“I read a story like this,” Rya claimed as Jack moved around her chair and into view.
“Really? What happened in the end?” he asked as he moved to his seat opposite her. The window gleamed over his light blonde strands, giving him an oddly ethereal appearance.
“I can’t tell you the ending because you haven’t read the story. I don’t like ruining stories.” She knew how it ended and didn’t like how the story was panning out compared to her adventure. So far everything in the book seemed to be happening to her.
“I understand completely. Would you be willing to tell me this story?” Jack inquired.
“You want me to tell you?” She repeated in surprise.
Jack nodded his head. Rya thought of the time she could buy as she took a sip of water. The story was long, and she figured Kay was close.
“Once upon a time…” she began, as most stories did.
Jack kept his eyes on her as she told the story. Rya kept glancing around, searching for something other than Jack’s cruel blue eyes. She pulled the story from her thoughts, producing them in a stronger voice than she expected. This was what she was good at. Story telling had saved her from herself too many times to count. It was a strange feeling and sometimes when she really got into it her throat would clench with emotions she wasn’t used to expressing. It caused her voice to change pitch, rising and dropping like a roller coaster as her eyes shone with the magic in the tale. Jack’s eyes, almost bored in the beginning were now rapt with attention as he hung onto every word. He was not aware his castle was under attack. Even as the doors were blasted away and Rebels flooded the courtyard, taking everyone by surprise, he held tight to her words as she stood from her chair, eyes bright.
“The blades flashed in the unrelenting sun, crashing down among the shocked soldiers as arrows soared through the air. The attack had not been seen, had not been expected. Where did this come from? When did the Rebels overtake the watch tower? The ruckus grew in volume, cries ringing out in the courtyard as the Rebels stormed the castle, knocking over the soldier’s futile attempts to drive them back to the cesspits from which they came!”
Jack stood with her, following her as she pretended to stab at soldiers, truly getting into the moment as she plunged into the assault on the castle. He was unaware of the true danger he was in. They circled the table once, Rya by the door with Jack’s back to the window.
“The cruel king rose from the table, coming to the girls side with a terrible gleam in his stagnant green eyes. The door suddenly blasted from its place, sending them off their feet and struggling-”
Before she could finish, set with the table between them, the doors exploded. Rya screamed, falling to the ground as chunks of wood rushed through the air.
“Rya!”
Uncurling from the ball she was in she shoved from the ground and for the door, heading straight for Kay with tears in her eyes. Behind her Jack roared furiously, brandishing his sword.
“And in a daze of smoke the Rebel escaped, the seer safe within in his grasp.” Rya finished before Kay threw a smoke ball against the ground. The furious ice blue eyes faded away as the world spun out of control and Rya found herself in her room, a book clutched tight to her chest.
