Just a heads up I thought I'd put this in now.
I don't own the Underland Chronicles or believe me there would be a 6th book. I don't own any of the character, just the plot.
Also, I bumped the ages to make everything a bit more interesting ;)
I could barely remember the last time I had to wait this long to die. Silently flapping in the breeze for I couldn't even remember how long in this never ending, pitch black tunnel. The wait was going to kill me way before the splat that came at the end even got the chance.
At least that's what I thought.
My eyes had adjusted enough for me to see when steep, smooth obsidian like rock walls suddenly disappeared to reveal an open cavern with the first sign of light since I fell. The highest points of the huge expanse were lined by a row of perfectly straight torches; like the kind from medieval movies.
I hardly had time to admire the decor as I floated on my back towards the ground and as I could feel it near, real fear started to peek in my bloodstream, pushing my heart as fast as it would go.
I was actually surprised by how long it took to reach the ground, but as soon as I hit the uneven gravel terrain, the only thing that ran through my mind was extreme pain. The back of my head throbbed at the point of contact and a moment passed when I could not take in a solid breath.
Alarm boiled in my system and I scrambled onto my side, kneeling to open my airway and desperately gasping until the black spots in my vision faded, though it was hard to tell in this environment, yet I stayed in my curled position as I adapted to how close I came to dying in the extreme fall.
Not sure how long I spent like that, but I eventually managed to shakily stand and took in the surroundings. The cavern was as large as a football stadium with a rough ground surface and slick black walls. The tops lined with torches, much further up than any ladder could reach yet it was impossible for any kind of helicopter to fit, so it seemed impossible for them to have gotten up there. They lit the way clearly to the left but seemed to taper off to the right.
Obviously the best path was the left, so instead of just sitting in the tunnel for anything to happen, I made the executive decision to follow the torches. The walk was not my longest considering I had used my feet to get from Virginia to New York, but with no landmarks to catch my eye or any way to tell how far I had actually gone, it felt endless.
That is, until the roar of the crowd made me flash back to my first college football game with my dad. The sudden sound shocked my earbuds and I physically recalled, it seemed to be coming from nowhere but surrounded me at the same time. The torches ended at the dead end ahead but when I stuck my hand out, rock was not what I touched; instead my hand disappeared in a soft medium that fluttered around like wings.
I took a deep breath and pushed through the thin, velvety curtain and it expanded around me as I moved while brushing against my skin with feather light butterfly kisses. The blackness gave way to the most light I had encountered the entire time down here.
Screams and shouts unrelated to a sporting event called out when I stumbled in the bright light. I rubbed my eyes back into focus after being so adjusted to the darkness while the loud noises turned to gasps and murmurs then absolutely nothing. Blinking the white blocks out of my vision to see the extent of the arena, I saw the full amphitheatre was packed with an unnaturally mute crowd.
Just as I opened my eyes, a quick brown object raced towards me and before I could consciously think about it, my hand snapped out to grasp the small leather ball inches to the right of my head.
Moments passed by that felt like hours and I tried to find anyone but in the large expanse of the field, no athlete or any people were present like I had expected for an arena this big. I would have thought there was some kind of sport going on from the sporadic cheers. A flash of gold directed my attention, and I finally found the players. They were suspended above me on giant bats.
What happened next had me questioning whether or not I actually died in that fall and this was all just a dream. Five meters in front of me, a large golden bat landed on the mossy field with a silver haired rider mount on its back.
The elegant passenger stood and moved towards the bat's wing which had lowered to touch the ground so they could walk down. It was then that I realized the rider was a young woman; her long silver blonde was braided but still reached nearly past her waist and the top of her head was encircled by a golden band. She was dressed in simple yet opulent clothing that seemed to shine in the torch light, adorned by leather accessories like a belt that held not just a sword but matching sheathed knives on her calves and thigh.
She was badass beautiful.
I did my best to not gasp at her like a fish out of water as she stalked towards me with a confident strut. I gulped and the hand at my side gripped the foreign object tighter when she came to a stop just a few feet away. I was shocked by the bright purple that stared back at me in her analytical eyes, standing frozen as they raked up and down my body almost as if she was sizing me up despite I was nearly twice her size and a foot taller.
"I think this is yours." I blurted, silently thanking that my voice didn't quiver like my heart was but screaming that I looked idiotic with my arm thrust out in front of me, holding the ball in my fingertips.
With a small, cocky smirk she reached up with skinny fingers and the lightest, most transparent skin I had ever seen; it reminded me of when you can see old people's' veins in their hands and arms except she made me think of everything but my grandma. When our hands touched she visually twitched away at the shock between our skin, her lips turned down just the slightest bit but recovered to take it none the less.
