As light flickered on the other side of my eye lids I realized the sharp pain of biting cold through my core. A gasp escaped my cracked lips as I flinched from consciousness. The afore unnoticed hands on my back and shoulder tightened slightly before loosening politely.
"She'll be fine. More than she deserves, playing with Gates without proper instruction or power. We'll take her to the infirmary to rest until she's ready to be escorted back to where she came from. Thank you for your show of concern."
"Do you think you can stand or do you mind if I carry you?" another voice speaks softly in her ear. It's unintentionally sensual and my eyes fly open.
I stare into honey orbs well fringed in ebony lashes. The flush of warmth relieves the chill, wondrously replacing the acute ache with a rosy blush. His cappuccino skin is perfect and hot to the touch even through my clothes.
"Where am I?" the last thing I could remember was wrapping my plush, white robe around me as I stepped out of the candle lit tub, walking from the bathroom to the bedroom. It didn't fit with being outside a gate to a stranger. Embarrassingly, a small part of me was pleased with the chaste action this debacle allowed. If it doesn't end poorly it could be the best thing to happened to me in a year…
"You made it through the gate to the Keep of Ebon Askavi. A very distinguished library to attempt entry at, but you probably won't be allowed to peruse the wares. There's a whole process, with waiting period, to check references and determine if your incentive follows Blood protocol." He smiled gently, "sorry."
"I sleep walked to the library? Typical. I need to get a cat. Then the stereotype will be complete." I winced as I used the handsome mans' arm to rise to my feet, clenching as I swooned a couple times. Vertigo.
"Ha! Sleep walking through a Gate isn't possible. You wouldn't have survived. Where did you come from?" His smile was very bright against the cinnamon hued, full lips.
"I came to Olympia with one of the earlier waves of weather refugees from L.A. I have documents in my files at home. You should be able to look me up with my S.S.N." Walking was returning blood flow to my brain. While intrastate immigration was still officially unregulated intrastate immigration had become limited as eco-terrorism escalated in response to unlivable conditions. This might not be funny, after all. What if the apartment door's wide open and illegals steal the papers to commit fraud in her name? Supposedly people had had their status revoked for less.
"A small town wouldn't have its' own Gate. We'll get a Blackwidow to help us sort this out. Don't worry." He was less than reassuring as he glanced back at the original speaker questioningly. The other man shook his head behind me; a motion I couldn't see but felt.
"I promise to cooperate to the best of my ability. I am truly sorry to have inconvenienced you both. Honestly, the last thing I remember is getting out of a bath. Hence my robe." Which really was all I was wearing. Great. At least it corroborated my story.
"I was wondering. My names' Ranier but most people just call me Ran, since I don't really take after the original." A pause.
"Oh! I'm Emily Claire Schmit; friends call me Emma."
He moved around me so he could offer his right hand to clasp in greeting while holding me up with his left. His grace drew another blush to my cheeks. I wondered what it'd be like to dance with him.
"Ranier Alexander SaDiablo, but don't worry about that. I'm just assisting the librarians at the Keep for now. Andulvar is my cousin and suffers my eccentricities nobly." His smile is sheepish and self-conscious and I have no idea what he's talking about. I realize that Andulvar has made a point of staying out of my line of sight. I start to twist around but Mr. SaDiablo tightens his grip and gestures to the colossal, black fortress we've just arrived at.
We're surrounded by a mountain range that makes the Olympics look hilly.
"Where am I?"