Our second world- book one: Past beginnings

Chapter 33: Grace

"DAMN! Lost again!" Elise exclaimed, slamming her cards down on the table.

"You're not very good at this," I mused, gathering the cards to shuffle the deck again.

"I've never heard of Fortune Teller before." She whined.

"My lady? It's getting to be late. I suggest one more game," Leyla informed me as she dealt us hands of cards.

"Well, now that it's just us, there's something I'd like to ask you about," Elise began, her tone serious for the first time tonight," It's about your brother, and I think you know what I'm going to ask."

I nodded," You want to know if he's really a demon?"

"Precisely."

"You think he'll lose control?"

"I have faith in his abilities, but there are things going on in this country that I can't trust. You could say that I'm trying to gauge the value of my cards,"

"Well, as far as I know, it's only happened once, and he was able to snap back before anyone was seriously injured." I said.

"I think I've witnessed something similar. It was during the sparring match I had with him. Afterwards, he wouldn't stop apologizing. To be honest, I was surprised," She laughed dryly," Here I was faced with a man who, up until then I had known to be confident and strong. To see him freak out was... shocking,"

"I've always admired him for that. Looked up to him because he always seemed so confident,"

"For now, all we can do is trust in him and support him when he needs us," Elise said, tossing her hand down on the table.

"Crap!," I threw down my worse hand," Congrats on your first win,"

"Wow, really?"

"Yeah. I'll have to pay you back for breaking my streak another time," I grinned.

"I'll look forward to it," She smiled.

~

I woke to a sudden light from my window as the heavy curtains were thrown open. Groaning, I rolled over and pulled the comforter over my head. Only to have it tugged off me.

"M-nooo," I whined," Five more minutes,"

"My lady, it's been five more hours. As much as I'd like to let you sleep all day, you have work to do." Leyla sighed," It's time to get up now."

"Ugh!" I groaned, rolling out of bed with the sheets wrapped around me.

"My lady, please." She huffed," You can't stay in bed all day."

"Ugh, fine." I sat up to have a pair of clothes thrown in my face.

"Get dressed and meet me in your study in five minutes or I will come back up here and dump a bucket of cold water over your head," She warned, the door clicking behind her.

I yawned and discarded my night clothes that I had somehow managed to change into in my exhausted state last night. Dressing in the fluffy collared shirt and black pants that Leyla had thrown at me.

Tying my hair up in a ponytail with a bright blue ribbon that matched my shirt, I headed out to the hall and down the stairs. I made my way to my study which was located a door down from the library. Leyla was waiting with a neutral expression, but I could tell she was surprised to see me.

"I'm here," I yawned, sitting in my chair.

"Don't get too comfortable, we're leaving soon." She replied, setting a cup of caramel colored tea in front of me.

"Leaving? Where are we going?" I asked.

"You asked me to take you riding today, remember?"

"Oh yeah. I was wondering why you gave me riding clothes."

"Well, now you know. I'm going to get the horses ready. Finish your breakfast. I'll be back in ten minutes so please try to be ready." Leyla said, leaving the door open.

"No promises!" I called after her, leaning back in my chair.

For whatever reason, Elise's words from last night echoed in my mind.

~War will come sooner than we think. And it will come~