Take Me Away

Chapter 7

  "Where have you been all day?"

  I watched my butterfly until she went inside.  Her name I learned is Aurick.  Beautiful just like her.  Even though she cooked a full meal for her grandmother and herself, she didn't seem to want to eat any of it.  I wonder if this is a common practice for her or if she's sick?

  "Prince Austeyn, are you listening to me?"  Demanded my overly impatient guardian.  Honestly, I hadn't even been paying attention to him.  I pulled myself away from her to return home, only to be lectured on my disappearance.

  "I'm sorry Hane, what were you saying?"

  "You disappear all day and now your head is stuck in the clouds?  Ive known you for a long time your highness, and this isn't like you."

  True, he has known me since my birth.  Might as well tell him.  "I think I've found her."

  "Found who?"

  "My future queen.  I felt myself being pulled yesterday so I just let my feet take me wherever.  I don't have the words to tell of her beauty."

  "You went to the human world without me??  What if something had happened to you!  You need to start thinking about your people.  Your parents babied you for far too long but you don't have that luxury now.  With your brother gone, you are next in line for the throne.  If something were to happen to you as well, that title would go to your younger sister.  Do you want that for her?  She'd be put at an unnecessary risk.  All because you were only thinking about yourself."  Pausing for breath he sighed.  "Lad, you know I love you like my own.  I just don't want anything to happen to you.  If you want to go to the human world, let me know and I'll accompany you."

  It means a lot to me that Hane cares so much for my family and I.  "I'm sorry for worrying you, Hane.  Next time I'll make sure to include you."

  "Thank you.  Now let's get you back before your mother realizes you haven't been with me all day."

  The next couple days went by but I couldn't get her off my mind.  It was difficult to concentrate on anything but her silky voice or remembering the way her eyes light up as she smiles.  All I could think of was getting back to the human world. 

  "Hane, I'm ready to go back."

  "You are currently not needed for anything too important, so I suppose that should be fine.  We do have to be back by nightfall though."

  "Deal."  Hane follows me as I make my way down the same path I took before.  My feet already know where to go.

  Coming through the gate Hane gives a bark of a laugh.  "So you got stuck with a celtic lass, huh?  Feisty the lot of 'em.  Your great, great, great grandmother was of that line.  Now she was a lovely woman."

  "Are different nationalities chosen?"

  "Yes, there's no telling which part of the world a human will be chosen from.  Your mother happens to be of Greek descent."

  "That's interesting."

  "Huh, Isle of Man if I'm not correct."

  "What?"

"This place.  It's a little island called 'the Isle of Man.'  I've been here before."

  "Do you mean another human from here was chosen by my family?"

  "I'm not completely sure."

  That was even more interesting.  We left the forest and within minutes  were walking up to the house.  Once again all was quiet.  I made my way to the window that I first had seen her before.  There she was again, but something was off about her.  Her face was flushed and there was a glossy sheen on her brow.  Her blankets from her no doubt cocoon, had been thrown haphazardly to the floor and she was twisting restlessly.  And her arms...I'm sure the expression on my face was one of shock and horror.  They were mottled black and blue from her hands all the way to her ahoulders.

  "Lad, have you spoken with her?"

  "Not yet.  Hane, what is wrong with her?"

  "It happens to all human brides.  Once they're found, and until they are brought home to our world, their bodies start to shut down."

  "You don't mean..."

  "Without you she will die."