Entrance to the Song (completed)

Chapter 21 - Destiny's Renewal

Stars seek their own place to shine

I barely slept that night; the covers were too hot, but it was too cold without them. Daddy slept in a room nearby, but Sol was somewhere imprisoned in the Sleepers Keep. Why would Cain want Sol? What did he plan to do with him? There had to be a way to rescue him.

I threw the covers off once again and turned over on my stomach and fell asleep.

The sound of a cock crowing startled me awake. "What-" I started, gazing hazy eyed around the room. My eyes landed on Daddy, Shiah, and Benin watching me over my bed. Gosh. Is there a sign on my door saying everyone's welcome, at any time of the day, to watch Penny sleep? Daddy smiled and waved. I grabbed the pillow and put it over my head.

"Come on, sweetheart, get up. You haven't seen me in a while so we have to catch up unless you want Benin to inform me of all the things you've been up to."

I peeked from beneath the pillow; Benin leaned against the wall with his arms folded.

"All right," I grumbled. "I'm getting up." I sat up on my elbows, but Daddy didn't move.

"I know you Penny. As soon as we walk out, you will lay right back down," he said. "I'm waiting for your feet to touch the ground."

I put my head down and moaned–that's exactly what I planned to do. I was up half the night worrying about Sol, so I was tired. I missed Daddy so much; I had forgotten how well he knew me.

"Okay, I'm –getting up." I rolled over and scooted off the bed, as soon as my feet touched the floor Daddy led the party out of my room, as promised.

I dragged myself to the shower wishing Tilly could just pick me up and carry me everywhere. Wouldn't that be a lovely invention? I let the water run over me, trying to stay away from the subject of Sol, and failing. I wondered if he was thinking of me too. Were they torturing him? What could they–want with Sol? There was something more to the story, and I wanted to get to the bottom of it.

Sol and I had shared such a great moment, and then he was ripped from me. I was angry with him. How dare he sacrifice himself without telling me where he was going? I guess he thought he was being noble, but if he would've told me, we could've gone together, and found a way for all of us to escape. I finished up and hurried to the dining area.

A ridiculous amount of food covered the food bar, and the rogue flowers that Benin and I grew were now located in various vases around the room. Cook buzzed around the kitchen serving Daddy, Shiah, and Benin; he must've gathered the flowers this morning. His dark hair was combed over the bald spots atop his head. "Hello, Mistress Pendra."

"Please, call me Penny," I answered, knowing he would just continue calling me Mistress, no matter what I said.

"Yes, Mistress Penny."

I signed as usual; at least he agreed to call me Penny even if he tacked the Mistress on it. I tried asking him his name, but he insisted I call him cook. His hunched posture and pockmarked face proved he never took advantage of the beauty bar. He may have even given all of his beauty away which made me wonder what he may have looked like before. He could've been tall with dark steamy eyes that glowed when he talked. I studied him and then shook my head. My imagination would only go so far, and the man that stood before me was a far cry from handsome.

I gazed over at Benin–at first sight, he wouldn't be what I called handsome, but the other qualities he had made him extraordinary. The way he always found something positive to say about everyone he met. He was slow to speak and quick to listen. There was so much I could learn from him.