CORRUPTED FILE [Lumina Chronicles Past Drafts]

Bonus Level

[MAGGIE's PoV]

I dreamed about a door to another world.

Dreamed about magic, and murder. Paintings, poison, dragons. Flying... and falling.

I sat upright with a sharp, inward-scream of a gasp, my fingers searching wildly for something solid to hold. Something to root me to reality. I found rough linen sheets and the edges of a downy bed roll. In the dim, dim light of a single lantern, I took in my surroundings.

I was in a simple, cream colored tent. And I wasn't alone.

Not a dream. Of course it wasn't a dream. This fantastical nightmare was my reality. But that begged the question: Where was I now? And who was the stranger sleeping in the corner of the tent?

Taking care to unwind my legs from the sheets with as little sound as possible, I took stock of myself, all the while keeping my gaze on the sleeping man. My hair had been unwound from its beautiful braid—but whether someone had done it intentionally or it was a side effect of flying away from Lumina at lightning speed was beyond me.

My clothing, however, left less room for speculation. Seeing as I left Lumina in a stunning ballgown and woke in a simple nightgown, someone definitely changed my clothes in my sleep. I winced, a hand going to my ribs and the bandages wrapped there— Someone had treated injuries as well.

The emerald betrothal necklace was laid neatly on a pillow next to the bedroll, but the mieranda rose pendant I'd word around my wrist was gone. I swallowed. That was supposed to be my one chance to get home. But as the memories of the night returned to my aching head, memories of an Elle I didn't know, I had to wonder... was there even a "home" for me to bother returning to?

The stranger on the other side of the tent stirred, straightened, stretched. Then opened shockingly blue eyes. He jumped ever so slightly in place when he noticed me glaring him down, but then he smiled. "Ah, good morning."

"Where am I?" I asked. And then, because the memories of the evening were back in full now and my heart was hammering with fear, I added, "Where is he?"

"Kindle is in another tent with our healers. He is injured, but he will live." The stranger's voice was low and even, and he had his hands out like he was trying to calm a feral animal. I hadn't even realized I was shaking.

It took me a moment to register that this man, whoever he was, already knew Kindle's name. "And you are?"

The man's gentle, encouraging smile remained in place. He moved to the flap-door of the tent and swept it open, gesturing for me to join him. I did, noticing new bruises and bandages with every motion.

We emerged to a little tent city— Maybe thirty or so tents that I could see, with any number more out of sight. There were people everywhere. Non-humans of all kinds bustled and chatted, no one paying us any mind other than to occasionally offer the blue-eyed stranger at my side a nod or word of greeting. Food cooked over various fires. Music echoed from somewhere nearby. The sun was just barely beginning to crest over the sandy, mountainous ridge that surrounded us.

"This is the base of operations for Blood and Steel, the alliance that will destroy Lumina," the stranger said, a touch of pride coloring his voice as he spread his arms. "And I am one of their leaders."

He turned to face me, and I took note of the dark feathers hidden amongst his black hair. Angel, though the blue eyes should have been a giveaway. He offered his hand. "Welcome, Maggie. I've been wondering when I'd finally get to meet you. You can call me Marc."