A/N: Hey guys, long time no update. I've had this chapter on my computer for about 6 months now. I should have updated long ago…oh well! whimsicality: thank you for reading each chapter and commenting. I hope you find this exciting! Alqualyne: I hope it's not predictable anymore, I really don't like that kind of story. Vinita: Yeah I know they're short, I've tried to make this one longer, thanks for the comment o' sister of mine! Gothamin: You'll find out about Luke and Soryia later on!
Luke looked around indifferently as he saw the hustle and bustle of city life. He had been here numerous times before, so it was no surprise to him that numerous venders would come up to him asking to buy fake KJ's or Elf's pottery.
Soryia, on the other hand, looked around her in awe; suddenly she realized how much she was missing while living so far from the city. The sense of foreboding also consumed her, for she had absolutely no idea where to go now. In fact, she felt she was on a wild goose chase, trying to figure out how to get rid of this "gift."
Simultaneously, she was thinking of how she could keep Luke and Kyle with her, for surely they have resources of getting around. How could she possibly stall them, and further yet convince them to travel with her just for a little while? It was time to face the inevitable; she'd have to negotiate some sort of deal with them.
"Luke, I was thinking," Soryia began, "I don't really want to give up this beautiful locket of yours, I'd rather keep it."
Luke sputtered, "What are you talking about, remember our deal?"
"Yes, well....I decided I'd rather keep you under me," Soryia absolutely hated being a flake. How could someone stoop so low?
"However, I'm willing to give you the locket in exchange for your companionship on a little trip that I'm taking," Soryia added as an afterthought.
Luke's face was of pure shock, "What?!? Why the hell should I do that for you?"
Before she could respond, a Royal procession was traveling through the city, and a throng of people crowded around to watch.
It was some sort of parade, for there were trumpets sounding, Royal jesters bouncing around, and all kinds of interesting things to follow. In front and behind the carriage there were several of the King's men, making it seem as if they were guarding it.
Soryia glanced at Luke and could see his eyes glitter with excitement.
At that instant, however, she could not make out his thoughts. All around her cooks were planning what to make in their head, adults were scolding stupid teenagers, and some famished citizens were looking hungrily at the carriage. She could hear every single person's thoughts but her own.
They all swirled together in a loud sonorous boom in her head. She wanted to scream, she wanted to shoot her head, it hurt so much. Soryia acquired such a headache; she collapsed to her knees clutching her head. She wanted to scream at everyone to stop thinking!
No one gave her a moment's notice for they were all looking at the Royal march. Luke was wrapped up in creating plans for the Royals while Soryia tried to crawl away from the crowd.
All she could think of was getting away from this crowd and away from this God-awful sound in her head. Blindly she led herself out and she eventually found solitude.
Unfortunately, where she ended up was not her ideal of nice. All around her the buildings, the street, and everything else seemed to be reduced to the lowest state possible. Windows were broken, paint chipped, borders hanging loosely, all created this murky and gloomy atmosphere.
Soryia set her back to the wall and sighed. The incident that just took place was all the more reason why she wanted her "gift" gone.
Slowly she got up after what seemed forever, but froze an instant later. A dark figure was headed toward her from the alley, and his thoughts were not pleasant. He was thinking of robbing her blind.
She couldn't help think it was the perfect opportunity for him; a vulnerable young girl with no one around to watch...The problem was she had absolutely no money on her this second. The one thing she did have, however, could not be given away.
The locket is precious in every way, and she could tell this man had no intention of letting her go without something in return.
Looking around in frustration, Luke found Soryia to be nowhere in sight.
"How dare she walk off with my locket, argh!" he said, obviously irked. He needed the locket now in order to initiate his plan. Everything was perfect right this instant.
He scanned the crowd for Kyle. Great, now he lost his partner in crime. So in a quest for both Kyle and Soryia, or "Sonia," he made his way through the crowd.
Finally he pushed through and bumped into Kyle. A strange look had come over Kyle's face like a longing for something he could not get. He was looking directly behind the carriage between the guards.
Right there was a treasure chest filled with something spectacular, Kyle knew it. He could just imagine all of the possibilities—jewels, diamonds, tiaras, rubies, things of great value to some people.
"No," Luke said, "Remember? I need that necklace! Now let's go find Soryia before they leave."
Kyle looked disappointed and questioned, "Why do we need that stupid thing?"
"Because it'll help us get the loot easier! Those royals want this necklace for some reason, especially their son," Luke sputtered.
Luke thought about that green-eyed dark-haired man, probably the most handsome man in all of Kyrria. Not even a sliver of jealousy existed within him, though, for he didn't need looks to be happy although don't get it wrong, he still was quite the ladies man.
"God, where is that girl?" Kyle asked.
Luke replied sarcastically, "Right behind you. Don't you think I would've found her already? She's obviously out of this crowd, let's go look for her."
Why not run? Soryia asked herself. Run, run!
She found, however, that she could not move her legs. It was as if they were made of bricks, so they buckled and she collapsed once more. Using her arms, she backed away until she felt the dreaded wall; she was cornered.
Soryia read the dark figure's thoughts, "This girl must have money on her, and if not, that necklace should rake in some money."
"Er...hello! I have just fallen on the ground here, my dress caught on something," Soryia lied.
"Here, let me help you up," and just then he came into view. He had deep crevices and a horribly scarred face. It looked like his nose had been broken and a piece had been carved out.
Soryia shuddered and cried, "Oh no! I'm fine, I got it really."
"Let me insist," and he lifted her up, but instead of letting go, he pushed her to the wall.
"Listen girly girl, I'm a poor man and I need money, give me all of yours," he whispered right into her ear.
"I'm sorry, I don't have any," Soryia said, quavering just a little.
Just then, the man eyed the glinting locket.
Oh no, Soryia thought.
"Well what about this?" he asked, and just as he was about to snatch it off her neck, someone hit him from behind—hard.
The filthy thief spun around and recognized the most well-known face in Kyrria before he collapsed. It was Prince Aron, son of Charmont and Ella, King and Queen of Kyrria.