Prologue
Spence now seems to be quite strange. An awkward air of politeness fills every quarter, why even Cecily is out to be civil, a year and six months have passed since the unlikely turn of events. Miss McCleethy is back teaching at Spence, sill angry at the case of mistaken identity, in which I mistook her for Circe, but her coldness toward me is a relief more than anything.
The New Order meets often and we constantly make our trips to the realms, except for Kartik that is. Yes, Kartik…even with his broken ties with the Rakshana, he watches me. I feel his eyes linger on me every moment of the day.
The irony of life, Felicity is now engaged to an admiral, he is so dearly fond of her but she winces at his touch. And Ann, oh Ann, how beautiful she has become. Her plump form is now a feminine silhouette, her pale cheeks now always blushing, her voice is more exquisite than ever. Even her perpetually runny nose has ceased. And most of all, the smile that always adorns her face upon finding her prince charming, and her arms; fair and slim, without welts, cuts or scratches. She never fails to remember to put that delicate silver chain around her neck that carries her far too large engagement ring in the morning.
Conversely, Felicity never wears her ring and often overlooks Mr. Edward's existence, but I must say even Felicity is as beautiful and headstrong as ever. When both are occupied, that is when I miss Kartik most. He is so close yet so far out of reach.
One day, after Madame Lafarge's class of exceptional of boredom…pardon, French, I meant, one of us finally mentioned our ACTUAL lives.
"Shall we retreat from the monotony for the day?" asked Felicity cleverly, she had that twinkle in her eye. The old Fee, I missed her.
"Ah yes, I guess we shall." I said, imitating the mischief in her voice. Reluctantly, Ann stuck her arm out, as we all linked arms and began to walk to the place it all began, the caves.
The paintings are the same, the heat was the same and we were, of sorts, the same. The only difference was Pippa, our Pippa wasn't with us. As Felicity neared the cave, her steps grew slower and more muffled. We all heard the rustling of the bushes adjacent to the cave.
"Kartik?"
After a long pause, and numerous exchanges of questionable looks, a tall Indian man stepped out of the greenery, indeed, it was Kartik, the same oak colored skin, those thick eyelashes shielding the same chocolate eyes. He had grown taller and more muscular, even more attractive. His presence had the power to make me swoon, but if anything I knew to compose myself.
"Miss Doyle, I need your help." He said firmly. It was awkward that my eyes didn't leave his lips for one moment and he shuffled clumsily.
"Whatsoever for?" Ann raised an eyebrow.
"I need to go to the realms." He said, uneasily.
"Why do you find it necessary to go to the realms?" questioned Felicity, bitterly.
"Miss Doyle," Kartik said, disregarding the two. "Please try to recall the alliance we had once formed. I am in dire need of your help."
"Yes Kartik, I remember, but what happened?" Concern was obviously taking over me.
"Nell didn't cross over." He said. She was corrupted on the way of crossing over that made sense. Relief settled in me, before he added. "That isn't my sole concern."
"Then what?" I ask, feeling the crease in my forehead deepen. Worry was such an unattractive emotion, I thought.
"I saw Amar." He said, uneasily, leaving me speechless.