Finally she opened her mouth, her voice crisp, formal and feudal. "I am Queen Luxa, welcome to Regalia, Overlander." She turned on her heel and started walking back towards the waiting bat she arrived on, pausing with her hand on the beast's side. "Come, you must bathe."
My hand went to my chest, pulling at my shirt with a frown. "I know I haven't showered in a...few days but I didn't think it was that bad."
For the first time she chuckled under her breath and jumped onto the bat. "You smell strongly but for another reason: you smell of the Overland, and that is a sentence for death." By the end of her explanation any trace of amusement had disappeared, her voice became heavy like she spoke from experience. "Come."
I followed immediately like the command pulled strings on my arms and legs, stopping hesitantly next to the large creature. Luxa reached down and offered her hand to theoretically help me up but I was tentative to accept. I caught her curious gaze, becoming more confident when I found it full of sympathy and support instead of agitation or judgment. A deep breath later, I reached up to grasp her forearm.
As I touched her skin, I felt the contact zip through my spine and almost dropped five feet on my back, but I managed to grip the bat's fur tighter and haul myself up behind her. I wasn't sure what to do with my hands until we took flight and immediately wrapped them loosely around her waist, trying to avoid cutting myself on the multiple sharp weapons on her belt.
We flew over the city that looked like it was molded straight from the stone floor of the cavern, gently illuminated by torches inside and out. It was all so serene. Even from this high up I could see the people moving freely through the streets. It made me apprehensive to why exactly their queen was decked out in so much sharp steel.
Despite how beautiful it was, the height made my stomach curdle. My arms tightened around her waist and I had to hide my eyes in her thick braid. I felt like a child hiding from a stranger behind their mother's leg, but my embarrassment could never match my irrational phobia of heights. I had to focus on my breathing the whole ride, but thankfully Luxa didn't comment whether she understood or was just focusing more on directing our flapping vehicle.
When we landed, Luxa was off her bat as soon as I disconnected my hands from around her abdomen. "This way." I blinked at the swift action but quickly slipped off the bat.
I jogged lightly to catch up with her before she disappeared behind a corner. "What is this place?" I asked a bit in wonder, glancing around at the artwork adorning the smooth walls, they too looked like they just grew out of the floor, not like they had been separate pieces put together.
"The Underland, you are from the Overland." She answered easily, paying more attention to walking.
I nodded even though she could not see me.
"What are you called, Overlander?" She asked as I fell into step next to her.
"Gregor." I answered, smiling when she turned her head slightly in my direction, looking at me from the corner of her eye while trying to retain the regal stance as she walked. "Are you really a queen? You don't look very old."
"I am seventeen years of age," She informed me as a matter a fact, her head high like it was some kind of extreme accomplishment.
I smirked, crossing my arms behind my back and leaned over to whisper to her. "Well your highness, I am eighteen."
Leaning back, I could see her jaw set and her chin lifted even more towards the ceiling yet her eyes shined with challenging amusement. We stopped in front of two open stone archways. "You will bathe here, I shall send a guard with a new set of clothing; we will burn your current pair."
I shrugged, my clothes were caked with dirt probably older than me. "Sure, not a real loss." Even though I suspected approving of the action would have done little to deter her from doing it, I agreed anyway. I took a quick glance through the open stone doorway to get a glimpse of what was inside, turning back to her and dipped my head in a pseudo bow, delighted when she too inclined hers closer. "Will I see you later on, milady?"
Luxa looked up at me through her lashes with an intense gaze and a sinful smile. "Perhaps, goodbye Overlander." She dismissed, her hair flipping over her shoulder as she spinned. I was about to turn and enter the locker room when she pivoted at the corner, her hand on the wall and head just barely tilted back to me. "Gregor."
My heart fluttered and I had to take a deep breath to calm it. I shook my head and quickly made my way into the large lavatory. Along the walls were incredible carvings of a huge underwater scenes, lit by oil lamps instead of the common torches. Long rows of benches and open stalls adorned one wall and the other side held enormous basins that were filled with clear water, trickling over one edge yet stayed full.
That must be the bath. I reasoned to myself, starting to shrug off my worn brown jacket, dirt stained jeans, and oversized tee shirt. Doing the same with my falling apart sneakers and socks, I stripped off my underwear last and climbed into the pool.
Standing, the water barely reached my waist but was surprisingly warm and I melted to the stone bench where it sat comfortably up to my armpits. I hadn't taken in a real shower in months and ten times since then had I been in a bath. It felt amazing.
After a few minutes I relented and reached for one of the many soaps lining the rim. I smelled it, unsure if the blueish one I picked up was shampoo or body wash. Throwing it up to faith, I rubbed a big glop into my hair then dunked my head underwater. I ended up staying under as long as I could after kneading the suds out, revealing in the surrounding warmth and quiet.
