CORRUPTED FILE [Lumina Chronicles Past Drafts]

Level Five: The Queen and King

*Elle's POV* 

Marcellus's voice and expression were so full of concern it was comical. "What do you say?"

"I say," I replied with a roll of my eyes, "that you're completely full of crap, and you'd be insane to think I'd ever side with you."

Marcellus smiled apologetically. "I will admit my methods of brining you here were unorthodox." I laughed, but he continued speaking over the interruption. "However, it was imperative that I got you here as quickly as possible in order to keep the bloodshed to a minimum. We really do need your help, Elle." Then he turned his attention to Raini "You see the logic in my words, don't you dear princess?"

"Oh please," I scoffed.

However, Raini surprised me by nodding, a serene smile on her face. "I do. I want to help. I want to stop Jacintha."

"That's not fair!" I cut in quickly, "you're using that mind control thing, just like you did with my parents!"

Marcellus shook his head, "I don't have the ability to control minds, Miss Carter. I believe I've told you this before. I only make suggestions." He stared intently at me, his eyes narrowed slightly. "And I've still no idea as to why it doesn't work on you."

"It doesn't matter," I snapped, "I'm not helping you."

"I figured it would take coaxing to convince you," Marcellus said, "That's why the king and queen wish to speak with you both."

That snapped Raini out of it. "The only king and queen in this Realm are my parents," she said, tilting her chin up with pride.

Marcellus smiled, "Well hopefully you'll see things in a different way after speaking with Seraphim." He turned on his heel and strode quickly across the room to the door. "Come along," he called.

Raini stood instantly. "I think we should go with him," she chirped.

"Sure you do," I mumbled, but trailed behind her anyway. I was as confused about Marcellus's inability to persuade me as he was, but I was happy about it. I would have been doomed if his strange power worked on me. As it was, I may still have been doomed simply for the fact that my new roommate was so completely affected by him.

As Raini and I followed Marcellus, I contemplated escaping. I wasn't in handcuffs or anything, so if I really wanted to I could run.

I wanted very badly to run.

However, I knew nothing about where I was or how to get back home. On top of that, I didn't want to leave Raini here alone. What with her apparent lack of free thought, she would need someone to defend her. And so even though I wanted nothing more than to get out of this place, I had to stay.

I glared past Raini, hoping that maybe being taken to this world had given me laser-vision or something and I could burn holes into Marcellus's back. Sadly, that didn't happen.

We traveled down corridor after corridor, and I began to wonder just how big the Abandoned Order's castle actually was. I recognized the castle from the game, but being there in person made me realize it looked more like a boarding school than a castle. That is, if the boarding school was completely washed in white paint. Seriously, who decorated this place?

We passed the first window I'd seen since my arrival here, and through its curtains a tiny sliver of pinkish light entered the hall. It was obviously early in the morning. That or I'd completely lost track of time during my captivity and it was actually sunset. However, as we moved further into the castle the warm smell of bacon reached my nose. Morning it was.

Further down the corridor, I could faintly hear a girl's voice. It was the same sharp and demanding voice I'd heard multiple times throughout my time here, and as we moved closer to the source of the sound I could make out what she was saying.