Hey peoples! Here is chapter 7. It jumps around a little, and introduces a new character. Please read and review and tell me what you think about Torrance!
Chapter 7.
"Gregor? Are you awake?" Lizzie asked. She was worried about her brother. The little food they received (which was delivered by Chase twice a day) was barely enough for one person, let alone two, and Gregor had been insisting that Lizzie take most of it. As a result, Gregor was weakening.
"Hmm?" Gregor yawned. "What is it Liz?"
"Nothing." Well, he was still here.
Gregor rolled over and went to sleep, leaving Lizzie sitting in the darkness. As there was nothing else to do, she decided to practice her echolocation. She was coming along nicely, although right now she could only make out faint silhouettes.
Click. Gregor was sleeping on the floor to her left. Click. The ceiling was low; Gregor couldn't stand up straight. Click. The inedible remains of their last scanty meal sat near the door. Click.
How long had they been in here? It was over two weeks, she knew that. But she had lost count few days ago. Or was it weeks? "Stop it." She told herself. "You're driving yourself insane. Get a grip Lizzie." Click.
Stellovet was getting impatient. She had had the warrior locked up for just under a month now, and was itching to begin phase two of her plan. Her family (excluding herself and Howard) had left Regalia a week and a half ago.
Today was the day that Nerissa was scheduled to have a fatal accident. Stellovet would be receiving word of the success of the plan in the next few hours or so, and she knew she would be jittery until the messenger arrived.
Torrance had awakened that morning with a heavy heart. Today was the day he was supposed to kill the heir to the throne, Nerissa the seer. The plan was a simple one. He was to ask her to join him for a picnic, then take her to a pre-set location, and then kill her. He would come back saying that she had died during a run-in with a rogue gnawer, showing his bloodstained blade as proof. No one would suspect a thing.
There was just one small problem though. Over the course of spying on her for a week and a half, he found himself beginning to like her. Yes, she was eccentric, but in a good way. He wasn't sure how he was going to bring himself to kill her.
He had invited her to the picnic the day before, and now met her outside the palace.
"Nerissa! I am pleased you could make it." Said Torrance.
"Why would I not make it?" Nerissa asked, smiling.
"Oh, I do not know. Spinner diplomats perhaps?" Torrance helped her up on his flier Helios, and then climbed up behind her.
"Spinner diplomats? Whatever do you mean?"
"Well, they do have a habit of keeping people tied up." Torrance joked.
Nerissa laughed. "Oh, very clever. You are quite funny."
"Thank you." Torrance smiled in spite of himself. He enjoyed Nerissa's company.
After a half an hour of flying, they arrived at the picnic spot. It was a lonely location, well removed from the main flight paths. A place where screams would be masked.
Torrance decided to kill her after they ate. After all, why waste a good picnic? They ate and talked, and Nerissa told him a story from when she was a child. Despite his best efforts, Torrance was enjoying himself.
At last the food was eaten and the conversation had slowed. Torrance knew that he should do it now.
"Torrance."
He looked over at Nerissa. "Yes?"
"I know what you have to do."
Torrance's eyes widened. "W-what do you mean?"
"I know Stellovet instructed you kill me. I also know that you will not do it."
Torrance hung his head. He would not do it. He was too weak. But hang on… if he would not do it, then did that mean? He smiled. "Nerissa!"
"Yes?" she asked.
"I do not want to kill you, so I won't. But if Stellovet finds out you are alive, she will kill us both. So here is what I'm going to do. I'm going to take you to the jungle, to the nibbler colony. They will take you in. I will go back to Regalia, and tell Stellovet that I have killed you. Then I will come and join you in the jungle until this whole Stellovet business has blown over. Is that all right?"
"Of course." Said Nerissa. "But we will be in the jungle for a very long time, I am afraid."
Stellovet was pacing the halls of the palace, ignoring everyone who crossed her path. Just then, she heard a voice from behind her.
"Stellovet?"
She turned to find Torrance standing behind her. "Ah, Torrance. It is done?"
Torrance nodded. "Yes."
"Very good. You have done well, and it shall be rewarded."
"Thank you Miss." Torrance turned and walked away.
Stellovet smiled to herself. It was almost time for phase two to begin!
I hope that wasn't too confusing. The next chapter or two should have some more Luxa in it, and in upcoming chapters we will meet some more familiar faces. In the meantime, please review this chapter, and tell me what you think about Torrance! Look for chapter 8 next week!