Rising Smoke

Chapter Two

        I gulp. I hear music. The door slowly opens up to a ballroom, with people dancing, women in big gowns and men in suits. I study them, everyone is either beautiful or handsome. They are all perfect. What? I feel out of place and clumsy. Even though I have been scrubbed, painted on and dressed up like a doll. I don't feel like I am that sort of perfection.

        Everything is old-fashioned. I think I won't find anyone that isn't in twenty-first century clothes. Or really anything from the twenty-first century.

        As I walk in, they stop and move away to the walls of the room. The dancers peel back to reveal two thrones, one occupied and one not, at the end of the room.

        The ballroom is gorgeous. High ceilings, marble everywhere, high glass windows, everything is so elegant. Polished to perfection, it's a fairy tales' dream.

        Then I notice the man sitting on the throne, who's staring right at me, intensely. He's perfection, I think to myself. Slicked, black hair, emerald green eyes, strong, clean-shaven jaw makes up his face. And underneath his face is just as perfect. Broad shoulders, tapered waist. I can see he could be tall, even though he's sitting. Wait, how can I see his eyes? He's like fourty feet away! Why can I see so well? This is crazy.

        Wait a minute... I glance back at Arlen, then at the man on the throne. They are practically identical, except the eyes. Are they brothers? But more than that, are they twin brothers? They have to be.

        I look at Arlen, who's looking at his brother. I look at the man, who's still staring at me. This is when I notice it has gone silent. The music stopped, the dancers stopped. Everyone, except Arlen, is staring at me. My heart is beating, loudly. I wouldn't be surprised if everyone could hear it.

        The man on the throne, obviously the king, stands up. Yup, he's tall. He starts walking towards me. Damn, he's fine. Wait! What are you doing? He is probably the one who kidnapped you! He's the one who staged it! You shouldn't be drooling over him! Get a grip, girl!

        I square my shoulders and put a defiant expression on my face. By this time, Arlen and I had made it halfway into the ballroom. The dancers pushed to the side all have indifferent expressions on their faces. No warmth or coldness. Just neutral. Like I wasn't kidnapped and dragged here.

        "Bring her here, brother", the king says. Ah, so they are brothers, interesting.

        Arlen shuffles me forward. Lovely. I stand in front of the king, who looks me up and down. Is he seriously checking me out?

        "You have grown up well, Leila," he says, looking into my eyes. He knows me? Obviously, nitwit, why else would he single you out and kidnap you?

        "What do you want with me?" Wow I finally spoke up. My voice didn't waver... much. He doesn't answer, just circles around me. Oh no he didn't. Anger replaces fear. I grit my teeth, clench my hands into fists, and am one second away from screaming.

        He comes to stand right in front of me and says, "Leave us." The way he said, it left no room for disobedience. His voice, I have noticed is commanding and powerful. Like a king. God, if I'm wrong about this, I am not ever gonna assume, again.

        The people scurry out. "Arlen, stay here." He does all this while looking at me. I hear the doors shut. We are still having our little stare down. He's got a smirk on his face. Bastard. He kidnaps me, dresses me up, and is smiling about it. I just want to deck him.

        But I won't. That would be stupid. Keep your wits about you, Leila.

        "Lovely," he says, while reaching for my face. I smack his hand away. He looks at me with a confused expression on his face then he smiles. Uh!

        "What do you want with me?" I say between gritted teeth. I look at the king and Arlen, who came around to stand in front of me.