Chapter Nine

Sunrise Breakfast

The warming rays of the sun crept in through the windows, warmin Ellie's cheek. She rolled over and looked out at the window. The sky beyond was a rosy pink. With a smile, she stretched and rolled over to face Jack. "Hey, wake up." He moaned something into his pillow. "Come on. You wouldn't want to miss breakfast now would you?" She chuckled as he sat up.

"Breakfast? Oh right, well let's get up then." They both got up and splashed themselves with the cool water from the pitcher in their room. "Did you sleep well, Ellie?"

She nodded. "I haven't slept that good since we left the Mall." She frowned. "Actually I don't think I even slept that good then.." They shared a laugh.

Salene rolled over with a yawn. Their room hadn't filled up with as much light as the ones across the hall, but a soft pale light could still be seen. She looked over to May. Her eyes were open and she smiled. "Morning Sal."

"Morning. How long have you been awake?" She sat up and stretched profusely, a couple pops coming from her back. "Man these beds are comfortable."

"I know. I slept like a rock. And I haven't been up very long at all." She got up and pulled her backpack closer, retrieving a hairbrush. "Where'd you go last night?"

"Oh, a few of us went to find a bathroom." She proceeded to tell May what had occurred that night.

Slowly everyone came to life and doors opened. everyone moved from room to room, chatting and swapping needed supplies. Amber paused near the steps as she heard someone coming. Ghost soon appeared around the corner. She smiled warmly at Amber. "Ah I see you are already awake. I was going to give a wake up call, and invite you all to breakfast."

"Yeah, most of us are already awake." Amber replied.

"Goodmorning Ghost." Trudy said, stepping out of her room.

She turned to her with a nod. "Good morning to you as well. I trust you all found your rooms suitable?"

"More than suitable. Thank you very much." Jay said stepping out into the hall.

"There are clean clothes in the warbrobes. If you lay yours out on the beds, I will have them washed for you. Make-up, hair supplies, toothbrushes and paste are in the dressers. If there is anything else you need, do not hesitate to ask. I will have someone show you where you can bathe this afternoon." She grinned. "Also, we have been blessed with natural hotsprings, if you wish to go there, just follow the path through the plaza. It leads to them. If you get lost, ask someone for help. They are open to all." She turned to go. "Breakfast is in half an hour. I do hope you will join me."

"I am sure we will be there shortly. After all, the food here is amazing. I don't think any of us will be missing meals." Amber said with a laugh. Ghost chuckled as well. With a nod she headed back down the stairs.

Trudy turned to Amber. "Did you hear that? They have a hotspring!" They both grinned at each other.

"I wonder what she meant by clothes." With a shrug, they went to investigate the wardrobe in Trudy and Ruby's room. When they pulled back the carved doors, they each let out a small gasp. Hanging inside were several silky soft shirts, khaki shorts as well as pants, and gorgouesly patterened dresses. the dresses were either strapless or had a single shoulder strap on them. "Wow. Feel how soft these are." Amber pulled one of the dresses out. It was lavendar with dark green palm leaves on it. She held it up to Trudy. "I think you should wear this one. It'll look amazing on you."

Ruby pulled out a creamy yellow one with a pale blue vining flower pattern on it. "Hey, what do you guys think?" She turned to the others.

"Oh Ruby, that's absolutely gorgeous!" Trudy replied.

"I'd better go see what I have in my room." Amber said with a grin.

She returned to her room to find Jay wearing a red shirt and khaki shorts. "Much better, huh?" She nodded to him, and went to her own side of the wardrobe. It didn't take her long to pick out a one-strapped dress of deep green with tiny white flowers along the hemlines.

Twenty-five minutes later everyone was gathered in the hallway, admiring each others clothing choices. Ellie had picked a strapless dress of baby blue with palm leaves on it, with Jack in a deep blue shirt and khaki shorts. Ebony had chosen a one-strap dress of deep maroon with a pattern of chained violets around the waist, Slade stood next to her in a black shirt and khaki pants. Gel had found a single-strapped pink dress with fern leaves around the bottom hem. Sammy, Lex, Ram, Darryl and the Trader had chosen shorts and shirts in orange, grey, black, turquoise, and deep purple, in that order. Salene had on a pale green strapped with dark blue flowering vines on it. A soft red strapless with white flowers around the neckline had caught May's attention.

