A curious mix of alarm and amusement crosses Argon's features as he takes in my figure just inside the doorway. He moves to close the door, looking past me toward Leandry, who gives a short command.
"Show her the way out," Leandry says. "Return in ten minutes."
It seems a short window of time for Argon to both show me the way out and return for whatever task Leandry has for him next. The slightest consternation on Argon's face makes that clear, but he nods regardless, tilting his head in invitation for me to leave the portal room through the door he holds open.
Taking this gentlemanly cue, I move in front of Argon and into the dark, uninviting hallway still lined with rock-faced guards. I wait for Argon, who exits behind me, but turns to face the outside of the door for a moment, his shoulders tensing. With a short, jerky inhale of breath, Argon turns to me, a small smile on his face, but I see the stress in his eyes.
"Follow me," he says, moving around me and further into the hallway, back the way we'd first come to this room. I walk half a step behind him and to his left. His pace is long and fast, but I manage to keep up. As a matter of fact, as we walk, I note that his pace slows, but only slightly and only once, so that we are walking side by side. I try once to slow back down so that I am behind him, but he slows his pace simultaneously.
Clenching my jaw, I maintain my pace for the rest of the trip through the hallway and back through the dungeons. I sense that Argon is curious about my encounter with Leandry, but refrains from asking. I respect him for his silence.
When we reach a place I find more familiar than the deeper sectors beneath the dungeon, I say, "I can find my way from here."
"Are you sure?" he questions as we stop to face one another. His curious eyes pierce me, or perhaps I imagine the intensity of his brown eyes, but I do not falter beneath the steady gaze.
"No," I smile. "But I can find my way, of that I'm sure. I don't want to make you late."
"Thank you," he says simply, but I see a wealth of words flash behind his eyes as he turns to race back through the halls.
I turn and make my own path through the lower castle, often stopping and retracing my steps. I begin to wonder if I'll find my way through the castle when I turn a corner, crashing straight into a pair of broad shoulders. Immediately, a two strong hands grasps my shoulders as I recover from startling both myself and the unfortunate person I've collided with.
As I look up, an apology forming on my lips, I realize that this unfortunate person is Finnegan. Something of a hot, embarrassed flush wraps around my throat and threatens to color my cheeks. I swallow hard and regain my composure, stepping out of Finnegan's touch.
"Apologies," I say simply, trying to smile, anything to cover my embarrassment.
"You're quite forgiven, Onyx," he says with a charming smile of his own.
His own, unforced, genuine smile causes my own pathetic attempt at a grin to stretch into a truer smile. I feel my thoughts begin to wage war in my head, but I keep the whirl of confusion off of my face.
"What are you doing down here?" He asks, his blue eyes reflecting my own curiosity in their deep pools.
"I could ask you the same."
He glances away sheepishly, but his intense gaze returns to meet mine with incredibly speed. I am so conflicted about him, yet something about him seems so...innocent. I cannot figure him out. My gut twists angrily at my inability, but I squelch any emotion that might show on my face.
Finnegan shakes his head. "I was attempting to ease my boredom, but was unsuccessful til now. Shouldn't you be locked up?" I note the curious absence of shadows in his eyes.