I was contemplating getting out when a man walked in. "Greetings Overlander, I have brought you new clothing, I hope they fit; I can get a new size if it does not."
"Sure, thanks. Can you bring me a towel?" I rubbed my leg under the water, a little embarrassed that I forgot about needing one but also not expecting to have an audience.
The man gave a quick bow at the waist. "Of course, I will wait in the hall while you dress."
I was relieved to hear that and accepted the folded white towel from him, waiting until he was around the corner to finally step out. As I dried myself off, I was amazed by the texture of not just the towel but the new set of clothes; they felt like they were made out of the most expensive kind of silk yet like something entirely different at the same time. Slipping my feet into the woven sandals, I headed out to the hall to meet the guard.
"How do your clothes fit?" He asked, his expression so open and wanting nothing more to please.
I nodded, running my hands over the seams of the incredible fabric. "Yeah, they're perfect and this stuff is so soft, if I never have another clean pair of clothes I'd be ok with it."
The man blinked at me, not quite understanding the joke but quickly rebounded. "Please come with me, the princess has directed me to escort you to the dining hall. The royal family has requested your presence for dinner in High Hall."
After a moment of thought I followed behind the sizable man as he made his way down the hall without even checking if I had accompanied him. "The princess?"
"Luxa. She brought you to the palace, though I am not extremely shocked to see she did not introduce herself." He chuckled lightly under his breath, giving a friendly wave to a passing woman with a tray and the same smile to me. If he was concerned about Luxa being angry about his comment he didn't show it.
"Oh, she introduced herself." I laughed, shaking my head because now I had this amazing piece of blackmail on the royal, should I ever need to break it out. "But as the queen."
He laughed so loud his muscles expanded under the pressure showing they were indeed larger than my head. "Yes, Luxa has been calling herself the queen ever since she was eleven years of age. She will not actually become Queen until the day of her eighteenth year, but she is quite the stubborn one and insists on it." He shrugged. "I do not mind, for it will be the truth one day."
I nodded, joining his laughter and completely relaxing as we continued our stroll through the palace in a pleasant calm. "What did you say your name was?" I asked, realising somewhat embarrassingly that I had never bothered to find out.
As if he was abashed by forgetting, he stopped and offered his hand to me. "Forgive me, Overlander! I am called Mareth, I am a guard for the royal family."
When I extended my hand to shake his, he went ahead to grasp my forearm and held it tight for a moment, meeting my gaze with a nod before letting go. "Nice to meet you, my name is Gregor."
"Gregor," He repeated, acknowledging it with a grin. "A fine name indeed. Come, come. The royal family surely will be ready for your arrival." Mareth picked up his pace and we quickly came to an extravagant hall. The room had intricately carved walls, a rectangular stone dining table, and matching chairs. On it were at least thirty plates and utensils.
The most glaring adornment of the room was the extreme lack of a ceiling. "You forgot the roof." I pointed.
Mareth's laugh boomed through the open area. "Yes, it is meant to be so, the flyers may land at once. Look."
I looked up just as three large bats landed, riding them were two adults I didn't recognize, no shocker there, and Luxa. After dismounting, the three approached us with enthusiastic smiles. The woman, who stood straight and looked like the most intimidating grandma I had ever seen, reached out to take both of my hands. "Welcome Gregor, it is an honor to have you."
"Thank you." I gave her my best formal nod as what Mareth said about royal family rang through my mind, the last thing I wanted to do was insult the people with all the power of condemning me to death. "The pleasure is all mine, ma'am."
The elderly woman returned the nod, her smile growing. "I am called Solovet and this is Vikus, my husband."
With his introduction, the aged man stepped forward and offered his hand the same way Mareth had. Picking up on the gesture, I grasped his forearm firmly in greeting. "Gregor the Overlander, the Underland buzzes with the news of your arrival." Nodding, I wasn't so sure how to respond to that. Thankfully he continued so I didn't have to, opening his wingspan to the girl waiting quietly behind him. "Of course you have met my granddaughter, Luxa."
I met her eyes and smiled, her lips neutral but betrayed by her mischievous leer. "Come, let us dine!" Vikus's large voice caught us both off guard and I felt myself physically jump, but Luxa handled it more smoothly.
Luxa and I followed the couple to the large table. Before she could, I pulled out a stone chair for my newest friend. "Allow me, princess." I held her gaze and saw with delight that her eyes grew wide when it became clear I had caught her little trick. With her mouth pressed into an irritated line, I sat in the seat beside her just barely containing my exhilaration.
Well I hope you enjoyed it, feel free to leave a review: I love to read them!
Artemis.
