Away

Chapter 9

Naira walked into the living room the next morning, finally finding it after three rounds of passing by her room. She would have to ask Neal to draw up a map of the place for her.

"Neal..." She stated, waltzing in.

Will turned around, looking at her inquisitively.

"Oh." She said, her voice catching. She smoothed down the side of her dress, and looked up, attempting to make direct eye contact. She would not let Will intimidate her. This was as much Neal's home as it was Will's, and she was here looking for Neal, who was her friend.

"Sorry to disappoint." He said, with a smirk. "Neal is out with grandfather. Important royal duties." She noticed his emphasis on the word important, almost as if he was being sarcastic.

"Oh." She repeated, unsure of what else to say.

"He did ask me to keep you company. Apparently you get bored here." He said. "So...how may I entertain you, Miss Naira?" His tone was playful yet serious at the same time, in the way that only Will could be. Naira knew he was teasing her, taking something Neal had meant genuinely, and turning it into a joke. But she could not help herself.

"How about some tea?" She said, nodding towards the glass table with a tray that was carrying a teapot and cups.

The corners of Will's mouth twitched, and Naira wished she could take back her words. She looked around the room uncomfortably, feeling his intent gaze on her. He looked like he was thinking about it, which surprisingly annoyed her. It was a yes or no question, really. If she was so horrible that he could not even sit with her for tea, he should just say so.

"You know what..." He finally said. "I'll do you one better. Follow me."

"Where are we going?" She asked, walking faster than usual to keep up with his long strides. "Are you taking me to the dungeon?"

He paused to give her a look, before continuing walking.

"Maybe." He replied. "Are you a dissident?"

"I may be. You don't know." She said, thinking about all of the times she had spoken out loud to Cianna about the flaws of the monarchy.

Will rolled his eyes. They went up a second flight of stairs and then stopped in front of a large door. Will unlocked it and held the door open for her to enter first. The inside of the room was dark enough for Naira to not see anything until Will called for one of the guards standing by the door to come in with matches and light up the candles that were placed all around the room. It was a large room, nearly the size of her bedchamber, filled with large sculptures and canvasses. There were complete sculptures, of men, women, children, animals. Incomplete ones- some that looked like they were still being worked on, while others looked like pieces that had been started and then abandoned. The large canvasses were similar, there were complete paintings, and ones that had just been started. Brushes with colors on them, and pieces of clay lay all over the floor. A sculpture in particular caught Naira's attention- a woman, bent over, her dress overflowing, with both hands covering her eyes as if she was crying. Naira was not sure if she was allowed to, but she found herself being drawn closer, reaching out her hand to touch it.

"It's not complete yet." Will's voice came from behind her. "I have to add the wings. It's a weeping angel."

"You...you..." Naira stumbled to find the words. This could not be Will's work. "You made this?"

"I try." He said, looking a little sheepish. It was a new look on him. Naira didn't think boastful Will could be humble when being praised."It is not much."

"It is beautiful.." She said, finally tearing her eyes away from the sculpture, and looking around the room again. He was staring at her again, his eyes unreadable.