Lottie and Brady were in matching shorts outfits of violet. Amber had found a blue one for Bray. "Are we all ready?" She called above the chatter. She received nods and 'yeah's in reply. "Okay, then. Let's go get some breakfast." They made their way down to the hall and outside. sure enough there was a path to the left of the doors, just as Wysteria had told them the previous night.

When they rounded the corner of the building, the most glorious smells wafted over them. Making more than a few stomachs rumble in anticipation. Ghost sat at a long table waiting for them. She stood when she saw them. No longer in the outfit she had been earlier, she stood before them in a long white dress with deep blue flowers on it. Her hair cascaded down her back in shining golden ringlets almost to her waist. "Your timing is impeccable. Please sit and make yourself comfortable." She watched them. "I see you found the clothing quite accomodating. It breathes well in our tropical climate, so most of us prefer it." Elyan and Mercedes soon showed up and seated themselves with grins.

"Sleep good?" Mecedes inquired of them. The two sisters were back in their patrol gear.

Ellie nodded. "Oh yes."

Elyan, not shy, began to fill her plate. "Dig in guys before it gets cold." Ghost chuckled and started to fill hers as well. Soon enough everyone was eating and talking like old friends. Halfway through breakfast Elyan caught Amber's gaze and winked.

"So did Ghost tell you about our hotsprings, yet?"

Amber nodded. "Several of us were planning on trying to get there this morning. It sounds very relaxing."

"Indeed they are." Ghost said, swallowing a mouthful of fresh bread.

"I can show you the way before I leave." Elyan piped up. "It's on our way out of town."

Ghost turned a smile to her. "That's nice of you Elyan. I didn't think of that."

Amber nodded. "That would be great, thank you." She looked around the table at her companions of the previous night. "Were you all still planning on going?"

"Absolutely. I wouldn't miss out on something like that." Ebony replied almost immediately.

Slade chuckled. "I guess we'll know where to find you." She gave him a smile.

Ghost stood. "I am afraid I must be going. A delegation from East is due to arrive tomorrow, and I must be prepared."

Mercedes looked up at her. "Lady Delilah is coming? I hadn't heard."

"Yes, she sent word very early this morning by runner." Ghost took a drink, then turned to go.

"Come on, we should get going. I'll show you how to get to the springs."

Everyone had decided to follow, so Elyan led the large group through the main plaza and down a worn dirt path to the hot springs. She sat down on the soft grass and motioned for them to join her. "I will tell you what I can in the time given." She paused for a moment before beginning.

"Before the virus came, this place was a resort island. It was owned by a couple and their three children, who, when the resort really took off, could have become very wealthy. Instead, they put most of the money back into the island, making it truly a paradise. Life was good, but then the virus came. No one is really sure how it managed to get all the way out here, but it did. The couple's children Anna, Victor, and Delilah, were 16, 12, and 9. Sudden;y they were left with this island. Anna stepped up and took charge, she gathered everyone together at her parents's compund, and held a meeting. It was there that the Red Sisterhood was formed. For two years everything went smoothly. Yet, eventually not all siblings will see eye-to-eye. Victor was the first to leave, citing that Anna was driving us back into the 'dark ages'. He took a handful of followers and moved to the vacant resort city. Six months later Delilah left as well, not in anger, but she wanted a closer bond with nature, so she left to found her tree-haven, East."

She paused, looking over the faces before her. "That's when the Red Sisterhood began to change. A handful of boats arrived and Anna welcomed thier leader. A girl called Sylhira. Almost immediately it seems, she was plotting to overthrow Anna. It took her a year and a half to do it, but she did. Anna and a handful of those loyal to her fled the stronghold and came here. Soon we started hearing rumors of slave trade. A deal made with someone on the mainland to keep their trouble makers in cages and use them for labor. Anna and Delilah have been in coersion ever since to free as many from the cages as possible."

Mercedes took over for her sister. "It was around then that Anna took on her new name, Ghost. Lady Delilah is coming tomorrow, that probably means there will be another raid. If any of you are interested, the more hands we have, the more we can free."

She received enthusiastic nods. "You can count us in." Amber replied gravely.