CORRUPTED FILE [Lumina Chronicles Past Drafts]

Level Thirteen: Conversations With A Ghost

"What are we going to do today?" I asked Kindle during breakfast. Today marked my sixth day here in the Shadow Realm. Tomorrow, it would be a week and I would be that much closer to going home to Elle.

"I was just getting to that," Kindle said, setting down his glass. It was water, Faye still hadn't gone shopping yet. "We won't be doing any training today, actually."

I tilted my head, a smile beginning to form on my lips. "So... we have a day off?"

Kindle shook his head. "You have a day off," He stood, taking both of our bowls and walking them to the sink. "I still have to work. Seraphim's got a job for me."

"What will I do?" I blurted. My face twisted into an expression of confusion at my automatic reaction. Had I really become so dependent on Kindle in the short amount of time I'd been here? It appeared so.

Kindle laughed, "Do whatever you want, as long as it won't get you killed."

"I'm allowed to just roam the castle without you?"

"Depends. Will you trip and fall down a flight of stairs? Will you swan-dive from one of the turrets into the moat?" Kindle asked, his expression serious.

"No." I replied with a roll of my eyes. "I may be the most graceless dancer in existence, but I do have the ability to walk."

Kindle raised an eyebrow, glancing pointedly at the nearly six-inch high heels that adorned my feet.

I bit my lip. "I'll just avoid staircases," I said sheepishly, "and turrets."

"You could always go and visit Faye," Kindle suggested, holding a hand out to me. I look it and allowed him to help me to my feet. I may have gotten a bit better at walking with heels, but I still felt better with Kindle supporting me. "I'm sure she's finished more dresses by now."

"Alright," I smiled. The prospect of getting another dress excited me. Currently, I had only two-- the one with the little flowers, and a simple periwinkle one with lace sleeves-- that I alternated wearing each day. Today was a periwinkle day.

"Would you like me to drop you off at Faye's now, or do you want to go back to the room first?" Kindle asked as we walked at a steady pace down the hall. Thankfully I wasn't as wobbly as I had been when Faye first gave me the shoes.

"You're leaving already?" I looked over at him, surprised. I had expected us to have at least a little while to talk before he was whisked away to do whatever task it was Seraphim had assigned him.

"I'll apparently have to travel quite a distance," Kindle explained, "Seraphim said it would be best for me to leave as soon as I could if I wanted to make it back before midnight."

"Oh," I said, still wondering why that bothered me so much.

Kindle was apparently wondering the same thing. "Is it a problem?" He asked, his tone laced with amusement, as he gave me a sidelong glance. "Being away from me?"

"No." I replied quickly, sort of defensively. Was it problem? "I just... don't feel safe here."

"You'll be safe, trust me." Kindle assured me. We were silent for a moment, then Kindle added, "Have you decided yet? Room or Faye's?"

"Room," I answered. "If I have a day off, I might as well take the opportunity to sleep."

Kindle laughed, "Sleep? Blondie, it's nearing twelve in the afternoon." Despite his poking fun at me, he still turned us in the direction of the room.

"Laugh if you want, but you fail to understand that being brought here has completely disrupted my regular sleep pattern," I informed him. "On a regular weekend, I wouldn't be going to sleep until around three or four in the morning, and then I would usually wake up at around two in the afternoon."