Collided Worlds

Chapter 20

I woke up… somewhere. I was still alive, still breathing. The area was pitch black, and I couldn’t see anything, but I was lying on something soft and comforting. I don’t think I was drunk anymore… but I wasn’t sure. Why did I have to get drunk?

“Ah, dear niece, you’re awake.” I heard a voice say evilly, crudely, one that was way too familiar to my ears. “Good thing, too. I thought you’d never wake up, not when you had a day like that.”

“Hey uncle, good to see you, too.” I greeted to the room, sitting up on the soft surface, circling around, trying to find his voice. I gave up and lit the candle-finger flame, and found myself fully faerie-clothed, in a place I knew too well. It was the red-and-black room I was held prisoner in the… what was it, second? Sure, second time he kidnapped me. Or, maybe third… Oh well, too far back.“Okay, what am I doing here, uncle?” I pointed the finger around until I saw him standing there, in a corner of the room, his back laying against the wall, arms crossed, smiling evilly.

“You’re here because I saved you, Calia.” Talamaki said, pushing himself off the wall and approaching me, making me stand. “You’re back where you belong.”

“Belong?” I asked, but I couldn’t believe it. “I don’t know where I belong anymore, uncle. I don’t know.”

“You belong in Tanyela, of course.” He sounded sympathetic, but I wasn’t sure. “You belong where you’re safe. Perhaps with Calvin, when you ma-”

“No!” I screamed, backing away and facing anywhere but towards him. “I don’t love him! I love Cylak!” Then it hit me, and I realized what I said, and who was missing. “Where is he!?”

“Calia, he’s okay.” Talamaki assured in a soothing voice, but I wasn’t convinced. “And he knows you’re okay. But answer this for me…” He stopped, which made me face him, and he was pointing to the ring on my finger. “Why’d you two elope? I mean, there was no point. Both royal families are going to made you divorce, and then you’ll marry Calvin.”

“You’re wrong, uncle.” I said, more confident then I was before I was married. “Cylak and I love each other very much. Once they see that, they can’t make us divorce. I mean, did you see all my friends that came to my wedding?”

“No, I wasn’t watching.” He admitted, but I didn’t care. All I wanted to know was where he was.

“Where is my husband?” I demanded furiously, the fire stretching up to my shoulders. He conjured his flame, same length as mine, but fuller.

“You still won’t win, dear niece.” He laughed, and I grew angrier. I hated that he was right. I doused my flame back to the candle flame, and stopped myself from tensing further. “Where the hell is Cylak?” I was pleading, begging, anything I could get to get him to tell me where he was.

“Last time I checked, he was at the hotel, talking to your faerie friends.” He replied, and I stared into his eyes, and I knew it was the truth. “And I see you met Michael. You know, he’s a Wingless. Lives in this area. Good student, one of the best at my Academy. That’s how I know him.”

I tilted my head slightly. Did I know that? I barely remembered yesterday… or was it yesterday? How long was I out?

“How long was I out?” I asked, and he started laughing.

“Not long. A few hours, but you were drunk as hell. Try not to drunk until you’re ready for it, okay?”

I glared at him, but it was good advice. “Whatever.”

“Good. Now, let’s go find your parents. They don’t know you’re here, you know. They think you still ran away somewhere with Cylak.” He paused for a moment. “And the other faeries who were absent from the Academy classes the last few days.”