Chapter Thirty-Four
Kieve held out his right arm, staring at his upraised palm until a speck of white light began to form. He allowed the speck to grow until it was the size of grapefruit, rising into the air to better light their path. He motioned for them to follow him, warning them to lower their heads as they passed beneath a ceiling scalloped by eons of floodwater. The air was humid and rivulets of water ran down the rough cave walls. The floor was carved with shallow, regularly spaced grooves to provide traction for sandaled feet. Kieve explained that the cavern, which was his personal entrance to the realm, was located in a little traversed portion of the Killaraus Mountains. It was a private portal to Selsenle, known only to Kieve's immediate family and Kokobiel himself.
A wide, underground river quietly lapped against the clearly defined path that spanned the distance in front of them. They had entered a larger cave, the awe inspiring natural formations giving the space as much majesty as a man-made cathedral.
"It's lucky that we met during the dry months," Kieve said, "During the wet season the Trelu River can rise nearly three hundred feet during a flood. It fills this entire cave, forcing me to use a different, less private entrance during those times."
They soon emerged from the darker cavern into a huge cave lit by sunlight. Moss-slick boulders ringed the forest-shrouded entrance.
"These caves are enormous," Kieve said, "but practically invisible until you're right in front of them."
...
The Imperial City of Selsenle was actually the largest island in string of volcanic atolls. Incredibly diverse, Imperial City was a magnificent hodgepodge of rainforest, mist-shrouded granite spires, mangrove swamp forest, and coral reef.
Like a giant sleeping dragon, the dark green ridges of the Imperial City rise up above the waters of the South Tmoadauar Sea. On closer inspection, it becomes clear that the dragon's dark green scales are in fact giant trees and impenetrable jungle; that the grey claws are giant granite boulders and that the dragon's horns are twin peaks with smooth, straight cliffs, surrounded with swirls of mist.
Lush tropical jungle covers nearly a third of the island, and countless freshwater mountain streams and waterfalls helped to sustain the people and many species of animals thrived there. Emerald cliffs rise dramatically from pale-sand beaches. The waters around the island are crystal-clear, filled with corals of all shapes and colors and home to a vast diversity of sea creatures. Many of the most beautiful beaches on the island, elegant curves of golden-white sand, were tucked away at the edges of villages. The most wondrous beach of all, Kieve explained, was situated next to his own private residence, though he did allow that the one next to the Imperial Palace was nice as well.
Long distance Apparition wasn't allowed within Selsenle, a precaution against invading armies. A zilicaum, or zili for short, was the accepted form of travel for those with means. Since Imperial City was quite a walk from where they had first appeared deep within the Killaraus Mountains, the zili was also the fastest way to their destination.
A zili was a vehicle that vaguely resembled a flying saucer from a 1950's science fiction film. It was a strange combination of organic, modern, and magical elements that somehow managed to blend together seamlessly. The floor was almost like textured stone, constructed in a circular pattern. There were no doors, they had simply walked through the domed walls and ceiling, the material hardening behind them. Six chairs were rooted to the floor, again in a circular pattern. There wasn't a control panel or console, Kieve simply stated their destination and the zili quietly rose into the air beginning their journey.
It sped through the thick tropical forest, zigzagging around large trees so fast that Draco and Taryn would have been alarmed if Kieve hadn't assured them that the it was perfectly safe. The zili, in fact, had far less of a mortality rate than a muggle airplane would. Draco had taken his word for it, far preferring a quicker route to Imperial City than the days it would take them if they had to travel by foot.
Draco pressed his hand against the smooth glass-like material, running his fingertips down the cool surface, leaning his head back against his seat to stare through the clear, domed ceiling. Sunlight was trying in vain to peek through the heavy canopy of leaves topping the tall trees that surrounded them.
Inside the zili he couldn't feel the thick humidity that had settled against their skin as soon as they had stepped beyond the entrance of the cave and onto the jungle floor. The air that flowed around them was cool, chilled by an air-conditioning mechanism that was as quiet and efficient as the zili itself.
There wasn't any conversation, and as the zili broke from the trees, flying briskly over a wide, impressive river, Draco allowed the thoughts he hadn't allowed himself to entertain surface.
