Hey, readers. I know I have not updated in a while. Sorry, I have been swamped with work. But I don't want you to think I have forgotten about this story. I finished editing chapters 1 and 2. Nothing much changed so you don't have to go back and reread them. Anyway the long awaited chapter 11. Please read and review, Happy reading ~IrisLily~
Curiousity
Destiny is a lonely thing. But at this point I was no longer sure I believed in destiny, in fate. Who is controlling us, gods or the gods of our society? Or do we have free will. I do not believe in free will, there is no such thing. There is always someone with greater power control someone with lesser. There is always someone influencing another.
I was trapped in my own head. I was following a river, to a place I did not know. I was lost, and yet voices followed me and dreams haunted me. I needed guidance.
Rion was a buzzing city. Big enough to get lost in. It was a good thing I was here because I needed to get lost for a while.
*_*
A heavy hand hit Jay's face. "How could you have let her just go?"
"I do not know brother; I did not know what to do." Dmitri grabbed his collar pulling him towards him. "I am sorry."
"You will pay for this, you will find her. The line depends on it." With that the older brother turned on his heel and left the parlor. After Asha had left Jay struggled to lift Dmitri back into the carriage. The driver turned around and drove them back to their manor. When Dmitri finally recovered he was fuming.
"I shall prepare a group of men." Eli said.
"For what?" Jay replied. He was sitting on one of the moth eaten coaches.
"Your brother has requested a venture to retrieve the girl, and you will lead it." Jay nodded getting up from the coach. "Dmitri wants you in his study immediately to discuss plans."
"I have decided to forgive you." Dmitri said. Jay had just entered Dmitri's study. "Sit." It took a few moments for him to find a seat that was not filled with junk.
"Eli has been instructed to assemble a group of men. You will lead them and bring her back here. In the mean time I will make the preparations for our bonding ceremony." Jay nodded. "Do you understand?"
"Yes, brother."
"Good, leave as soon as possible." Jay got up quickly and bowed hurriedly leaving the study.
*_*
Roin was a beautiful city with towering buildings and increasing capital. However like all metropolises it had a dirty side. I was a vagrant with no place to stay and nowhere to go. I had no money and had to resort in doing odd jobs. After about a week of collecting money I saved enough to rent a room. My landlord was a nosey woman who did not take no for an answer. This Mrs. Lyke was a widow with two children that where grown and lived in another part of the city. She wanted to know everything about me and I tried to tell her as minimal as possible. My days were spent wandering the city and during the nights I tried to get lost. The voices seemed to diminish and in the process I lost sight of who I was. I had been in Roin for a month when I felt him; he was trying to contact me. Jay was looking for me. I went to bed with this new found joy; the man I loved was looking for me. The only question was if I would let him find me.
*_*
Jay had been following a dead trail for a month. After a week since Dmitri had given him the task he left the manor with a group of seven men. They were already far behind her, where ever she was. Dmitri was confident he could find her though, since he had enough magic once to transport her. Jay concentrated and followed his instincts but they were wrong. Everywhere the group had been no one had seen her. They were running out of supplies and the men wanted to go back home.
Sitting in a pub in the outskirts of Roin, Jay was debating what he should do. If he returned empty handed, his brother would not be happy with him.
"I am going back to the inn." Jay told one of the men. "Make sure no one gets into any trouble." The older man nodded, afraid of the Leo. They were known for having great power and no one wanted to get on their bad side. Jay walked back to the inn dazed, his mind entangled in confusion. Suddenly, out of nowhere, he felt her. He stumbled back, willing himself to get a good grasp on her, but as suddenly as it came it went and Jay was alone again. He staggered back to the inn, his mind lost in thought. Thinking back to all that had happened recently was mind boggling.
His brother had found Asha, the lost dream. She was more powerful than any Ashlyn. She loved him. Those were the only things he was sure of. But why does she love me? He thought to himself. Do I love her?
"Will you needing anything Sir?" The innkeeper asked. He shook his head no, and walked up the stairs to his room. All he needed was to be alone.
*_*
"Where you be going?" Mrs. Lyke asked sticking her head out of her window.
"Hello." I said as an answer. I closed the door behind me and proceeded to turn away from the house.
"That is the thanks I get for taking her in." Mrs. Lyke murmured to herself. I smiled and walked down the street. I had walked for only several minutes when I saw her, a small child sitting at the side of the road, selling roses.
"A flower for you miss." She said to me as I passed. She tucked a strand of silver black hair behind her ear.
"I would like one." I answered smiling. Her violet eyes lit up.
"Most gracious Madame. They are a pence."
"And where do you get these flowers?"
"I pick them myself in a field not too far from here." Something about her was recognizable, but I knew I had never met her before. It was odd, being that I had not dialoged with anyone since arriving in Rion. Something intrigued me, and I could not figure out what it was. So, I decided to keep speaking to her.
"What is your name?" She cast her eyes down. "You are not in any trouble darling, I just want to know your name." Why was I speaking to her like this, I did not even know the girl.
"Liana." She whispered silently. "Come with me." She said getting up from the little table. She grabbed my hand and ran away from the main road I had been walking on. I followed her even though from past experiences I should have known to not let anyone lead me to a place I had never been. She stopped suddenly in front of a broken down house. "Come." She beckoned. I caught up with her, and tentatively put my hand on the rusty gate that surrounded the house.
"Do you live here?"
"Yes, my father said to bring you. I must leave now though." She backed away. I grabbed her arm forcefully.
"What do you mean your father?"
"He wants to speak to you." I did not understand what the girl was saying. I had never seen her before, so how did her father know who I was? "Go inside, he is waiting for you." With that she turned away from me and ran towards where we had come. I stayed standing outside the gate for several minutes. I could not just wander into someone's home. I took a deep breath. My curiosity had gotten the best of me. I knew too much about the bizarre things of the world, which only resulted in more questions. I was powerful, and if I got into any trouble I could use my magic. I opened the gate confidently and walked up the stairs. I pushed the door open and waltzed into the house.
The air was damp and much colder then outside. I shivered and looked around. At the end of a long corridor was a small staircase. I walked up until I came to the second floor of the house. The first door was opened but contained nothing but an unused bed. I continued walking, straining my eyes to take in everything. The magic flowed through me, ready for anything. I heard a sound and jumped. It did not come from the house, but from within me.
Come, we are waiting for you.
The voice was very clear and it frightened me. I ran to the stairs and walked down then, taking two at a time. I passed the parlor and slowed. I had defiantly been here before. The thought sent chills up my spine. Then it came, the unforgettable feeling of a vision over whelming me. I fought to control it, and stumbled out of the door devitalized. The bright sun greeted me. I closed my eyes and sat down in front of the house. Taking deep breaths my heart began to slow. After a few minutes I got up slowly, and walked away from the mysterious house filled with more questions than I had before I went in.
Turning the corner to my street I struggled to try to remember why the house was so familiar. Everything that I had fought for so long was swarming back to me. Once inside the house I closed all the blinds and laid down on the threadbare bed.
*_*
"We will be leaving tonight." Jay announced, coming into the inn's dining room. The men spoke to each other buoyantly, pleased to be going home.
"Wouldn't it be best to be leaving in the morning, Sir? We have a far journey." One young man asked.
"The center of Roin is not far at all. We get what we need there." The men sighed, each one voicing their opinion. Some cried that there supplies were waning quickly while others demanded to know what exactly was in Roin, tired of the mystery. Jay fought their attacks wholeheartedly, nothing could bring him down tonight. He had found her.