Fae

Chapter 7

Floaty led her through the cavern in a maddening silence. It seemed to seep from his pores and wrap itself around her like an unwelcome relative at family reunions. It smothered her to the point that breathing proved to be difficult, and as each breath squeezed itself in, the silence gripped her tighter, as though in fear that she would try to use her new oxygen against it by speaking.
She knew it was his doing. He was forbidding her talking, but she was okay with it for once. She didn't want to talk to him, nor hear his voice, or his inability to answer any of her questions or call her by name...well, the name he knew. She accepted this thick silence, and settled back into her memories.
She didn't notice how far they traveled until she began to hear voices. They grew louder as she went further, Kaden found them comforting since she'd been lost in silence for what felt like an eternity.
   Floaty gave what appeared to be a smile, and Kaden thought she was going to die. He smiled? He had emotions? What could possibly make him smile? She pondered possibilities all the way until the cavern opened up to reveal a city. A city full of people, well not exactly people, but creatures of a consciousness.
    The city was beautiful. The buildings sparkled like diamonds. The streets shimmered like the sea. Everything was a different color, none of them were the same. Each shimmering building, a gemstone of various colors and shades. Every street and alley was a different shade of blue, shimmering almost as though it were actually the waves.
    "Woah! Watch out, Miss!" Cried a young voice. Kaden looked up just in time to see a young... creature, floating towards her very swiftly and not very well under control, but as she moved out of the way what stuck with her was that the young creature was floating in a bubble! It was inside of a bubble, flying around! Taking another look at the town, that's how everyone traveled. Some of their bubbles were very hard to see, some stood out as plain as day. Maybe the streets actually were constructed of water. Then she noticed it.
    The entire town had stopped, and was staring. Staring at her! She tried to stand tall and not shake as Floaty stepped forward and addressed the people. She tried to get her heartbeat out of her ears so she could listen to what he said, but it pounded nonetheless. She felt him tug at her although she had not moved, but she couldn't find her legs to move. The tugging grew stronger and she felt the people begin to grow uncomfortable waiting on her to appear. Then she began moving. She wasn't moving her legs, but somehow she was approaching his side. Maybe he had grown impatient with her and had simply moved her.
Then she noticed that the amulet was hot and glowing. It was giving her the ability to fly in a bubble! The amulet helped her pass without too much criticism this time, but how long would it be able to do so before she fell on her face and they killed her?
   
    Kaden appeared at his side at last, and he provided her with a very fake smile. Her gestured for her to move forward more, onto the platform overlooking the city. The bubble glided slowly up to the delicate looking vine handrail. Kaden nodded her head and the bubble disappeared, leaving nothing but her on the platform about fifteen feet above the people of the Mond.
    The people stared at her with baited breath as Floaty finished his speech, promising that the moon had a plan and that she could be the best queen they'd had if given the chance and training. He almost sounded as though he believed it. Almost. Kaden wished she could believe it too.
    She swallowed hard and held her head high as the people gave a fake applause, a pity clap. Then it began.