Draco was angry. Anger was something he was familiar with, something that he used or worked against on a daily basis. He was angry, no furious, with his mother. He hated that she had kept something so life changing - his paternity - a secret. At the same time, he somewhat understood her reasoning behind keeping it a secret. Lucius wasn't a forgiving person. Draco didn't want to think that Lucius would have harmed Narcissa, but he wouldn't put it past the man. His mother might have been afraid for her life, or indeed afraid for Draco.
He felt Taryn's hand glide over his, her fingers lacing their hands together, and he turned to her with a small smile. At least he had her.
0o0
Monaco
Claudette Mercier picked up the box-cutter, slashing it through the clear tape that sealed the box of perfumes. She unwound the bubble wrap circling each bottle before carefully, and artfully settling the bottles on mirrored display shelves. "So, have you heard from Roger since the divorce went through?"
The pretty older woman looked up from the piles of brightly colored cardigans she was folding to answer the girl. "No, I think he's finally realized that I don't intend to take him back," Marie said, frowning a bit at the mention of her ex-husband.
"You're better off I say," Claudette said, "though it's a little disheartening to hear that someone as pretty and sophisticated as you still had someone cheat on them, and even got the little tramp pregnant to boot!"
"It's not that I didn't want to have children," Marie said sadly, "We tried for years. I just think that maybe it just wasn't to be." She smiled faintly at the thought of children. She had wanted them. Desperately. A little boy or a little girl, it wouldn't have really mattered to her either way. Roger had always spent so much time away with his work, and she would have loved having someone to dote on. A son. A sudden flash of bright platinum hair, a grin on a chubby toddlers face, and a glimpse of grey eyes whisked through her mind, followed by a pinch of pain.
Marie rubbed her temple, wincing a bit at the pain there. She'd been having the headaches for the past few weeks. Almost as long as she'd had the job at Mercier, the small boutique owned by Claudette and her mother Honore. The headaches happened every time she thought about her past, and so she'd learned not to probe too deeply. She was a little concerned about the headaches, and had promised herself several times to go and see a doctor as soon as she earned enough money. Unfortunately, most of her funds went to the small apartment she was renting, food, and utilities. After that there wasn't much left over.
Not that she minded. She absolutely loved her independence. It was like she was free from chains that had bound her tightly to responsibility, and if sometimes she felt a little...incomplete, well she supposed it went with the territory. She assumed that most recent divorcees felt the same.
The small bell over the shop door rang, pulling Marie from her thoughts. "I'll get that," she said, calling across the small store to Claudette.
"Hello. Welcome to Mercier. My name is Marie. Is there anything particular that I can help you find?" Marie smiled at the teenage girl standing in front of her.
The girl had big dark blue eyes and dark hair pulled up into a sleek French twist. She looked cool and comfortable in a pretty dress that matched her eyes, topped with a white jacket. "No, I think I'll just look around a bit if you don't mind," the girl answered in English.
"Okay," said Marie, easily switching over to English, "Just let me know if you need any help."
Marie went back to her task, folding cardigans and trying to ignore the thread of unease that curled in her stomach.
She was so intent on her task that she jumped a bit in fright when Claudette tapped her shoulder. "Sorry," said Claudette with a laugh, "I didn't mean to give you a fright. I just wanted to let you know that I was going to step out for my break and get a coffee. Would you like me to bring you anything?"
"A cappuccino would be great," Marie said, "thanks."
"I was wondering if you have this shoe in blue," the girl called, holding up a white sandal.
Marie headed over to the shoe display. "I think we do Miss, but I'll have to check in back to be sure, if you don't mind waiting."
"Not at all," said the girl.
Marie turned away, walking behind the counter and to the back storeroom. She pressed her hand against her stomach, trying to push back the unease that had settled into her stomach. Settling the footstool near a back shelf, she silently hoped that Claudette would return sooner rather than later.
"Having trouble?"
Marie gasped, her hands grabbing for the shelf to steady herself. "This is an employee only area," she said, her voice sharp with alarm, "you can't be back here. When my boss gets back-"
"You don't need to worry about that," the girl said, waving her hand. She clucked her tongue, "it's sad to see you brought so low. Working in a muggle clothing shop." The girl sniffed in disgust and shuddered delicately.
Marie stepped down from the footstool. "I think you have me confused with someone else."
The girl's blue eyes went steely, and a very unpleasant smile spread across her face. "I know exactly who you are Mrs. Malfoy, and please, call me Pansy."