indifferent

Chapter 3

So Jay had a girlfriend? Good for him, why should she care she had no attachment to the guy... Right? Of course not she barely new him.

What Ashley did know was that she felt very awkward indeed as they pulled apart and the girl snaked her arm around Jay's waist.

"So... Jay. I see your mission to collect her went well. My name is Amelia, how are you Ashley?" She said it as though Ashley was a parasite that she didn't want to even know exists never mind be putting her hand out to shake Ashley's hand.

Sticking her own hand out to shake the girl, Amelia's, she spoke nervously. "Umm, Hi... I'm good thanks just a little worried, and wondering what the hell I'm doing here." Amelia's face looked a little shocked at this. no doubt she had expected Ashley to stick to the usual I'm fine thanks, and not speak her actual feelings.

She really was worried. About her family, her friends. She wondered if anyone had noticed she was missing, probably not,she had only been gone for a small time. Then again, how would she ever get back? Jay clearly didn't care that much as it seemed that he just had to collect her as some kind of mission. He was probably just some kind of nobody to whoever ran this place. Sent to do their errands. Why had she even gone with him? This question had to have run through her head at least a hundred times since she first left.

She would never be able to leave of her own free will... somehow she new this even I she hadn't been told she was pretty much stuck here! What was she going to do? It was Jays fault. Why couldn't he have just left her to training herself? She would have been fine in her own and their was probably nobody even coming after her, he just said that to get her to go with him, how stupid she had been.

"This is your fault!" she shouted letting out the stress she had been feeling about all of this, unfortunately for Jay, he happened to be the one standing in front of her. " You tricked me! You must have... why on earth would I come here with you of my own free will?! I should be at home with my family! I should be running, practicing for the competition! And you have ruined that for me too!"

Of course she knew it wasn't really he was just some kind of servant or something, he probably wasn't even control of anything he did.

"Look, I'm just trying to help you. Amelia thought it would be best if we brought you here. With you located so closely to the portal we couldn't have you giving our location away. And I hardly think you need to practise for that competition." Jay spoke calmly as if he had to deal with this kind of thing all the time which he most likely did.

" Oh really?" she ignored the last part of his answer, for now... "And why does Amelia get an opinion on my life? why do either of you? You don't, I can handle myself I don't need the likes of you two trying to help me, I don't know why I didn't see it before!"

Amelia shot her such a harsh glare that she shut up.

" I, for future reference, am the queens daughter. which makes Jay and I very important." she lent closer so she was just inches away from Ashley's face. " So if I were you I would shut up before you get yourself in deep trouble for saying such things. and I would advise you to never repeat them." she turned quickly walking away.

What? She was some sort of princess? but that makes Jay some kind of... I don't know, prince? or at least he will be if they ever get married. for some reason the thought of it made her stomach turn. Ashley heard Jay mutter curses under his breath, pulling her from her thoughts. as he dragged her, rather harshly, away towards a less crowded village.

" Don't speak that way in front of her again. She could have you exiled which, trust me would not benefit you." Jay no longer had the playful tone in his voice. he seemed almost... angry at her. Which she supposed made sense as she had pretty much just completely insulted his girlfriend. she didn't say anything in return just let him drag her along behind him as they weaved through the small cottages.

Flowers littered the streets in every direction, along with sweet looking animals. She laid eyes on one particular dog, with dark chocolate fur and deep brown eyes. A Labrador. She moved aside a little so she didn't accidentally rush into it at the quick speed Jay was pulling her.

Moments later, she was moved left and then they came to a holt. in front of her was a lion shaped door knocker, which Jay taped on three times.

An oldish looking lady answered the door and quickly ushered them in from the now dulling skies. The sun was almost completely set.

" Hello dear." the woman said. "My name is Julia. and you are..?"

Jay spoke for her. " This is Ashley. we just brought her in and I know your son moved out just a few weeks ago, so I wondered if she would be able to stay with you for a while? I don't think Amelia would appreciate her presence in the palace right now. you know how busy things have been. it wouldn't be permanent, maybe just for a few weeks or so?" His tone of voice was very sweet now, as if he liked the woman very much.

" Of course! Any friend of yours is a friend of mine." Then to Ashley. "You can stay as long as you like dear."

" Umm, thank you..." she fiddled with her hands nervously not sure of what to say.

" I will leave you with her then. Ashley, you have training sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. I trust you will report to them. We will send a message to your parents saying you are going away for a while on a trip to do with training. which is kind of true. I teach control over your power. see you Monday. Eight o'clock sharp." he left quickly not waiting for an answer. and when he was gone she felt a weird sense if loneliness.

"Ashley?" said Julia. she hadn't realised she had been staring at the door for a few moments. she tore her gaze away and looked up at Julia. She had aged well. She was perhaps in her early fifties, with greying hair and deep green eyes with spidering lines around them from laughing.

"Yes?" she said, and instantly felt at home with the woman, she seemed so genuinely lovely.

" Your room is at the end of the hall on the right, why don't you go in there and get yourself settled and I will bring you some supper? There are some fresh clothes that should fit you on the end of the bed." she placed a hand on Ashley's shoulder reassuringly. " Don't worry too much. As annoying as the royals may sometimes be, they really do know how to do their job. everything will work out." Ashley believed her. Julia headed of to what must have been the kitchen whilst Ashley went in the direction the bedroom was. This really had been one long day.