The Blood Reader

The Blood Reader Chapter 7

We waited in the sweltering heat for our turn to enter the grand hall. The three story, all metal majestic building with the glowing blue lights emitting from the windows and creases of the closed doors instantly caught my attention. As did the fact that not another structure seen from the flying transports overhead was visible across the distance.

We were stuck in the middle of nowhere.

With both of the suns now set, the temperature here in Traon should have cooled after darkness took hold. Only the opposite held true. Proof of which was the steady beads of sweat falling to my cheeks.

Melinah threaded an arm through mine, beaming as she escorted me away from the others. My stomach, still queasy from the ride here, plummeted as Killian and Idal were separated and forced to the side of the large stone building by the Azeeds.

"Should I go with them?" I took a step in their direction to follow. My eyes locked momentarily with my mother's. Again, there was nothing but a pink void meeting mine. The only thing that clued me to her thoughts was the subtle shaking of her head and long rosy-tinged tendrils as they bounced around her shoulders.

Melinah tugged back, settling me behind the other ceruleans lined up in attendance. "No, no, my pet," she cooed as her fingers patted a few stray hairs of mine in place. "We're special guests of the governor tonight, and cannot be seen entering with the likes of them."

That explained why Melinah made sure to have Killian and Idal disguised in full glamor (as a gold and pink) for tonight's festivities. It was all about the control.

"The governor? He's someone of importance I take it?" My voice stayed even while my heart skipped a beat at the sight of Killian almost breaking free. Although he didn't make it very far once Melinah snapped her fingers twice. It took four of the bleached men to subdue him; one at each extremity as they hauled Killian away.

There were so many people bustling about for their turn to enter; no one even noticed the disturbance.

"You could say that," Melinah uttered in a huff. Clearly aggravated, she furiously waved a metallic looking fan toward her face in an attempt to abate the heat. "He's somewhat comparable to the overlord from Maderain."

"Hmmm," I sounded. My mother over the years had filled my head with numerous stories of Byron Rutherford, the current ruling overlord from the Laumeier realm. The man whose family "stole everything away from her" as she claimed. Even though, she never elaborated exactly how or what.

Melinah's perfect facade didn't blemish as she placed the fan in my hand for me to use. "Here. You need this more than me."

Was Melinah being nice? I cocked an eyebrow but kept my pondering to myself.

"Anyway, it will just take some time for you to get acclimated to all this," she continued while fluttering a hand toward the deep indigo sky with the turquoise moon hanging low on the horizon.

"Acclimated? How?" I choked on the words once her inference came to light. She did intend for me to stay here. And even worse—with her!

Melinah jerked my body forward to stay even with hers as we started our ascent on the staircase. At least a hundred blue forms all stood around, with a few green or pale yellows catching my attention as I gazed at the ever growing crowd.

Dozens of flickering torches swayed deeply as a stifling breeze blew past. They served their purpose, keeping the majority of everyone congregated together as we waited for the doors to open and for the party to begin.

She forced a bristling smile after someone bumped into her shoulder. "I wouldn't say acclimated as much as tolerable. The climate here is just one of the many paradoxes of this realm. But you'll learn about all that soon enough."