Ariadne has always been a dreamer. Her mother would always say she was away with the faeries.
Until one night, an envelope shrouded with magic lands at her doorstep, inviting her to the dance of the damned in the enchanting land of Altoria.
It's m...
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Ariadne spent all day in her rooms exploring and trilling to Apollo whenever the mood suited her.
It turned out the bathing room was open aired, except from the wall and domed ceiling attached to the door that lead to it. The other wall, or more accurately, the arched columns were glassless and the view from them was stunning. Tiny intricate pieces of wood filled the bottom gaps in between each column. While fields of evergreen stretched as far as the eye could see, probably past the horizon too. The fields were lined with tall trees of every variety; Yew, Ash and even some proud Oak trees.
The floor was tiled with large pristine lilac squares edged with gold grout. The bath, or more accurately the pool was the centre piece. It was sunken into the floor and mirrored the circular room. The edge was made of smaller white tiles, and steps led down into it.
A long silk screen painted with bright cherry blossoms stood in the corner, while a table stacked full of lilac towels sat next to it. A row of shelves peeked out from behind the screen, what Ariadne could see of them housed a family of vials, glasses and flasks each containing a different coloured liquid.
Ariadne looked at the pool and walked towards it slowly. The water was clear and blue. It was so clear that she could see the mosaic bottom. Dragons with long, sinewy bodies and green scales sat there, pearls clutched tightly in their front claws. Long whiskers sat either side of their mouths while antler like horns sprouted from their heads. In the centre was a golden ball of light and then in the centre of that, a weird rune.
Ariadne stared at it. The longer she did, the more her head hurt. She turned away and it lessened to a dull ache.
"Fae are weird."
"I heard that."
Ariadne turned and there stood Kallen. He leaned casually against the first column, his hands propped up on the wooden screen. Once again he was wearing an impeccably crisp black jacket, open at the waist, so she could see his bare skin. His legs were clad in black, straight trousers, hung low on his hips; while a thick leather belt with a quilted section at the front held them up.
"I told Kendra no visitors, especially you!" Ariadne stayed where she was and raised her chin.
"You do realise that us Fae now includes you, so by default you hate yourself?"
Ariadne seethed inside at his remark. It was true, but it didn't mean she would let it slide.
"Get out!"
"Why do you insist on wounding me?" A hand laid over his chest.
"Fuck you!"
"Would you like to," he asked with a smirk.
Ariadne turned away from him, lowering her chin. Her cheeks heated slightly.
