra in the center of the wooden dining table were the only sources of lighting in the entire room. 

Aeneas was deep in concentration and he barely even noticed that Alma and Orfeo walked into the room. 

Orfeo once again held Alma's hand in his. 

The young girl looked at the ground, blushing, hoping that Orfeo hadn't noticed. 

Alma was about to introduce the mage just as her father spoke out of the blue. 

"Did you finally solve the mystery as to who bought that necklace for you yesterday, Alma?"  Aeneas asked without looking up from the table. 

Her father clearly hadn't noticed that Orfeo was there in the room with them. 

"No.  Not yet.  Um... Father, we have a guest for dinner..."  her words were then cut off when Idra and Alcina ran into the room whilst bickering among themselves. 

Aeneas sighed, still not looking up from the parchment.  He was absorbed in whatever he was doing and clearly did not want to get involved. 

Neither did Alma. 

Especially not in front of Orfeo. 

"Idra, I'm telling you, that assignment at school is due next week, you should start working on it,"  Alcina stated matter-of-factly. 

"No!  It isn't!  It's due in two weeks!  I have plenty of time!"  Idra exclaimed. 

Alma's sisters were so focused on their heated argument that they, as well, hadn't realized that the handsome young mage was listening to their conversation.