The Powerful Chronicles of Cayro and Zlyph

Chapter Ten

"Ms. Martinua, Ms. Zlyph, let's go."

I groaned and crossed my arms. "Where are we going this time?" Zlyph asked.

Castillo glowered down at her. "To Dr. Roginburn's office," he answered.

"You mean that big as heck room with the throne?" I asked, an edge of sarcasm in my voice.

Castillo rolled his eyes. "Yes. Ms. Zlyph will stay in there with me and you will take a shower. Then you will trade places. You two smell simply awful," he told us.

"Gee, thanks," I muttered. "What about our clothes?"

"Alana volunteered to wash them. How long do you normally take to shower?"

"When our water system was actually working, like thirty minutes," I said. "After the water stopped working, I used the public shower for about ten minutes."

Castillo wrinkled his nose. "Well then. This will have to be one of those thirty minute showers." He looked at Zlyph. "And how long do you take to shower?"

"Shower?" Zlyph said, giving Castillo a weird look.

Before he could answer, I butted in. "How long do you normally take to wash yourself?"

"Oh! About twenty minutes," she said, understanding now, to my relief.

Castillo nodded. "Good. You will wash after Ms. Martinua."

"I heard you the first time," Zlyph told him.

Castillo flashed a glare at her, and she inched closer to me. "Terrific. I am glad that you comprehend." I saw him hold her wrist tighter and she winced. I pursed my lips and clenched my fist, not wanting to confront Castillo for what seemed like the tenth time.

Castillo pushed the door open with his side, not letting go of me and Zlyph. He grunted as the heavy door swung open. The pressure of the door opening caused a gust of air to blow in my face, and I squinted.

Castillo pulled us towards the end of the Great Room. My eyes wandered around the room. I saw several people in black suits lining the walls, including Alana and Selvin, but they were wearing their usual white lab coats. Selvin was looking at Alana with concern, looking like he was asking her something. Her head nodded up and down as he spoke. I looked closely, trying to read his lips as we walked by, but I couldn't. Zlyph also seemed to see the two adults talking, but didn't make it as obvious that she was looking at them as I was.

"Castillo," Roginburn called out when we were about ten yards away from his desk. "Come here."

Castillo nodded curtly, then turned his head to the right, looking to where Alana and Selvin were and whistled. They looked up and gazed at Castillo. The dark haired man gave them a stern look and jerked his head to the left, gesturing for them to come over. They nodded and walked swiftly towards us. "Take them," Castillo muttered. He pushed Zlyph and I towards the two, then made is way towards Roginburn.

I stumbled and fell into Selvin's arms. "Woah, I got you," he said quietly. I gave him a weird look before standing up straight. He shook his head and grabbed my arm tightly.

I glanced up at him, but he, and everybody else was looking at Roginburn. I did the same.

"Good morning, girls," Roginburn said. His hands were clasped on top of his desk and his mouth was in a straight line. "Lovely to see you."

"If I was a liar, I'd say the same thing," I said. Zlyph giggled.

Roginburn sat up straighter and organized some papers that were laying astray on the table. "Well, Ms. Martinua, if you are going to be rude, let us get this over with. You and Selvin go to the bathing room, and Alana and Ms. Zlyph will join you shortly," he said.